The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-06-06
High School Students
Score Great Success
From Thursdays Daily.

capacity audience at the N"hho
Theatre last night by members OF
the graduating class OF the hlgh
school. The play in itself is very
pretty one, the story being of Rev.
dictionary war times with a strong
military trend with a very pretty
love story running through it, The
costuming and stage settings were
very pretty and very appropriate.
The details in these things, which
are so often neglected in amateur
affairs, were so well carried out as
to add much charm to the play. i
The most noticeable feature OF the
play was the ease with which the
members of the cast handled their t
parts. There was an entire lack OF
the self-consciousness which is so very
often apparent in amateur perform
ances. Every member of the cast
had his or her lines perfectly learn |
ed and moved and talked with the
ease and grace of professionals. !
The principals in the cast includ-
ed Harold Piper, as Nathan Hale;
Miss Hazel Stewart, as Alice Adams,
Hale's fiance; Leroy Bowen as Lieu
tenant Colonel Knowlton; Miss Az
mes Janda, Mistress Knowlton; Miss
Gertrude Nerbovig, Angelica Knowl-
| tor Elmer Johnson as Ebenezer
Lebanon; James Lester as Tom
| Adams; Cecil Snow as Guy Fftzroy
of the British army; Beaufort Cor
don as Jasper, the colored servant;
Aline Macbeth as Widow Chichester,
the innkeeper.
| Harold Piper in the title role
showed such dramatic ability as to
carry to the audience the true spirit
of the play throughout the entire
performance. His loyalty to his
country, his gallantry, his heroism
and his sincere regard for the girl
he hoped to marry, We're all felt keen
ly by the audience. His voice car
ried well and his ease of manner all
reflected credit upon his ability.
Playing opposite Mr.. Piper was
Miss Hazel Stewart, who had the
role of Alice Adams, also loyal
colonist but who believed that Hale
should put his love for her above
his love for country. Miss Stewart
has a most beautiful speaking voice
which could be heard clearly and dis
tinctly in every corner OF the the
ater She lived the part OF Alice
Adams from the moment she first
stepped upon the stage until the fin
al fleeing with her lover from the
/ British camp. Her pretty coquet-
try, her half shy love making and
her deep loyalty to the man she
loved were beautifully transmitted
to those who saw the play.
Miss Agnes Janda made very
beautiful and charming Mistress
Knowlton, with her deep love for
her child and her deep desire for
social rank. Miss Janda probably
made the prettiest appearance of
, any of the cast and was very charm
ing indeed Her acting was befit-
ting her appearance.
Miss Gertrude Nerbovig as the
| frivolous but altogether likable An
gelica Knowlton, caused her mother
| many surprises during her courtship
| which resulted in the hurried mar
riage to the man she loved. Her
, dainty manner and clever acting was
| truly in accordance with the char
! acter of the saucy Miss Knowlton.
LIE Roy Bowen played difficult
, part we'll. He played the role OF
, Lieutenant Colonel Knowlton and in
). his pleading for a volunteer to spy
! upon the British showed great abil
: ity 1t was a difficult thing to dc
: was particularly good for such q
: part
f Ebenezer Lebanon was played by
e Elmer Johnson, and the shy but
e patriotic character was honestly por
e trayed by Mr.. Johnson. His play
i ing was excellent.
q Playing the part of Guy Fftzroy
), the British officer, Cecil Snow por
trayed honestly the dishonest, sheer
ing disposition of the man who
!. forced undesired attentions upon tn,
beautiful Miss Adams. His ease o
u shown through his entire perform
ance.
Miss Aline Macbeth as The Widow
Chichester had difficult part which
u was well handled. The role hat
much action which is usually har,
. for an amateur to carry off well, blu
this Miss Macbeth did with ease
!. She also has very splendid voic
in speaking and could be heard wit
ease throughout the entire house.
g James Lester in the part of Alic
II Adams younger brother, and he
headed and loyal American was al
H. other member of the cast who di'
u tinguished himself by his ease G
II manner and true portrayal of hi
role.
y The negro servant, Jasper, a
le played by Beauford Gordon was h,
- morous and well done. His dialec
u was good and his manner was e.
cellent.
= Robert Cooper played the role
II Captain Adams well and displayed
" sincerity in his part which was con
y mendable. Ralph Page in the pa
u of William Hall, an American sc
81 der, helped to make the conferene
al scene of the second act well handle