Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-02-11
BRIGHT BURLESQUFRS
PLEASING PLAY
Dainty Damsels and Demure Ma
irons Before FoOtlights to Help
the S. P. c. A.
MRS. MECLEARY STAR CO0KLADY
Love OF Animals Drives Society to the
Stage---SpleDdid Performance by
Amateurs at the Colonial
Theatre

last night on the third act OF George
H. Broadhurst's three-act farce com
edy, why Smith Left Home" at the
Colonial Theatre, Lieut. H. H. Don
avin received an ovation He had
staged and directed the play given
by The Bright Burlesquers. with Mrs
John Barnes and Mr.. w. T. Cluverius
additions TO last years cast
Calls for "Donavin. "Donavin"
brought, or rather caused TO be drag
ged that young stage manager and dI-
rector. TO the front, gray sweater and
all. but his modesty forbade him TO
tarry even one minute to acknowledge
the ovation given him by the large
and fashionable audience that filled the
Colonial Theatre last night. both audi
forum and balcony.
Too much praise cannot be given
Lieutenant Donavin for the success Of
the splendid performance, which is
largely due to his efforts Already he
has offers to take the company" on
the road. but with him, duty comes first
and. remembering the oath he took to
serve his country, and that country's
intense state at this time, on the ques-
tiOn of preparedness" Lieutenant
Donavin will hold on to the navy Job.
rather than take his splendid COM
pany on the road
Sharing the honors with Lieutenant
Donavin for the success of the play,
is Miss Nancy Walton, the business
manager To Miss Waltons untiring
efforts a large part of The success is
due. She entered into the project for
the benefit of the Annapolis S. p. c. A.
with heart and soul, and got behind The
cast pushing the work of rehearsals to
the finish. She saw to the stage bus
mess and all that pertains thereto with
that snap and vim that gave ii go"
and for which she is characteristics and
made the show the success it was.
Without her capable business manage
ment it would have been impossible to
drive society TO the stage" even for
tn love of animals, and TO whip the cast
into the condition that made the per
| Torrance go off, without hitch. BY
the way, Miss Walton is treasurer and
managerial hnancier of the Annapolis
S. p. c. A, and she knows the depleted
This, to say the least. is inspiring TO
most treasurers' with the soicety's in
trest at heart, when they hold office
But enough Of the singers, we must
not forget the song The play was
well staged all settings being in keep
ing with the time and circumstance.
the three acts being laid, morning, af-
ternon and evening, in John Smiths
home, a comfy" honey, domicile,
that was invaded in the early days OF
Smiths honeymoon by relatives OF his
wife, much to the disgust of the newly
weds
For some time people in Annapolis
and Naval Academy have been Won
dering Why Smith Left Home" Last
night il developed on the stage that he
really did not leave home, but was on
/ the verge of leaving, not as most men
are, because of the cook. but because
/ of an improving case of relativeitis
/ No indeed" 1t was not the cook. for
she was the cream of the performance.
/ the very essence OF the cast. But Of
/ her, more anon.
! The character OF Mrs. John Smith
was impersonated by Mrs. John Barnes.
/ better known to Annapolis as Miss
! Gretchen Banks. Mrs. Barnes is no
i stranger among local amateurs and she
maintained in last nights performance
/ the high standard won by her or pre-
vious occasions as an amateur actress.
Indeed, Mrs. Barnes so nearly ap-
4 proaches the professional class. she
I COltId raadiIxr ba Y,;g4alra,, Co. i, ss,o.1
actress at any time
AS Mr.. John Smith. Commander Wat
! T. Cluverius sustained the honors he
won years ago in the amateur perform
ance of Carmen, as Jose. His act
ing is finished and natural and he in
terpreted the character with that de-
/ gree of perfection that stamps him an
actor above the amateur class. Both
Mrs. Barnes and Mr. Cluverius ably
/ sustained the play. having most of the
lines and the greater part of the act
ing, cast as they were in the hero and
heroine parts.
Too much cannot be said of the char
acterization of Miss Smith. lady i'm
waiting. impersonated by Mrs. 3. B.
Wygant. 1t was a difficult role for
Mrs. Wygant to assume. but finished
piece OF acting on her part. Mrs. Wy
gants Characterization of the lady of
doubtful age. Smiths maiden sister
waiting for a husband, but preferring a
titled one, was Interpreted by her in
a faultless manner Her makeup was
in keeping with the character, and her
Interpretation was wonderful
maid, Elsie" and Mrs. LeBourgeois.
as Roberts bride OF a day." was
esweet and charming Mrs. Kenyon.
cast as Julia, a "touchingIy clever
girl" the lady's maid in the Smith
family, gave a dainty. coy characteri-
cation and did clever piece of act
ing. She filled the part to nicely.
Mr.. Symington had small part as
Mrs. Smiths brother, Robert, and made