The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-01-18
Bewitching Musical Fantasy
Presented By Mt. Vernon
Talent
DELIGHTFUL MUSIC
CHARMING DANCERS
Best Amateur Production Ev-
er Presented In City; Sec
ond Performance Tonight

The bewitching musical fantasy,
"Fi.Fi OF the Toy Shop" presented
Thursday evening at the high school
auditorium by local talent, to pack
ed house, was without doubt the most
elaborate and best amateur perform
ance ever given in the city of Mt.
Vernon.
The delightful, tuneful music, the
charming dancers, and the brilliant
electrical effects, together with the
many gorgeous costumes, places the
production in the front ranks of all |
amateur and many professional COM
panies.
The young people who portrayed
the principal roles were all excep-
tionally clever and showed by the
quality of their work that much care
had been used in selecting the diff
ferent characters.
Great credit should be- given Miss
Mabel E. Bush, sent here by the John
B. Rogers Producing Co., who re-
hearsed and staged the production.
The individuals and the dancers
showed clearly the result OF an ex-
cellent director.
Prior to the production, musical
numbers were given by the orches.
ira composed of Mrs. Sawvel, Miss
Dorothy Spence, Leroy Kells and
Fletcher Devin. The orchestra also
played for the solos, choruses and
dances during the play
The theme of the play is this:
Bonnie, the toymaker's daughter, is
wandering in the woods at the close
Of day, and is overtaken by the Sand
man, who casts her into magic
sleep.
Bonnie has wonderful dream
wherein the bisque and wooden crea-
lures of the toy shop come into life,
and many strange adventures befall
her and the toys before the morning
light scatters the charm. The open
ing scenes include the woods near the
toy shop and the toy shop with all the
dolls.
1t would be difficult to review each
principal character, so we'll did each
assume the part assigned
The cast OF characters of the prin-
cipals follows
Bonnie--NIrs. Robert Armstrong.
Fi.Fi-Miss Dora Grosscup.
Witch--Mrs. l.. w. Coy Jr.
Ink Spot-Mrs Howard c. Gates.
Loosey-Mrs. Everett Miller.
Bo-Peep--Mrs. Edwin Jacobs.
Aurelia-Miss Helen Huntsberger.
Solo Dancer--Miss Bessie Devin.
Man in the Moon-Joseph Cleeland.
Sand Man--Lawrence Sperry.
Captain Barnace-Charles Copper.
Prince Lolypop-James Shields.
Lieut.. Tin Heart - Kenneth Ran
som.
Tack ADMINISTRATION Jacobs.
Tavs Hs9d-Gladys Murrin.
Jap Dolls-Ma:y Wills and Eloise
Scott.
Talking Doll-Edith Forty.
: Walking Doll-Harriet Wiliet.
Clowns v Collin Months, George
Kahrl, Billy Kahrl.
Interesting specialties were intro
duced in each act, the singing by
Miss Dora Grosscup, Mrs. Edwin JAG
obs, Miss Pauline Smith, Joseph
Cleeland, Kenneth Ransom and Law
renee Sperry being greatly enjoyed by
the large audience.
The jumping jacks, by their weird
antics, inspired terror to the hearts OF
all the dolls, and their dance was SC
trained that each dancer indeed act
ed real jack-in-the-box.
The china dolls and chorus furnish
ed much amusement. The dolls ex
ecute an original clever dance and
the clowns, in their attempt to make
the dolls behave, reminded one of the
clown leaders in great circus.
The paper dolls, attired in cunning
costumes OF crepe paper, made quite
a pretty scene as they gracefully
danced about the stage.
The live letter blocks scene, put
on by Prince Lollypop to show his
ability as a speller, created much
amusement. =
The song by the Christmas fairies
100 OF them, with little Odessa Du
binsky as the solo dancer, was one o.
the charming features of the produc
tion. The little tots, all dressed II
white, made great hit and were
compelled to sing their chorus foul
times.
Last, but not least was the dance
Of the bridesmaids, with Miss Bessie