The Washington times., 1912-05-07
BELASCO PLAYERS
SCORE SUCCESS IN
MUSICAL COMEDY
Butterfeld and His Com
pany Please in Fifty
Miles From Boston"

With the aid Of a spnghtly chorus
OF local amateurs, some of whom made
hits In the recent production OF ''The
College Widow" the Butterfield Play
ers invaded the realm of muscial COM
edy at the Belasco last night and pre-
sented an old favorite, Fifty Miles
from Boston,"
The Butterfield Players did surprising
ly well. too, although there are diff
ferences Of opinion as to whether a
stock company should attempt with a
comparatively small cast and chorus.
one of those Cohan productions where
the stage is presumed-,to abound with
many folks waving an American nag
and going through Cohanesque dances,
Fifty Miles from Boston," has a vii
lain, hero, love affair, and a number
Of village characters, including Mrs
Tilford. the gossip, all of whom come In
and air their prejudices while the
chorus Is making ready for the next
song. t. -.
How Story Runs.
The plot hinges on the love AFFAIR of
Joe westcott, who has just won u
great baseball game for Harvard, and
his betrothed. Sadie Woods. Enter
here the villain. There 10 also the vii.
| lain's pawn, the latter a young fellow
with droopy lips. a deep and continual
scowl, and a snarl for everybody who
| speaks. Hes Sadie's brother. and he
| lost s400 which he stole from the poet
| office, on the very game that his tis-
| ter's charmcr won.
There's but one way out t-Sadie mug
| give up the baseball hero, and ther
Dave Harrigan, Joe's rival, will make
good the $500 that the plunge' lost
n
ry. a fist night or SO, and Sadie's heart
| rending inability to decide between hel
brother and her hero. In the end. o.
course, the money affair Is stra'ghtsnet
routs the villain, Dave Harrigan, and
] Sadie's brother, Jed Woods.
/ Everett Butterfield Is Joe Westcott. II
whose honor the entire village O
do honor to the man who has ,pllcct
| the town on the map. Mr.. Butterflel,
Is a captivating hero and received
great hand last night. Miss Jessie Glen
Woods. and scored in a song or 20
| even though her voice isn't as strong 81
the average operate singer. Freoericl
| Forester makes a capable villain, an,
Of Jed Woods, who looks the part o
man >who has lost 800 Of stolel
money.
Good Character Work.
Walter Wilson and Charles Lane d
some good character work as Tim Har
rigan and "Old Man Westcott, an
Anna Bates makes the most OF IT,
limited opportunities in the role Of Joe
mother.
Miss Biance Yurka, leading woma
of the Rutterfield Players. however
was consistently good last evening l
the role OF Mrs. Tiiford, the village goi
sip. She thoroughly demonstrated,
anyone has had doubts heretofore, ths
she Is thoroughly versatile. and is a
good in a Cohan comedy as somethin
heavier. Her song, Amt 1t Awful.
was one of the bright spots of tn
evening.
The recruit chorus sang and dance
, wei! for amateurs The minor part
of the piece were In the capable hand
Of Alice Warren, Pearl Hawlin, Add
son Smith, Richard Rutland. and g. I
Clarke.
Miss Nina Melville, to the surpris
and delight Of many Of those out from
occupied the unique part OF orchestr
!, director last evening. She welded Tn
baton with all the grace of a Sousa {
a Herbert. and the unique orchestr;
ARRANGEMENT scored a hit.