The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-05-03
PARK THEATRE

A three-act musical comedy that
differs from its contemporaries in di-
verS ways will be the next attraction
at the Park Theatre, Thursday and
Friday. It's from the pen Of Edwin
Hanford and is entitled His Honor
the Barber" AS presented by the IA
nous Smart Set Company with s.
III. Dudley in the stellar role. the Of
fering has become one Of the real
treats of tie season. Although the
comedy contains fifteen original song
hits, musical numbers and ensembles,
1t could easily hold its own on the
strength of it's brisk and humorous
etc., and the Interpretation of the
company itself which is composed of
sixty capable people. Mr. Dudley is
seen at his best as Raspberry Snow,
a. negro who wants to save the Pres
ident Of the United States. AS Mr..
Dudley portrays the character it be-
comes one of the funniest and best
developed types seen hereabouts in
years. "Rastus", the trained donkey,
which was such q favorite last sea-
son, has been retained. ''Rastus'' is
the constant companion of Raspberry
ana we have many side-splttfng adj
ventures drIeing the action of the play.
In point of durable excellence, style
and originality, the comedy is said to
be the most pretentious ever offered
in years. Edwin Hanford wrote the
book and Messrs. Brim, Smith and
Burris furnished the lyrics and music,
and Messrs. Barton and Wiswell are
the owners. The costumes, which are
said to be the most original seen on
the stage in many a day, were selected
from plates furnished by William H.
Barnes.
Aida Overton Walker forms an at
tracttve part of the production. She
will introduce a singing and dancing
sr.ecialty said to be the best of its
kind offered on any stage. Matinees
as usual.
Chauncey Olcott, who easily ranks
as the foremost exponent of Irish char
acter parts of the romantic order, will
be the attraction at the Park Theatre
next Saturday, matinee and evening,
in his new play. Barry of Ballymore."
A romance of the County Galway,
more than a century and a half ago,
Is the theme of Rida johnson Young's
work, which is one of the daintiest
and most attractive vehicles that Mr..
Olcott has yet obtained to display his
versatile talents. It tells how one Tom
Barry, an artist, has returned to his
native place, Ballymore. to spend
some of the wealth obtained by his
genius as a painter Of the portraits
of royalty.
He has leased Castle Bannon, one
of the historic homes Of the place and
thus incurs the displeasure Of the gen.
try, who remember him as the son of
a gamekeeper and resent the thought
of such an interloper into their midst
Tom has a different idea in view. He
has brought with him the adopted
daughter of his old master, Nanette,
whose mother, a famous model had
been deserted by her young Irish hus-
band shortly after their marriage. The
father of the girl is none other than
Lord Damon, the proprietor of vast
estates in the country. Having heard
Of the death of the model, he married
again and has a daughter by the Sec
ond marriage. The daughter, Lady
Mary, has determined to humble the
artist for his impudence in leasing
Castle Banonn and settling himself
up as an equal, as she thinks. She
make him the butt for the amusement
of countryside. Barry turns the tables
on her and when she learns his motive
first respects, then loves him for it.
Lord Damon acknowledges the pattern
ity Of Nanette. Barry fights a duel
with Mary's English lover and then
after winnig Mary for himself turns
young Baronet who has been his friend
through all his difficulties.
Barry of Ballymore' is handsome
ly staged in the usual style of Angus
tus Pitous productions and there is a
fine company. in whose roster are
many prominent names, to support
the star. Irish songs, of which Mr.. Oh
colt has quite a big budget, will Of
course be one of the attractive features
of the performance and will be sung
as only Mr.. Olcott can sing them.
''THE MARRIAGE GAME
Already there has been numerous
inquiries at the box office of the Park
Theatre for tickets for the fourteenth
annual closing production of THE
Marriage Came" The tickets go on
sale Thursday morning at 9 o'clock,
and the same closing prices will pre-
vail this season. Robert NJ. Sperry
has written a comedy for this years
offering that cannot fail to ''catch on"
with the local theatre-goer, and the
cast is without question one of the
largest and best ever seen in the an
nual productions. The musical por-
ton will be worth the price of adrnis-
sion alone, while the Broadway. part
Of the program will include Juliet, the
queen of mimics and the vaudeville
sensation of the day. Juliet was Sc