Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-11-24
NAME PRINCIP
NLITTLE OPERA
Prominent Soloists of City to
Have Star Parts in Sunshine
Benefit, Out Somewhere

That the Sunshine Society al
ways gives you something for your
money and uses your money in a
good cause Is we'll known to the
many people who have helped from
year to year to make their benefits
a success financially. Only once in
two years do they come before the
public and this year were most for
tunate in securing an operetta with
a military setting.
Act I opens with an invitation to
visit Brittany; the scene a field at
sundo"n and groups of fisher
maidens, vintagers, lamp-lighters,
bread sellers, sabot makers, fisher
men, B. eton lads and lasses make a
flashing touch of color in this pic
turesque setting. Into this crowd
comes the village gossip, Mother
Michaud (Mrs. Frank Fager) who
proceeds to impart the latest ,gos-
sip to the villagers. Her authority
is disputed by Pompom, the town
notary. (Abner Hartman), who
chides them for their general in
tent in town gossip. He tells them
to-day he has received a report that
the rulal districts are to be visited
Scarcely has this information been
given when into their midst comes
lieutenant Leroux paul Mil
Teri AM at once calls for volunteers.
Some Of the men are thrilled-even
the m1sical genius George Sutton)
stops his dreaming and enlists. prom
ising the village that he will COM
pose song which will lead France
to victory. Babbette miss Mary
Belle Corbett) weeps when she hears
of jeans wow" and is consoled by
Marie miss Katherine Dubbs) who
has lost her sweetheart, the village
tinker tWilliam Bretz.)
Into this great confusion comes
Clarice (Mrs. Roy Cox, the village
belle. and appeals to the patriotism
of French men and women in a
ringing appeal "Citizens, your coun-
try calls; quickly enlists all but the
old mon. After their departure it is
Clarice who organizes relief societies,
knitting clubs and the many trades
it will now be necessary for the
women to assume. While waiting
the little boys play soldier. the little
girls play nurse, and even the quaint
little RI eton babies sing songs their
grandmothers teach them
War Time Scenes
Act II depicts the same scene
two years later. Every week they
have planned for the Homecoming
and OF evenings have gathered on
the market square, where they have
eagerly watched the bulletin boards
for news and passed the time by
planning the various ways they will
entertain, when they do come home
victorious. Under the street lights
the older women weave laurel
wreathc while crowd of peasants
practice native dance. These are
soon Joined by the gander girls, who
are carefully guarding a flock of
geese to be used at the feast, their
"Quack Little Gray Goose" being
among the big hits of the village
plans "Click-Click-Cl Click-Knit
---Knit-Knit Sweaters, Socks and
Helmets Gray" brings a crowd who
have done much to make their
memory dear to the boys "out
there"
Each night the strain becomes
more tense when suddenly a mes
senger comes, telling of a victory
near by and the return of the boys
LOT week 1uflOuSh. All is changed
to Joy, decorations are quickly hung
out and their welcome-Victors
Brave-rings far and near. Pom
pom is master of ceremonies, and
in ringing speech closes by extend
ing an invitation to a banquet in
their honor. Lieutenant Leroux asks
that before they go he may be per-
mitted to show the people who
stayed at home - our latest and
greatest Allie, Uncle Sam, Miss Lib
erty Bond, Home Defense, Boy
Scouts and last, but not least, the
sending of American soldiers and
sailors, leads up to a masterful
chorus of "Allies Up and On to
Glory" closing, as it must, with
THE Star Spangled Banner" brings
to close an operetta which is sure
to be both entertaining and up to the
minute in interest
Remember the dates, December
rs, the place the Orpheum theater,
and that the Sunshine Society has
voted 20 per cent of their proceeds
for war relief work.