Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-04-17
RUSTIC ROMEO
MADE GREAT HIT
Home Talent Play Last Night Net
ted Red Cros. Cause $244.s0.

A packed house greeted willnar's
amateur actors in the presentation Of
the home talent play. "A Rustic Romeo"
at the Willmar Opera House last NIGHT
Tor the benefit Of the Red Cross. Ev-
cry available seat in the building was
taken and probably a hundred or two
people were turned from the door.
Inc play, which was a rustic comedy.
%%s1na opening ana interspersed with numerous
was delivered with such pep and IN
such q classy fashion as to completeiv
surprise the many friends and towns.
people who had turned out to see the
Mr.: Elmar Broberg Of New London
was IN charge Of the play and it's grand
success is mostly due to his genius as
ana sce0fc and to his supply Of costumes
Is doubly deserving Of praise for hav,
ing put IN his time without charge and
donated his expenses. '''>-
18th The total receipts for the evening were
tz, f1oo:ov eS*1 ana the Red Cross was enriched
We have been requested to express
me thanks Of the Red Cross Society to
MISS MISS Edith H. Nelson. who has spent
committee. " VI 'ne
The first scene was main street Of
Chowderville, fishing village on Long
ond scene was Doolittle's hotel on the
Fourth Of July where the wedding of
Rustic Romeo took place.
Miss Hilda Greenfield and Mrs. Orrin
Rectations in their respective roles Of
Evalina Upper, Belle Of Chowderville
and Mrs. Sarah Ellen Spriggs, looking
f9edit for Third 3ar the Miss ee1ed
handled her part. AS a demure little
maiden, forever sought by Htnk Spin
ney, she was great. Mrs. Reddeld had
a great makeup and caused many a
Florence Kielty took the juvenile
lead, which could not have fallen to a
better character, being perfectly natural
Eleanor Swenson as Miss Dee. the
lone lorn critter Of the village had a
costume which looked its part. She
was vSs good ana ana Was sc given applause when
ookne an or money with wheh to bSy
patent medicines and worrying over the
awful condition Of this cruel world.
Merald Tollefson as John Jabe Doo-
Vie Vile and % Lars % Peterson as s Sid a RoSerts,
who yearned for the Great White way,
proved themselves to be some perform
ers: Merald was ever proposing to some
ona in sad weeR me
clinging disposition wishes to meet a
nice young man etc. - Lars was always
looking Tor job to make money for
his trip to New York City.
Frank Sather, as Grandpaw Blue, the
oldest inhabitant looked his part. He
had little to say but his makeup COM
ing, on the wind-up with his veteran
uniform was piece Of art.
Walter Erickson as Azariah Figg, the
storekeeper and postmaster OF the WILL
age, was quite comedian. Having re-
solved never to marry owing to- the high
cost OF supporting q woman, was found
to be easily led; before the end OF the
play, he became the third husband of
Mrs. Sarah Ellen Spriggs.
Elmar Broberg as Hink Spinney who
peddled tinware and hardware every
where proved an interesting character
He took his part like a veteran. Altho
deeply in love with Evalina Tupper, the
village dressmaker, he was too timid to
propose but one dark, dark night" these
two popular young people came to an
understanding.
The patriotic finale was splendid. It
was in the nature of musical tableaux
in which the entire cast, augmented by
the chorus girls, a Red Cross nurse q
sailor, a "Sammy' Uncle Sam" and the
Goddess Of Liberty took part Miss
Hazel Nelson took the part of the nurse:
Roy Erickson the sailor; Oscar Hoag-
berg, the soldier; Eben E. Lawson, Unc-
le Sam; and Miss Lille Noren, God
dess of Liberty.
The chorus girls, who appeared sew
eral times in the play, were Ida Sander
son, Minnie r. Nelson, Hazel Nelson,
Helga Berg, Mabel Magnuson and Edith
H. Nelson. Their different costumes