Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-03
.O'DONNELL WAS
NIGHT FEATURE
PLAY OF INTEREST ENACTED BY
H ONE MAN At CHAUTAUQUA
LAST EVENING.
SIGN OF THE CROSS
Selection Deals With Nero's Time In
Ancient Rome In Which Reader
Portrayed Eighteen
Characters. ~

iii characters.
Each succeeding number offered for
the entertainment and amusement of
the chautauqua lovers this week, con-
tlnues to please and intersperses just
enough variety to serve as a spice to
the regular chautauqua program. One
IS not permitted to tire of any type
OF entertainment, instruction or amuse
ment provided, and as the numbers
continue, the interest is not lost but
rather made the more keen One
finds oneself consulting the folder to
see what is the next program offered.
The little shower yesterday afternoon
was delightful in the cooling effect
1t produced for the entire evening.
None complained of the heat last even
ing at the large chautauqua tent, but
on the contrary many were seen with
a light wrap because of the cooling
breezes that arose to make the even
ing enjoyable.
| The first number last night was the
| Weatherwax quartet, but the piece
resistance was the Evolutionary feat
Of James Francis O'Donnell This
well known reader has appeared in OF
tumwa more than once before and de-
livered the same subject some two
years ago here with unbounded sue
| cess.
Mr.. O'Donnell's name is synonymous
throughout the United States ard Can
ada with THE Sign OF the Cross" In
this play he impersonates eighteen diff
ferent characters. 1t is his art to so
relate the Incidents, impersonate the
characters and portray the scenes In
each act, unaided by makeup or any
stage accessories whatever, that the
audience beholds the entire drama en-
acted as though fully equipped COM
pany held the boards. He arranges all
Of his own plays. and presents them
In plain evening dress, impersonating
the various characters by voice infec-
tion tone-color. facial and physical ex-
preston, with that degree of perfection
that one sees, not the impersonator,
but the living, breathing personality
portrayed. ss
Teacher Of Oratory.
There is q good solid basis to- his
work in the fact that he is not only
graduate of one Of the foremost
schools of oratory in the country, hav-
ing won the degree of M. o.. but was
also professor of voice and action for
two years in the Cleveland school of
elocution and oratory. Subsequently
he conducted summer school or ora
tory for professionals at Lapeer Mich
igan, for four successive seasons, dur
ing which time students who have
since won distinction in the pulpit. on
the stage. and on the platform, studied
under his direction. His repertoire COW
ers representative range Of the best
English literature, both classic and
modern.
Story Of Play.
In THE Sign of the Cross" Mercia,
a Christian maiden and the heroine of
the drama. loses her parents at an
early age, in the burning of Rome un-
der Nero. The latter to avert suspic-
ion from himself. accuses the Chris
tians of being guilty Of the dastardly
deed and gives orders for their perse-
cution and determination. Mercia and
Favius, her former teacher, but now
guardian. are about to be led away to
prison for being Christians, when res
cued by Marcus Superbus, the young
and noble project of Rome. Marcus. is
affected by the sight of Mercia, as
never woman affected him before.
What is the subtle mysterious
thing men call affinity? What the
that, with look. touch,
draws in the twinkling of an eye, two
souls together, never to be parted
through eternity?" For one instant
only did their eyes meet, and yet in
that moment all the currents of their
lives were changed. He would not lose
sight of her any more. Tigellinus, his
rival for the favor of Nero, learns of
his infatuation. as do also his many |
friends, Of both sexes; the former
seeks to bring Marcus in disfavor with
Nero, by accusing him Of shielding
Christian, Ehile the latter, in partic-
ular those OF the female sex. feel
themselves hurt and angered, because
Of his abandonment of their society.
One patrician lady especially, called !
Berenice, whose name had up to that
time been frequently mentioned in
with that of Marcus, in her {
Jealous rage goes so far as to use
Poppaea's influence with her husband,
Nero, to procure Mercia's condemna-
ion to death. Between them they sue
,eed and in spite Of all that Marcus
IAN do, Mercia Is taken from him and