The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-01-10
A REAL GOOD SHOW
BY BARRE PEOPL',S
Large Audience Was Very Much Tic..led
By Performance Last
Evening.

AZFCuiuks
A large audience felt repaid for theil
money and the Barre City hospital viii
benefit largely from the receipts obtained
from the initial performance of the
"Squag Holler Follies," staged in the
opera house last evening. Barre is NOT
relying on the one-night.stand road
shows these days and last nights exhi
bition by local thespians and comedians
goes far in relieving the local show bust
ness, for some Of the older ones that
graced the footlights to SAY their pieces
made as big hit and received perhaps
more attention than many a famous
stage artist.
The piece was devoid of that which re-
sembles plot and, for that part, no one
felt lost without it. There were snatches
of romance intermingled with town gos-
sip and checker games that took place in
a carefully arranged town department
store, better known to the Squag and
Green residents as the country grocery
store run by Jed Snodgrass,
Bright and catchy tunes introduced
from some of the latest and best musical
comedies of the day were enjoyably in.
terpolated by soloists and a large sing
ing and dancing chorus. The Landi- For.
sell orchestra added much to the musical
Interpretation.
The costumes were tastefully chosen
and added much to the general appear
ance of the entertainment.
Tom Mercer in the role of "Jed Snod.
grass" storekeeper, postmaster and
Squag Holler McAdoo, was there as
everyone knows he can be and hrs facial
interpretations of the character were a
revelation even to his closest friends
Especially in his rendering of wal
Swan when he was repeatedly called
back for encores, was his part in the
program noticeably likeable
"Bill' Duthie, as the town romp, Like
Lummox,' substituting for Fred Ban.
croft, who was detained by illness
brought the house down repeatedly. 9th.
er members Of the cast which we're equal
ly as entertaining as those mentioned
were Constable Swanney," the terror OF
criminals and stray dogs. A. j. Guthrie
Squire Jenkins" strong for the law and
plug terbaccer, John Leslie; ELMER Hos.
kins, choir leader, James Bennett
Chief Pettingiil,' who fires while you
wait, Roy Smith; "Cy Hemlock," the
checker champion, Earl Cutler; ''Will
Medders,' Squag Holler thrush, Harry
Clark; "Dick Grant, the city slicker
Fred Inglis; "Brutus Belasco Booth" for
whom Shakespeare wrote the character
Of Hamlet, Guy George; Sally Jones,
Leona Lamb; Sissy Simpkins,' Gladys
Webber
Among the solqsts Miss Glee Wood
sang at her best James Bennett was
received with the usual ovation from a
Barre audience; Fred Inglis and Leona
Lamb together sang sweetly, and enter,
tanning solos by John "Cuddy" Duncan
A. j. Guthrie, Roy Smith and Gladys
Webber were well received
The tantalizing, Tickle Toe" dance
introduced by Eunicc Baker Philbrook
and Miss Josephine Mitchell of Montpel-
ier, who substituted last evening for Miss
Marguerite Brown, detained BY illness
was very pretty and came in for great
ovation.
One Of the most laughable parts in the
entire show takes place between Roy
Smith and Lillian Roberts. Wandering
into the militaristic, Captain Smith gives
the command, Right face, and Rookie
Roberts replies, "Shore it's me right
fuice'
Among the musical selections were,
Honeymoon Inn" by Miss Lamb and
girls; '"The Magic Of Your Eyes" James
Bennett "I'd Love TO Be a Monkey in
the Zoo" Gladys Webber and kiddies
"Wal ] Swan, T. J. Mercer DO II for
Me- Miss Lamb and Mfr. Inglis; Have a
Smile Harry Clark; classical selections
from the Squag Holler Symphony band /;
Basket of Peaches Glee Wood and
girls; Daniel in the Lions Den, A. j.
Guthrie; "The Worst Is Yet to Come, .
Mr. Smith, Lillian Roberts and rockies
Picking Peaches Down in Georgia" John
Duncan.
After the performance members of the
company and those of the audience who
were so disposed had chance to dance
on the stage with music by the orchestra
Altogether it was a program that mer-
tied even larger attendance than it had
last night and there is no doubt but that
every seat will be occupied tonight when
the curtain goes up for the second per
formance, when stage fright will have
left the youthful venturers and when
ensembles will run off more smoothly
than before.
Much of the credit for getting in shape
such a large company-should go to Mr..
and Mrs. Louis Philbrook. Their work
with local theatricals is we'll known in
Barre.
The committee who worked hard to
make it a success include the names of
I. j. Mercer, A. J. Guthrie, William
Duthie and d. !. Mcmillan.
For the benefit of the doubtful ones it
may be stated on authority that the en-
tire proceeds 60 to the hospital fund,
The stagers are paid certain amount
outright for their services rather than
receiving percentage of the receipts
And thanks are due to the advertisers,
who almost met the expenses by their
M tronagye of thp prOuTau1 hooElnt