The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1918-03-14
The Hurdy Gurdy Girl.
Miss Bridgham's Latest Comedy, Makes
its First Appearance in Belfast.

|
its First Appearance in Belfast.
The Hurdy Gurdy Girl, written by Miss
Gladys Ruth Brigham of Somerville,
Mass, the talented. young play-writer
and favorite author of the Belfast High
school, was presented March 7th in the
Colonial Theatre by the class of 1918.
There was very large and enthusiastic
audience present and only words OF COM
mendation were heard of the new comedy,
the cast coach and all concerned. Every
thing went off with an accuracy and pre-
cision rarely ever seen in an amateur
play, particularly with SO large cast.
Mrs. S. A. Parker, their coach, cast the
play and has had the earnest co-opera-
ton of the faculty, particularly that of
the principal, Mr.. l.. }. west
On account of the authors special in
terest in the B. H. S., the class was per-
mitted to use her original copy for their
lines AMI they have since been notified
that she had sold the rights to Baker &
Co. of Boston and requested the names Of
the cast to be used in the book as the
original players. After submitting the
cast Mrs. Parker received the following
note from the publishers in regard to the
spelling of some of the sir names: They
sound queer and as if a typographical error
had been made, for instance Miss Emma
Slipp, Miss Graisbary and Miss keech.
We have never heard these odd names
before and would like to know if they are
correct"
If Miss BRIGHAM had attempted to
have written the play for this class in
particular it could not have been more
apt. There are three acts and the scenes
are laid in a Massachusetts, town. The
text is bright, catchy and easily COM
mitted.
The curtain rises on a garden scene,
where the Bachelor Girls Club is ar
ranging for a garden party when they
are to entertain rival club of girls. In
an attempt to do their best they engage
hurdy gurdy man and his daughter to en-
tertain The man arrives, but does not
bring his daughter Equal to the emer-
ency the Bachelor. Girl > substitute one
of their number
The plot of the play centers around
these two-Antonio Columbus, Theodore
Bramhall, and his daughter Carlotta,
Miss Alice Roswell. The former looked
his part to perfection and sustained 1t
throughout. His broken English was al
so very good. The only thing easily
recognized was his unfailing good nature
and the dago part calls for that. Miss
Roswell's S costumes were most becoming
and stylish. She carried her masquerade
to happy finish. She made captivat-
ing Italian maiden and was especially
graceful in the dances the part required.
The two older characters Simon Luggate
and his maiden sister were very well Sus-
| tanned by Harland Pattershall and Miss
Emma Sipp. Theodore Luggate, the son
and Harvard student, was impersonat-
ed by Kenneth Merriam in decidedly
happy manner, while Una Greenlaw as
Marian Luggate, was very pleasing. Miss
Laura Morris lost her own identity as the
pert and pleasing maid of the Luggate
home Misses Geneva Stephenson and
Kathleen Colcord of the Bachelor Girls
Club were exceptionally good in the
minor parts.
1t was only required of the rest of the
cast to act natural as B. H. S. pupils
The other young ladies in dainty gowns
were katherine Kittridge, Essie Piper,
MarEaret Nickerson, Helen Keech Anita
Trask, Vera Greenlaw, Frances Wyllie,
Thelma Smith, Eleanor Bruce, Edna
Trundy, Chastine Stevens, Marian Greer,
Elva Meservie, Doris Graisbary, Leona
Innes, Ruth Wiley and Louise Weber;
Theodore's college chums, William PEN
dleton, Willard Jennys, Joseph Perkins,
Harold burgess, Winfield Mariner and
Evan Wilson, were all fine in their parts.
Miss Thelma Smiths soprano solo in
the first act was pleasant surprise to all
who had never heard her sweet voice.
The class chorus singing was also good
particularly the Swing, Swing, Swing
song with Miss Frances Wyllie swinging
in the rope swing, making very realis-
tic scene.
The music by the B. H. S. orchestra
directed by Mr.. E. S. Pitcher and the
musical selections by Dean Knowlton
with Miss Julia Littlefield at the piano
were very we'll rendered and greatly en-
joyed.
The cast presented their coach, Mrs.
Parker, with beautiful bouquet. At the
close of the performance they went to
the Darby parlors for refreshments.
The net proceeds were S14O.
Freight by Motor Trucks.