Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-01-07
Domestic . ina
~ Valley Lee


scrs. Ths Fins Aesins- Rsdissisas
sEd Dznce.
One Of the most pleasant entertain
ments st. Mary's County has had In Q
long, long while was. given on Moe,
day, December 18th, In the Parisf
Hall OF st. Georges Church, Vale,
Lee. II was Domestic Drama In
four acts. entitled THE Heart Of .
Hero
The hard rains OF the day, the con.
tinued damp drizzle In the evening,
and the heavy slushy roads could moi
hold back the large unexpected gath
ering which had been yearninsl 70 SCI
the young actors and actresses In their
first appearances OH the stage.
IL was not a one hero, one heroine,
and a poor cast play. All of ths
young men and women were well suited
70 their parts, and all OF them acted
their parts so we'll as to delight the
eager spectators. Two or three times
the curtains should have rolled .uT
again 20 meet the continued applause
but the amateur players were q little
too shy, modest or excited 70 remain.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Gilbert Westover, O~ncr OF Mammoth
Mills. .... .Loais Redmar
Seth NARROW, TO self aud honor true,
Bennie Dent
Clarence Denton, An Enemy in Dis.
guise. .., Alex ander Sheehar
Arnold Payne, From the City,
................ Paul Cecil
Cyrus Bodkin. A lone Whoever,
Alan Cecil
Robert, Office Boy at the Mill,
.............. Theodore Dem
Caroline Westover, the Sauirc's Sistel
....E Elizabeth Edmonds
Salina. his daughter, in love with Seth
....... Ethel Cecil
Tillie Sloan, a Village Bell,
MAIZE LOVt
Em, not much OF anybody,
Eve hloget
Perhaps the best of all the actors,
mostly from having a witty, humorou:
and human nature part, was Mr.. Altar
Cecil, in the cast of Cyrus Bodkin
Cyrus was the impersonation of lone
widowed farmer, with his large red
bandana flung around his neck, his
thick gray hair, his Observation-Disclosures
overalls, and above all, his strikingly
rustic slow twanging tone.
Next in importance was Miss Ethel
Cecil acting in the part af Salina, the
daughter of Squire MISSIONER, the well,
to-do owner of Mammoth Mills. Sa.
lima first appeared in q hunting dress
fresh from a fall from a runaway
horse, after that rs the refined and de.
termined young mistress of the mill
mansion. Throughout the play Salina
was lively. interesting, attractive and
well worth the futile efforts 10 the
villains.
Miss Ethel Cecil was the leading
spirit in the organization and manage
ment of the play. Her cleverly acted
part shoned her ability and worth as
a leader.
Characters of shorter parts, yet oil
hardly less valent, were Miss Maize
Love, as Tillie Sloan. the Village
Belle, who was all that and more in
winning acting, color made-up, and
frequent changing costume; and Miss
Elizabeth Edmonds, as Caroline West
over, the Squirrels Sister, typical
lady of quality to he wooed
and won by the best.
Miss Eva Ridgell was remarkable
in the part of EN-, mot much of any
body" She was certainly that and
yet that because she played her part
to perfection. From the applause one
would almost have thought she was
everybody. How on earth she ever
knew how q half-witted person is sup
posed to act we cannot imagine. But
Miss Ridgell surely did know just
What to say and do.
The male characters, naturally a
little more shy and reserved than the
caught the real spirit of the
play only with the glare of the foot
lights. Mr.. Louis Redman, the owner
of Mammoth Mills, was as calm, cool
and collected as. could have been
wished. Mr.. Bonnie Dent, as Seth
ITO Self and Honor True, "
we are sure was all but worthy of the
lady he won. Mr.. Alex. Sheehan took
the part Of Clarence Denton, an enemy
in disguise, and, despite his kind.
good nature, he played we'll the part
of a villain. Mr.. Paul Cecil, as
Arnold Payne, from the city, was
dude and sport enough to have won
Miss Love. Even Theodore Dent. as
Robert, the Office and Messenger Boy
of the mill, played his part like live
wire runner In the mill.
The real momentary pause in the
whole performance came In the last
act The stage was hlling up with
happy couples, excitement of love
was intense, all knew and
wanted 20 speak their next words,
when each one seemed TO feel he was
saying too much, stage fright came on
and then no one could say anything
at all. Fortunately, q welcome
whisper came from behind
the scene to aid them. From then on
all went finely.
Among the other attractions of the
evening were the music from st.
Nicholas Parish, and the recitations
by Miss Aileen and her brother, Mr..
Charlie Ridgell. Miss Aileen In her
alone showed extraordinary
talent. We had no idea that q child
of eight years could show such grace,
such talent and such thorough appre-
citation Of her part. Their second Sc
lection was 9 dialogue sung In verses
of wit. All the village Is alive with
that sune today.
II you ever want good music hire the