Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-04-24
4 SUCCESSFUL EVENING.
Play by Alumnae of St. Mary's Last
night Was an Unqualified
Success.


ton in 1907, st. Mary's Alumnae ap.
pesred before the public last night in
the colonial drama, "A Page from Co.
lonial Times and from the rise OF the
curtain OF the fourth and last act, the
audience which taxed the capaciy OF
the theatre vas held entranced by tue
beauty OF the setting, the interest OF
the plot, the quaint costumes OF colonial
days and above all these by the splen-
did acting OF the twenty talented grad.
yates oil St. Mary's who did themselves
and their Alma Mater honor.
New York in I7S6 is the setting OF
the play and the plot hinges upon the
story of two orphans, one whom is
blind. These difficult characters,
Frances and Mabel, we're ably imper-
sonated by Ella Hill and Kathryn
Brill who in the first act we're intro
duced to the audience as having Just
arrived at the coach house on tue in
coming coach from White Plains.
Shortly before, Mrs. Hammond,
elsie HamiltoD), kind friend, comes
TO meet them. but is told by Judith, a
professional beggar, IA difficult role
splendidly carried out with the aban-
don OF the professional by Mary Muir
phy), that the coach will not arrive for
hours. Disappointed. she returns
home, but is led by a nervous fear OF
impending danger only to be told by
Pauline, Judith's crippled daughter,
that the coach had already arrived and
contained two young girls dressed
alike. Judith. ever on the alert when
there is mischief to be done, comes on
the scene as Frances leads her blind
sister to bench to await her while she
goes to seek Mis-. Hammond. During
the absence of Frances, Judith under
pretense that she is Mrs. Hammond,
leads Mabel away to begin life OF ut
ter poverty and suffering iu which she
is upheld only by the kindness OF the
crippled Pauline. Madeline Byrne, &C
ting the part OF Pauline, was superb;
while the bell like notes OF her sweet
voice rang true and clear to every cor
ner OF the house.
The second act Introduces Mrs. Al
lenton, wealthy colonial lady whose
oniv child stolen in infancy has Deyer
been discovered. Miss Mary Kava.
paugh sustained this, the leading role
throughout the play with dignity and
abb ity that showed her the possessor OF
marked dram attic talent. On her way
to the church, she meets Mrs. Elliot,
the hospital nurse, Helen Corbett),
also con es face to face with Mabel, the
blind girl, begging and singing in the
street.
She believes size is her child, and
this truth is soon confirmed by Frances
whom she meets later and from whom
she learns the story OF Mabel's diucov-
cry on The steps Of Trinity Church six
teen years before. Mrs. Attention
adopts Frances as her daughter and
together they labor to seek the lost
child and sister.
The third act takes the audience to
Ju1th's home. where one sees the
utter restitution and suffering Of Mabel
and Pauline. But the hour OF reckon
ing is near and Judith, torn by conflict
ing emotions OF relnorse and dread, is
handed over to two continental soldiers,
while Mabel is restored to Mrs. Allen
ton and Frances. Mabel's mother
adopts Pauline, ever the defendant OF
Dor child, aud with three daughters in
her elegant bone, begins tue lavish
entertainment for which the COLONIAL
period was noted.
In the fourth and browning act OF
the play, the audience is shown the
drawing loom OF Mrs. Attention during
reception to Lady Washington.
Palms, ferns and flowers lent color to
the scene which was a beautiful picture
when fifteen young ladies attired III
elegant colonial dress appeared OIL the