The Twin City star., 1916-07-01
DRAMATIC CLUB .
IN HIGH FAVOR
New York Organization Gives
Shakespearean Play. /
FEATURES OF THE PROGRAM
Ambitious Young Performers Make
Fine Showing In Handling Difficult
Parts Of Rare Literary Production.
e. L. Cruise Impersonates the I'M
mortal Bard Of Avon.
By JOHN e. BRUCE CRIT"

| Ss - SVuoo bHsPoTooUAtoo TITO s"-
mortal Bard Of Avon.
By JOHN e. BRUCE crit"
New York.-The largest audience
ever assembled In the Harlem Casino,
In this city, was gathered there recent
ly, according to the manager of xhe
casino, when Ye Friends Of Shake
speare, a dramatic organization found
ed In 1914, on the three hundred and
f1ftieth anniversary Of the birth of the
poet, gave pageant, a Shakespearean
revel, which included scenes from some
Of his greatest and most popular plays.
This Is the only organization Of anna
teurs composed of Negroes in New
York city which makes any pretension
to the study Of the works Of Shake
speare.
| There always have been and there al
ways will be degrees Of excellence
among amateurs on their first public
appearance. Some are good, some are
very good and some excellent. The ex-
cellent are usually the first arrivals in
the hall Of fame. The audience, which
was composed of the better class Of
both races, was most generous and in
dulgent, and it encouraged these am
bilious young people who were show
ing a capacity for sustained efforts in
the dramatic art by literally applas.d-
ing the good points brought out in each
Of the eight episodes.
On arriving at the hall one was met
at the door by ladies In EliZabethan
costumes, who served as ushers and
program venders. These were Mrs. o.
81. Blackman, Miss M. Legal, Miss G.
Penny, Miss NJ. Virgil and Miss s.
Pickering, who prOffered their wares
with old world grace and dignity. A
very efficient orchestra, under the di-
rectton Of G. ]. Ford, rendered a select
program Of Shakespearean music
throughout the performance, while the
Bard Of Avon, impersonated by e. L.
Cruise, sat like q statue throughout the
entire performance overlooking the
players and the audience without bat
ting an eyelash or moving a muscle.
His was the most trying part Of the
evening, and 80 well did he perform it
that many persons in the audience be-
lieved that he was an inanimate statue.
For physical endurance he stood the
test well. When the curtain rose q
gayly dressed herald, Miss Anita
Sands, stepped forward and after a
fourishing peal from her trumpet ex-
tended hearty greeting to all and in
troduced "Mr. William Shakespeare,
Gent" who was seated on an elevated
platform at desk, where he listened
to extracts from eight Of his most IA
miliar plays, acted upon an Elizabeth
an stage, chapters, episodes, which
showed the historical, tragic, romantic
and comical side Of the greatest play
wright Of the ages.
The pageant was conceived by Eg-
bert Figaro, q student of the Universi-
ty Of Edinburgh, Scotland, and char
ter member Of the club. Mr. Figaro's
brilliant idea met with hearty support
from the club, and J. K. Bruce was
made general director, with A. A.
SchOmburg as assistant A cash prize
was subscribed, to be presented to the
best actor or actress taking part in the
pageant.
Following are the acts presented and
names Of the chief participants:
FIRST EPISODE.
Macbeth" act /, scene Z; act 2, scene
| 1.-Macbeth, p. A. McDougall: Lady Mac
beth. Mrs. p. A. McDougall.
| aECONn EpJS0DE
"Othello." act 9, scene 3.-Emilia, Miss
N. Bell; Iago. II. Eustace Williams
THIRD EPISODE.
"As You Like It," act l. scene 1; act g.
scene 1-Rosalnd, Miss c. Husbands;
Touchstone, e. Figaro: Orlando, Roland
Taylor; Audrey. Miss ]. Blanchette; Celia,
Miss G. Franklin: William. R. Maloney
FOURTH EPISODE.
Romeo and Juliet" (the balcony scene),
act I, scene 2-Romeo. d. Gilbert Citizens;
juliet, Mrs. A. d. Citizens
FIFTH EPISODE.
Hamlet" act 3, scene 2-Hamlet, @.
Woods; Ophelia, Nine. L. G. Randolph
SIXTH EPISODE.
Merchant Of Venice" act T. scene L.
Duke, ]. Lewis, Gratiano, G. Bryce; Anto-
MO. L. George; Shylock. H. Lucas; Bas-
sanio. Mr.. Benjamin; Nerissa. Mrs. A.
Inniss; Portia, Mrs. Nellie Y. Williams
SEVENTH EPISODE.
Julius Caesar" act g. scene Uhe
market place in Rome. .-Brutus, H. Tyne;
Mark Antony, b. Corbis; Calpurnia, Nine.
Osborne
EIGHTH EPISODE.
"King Henry vIII.," act Z scene A.
King Henry +. Maloney; Queen Cath