The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-08-11
WAS SPLENDID EFFORT
The Production of Julius Caesar Was
Credit to Town.


Clarks Woods, brought the theatrical
production OF the Public Welfare AS
sociation to triumphant close.
The success or the previous per
formances had been so marked and
the enthusiasm OF the audiences so
great that the Public Welfare AS
sociation felt that the extra perform,
ance given as an honorarium to Mr.,
and Mrs. Elliot should be open to the
public. Certainly it was in keeping
with the spirit and aspirations of the
association that the town should be
given, free of charge, an opportunity
to see play OF the highest type.
We may well be proud OF the gen.
erous community-spirit of the citizens
who made the town their guests, but
we must also be proud OF the way in
which the town responded to the inyi.
tation. Some of the very few skepti.
cal spirits to be found in Bennington
whispered fear that since it was
Shakespeare, the crowd would be
bored and unruly, or the Bennington.
ians, scornful of free entertainment,
would allow the cast to play to empty
benches. But they did not know their
town.
One thousand seats were filled, and
seventy-fve automobiles were parked
Moreover, large audience establish
ed itself upon the slopes of the gras-
sy ampitheatre; groups of boys were
stretched at their ease in the shad.
oWs; children were clustered, in pic
mic fashion, beyond the benches, and
detached grownups had strolled well
into the wood to see if it were really
true that one could hear perfectly
from river to road.
1t was an audience to inspire a cast.
There was the enthusiastic body of
people who might be regarded as the
habitual audience, since they had at
tended two, three. yes, four perform
ances, and who again displayed the
joys OF anticipation. Then there
we're those who had not seen the play
before, who were all eagerness and in.
terest. There were young Shakes
pearian scholars who, having taken a
hand at reading and learning Julius
| Caesar" in the classroom, were quite
! prepared to prompt the actors. The
audience on the seats, the benches, in
the cars, and in the hospitable woods
made a sum total of receptive enthus-
iasni.
For two hours and a half there was
| the most quiet and appreciatiye at
tention. Shakespeare though 1t was
the play took possession of the as
| sembly, and il was an evidence OF
their intelligence that the finest lines
the best bits Of Interpretation, met
with quick applause. Since there is
no natural soundingboard at the back
of our out-ofdoor theatre. applause
does not carry well, and consequently
does not fully express the enthusiasm
of the audience. Nevertheless, two
curtain calls were effected, one fol
Edward Jenney, after his Mark Antony
I speech, the other after the quarre
scene. when Arthur Elliot. with char
acteristic modesty and appreciation O
his cast, led Mr.. Mills and Anastasit
Fitzgerald to the footlights The aud
ience attempted to pay their tribute
to Mrs. Elliot, whom they recognized
as the genius of the hard work of Tn,
play, but she was too much absorbed
in the placing Of properties to accep
Il.
! Perhaps It was the atmosphere o
interest and appreciation that in
spired the cast to do their utmost
Certainly there has been no bette
performance, and many of the sea
soned patrons pronounced it the best
As before there was smoothnes
and finish Of effect that is usually tn
despair of amateurs. Four times ha
Julius Caesar" been given without
single prompt is in itself a
achievement. II is OF interest to not
that on Tuesday evening the wres
ling which is such an efectiye part G
the first scene was done by subst
tutes. Last Friday night the regula
participants, Louis Levin and Jane
8 Moore. wrestled so earnestly thg
both were slightly disabled and sine
then Thomas Madigan and Walto
Hlarwood have taken their places a
ceptably.
Not the least of the admirable fe
lures of this last performance va
the generous spirit shown by the ca
in giving another evening of work ,
n contribution of gratitude to Mr. an
, Mrs. Elliot Mr.. Donnelly and his o
chestra gave their services with equ
!. generosity, and all together. cas-
musicians, committees and helpe
worked for the success of the pc
. formance with n zeal which had I
= source In genuine appreciation
:, Mr.. and Mrs. Elliot and their work
', Miss Sophie Wilds of Middlebur
:. the business manager of the play, h
" entered into the interests of the pu
y. lie Welfare Association with earne
- ness and efficiency, and she has be-
- personally responsible for n multitu
:, of details of business and stage MI
I" Wilds has co.opcrated with the exc,
4, tive committee. George l--Swks, Io
=! Mulligan. Mrs. George Graves. NJ
II Robert Healy and Miss Jeanette y
? kins, who have given an incredil
N amount of time and energy to Il
, community interest.
" All in all, the production of "JulI
" Caesar" has proved to be another
" those splendid efforts "by the to-
q, and for the town for which Bennil
~ ton is becoming famous.
ar -
m WEATHER FORECAST