Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1911-06-29
The Japanese Girl.


ance simply because it is given by
''home talent" is absurd, and converse
ly the full need Of praise deserved by
local performers should not be withheld
because they are our own friends and
neighbors.
These remarks are made for fear it
may be thought the language used in
telling of the excellent performance of
the operetta, "The japanese Girl, f" is
not fully merited, but merely a bad
case of local pride. 1t is not however,
and any word of praise said regarding
the excellency of the performance on
last Saturday night is fully deserved, in
fact, it is difficult to speak of it without
becoming hyperbolical
That there was much musical ability
in our little city is we'll known, but that
there was as much talent in the mimic
art is not so well known, and the acting
Saturday night was a revelation to
many of the audience.
The entire performance was good
There were few marks of the novice,
but these were 30 overshadowed by the
general excellency of the performance
that they need not be mentioned. 1t is
difficult to select anything for especial
mention, but of the musical numbers
the Lullaby" in the first and "Carmine
Lips" in the second act were perhaps
the best, while "In Praise of America, :"
on account of the patriotic sentiment,
aroused the most enthusiasm. The evo-
lutions of the chorus and the dancing
were excellent. In fact it was a per-
formRnce that could not be duplicated
anywhere by amateurs, and for that
matter, there are hut few travelling
troupes that could put it across bet
ter.
That each individual of the company
is entitled to much praise for their con-
ception of the character they represent
ed and their industry in perfecting their
action, let us not forget that it required
untiring industry on the part of some
one to harmonic and make a beautiful
unity of these individual conceptions.
The stage manager, though never ap-
pearing and almost always forgotten is
an important figure. Mrs. R. B. Giles
pie is entitled to full credit for her ex-
cellent work, and Mrs. A. G. Russell
equally as much for the training for the
musical numbers and her skill as the &C.
companist. The dancing was away
above the usual stunts put on in an am
ateur show, and to Miss Mary Turk
much credit is due. The stage setting
was excellent, and was the work of
Mesdames w. G. and J. D. Harrison
and j. P. Hartman. While speaking
of those to whom credit is due whose
names did not appear on the program,
let us not forget the excellent work
of Miss Lillian McCray as leader of the
marches of the chorus and whose name
was inadvertently omitted from the
printed program.
This paper has before expressed the
opinion that the Musical Club should
frequently give public exhibitions of
their ability, and the performance last
Saturday makes one wish for them to
try far more ambitious things, although
for that matter, "The Japanese Girl"
is well worthy of reproduction and
would undoubtedly draw another crowd
ed house.
Between the acts Mrs. Jas. O'Keeffe,
of Bluefeld, sang "a Red, Red Rose"
and answering an encore sang ''In To-
kio." Mrs. O'Keeffe has contralto
voice of wide range, and her efforts