The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-05-07
THAT AMATEUR
ENTERTAINMENT

papers to speak of local amateur per-
formances "as one of the best that has
ever taken place in the town." that
'one and all of those taking part dill
so well that it would be invidious to
specialize" and that the hall was
crowded with delighted and appre
ciative audience" That is the kind of
stuff the local reporter is expected to
hand out on such occasions, and II he
did not he would hold an unpopular
niche in the community, and should
he tell the truth as the negro nanny
intimated in the play Wednesday night
he would probably be mobbed, or at
least be responsible for much unhap-
piness.
However, the local stage talent OF
Oroville, under the management and
director, gave vaudeville perform
ance at the Liberty theater -Wednes-
day evening to which can be applied
the positive declaration that it was
not only the best thing of the kind
that has ever been attempted in this
taking part, and the number was large,
did her or his part so we'll that those
parts could hardly have been imprOv-
ed upon by professionals. Not only is
that the opinion of the writer, but the
same opinion has been expressed by
every one who was present, or at least
by every one who was present whom
we have since met. Furthermore the
audience was the largest, and certain
ly the most appreciative, that has ever
assembled in hall in Oroville. The
Liberty was crowded from the stage
to the door, not single seat was va
cant and many had to stand. That the
audience was fully appreciative was
demonstrated by the constant and
continuous applause.
Led to look upon amateur perform
ances with charity mixed with suspic-
ion that some of the numbers at least
would be painfully amateurish, many
and remained to praise. We have seen
many vaudeville performances in
cities that would not compare in mer-
it with the performance of Wednes-
day evening, while the local show was
free of all offensive features which is
rarely if ever the case upon the pro-
fessional stage. From the opening
quartette to the plantation scene that
closed the show every number was
worthy of special mention and favor
able comment, and we regret not hav-
ing the space to give each participant
the full measure of praise that he or
she deserves. Where all did so we'll it
would be unfair and unjust to particu-
larize as to any single number. The
stage settings were appropriate and
artistic, the costumes were handsome,
the performers had their several parts
perfect, there were no undue waits
between numbers, and the only criti-
cism possible was that the program
was trifle too long, but from the way
the audience was enjoying the evening
most Of them would have been ready
and willing to have remained another
hour.
Mrs. Lewis, under whose direction
the performance was staged, is entitl-
ed to special credit for the selection
of the program and her indomnitable
energy in training the large number
of performers taking part. A word of
praise is also due the orchestra, made
up of local musicians, as the music
was an enjoyable feature Of the enter
tainment
The Civic League, the beneficiary of
the entertainment, is to be congratu-
lated, as the treasury of that organi-
zation is very materially fattened by
the receipts of the evening