The copper era and Morenci leader., 1917-05-11
ELKS' MINISTRIES PROVE GRAND
 SUCCESS
Best Play Ever Put on by Local Talent. Everyone Star. Pleases Vast Audience. Large Sum Added to Charity Box of No. 1174. Standing Room at a Premium.

Elks' show,
 Mighty fine;
 Don't deserve
 But Just Line-Era Poet.
 According to R. w. Stanton, who grossly accused the Copper Era of de voting from a column to column and a half to inconsequential happenings, the above should suffice as a chroni- cle of the big E1ks' Minstrel which held the boards at, the Princess Thea tre on Saturday evening. But with apologies to none we refuse to devi- ate from a set course and will en- deavor to give the boys all that is coming to them; and they certainly deserve it.
 The Clifton public was somewhat prepared for what was to come, as the reports from Morenci where the performance was given on last Thurs day night were all to the good. But justice in this instance went astray and the Clifton audience received the surprise of it's life. In fact, profes- sional players had nothing on the To- cal aggregation, and it is the concen- sus of opinion that the performance was the best ever witnessed in the district, old established road shows not excepted. The talent found among the local people of Clifton and Morenci goes to show that the Elks are composed of men of no little his trionic ability and who carried them selves on the stage with a composure and sang froid unequaled among older members of the actors fraternity. Action was the keynote of the whole show and there was not dull moment from the rise to the fall of the curtain; the tedious waits and uncertainty so common in amateur performances was wholly lacking.
 Shortly after seven o'clock the thea Ire began to fih and at the rise of the curtain at S:15 standing room was a premium, people being packed to the doors and many waiting on the out side After an overture by Adams orchestra the curtain arose on the opening chorus, Carry Me Back to Old Virginia when the boys were given an ovation that lasted for sev- eral minutes. From this time on things moved along with snap and energy and the different numbers on the program called for repeated en- cores.
  one member of the cast as each was a star in his particular part.s The solos as well as choruses were eXcellently rendered, the jokes on local people were new and everything that smacked of staleness was eliminated. P. Riley, an old show man of many years standing, acted as interlocutor, and his dignified boise had all the earmarkS of an old timer at the business.
 Stanton and Priest, the two jolly end men, we're we'll chosen for their parts and there is lurking suspicion that both have done time on the legitimate stage. The other end men D. L. Forester, Tom Quinn, Walter Kohn and E., c. Fitzgerald were also there with the goods and sprung some spicy jokes and poems that were hear tily received. The chorus consisting of E. H. Wooley, Frank Sanders, An, drew Liddell, George Drysdale. John Starret, T. F. Romanes, K. R. Um- fleet and Forrest Andrews was eX. cellent, the voices harmonizing per fectly. Special mention should be given the solo numbers as they were exceptionally fine and called for re Kohn, T. P Romanes, R. w. Stan IL. audience in this respect.
 In the second part the dancing by D. L. Forester and Walter Kohn in individual acts brought down the house, these specialties being as good as were ever witnessed on the local stage. Tom Quinn in his comical musical act and F. Priest in comic ditty kept the house in roar and brought forth repeated applause.
 Miss Hitchcock and MT. Stanton in their singing and talking numbers were fine, the former having voice of rare sweetness and one which was most pleasing. This musical number also called for several encores. The song Memories" rendered by MT. Stanton was well received. The sole was accompanied by fireside scene in which the electrical effects were excellently managed by Jack Albrecht chief electrician.
 Uncle Jasper's Jubilee'' closed the entertainment in which were introduC ed the champion cakewalkers, MT. and Mrs. Walter Kohn, Miss Wilma Harrison and E. c. Fitzgerald, Miss Garret and F. Priest, and the little coIored pickanninnies, Alice and Will liam Kelly Old time southern songs and dancing galore was feature o1 the grand finale. Laurie Smith, as the fat nanny at the wash tub, had everyone guessing and his identity was suspected by but few.
 As an appreciation of the enter tainment by the large and enthusi astic audience a half dozen boquets were presented to the company.
 The success of the undertaking is due in great part to the untiring eff forts and energy devoted to the pro duction by Ben Romm, director ir charge, the affair being wholly loc,