The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-25
SPLENDID PERFORMANCES
Fine Acting BY Coburn Players s-Au
diences Highly Pleased.

Two small Dut representative fTeu-
ericksburg audiences Thursday after
noon and Thursday night partoOk OF
the dramatic treat Of the season,
Shakespeare on the greenwards
sans stage setting and accessories.
The Coburn Players. an exceeding
ly capable company. We're seen at
the matinee performance In AS You
Like It" and at night in Much Ado
About Nothing"
Thos, players secured through the
enterprise OF the Summer Normal
school management lived up to their
advance notices and won the hearty
commentator Of their audiences.
With a mind TO the comfort Of the
later Mr.. Neff fixed on the baseball
park as the likeliest spot for the
performances. Here. In front Of
the grandstand. a barrier OF leafy
bOughs WIS erected. enclosing the
stage and screening the surround
ings from thr spectators
The night performance was the
best The audience was larger. more
enthusiastic the surroundings We're
clothed In shadow and the stage
alone was Illuminated
Mrs. Coburn. as Beatrice. was
charming This lady possesses a
most pleasing stage appearance and
is a finished actress She shared the
honors with Mr.. Coburn. a convinc-
ing Benedict. and with Mr. Howard
Kyle. who is probably the best male
actor in the company. he got all pos
sible out Of the role OF Don Pedro.
Miss Amelia Barleon. as the much
slandered hero. deserves especial
mention for her work. as does MIR.
George Gual. the youthful and i'm
petuOus Claudio.
Mr. RaydOn Erlynne, on whose
shoulders fell the low comedy parts.
Constable DOgberry, lacked that car
rying quality I'm his voice that seems
So essential to out-of-door acting.
and as it seemed 10 be his fate to
come on cOincident with the arrival
or departure OF noisy train at the
nearby depot. many OF the delicious
lines were lost TO the audience. His
makeup was good and when he
could make himself heard he evoked
much laughter.
The thankless role OF Don John.
the william. was well taken care Of
by Mr. Edward Donnelly The other
parts were also well sustained.
In the afternoon that old fayorite
As You Like il" tempted only "A
small gathering to brave the rays Of
lhc July sun. Those who did attend
suffered no inconvenience. as a
pleasant breeze famed through the
stand
Playing In the searching light Of
garish day is not calculated to bring
out the best in either actor, play or
spectator and the seaching sun
light did its best to Danish the make
believe. but in spite OF all this
the audience was soon wandering
through the leafy aisles OF Arden
obliyious Of the present. Not even
a freight train can take the charm
from the lines OF the immortal
bard. As at the night performance
u was a case OF ladies first Mrs
Coburn was most winsome Rosa
lind and when in the guise OF a
young man she makes Orlando WOO
her II was easy TO understand why
the latter did It so well.
Mr.. COburn was stalwart, yet
lovelorn Orlando. His magnificent
physique adds to his quiet though ef
fective acting.
Touchstone the fool. had he but
spoken louder, would have triumph
ed. Mr.. Erlynne took the part.
Miss Barleon. as Celia; Miss Har-
rington. as Audrey, and Miss Turner
as Phoebe, were the other females in
the cast.
Mr. Kyle. as Jacques, a gentle
man attending the banished duke
had but small chance to show his
ability. but he made the most of II.
Young Mr. Hamilton. as the love
lorn shepherd Silvius. could not have
been more loyelorn or handsome.
! To enumerate the many parts ant
their translators would require more
space than is available
One should not forget the home
talent. Six gallant sons of Freder
icksburg, clad in Lincoln green
roamed the delectable forest OF Ar
den and enjoyed the merry compan.
of the dukes followers, or donnini
the helmet and uniform of the watcl
+ patrolled the shadowry streets o
Messina after nightfall.
One thing certain, II Mr.. Coburl
= brings his excellent company to Ere
= ericksburg in the future he VIII hay
b larger audiences than greeted mn
yesterday. And he deserves to hav