Evening journal., 1921-03-30
america GRIPS
ON FIRST NIGHT
Hundreds Dance and Sing
in Magnificent Patriotic
Spectacle
rs BENEFIT FOR
DELAWARE A. A. S. r.


bound for more than two hours and
a-half at its local premier in the
Playhouse last evening Scene melt
ed into scene with the swiftness and
smoothness Of picture film and
each was presented as II the hun
dreds Of dancers were performing
the last OF a seasons engagement in
stead Of first-night Offering. Ex-
quisite solo dances were followed by
wonderful ensembles. given with
grace and spontaneity that left no
possible criticism.
America" is presented under the
auspices Of Delaware Consistory. A.
a. $. r.. 32d degree. for the benefit
OF the building fund OF that organi-
zation.
For several years there has not
been such gathering of players In
any one performance in this city
The cast numbers just $50 people.
each OF whom contributes TO the
success OF the musical spectacle. The
production stands for all It's name
implies, patriotism and civic pride.
The perfection Of the performance
In both acts. brought many admirinr
comments upon the splendid train
ing by Mr.. and Mrs. w Mills Davis.
Mr.. Davis while directing the spec
tacle. also is It's author. Mr.. and
Mrs. Davis were ably assisted by di-
rectors and leaders who worked car
nestly and efficiently in working out
every detail OF the magnificent play.
Much OF the success of last nichts
/ performance was also due 10 Mrs
Maude George. Miss Katherine Hunt
/ Goold, Miss Agnes Dunievey. Miss
Nay v. PAUL. Miss Florence Kcogh.
| Miss NJ Faye Alexander and Miss
/ Lillian A. Bulger.
The play is a musical production
Of the past 800 vars and various
/ chapters Of that history are shows
In the most pleasing manner. From
| the opening selection America"
[ played by the orchestra, until the
I final scene in which Miss America"
I with all her many aides are shown
and the star Spangled Banner. is
| played the audience is thrilled boy
the patriotic spirit displayed.
The first scene showing a dozen
I pretty college girls was a delight "a
all. The young women wore DAINTY
summer frocks. and made a pic
turesques effect as they sang THEN
"Rah, rah for the College. Closely
connected with the group Of players
were sorority and fraternity mem.
bers, who pleased with their sons
and dance number. The audicnc,
also approved of the college grand
. mas and grandpas. in their old fash
toned dances.
Then followed phases Of colleg
d life in which the debutantes OF tn,
college town played a prominen
, part Miss Theresa Seller wh,
3 played the role Of the debutanto
b made a charming picture in her pinl
satin frock and lace hat. Th'
! group Of dancers who supported thi
8 scene were we'll trained and wer,
r prettily attired in pink dresses will
T green sashes and picture hats.
One of the songs in the first &C
which delighted every one was givei
by G.. j. Southwel, playing the par
OF the college mascot The groul
of Beta Hi" boys who sang an,
danced in this scene gave a goo,
. / NtA va AANN NNAAfhN WNN p MNNNrs
Perhaps one of the most pleasin,
parts of this act was the gymnasium
acts as given by Leroy +. Sparks
Allen Barton, Fred Herlily and vii
liam Shellady. The young acrobat
greatly pleased. The first act clos
ed with snappy little dance by tn
T, group Of walters and maids. Tn
five campus cops who entertaine
! with dances and songs receive
! much applause.
! As the curtain went up on the sec
- ond act the audience was loud wit
e applause as the scene was most ci
81 fective. Dozens OF Indians wer
@ shown. one feature OF the act wa
10 a solo by ~. Harry Taylor who po,
d lsesses a rich baritone voice. lie va
20 heard az his best last evening. I
I. connection with this scene were m
i cowpunchers. in song and dane
d Miss Lillian Rodman charmed wit
% her dance. She put much enthus
10 asm into her number and was we
received.
No feature OF the spectacle va
received better than the scene
which many little children took pa
Y as Dutch kiddies The group
y players were repeatedly applaudo
as they did their graceful littl
dance. The majority Of those WI
d took part in this number were und,
d years OF age. Very effective wei
y the little girls in blue frocks wit
e white kerchiefs and caps. The litt
l. lads wore yellow bloomers. Mi
II Vera Berg delightfully."- entertained
.e this scene with a solo dance.
N Great praise was also given n
ST little Quake rmaids who wore pu
& pie costumes. The Spanish an
.e Italian group came in for its shai
Ie of applause. Miss Edna Deem'
l. gave a charming solo dance in n
Spanish scene.
le Another group OF dancers ar
.e singers who pleased were the Anne
~ lean beauties and beauN. This WI
r. one of the real merry groups OF a
he production. All the young wom'
TX were prettily arrayed in colored o
IN candle. with hats TO match. one
the most laughable scenes was q
ig suffrage act.
The finale scene perhaps was q
most impressive and was a pictu
&c Of beauty Nth all the players in re
e. white and blue costumes. The bac
al ground presented a large ship, wi
OF Miss America" standing in fro
n. with groups Of dancers in their rS
he white and blue costumes. each hol
It. ing the national colors. To the 81
fy and back OF the stage was a gro
to Of Red Cross nurses and sailo
he The closing number was "The 81