The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-06-18
Making Finishing Presen'
tation of Goddard Com
mencement Week
VERY GOOD ACTING
IN "THE RIVALS"
Large Audience Was Kept
In a Roar of En-
thusiasm

"The Rivals, one of the oldest
classical and standard comedies on
the American and English speaking
stages of to-day, was the title of the
five-act comedy given by the senior
class of Goddard seminary in the open
air amph.theatre on the school cam
ipus yesterday afternoon. Richard
Brinsley Sheridan, the famous Eng
lish dramatist who wrote this classi-
cal number with Bath, England, as
the center Of activities probably
would have watched this reproduc-
tion with great deal of interest and
might have bent over in his chair
with laughter, just as hte play did
people who witnessed the play did
continually throughout the perform
ance.
Owing to the fact that a sturdy
warm wind rustled among the leaves
every syllable of the speakers was not
as audible as would have been pos
sible within building, and, added to
passing train, but to Offset all these
handicaps the young actors empha-
sized their words and portrayed their
parts with action. Indeed, this out
door spot, located among the cluster
of long branched naples, was ideal
for an afternoon entertainment, and
few or none of the humorous parts
passed even the more distantly seat
ed listeners.
Certainly Sheridan could not have
intended the original Sir Anthony Alb
solute to be more stern and exaeting
with his son than was Elmore Kel-
ly, unquestionably the star of the
performance, who kept the. audience
constantly in roar. Capt. Jack or
Absolute, in school life at Goddard
just plain Bill" Ringland, was equal
to his double role as Capt. Jack or
Capt. Beverley and eventually won
the hand of Lydia Languish, played
by Miss Ruth kelton, though he had
deceived both hits charming yong lady
and her aunt, Mrs. Mslaprop. or Miss
Beatrice Wheeler. Mrs. Malaprop, a
beacon in society life in England.
caused no end Of mirth with her mis-
use of words, and TO Miss Wheeler
must be given just credit for acting
so well part which even profes-
sional actresses have found difficult
to portray satisfactorily.
Human nature in 1875 was little diff
ferent from that of to-day, no differ
ent in fact; the difference in the
characters of the play from those of
to-day was merely in the costumes,
which, of course, for the days of l775
were wigs. breeches, stockings and
large buckled shoes for the male
and long gowns with snug
fitting waists for the women. With
a beautiful woman as n nucleus Rich
ard Sheridan based the plot for his
and with several rivals for
the same hand brought about some
intricate problems for the lovers and
their wards.
Joseph jefferson. hte actor, who be-
came nationally famous for his part
as Bob Acres in The Rivals" may
have mastered the part to a greater
perfection than did Edward "Duteh"
Flanagan, vet Dutch" is born "act-
or" and had at all times good inter
probation of this part. In the play
Bob Acres boasts the valor of knight
vet fIinches from a duel or the posi-
bility OF injury as he makes these
boasts. finally giving up all claims TO
the hand Of Lydia Languish, the
charming heiress. Sir Lucius o'Trig-
ger emitted his Irish brogue through
James Bowers. ir., who not only made
a valiant contender for the hand of
Miss Languish but also spoke with
the tongue of a native of Erin.
Miss Hazel Abbott as Julia, her
Jealous lover Falkland, played by
l.eoon August; Lucy the maid. dain-
tilv characterized by Miss Edith Lit
tie; Thomas, coachman, played by
James Berry; David, Bob Acres sta
BILE boy or Frank Clark, and Fag, a
servant role played by Kenneth Gar
ret. were minor characters IN the
comedy without which the perform
auee would have lost much of its
humor had not these people carried
put their parts to perfection.
MANY months of intensive training
under the direct supervision of Miss
Anne Morse. the preceptress, made
possible the production Of such
merited performance. With all its
difficult discourse and acting these
Young graduates went through the
five acts with no apparent pauses for
prompting and gave to their audience
an entertainment that never once
lacked interest.
The scenery was but a plain dark
green cloth background between the
maple trees. and anything else which
he spectators might imagine. for az
Dawson announced the
custom had been once
more adopted. and except for the
necessary articles Of chairs OF tables
here was no stage setting and really
no stage.
one who did not see the play might
be led 10 believe that such a scene
would be uninteresting. but 4 was
,os. The costumes consiteed ot gay
-olors and the several acts were Waxed
together by piano solos by Jack Con
pelIv. uho- diversified the program
rith a little "Jazz- music.
In wears past the senior play has
zen produced earlier in the spring
sessions but this year the class de-
.iSed 70 make Il part Of the CON-
uencemsnt program The plan proved
rerv satisfactory a. many an alumuus
ras thus enabled to witness the play
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