The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-05-16
THE BEN GREET PLAYERS.
LARGE AUDIENCE SEES PRODUC-
IION OF SHAKESPEAR'S
TWELFTH NIGHT.
Welch-C ch-Christensen-Baker Company
fcnder Delightful Selection-Morn.
ing Lecture is Strong Sermon.
From The Daily Item, Nav ~

From The Daily Item, Nav
The attendance at the Cbatauou,
tent last night, when the Ben Greet
Players offered Shakespeare's we'll
known comedy Twelfth Night" was
record breaking one The aud
ience was well pleased and hearty
applause was given the actors all
along throughout the performance,
The Welch-Christensen-Paker Com
pany was also good and seemed to
please the audience.
The Chautauqua seems to be increas.
ing in interest daily, if the the at
tendance is any indication of this fact
and it should be the chief indication
or it. Last night the seating capacity
OF the tent was taxed and there was
a larger audience at the Wednesday
morning session than any time form.
erly in the morning. Today with the
beginning of the two day music fes-
tival the interest and attendance
should increase still more. The local
committee still has a few more tic
kets to sell and they should be Sc
cured at once, if they are wanted.
On Tuesday afternoon the program
was. opened by a concert by the Welch-
Baker Company. There
were quite q number of high class
musical selections and some popular
songs sung By this company at the
afternoon and night sessions all Of
which added greatly to the pleasure
of the audience. The singers were en-
cored several times both afternoon
and evening.
DR.. William A. Colledge delivered
his lecture in the afternoon "The
Heart Of Tropical Africa" He told
in an interesting way Of the mode of
life and travel in tropical Africa, Of
the habits of the natives, of the ami
mails and other incidents connected
with a stay Of seven years in this
country.
The Ben Greet Players was the first
of those classed as the big attraction
of the Chautauqua. This attraction
drew the crowd and everyone who at
tended seems TO have been delighted
with the performance. There was
not a weak actor in the cast of char
acters, which was extremely we'll
chosen and Was in every respect UP to
the high standard it had been adver-
tised as being and that to which the
Ben Greet Players have always been
regarded as belonging The cast was
harmonious whole whose interpre-
tation Of Shapespeare's comedy was
in every respect efficient and did much
to add to the pronounced success of
the Chautauqua. The absence of
scenery and the vast difference be-
tween this play Of the sixteenth CEN
tury and those of modern times af-
forded a contrast that in no way de-
tracted from the excellence of the act.
! ing.
On Wednesday morning Mr.. Kleine
again delivered one of this forceful
iecture-sermons. His subject "Litera-
ture, as a Constructive Force in Reli-
gion." He illustrated his talk with
selections from Winston Churchilrs
novel, THE Iaside of the Cup" Mr..
kieines talk VAS in a personal way
that was stror&ly impressed upon the
minds OF every one of his hearers.
He emphasize the fact that the
church Of tods. was one of his hear
ers. He emphasized the fact that
the church of Today and the professed
Christians Of day are not carving
on the religioH given to it by Christ,
and as Christ practised his teachings.
He though thht the authors should
take more caiS in producing novels.
man yof which did not depict true life.
The novel shonld be a correct inter-
pretation OF lii :. he intimated.
This aftetrnSon tho concert nv Mr.
Marcus A. Kellerman begins the great
TWO day music festival. Mr.. Keller
man is one of the three greatest bar
itones in America and his concert will
be a strong ana h'gh class one.