The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-01-03
MASTER SKYLARK'
BY FORIN|GHTlY
ON SATURDAY
Play Adapted from the Book by
John Bennett
THIR1Y-THREE IN The CAST
Story of Runaway Lad Who Rose to
Fame But Whose Great Desire
Was to Return to His Mother

| The next meeting OF the Fortnightly
| will be held at Library hall at three
| O'Clock on Saturday afternoon. Jan
uary 9Th, and Is under the Literature
| committee; Mrs. A. ]. Holden, chair
man. The program will consist of
special music and play, Master
| Skylark," adapted from the book by
John Bennett and given by cast of
thirty-three children. There will also
| be a short explanation of educational
dramatics by Miss Jeanette Perkins,
director of the play. All business
will be omitted from this session OF
the club. and the public will be vel
coined without the usual formality
of guest tickets, by paying twenty
I've cents at the door. Children un'
der six who were unable to attend the
free performance for children last
Saturday and who are accompanied
by parents, will be admitted free.
Men will be as welcome as women,
and 1t is hoped especially that all the
fathers of the performers will be
present to see their children.
AS no programs will be provided,
those who wish to follow the play and
the characters in 1t are advised to cut
out this article and use 1t Saturday.
The opening scene OF the play is
laid in Stratford. England, at the time
OF Queen Elizabeth, Shakespeare and
Ben Jonson. The story deals with a
little lad, Nick Atwood whose father
forbids him to attend the free play
to be given by the Lord High Admir-
ais Companycof travelling players on
May-day, on the ground that all
stageplayers are rogues- Stratford
Council angered by an act of the
Master Player of the troupe. refuses
them license to play in Stratford,
and the players accordingly travel on
TO Coventry, the next town.
Nick Atwood. in revolt against
school and home discipline, runs
away, telling his mates that he Is go
ing TO Coventry to see the stageplay
On the way he meets the Master
player. who, discovering that Nick
has a voice like lark, and wishing
to avenge himself on Stratford Town,
steals the boy, dubbs him Master
Skylark." and takes him to his home
in London. Here Nick is taught sing
ing in the Cathedral School of Music
and Acting. and at Christmas time is
one of a group to sing before Queen
Bess. The queen graciously grants
him any favor he may desire, and the
homesick child begs that he may go
home TO his mother. After weary
Journey, Nick, accompanied by Cice-
ly Carew, the little daughter of the
Master-Player, who has been put into
prison in the meantime, reaches his
home only to be refused entrance by
his father At last, however, through
the kind Offices of Will Shakespeare
and Ben Johnson. Nick gets back to
his mother.
The epidemic of mumps has played
such havoc with the preparation of
the play, that the public is warned
that If the entire present cast is at
home. swollen, and in bed Saturday,
the play will not be given.
Following is the list OF characters.
Herald Doris Harbour
Nick Atwood, master Skylark)
Sam Weichman
Nick's Stratford Schoolmates,
John Woodruff Hall
Walter Theodore Cook
Gerald Robert Levin
Robin John Cole
Mr.. Atwood, Nick's father.
David Shimlintzky
Mrs Atwood, Nick's mother,
Harley Armstrong
Players of the Lord High Admiral's
Company,
CASTOR Carew, Master-Player
Jacob Weichman
Master Haywood Richard Hall
Player, Halsey Cushman
Player, William Wishart
Player. Catherine Coyne
Player, Agnes Jackson
Player, Cecile Jackson
Player, Helen Mcbride
Player, Marion Clisbee
Peasant, William Wishart
Peasant Woman, Mildred Beecher
Peasant Woman. Daisey Loveland
Peasant Child, Elizabeth Dewey
Queen Elizabeth. Philomena Royce
Will Shakespeare Richard Holden
Susan Shakespeare, his daughter,
Elizabeth Thomas
Ben johnson Charles Bennett
Cicely Carew, daughter OF the Master
Player Emma Cartwright
Boys of the Cathedral School of
Music and Acting: Catherine Coyne,
(Colley), Arthur Hall, (Rafe Full
lerton), Ralph Torrance, Wood
hull Hall.
Prompter, Halsey Cushman