The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-26
Dr. Smirnow Thanks
 Cast For Success of
 Shakespearean Maqsue

l of shakespeare, when it was enacted | by a. picked cast in Beardsley park last week no doubt acalls for an ex- pression of thanks from me, the au- thor and organizing director or ene
 Masque. Iwish first of all to thank
 the public for its generous attention at the performances, for all the cast felt that to be the greatest encourage-
 ment and recognition of kheir merits. It was onl to be regretted that the rain and indictment weather prevented the giving of the third performance for which there was such a popular demand that the telephone bells of all the members of the cast and of all in an way connected with the Masque kept ringing constantly, and requests poured in on all these wires, for an- other performance, while a number Of
 out of town pebble stayed in the city over Sunday. Monday and Tuesday, hoping to be able to see "TAe Masque of Shakespeare" whose praises they theard sung so loudly in their own nome towns. There were people heres from as far up the state as New Ion don, from Stamford,l Hartford, New Haven, and from almost all other points of Connecticut. many of whom 1 have gotten in touch with different members of the cast and either ex. pressed their appreciation of the play CT regretted at having missed 1t when lit became apparent that the third per fornance was hindered by the weather. Numerous people likewise asked whether we will not give another play next year, and the same question now sticks in the minds of all the perform tt. y,1-, year? That will depend on the f1nan- cial support we will receive. There are good reasons to believe that it will far more substantial than it was this year, for the reason that now it was only an experiment. next year it will | be a fact People were sceptical, whether Bridgeport could produce the goods, next year no such doubt will evAr enter into ony ones mind
 I, To produce a pageant of so ambi- | tious nature must cost considerable
 money, especially for the first time when every one connected with it is green and inexperienced at the work.
 It cost us exactly s1,74S.12. exclusive of the music, which is paid by the Board l of Park Commissioners, and thefwhol production costs $2,16S.12 Total re- ceipts from all sources collected and still due amount to $1.655.50. Total exl tpenditures on all items excepting the
 music $1.74s12, which leaves deficit tof $92.62. This deficit would have not only been wiped out had not the | weather been against us, but there | would have been substantial residue to donate to some worthy charitable cause It is my firm belief that with
 the tremendous success we met with ssTv n, r.1y
 way, the results could be doubled the
 year following.
 1 I wish to express my thanks to all
 the members of the Shakespeare Ter lcentenary committee of Bridgeport,
 and to Mayor Wilson as it's chairman. i. | for having acted on this committee and for all the moral support they
 gave the management and the cast
 My especial thanks are due to the
 Board of Park Commissioners and to I all it's members for the kindness and generosity they have displayed toward
 this undertaking, and especially for
 the courtesy and consideration with
 which they have always treated me.
 All the newspapers of the city with | out exception are particlarly entitled to the thanks of the entire cast, of
 myself and of the Shakespeare Ter | centenary committee for the hearty tsupport and wide publicity they gave to the. Masque, for without the newspa-
 pers there can be nothing done. It speaks well for the spirit of a con-
 munity when all the elements can en- ter into so perfect and harmonious an
 accord for the success of a public ben efactien or the achievement of some
 public good. In these generalizations, however, I do not want to omit the po- lice department or neglect to express my thanks to them for the very efff- cient police duty during the perform ance and rehearsals of the Masque
 Finally I wish to disc1aim all credit for myself but herewith desire to re-
 cord my thanks to the cast and eyery- member of it for the excellent work they have done. I thoroughly appre- ciate their endeavors and am glad to record a signal success for them in
 their various roles as the verdict not
 of myself only but of the nearly ten thousand people who witnessed ths rare spectacle. It was the success that
 made the play what it was, and to the
 cast belongs all glory and honor. With
 myself, I am content to give but the | idea, and thanks be to those who carry l 1t out.
 l Particularly do I wish to single out i for special mention Thomas F. Will more. who played the character of