The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-12-06
MERRY M|LKMA|DS
A GREAT SUCCESS
From Fridays DaIIy.

A large and fashionable audience
composed of the most appreciative
people of Vinita assembled to hear
the one performance of the Merry
Mildmaids," an operetta given for the
benefit of the Episcopal church last
Ievening at the Grand theatre. The
lpiece has been in training for some
time, and many discouraging features
marked its progress along with the
very splendid effort that was put
forth to make it in every way a sue
cess Owing to the quarantine which
flor one week kept business in Vinita
almost at standstill, there were sew
eral of the gentlemen who were un-
able to keep up the. practice and had
to withdraw, making it necessary to
fill in almost at the last moment with
others who were unprepared
| In considering the first perform
ance of any piece there are many little
things that would be done differently
land better the second time, and there
is no excuse for mistakes of road
companies who have a whole season in
(which to deyelope the best to be found
in the material; but the few errors
made on last night would be very lit
tie more than would be noticeable in
any first performance. The operetta
could certainly be repeated another
time and would probably draw a big
house
When the curtain rose on the first
setting showing the green of the out
door scenery and the Merry Maids"
prettily dressed in white, with CO.
quettisE little caps and aprons of
lpalest pink which set off the familiar
faces Of the girls to perfection, there
was murmur of How pretty" and
Isn't that just splendid" as the music
of the opening chorus began. The
scene was very graceful and the girls
were closely scrutinized by different
admirers to see just which one was
the most animated, or the most nat
ural; and really it would seem that
more was expected of them than if
they had been members of a regular
lopera company.
Mr.. c. G. Clark who played the part
of the doctor was certainly the ablest
performer. His easy stage presence
surely means that he is not an anna
teur and wholly inexperienced Mr.
G. N. Bebout also gave this same evi-
dence of real >training and his part
was admirably done Mrs. Adds
Brown was greatly admired for her
splendid acting and beautiful costume
and makeup, While Mrs. G. N. Be-
bout was as dainty and sweet<in the
part of the Queen as one could ask
for Her first entrance brought the
only ovation received during the even
ling marking her as most popular
singer Her acting of the part was
easy and natural an din the lullaby
where the little maids gather round to
hear her tell of childhood, there were
numerous expressions of delightful
satisfaction heard from the audience
in respectful whisperings.
The two jolly farmers who gave a
song and dance showed there is some
real vaudeville talent in Vinita, and
the audience clamored loudly for more,
No encores were responded to, how
ever, which was to be regretted as
those who had worked so hard and
who received special applause from
the audience might have been allowed
at least an opportunity to make re-
spactful bow The greatest criticism
the piece could have would be the very
Igreat rapidity with which it proceeded
from beginning to end, and while it
was splendid that not cuse was
missed an dnot wait interfered with
its progress, one could have wished
for little more time to look over the
actors and bring them back when
! lH6it CuOib NdS par ihiN uisti ~ uVoSi '
ing.
Mr. and Mrs. Talmage are 90 be con-
graduated on their successful pre-
sentation of the Merry Milkmails, -
and the enjoyment given to those who
took part viii not be long forgotten.
1t would be indeed nice to know that
this little company of Vinita players
had formed into an opera club to give
entertainments from time to time.
This would follow the example of
many churches in large cities where
the dramatic or operate clubs form
part Of the entertainment for the
young people of the parish.
ISOBEL MCCORMICK.