Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-11-08

watching tne hrst presentation OF THE
Pled Piper of Hamelin," which was given
under the management of the Brattle-
boro Woman's club and under the per-
sonal direction Of Miss Elsa NJ. Eager of
Deerfeld, Mass Another performance
will be given this evening at O'clock and
a matinee tomorrow afternoon at 2
o'clock The cast of the production cori
sists of nearly 200 persons, and many of
Brattleboro's old favoIftes were seen in
pleasing parts while others who had not
appeared in theatricals promised well for
future entertainments of a similar ma
ture. THE Pied Piper of Hamelin" is a
musical play and spectacle adapted from
the poem OF Robert Browning by Miss
Margaret MacLaren Eager, who had
charge of the presentation of the
pageant last June.
The program was interspersed with
singing and dancing and from the rise of
the curtain until its fall on the final tab
leau the audience found something of in
terest on the stage Many of the numbers
consisted of songs and dances by chill
dren, who did their work to perfection
while others were performed by older per-
sons, who entered into the story of the
play with hfe and vivacty that added to
its interest
Frederic c. Adams as the Pied Piper
gave pleasing Interpretation of the par
His singing was up to his usual high
standard and his dance Just before he en-
uced the rats to the river Weser was
particularly good Frank II. Brasor as
the mayor Of Hamefin gave a tinge of
comedy to his part as a bustring Of
fetal and it appealed to the audience. The
arrogant way in which he went about the
market place was typical of an official
who was getting by on a bluff" Mr.
Brasor has not been seen in local pro-
ductions in long time, but his work last
night was equal to that which has won
him laurels in other performances. He
has lost none of the art of pleasing the
audience with his singing Ephraim H.
Crane was the first councilman and
played the part in a very entertaining
way. His song, Fiddle -de-dee," was
given an enthusiastic encore
Samuel NJ. Eager as Ragout had a diff
fcult part, which he rendered accepta bly,
and with good Judgment Besides being
stage director of the performance Mr.
Eager took the part on short notice and
won applause. His dance with the rat
Raymond Wells, was one of the best fea-
lures of the production and the boys work
was exceptionally good. Mr.. Eager also
took the part of Louis, a peasant. and had
short song. Mrs. Wyles Russell as Kat
rina sang the lullaby in a sweet voice
and rendered it very efficiently Beatrice
Bennett as Paul, although a very little
girl. did her part especially well. The
audience was pleased with her work
Winifred Cain, as Lena, sang her solo
charmingly and Dorothea Vandeveer was
pleasing as the lame boy. She did not
overdo the part of the unfortunate lad
which might easily have been done. and
through the entire production the audi
ence watched her work with interest
Martha Howe as the flower vender made
decidedly favorable impression.
The curtain rose showing the market
place at Hamein with men and women
bargaining at the stands. Everybody
was in high spirits and the gay cos
tunes made a pretty picture. The child
Zen executed dance while the little
lame boy stood near and watched them
at play. Suddenly from all corners of
the square appeared a horde of rats
frightening the children back, but after
a sharp battle the rats were sent sour
rying back to their holes Then followed
the song, Paul on the hillside" by
Winifred Cain, who took the part of
Lena, a village child Paul, who was
Beatrice Bennett stood by her side and
whimpered as she told of staying
on the mountainside afraid to return
home At the conclusion of the song
the rats again came into the market
place, but Paul and Lena, braver
than the Others drove them away
The dance of the Hamelin peasants
was a good number and the costuming
was especially pleasing. After this the
children came again and sang Sing a
song OF siXpence." Martha Howe per-
formed a pretty solo dance. which was
roundly appla uded. The Orkney lullaby
by Katrina, Mrs Wyles Russell, was a
pleasing feature. At the conclusion of
the lullaby she placed her child in an old
fashioned cradle. Hardly had she dis
appeared before lone rat pulled the
sleeping child from its resting place and
started to make off with II, but Paul and
Lena came to the rescue
The Hanoverian wedding dance, by
Swedish residents of the town, was very
pretty David Magnuson as the BRIDE
groom and Miss Beda Anderson as the
bride led the dancers, who executed the
dance with uniform precision and grace.
At the conclusion the rats appeared
and the affrighted Hapoverans made
hasty retreat, the bridegroom carrying
the bride in his arms to safety. This
climax made a hit with the audience.
Then followed the dance of Ragout, a
French cook and the rat While Ragout
NJ. Rage Maltese, who was Samuel Eager
told of his troubles because of the rats
one of the pests appeared and even as the
cook complained the rat licked the ladle
in his hand. The lone rat performed his
part of the number so well that it was
one of the fea lures of the production.
The seventh number was the dance of
the mountaineers with Miss Harriet e
Rallion as solost. Following a bugle call
the mountaineers appeared and danced
prettily, during which Miss Rallion
sang. Near the end of the dance the
rats came again and frightened away
the poor mountaineers. Miss Rallion's
solo was rendered effectively, her yo-
deling being feature not often heard in
local entertainments
1t does not take away credit from the
other participants to say that the sabot
dance was the hit of the performance,
with Mrs. A. p. Simonds and Howard c.
Rice as soloists. All were clad in pic
turesque peasant costumes and wore
heavy wooden shoes. Mrs. Simonds's an q,
ger with her young peasant lover. his
silent pleadings for forgiveness. and
their final departure arm In arm con-
stituted a clever bit OF acting. Applause
forced return OF the dancers.
As the peasants disappeared the may
or and officers arrived at the market
place, the mayor dressed in red silk and
ermine and his advisors wearing appro-
pirate costumes. The mayor, Frank II.
Brasor sang I'VE are the city fathers"
and at the conclusion Of the song a
peasant stepped forward and demanded
that the officials rid the town of rats,
which was what the mayor and his Of