The Greeley tribune., 1911-11-16
Miss Tobey Tells Of
First"Piper" Performance

inrs of offended royalty and u'
trayed love. The audience W
small hut devoted 1t was evideutl
made up largely of the folloNiH
which Mr.. benson and his PLAYER
in their twenty seasons OF sunni T
I festival in Stratford. had comma.
ed. % ~ s,o
honored in Stratford that afterno2
by public demonstration. whle
eliminated in his appointment as
citizen OF the town. He had pee
siven the freedom of the city, afte
the good old English manner
honoring a distinguished sues
And now, he was presenting N
charming old play with distinetlo
and ease. And yet-we feared y
our friend, the Piper. Mr.. Benso
himself was to play the Piper. an
Mr.. benson, capable manager tb'
he is. lacks the lyric strain thai
the essence of the soul OF thi
glorified tramp, Miss Peabody
Piper.
The next morning. after an ear
stroll across the fields to Shottef
we presented ourselves before u
Rainbow, in little room opposl'
the theater. Miss Rainbow, min
the let. was benignant rather tha
dazzling. Both she and the lit
company of friends with whom 81
was engaging in neighborly gossl
displayed real concern that no tG
cts remained for "The Piper.
be sure" said Miss Rainbow. the
are three window seats in the la
cony. but they are very poor
"Oh," we cried. mo matter ho
poor they are, If we are only SUI
of admittance we shall be happy
So we gave Miss Rainbow two shi
lings each. pocketed our windo
seat tickets, and went gaily OFF
Warwick for the day.
Evening came, and found a pac
ed house waiting in old Stratlo
for the appearance of the Pine
And our fears were justified, Il
the Piper did not come. Mr.. Be
son came, and Mr.. Benson was We
pleasing in his relation to y
group of Stratford children WI
charmed the audience with the
spontaneity and grace. A hap
whimsicality and something OF ten
erness in his attitude toward q
children were the most of the Pip
that appeared during the evenin
There was hardly trace of Z
'ism and the poetic insis
which give the pretty drama its 81
nificance.
And yet. for all the inadequaci
of Interpretation, and for all t
distortions of the text-for the te
was often badly garbled-the char
of the play possessed the audient
and the occasion was a happy on
even an ardent one. Enthusias
ran high. especially In response
the dancing OF the feet of you
Stratford and to the mute appeal
the little crutch of Jan. That 81
tie ship-wrecked star" was til
actress from London Town. who,
is said. expressed surprise that Il
local children should act 20 weN
One bit of work that was co
vincing was the Interpretation
Veronica, the mother of little ia
by Miss Marion Terry. Miss Ter
maintains the traditions Of the far
/ lily of artists to which she belong
as she also embodies the person
charm which distinguishes its moi
bers.
Opposite us, in the balcony, g
the creator OF the Piper. | do n
doubt that to her sensitive soul.
veritable changeling skippt
through the scenes of her play.
But whatever dismay she IN,
have felt. Mrs. Marks was graciou
ness itself when at the close of Il
play she was conducted to Il
stage, upon which the entire ca
grouped itself. and received Il
800 pound prize awarded her for Il
excellence of her play. The chai
man of the board of governors
the Shakespeare Memorial Tru
made an elaborate and somewh
heavy speech. in which he allud,
to Mrs. Marks as "our fair Amel
can authoress." The wife
"Stratford's newest citizen" MI
Benson, placed the gift in the han,
i. of the successful "authoress."
Mrs. Marks won a double victo
} in Stratford that evening The Il
! tie speech with which she receiv,
, the prize revealed such sweetne
, and grace, such modesty, such fin
: ness of fiber. that the little compaI
of Americans in the audience felt
: glow of pride and qualification.