The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-03
SPERRY'S
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theatre last evening following the first night of the performance of ''The Circus Chap" Robert M. Sperry's thirteenth annual production. A crowded house applauded the play from the first time the curtain went up to the final drop. MT. Sperry has gathered a cast superior in almost every respect to any in his former productions. The production led on Ey seasoned actors went off without hitch of any kind, which speaks very highly for the way in which the company must have been drilled.
 To give MT. Sperry good send off on the presentation of his tooth per formanCe there were in the audience represen tativeS from local OrganiZa- tions. Two of the boxes were occu- pied by number of the city officials, Clerk Boucher, Assistant City Clerk Gill, Auditor Heating, Tax Collector ponnelly, Town Clerk Thomas, As sistant Town Clerk Mullins, Ex-May- ors Mulvihill and Reynolds. Other boxes were occupied by members of the Elks, Eagles and Tigers. while a large delegation from the A. B. c. Club accompanied by their lady friends occupied seats in the body of the house. The latter body was pres ent to do honor to their club mate, George F'inklestone, whose song, My Zulu Queen, was the hit of the even ing.
 The show place was especially fes- tooned for the annual. All the boxes were bedecked in clustered American flags. In honor of the visiting dele gations from the local fraternities there was placed on the Eagles box, a huge American eagle, while the Tigers showed large electric lighted incased tiger. On the upper boxes was placarded the number 100, while midway from the left and right box es, just out from the curtain was an electric sign with the number 100 standing out. Throughout the lobby many palms and ferns were added. On the outside of the theatre, strings of vari-colored electric lights stretch ed across the street.
 Before the curtain Mayor Bucking- ham delivered a neat little say stat ing that it was twelve years ago when a young chap named Sperry pro- duced piece '"The Club Romance on this stage. At that time no one considered that he would bring suc- cess to himself year after year. The speaker stated that it was his pleas ure to attend every one of the annual closings, hoping that he would yet witness many more. The mayor also stated that there was no city in the state which could boast of having among its citizens one who has year. ly produced a splendid play. He re- garded MT. Sperry as the premier playwright of the state.
 At tbe conclusion of the second act the full company was called to the curtain, the cast being presented with many floral tokens from their friends. MT. Sperry said he wished to be con- sidered grateful for honors shown l.. ~11I A ,11 who in any way helped to bring about the annual closing. He especially thanked the press, stating that it was through their writings that he was urged on year to year to produce play. we have stuck to it for thir- teen closings, and you have stuck to us for 13 years, for which we are grateful When MT. Sperry finished he was presented with a huge floral 
 The plot of the play is quite sim pie. Cloverdale is all hubbub over the coming appearance of circus. Like any we'll regulated canvas at advertising man. He comes to town making his first appearance at the general store owned by Bruce Steeples (Archie Boyd.) Here he meets Vivian Hummell (Hattie l.. Steinbach), who is a clerk in the
 
 Hummell (Bernard BrilD, who is a self willed chap, wanting to go to the big city to make name for himself, and to sell the play he had written. The Hummells are the wards of Steeples. Young Hummell is in love against the wishes of her father. That her young lovers hopes may be accomplished, Daisy Steeples takes money from the store till, and both she and young Hummen elope to New York. The advance agent, Her arrives on the scene about this time in hopes to solicit an advertisement from Steeples. He meets Miss Hum nell, and is fascinated with her. That evening, the night on which the money is taken from the till, he escorts her to her home.
 Darlington on learning of the flight of young Hummell. and Miss Steeples hastens after and catches up with them in New York, where he takes both to the home of his mother, where they are later married.
 The money missing, Steeples ac- cuses Miss Hummell of her fascina- tion for the circus chap and also of taking the money from the till, turn- ing her away from his home. In New York Darlington through his mother learns that his father and the father of Miss Hummell, were old pals, and that Hummell before his death had considerable money. Fur ther search reveals the fact that Steeples is concealing their fathers wealth from his wards. There is a run on the private bank of Steeples, which is saved by Darlington on the condition that he release himself as the guardian of the Hummells. The real thief tells all to her father, everything is cleared up, and all live happily ever afterwards.
 MT. Sperry has about him a we'll se lected cast: Of course Lowell Sher- man, a Broadway favorite, is the hit of the piece. MT. Sherman is at home before the footlights. He has a grace with the audience. From all appear ances Lowell will be very prom inent matinee idol before the week is over. Miss Hattie L. Steinbach made her thirteenth annual appearance as a leading lady. Her work was finished, winning for her rounds of applause. Elizabeth Steinmetz as SuZette Saun- ders, a clerk in MT. SteepIe's store, who also has arreared in many of the closings, does her work admirably, though this season she has not so prominent a part as she had in some of the former attractions. She was obliged to respond to numerous encores followin~ her rendition of My Zulu Queen.' Charles E. Peck as Rolly Rawlins. and Charles R. Jewett as Sam Dawson. perennial favorites, did much to make the piece the success that it attained. That old favorite, Archie Boyd, was given the part of