The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-03-14
TOWNSHEND.
BIG CROWD AT VAGABONDS.
First Entertainment in New Town Hall
4 Remarkable Success, Netting $3.50.

\ good time for everybody, a crowded
house, and a perfect success in every
way was the result of the opening en-
tcrta;nment Friday evening at the new
town hall, which is a town hall, a
theatre, and n banquet hall combined.
| Tickets for the 40 reserved seats were
sold out by Wednesday and rush seats
placed in the hall were filled early in
the evening, making an audience of
about SOC, coming from Brattleboro. ia
maica and all surrounding towns. This
in spite of the fact that the unusually
bad condition Of the roads kept numbers
from attending. About $3.50 was taken
| as the proceeds of the evening, 200 sup
per tickets were sold and about 100.
dance tickets.
The three-act drama. The Vagabonds,
was well presented by a good cast and
was well received. L. II. Lawrence as
Bascom, the tramp, cheated and impris-
oned by the hypocritical DilwOrthy, and
| Mrs. f. H, Lawrence as Mother Carey,
who in disguise acquired a reputation as
a witch. represented the vagabOnds, from
which the play takes its name. Both
parts were particularly we'll taken and
| cOStumed. The characters of the vii
famous Jonas DilwOrthy and his ras-
cally son, Percy, were well portrayed
tby w. Il. SNYDER and John Taylor. Dill
worthy's niece, Alice, who turns out to
be the daughter of Bascom and his wife,
! Mother Carey, was pleasingly character
lied by Miss Ella Ware, and Alice's
lover, Leonard Trevor. by Howard Os-
borne, Mr.. and Mrs. b. r. Phillips as
Major ThompS and Charlotte. a maiden
aunt. also did good work in their parts.
The comedy scenes brought many peals
of laughter and much applause from the
house with the help of Raymond Phillips
as Barney O'TOole, Harry Wilbur as
Club Finch, the Yankee. DR.. F. L. Os-
, good in his speciality. the coon part.
and Miss Annabel Barber as flirtatious
Peggy. The whole drama was smoothly
given and the plot we'll worked out.
Directly after tho play IN oyster sup
per was served in the commodious din
ing hall. Contributions of cakes and
pies given generously from the whole
village combined with bowls of hot Oys-
ter stew insured n delicious and SubStan-
tial feast. Mrs. /. ]. Parker had charge
of the dining room and Mrs. Alma Cum
mings of the kitchen and cooking of the
oysters. Both were ably assisted by Il
corps of willing helpers.
Music for dancing was furnished by
Shows orchestra of six pieces. The ball
opened with Il grand march and circle.
BY request of the Ommitt the march
was led by Mr.. and Mrs. J. II. Ware.
Mr.. Wares work as chairman of the
hall committee has been greatly appTe-
ciated in the community. \ varied pro-
gram of dances followed. terminating at
+ a. n. The floor managers were W. NJ.
Sparks. Earl Hamlin and II. F. Howard.
Among the attractions in the hall to
the townSpeOple was the new stage cur
tain which was seen for the first time,
having been hung only a few days be
fore. The curtain was selected and
bought by the building committee of a
New York firm. 1t is a painted cur
tain, the scene representing a large
each side. The colorS used combine per-
fectly with the hall tints and the whole
completes and adds greatly to the beauty
of the hall.
\ pleasing feature during the eve
/ ning's entertainment was the %preSenta-
tion to the president of the Dramatic
club. c. G. Robinson, of n handsome
basket of tulips from the Chamber Of
Commerce in Brattleboro. The follow
ing letter was read from the president,
Carl s. Hopkins:
"Dear Mr.. Robinson -
Owing to the bad going it will be
impossible for a delegation from this or
ganization to be in attendance at your
opening entertainment in the town hall
tonight. Had the entertainment been
held a month later we surely would
have been present. As it. is we want
YOU to know that we are thinking Of YOU
and that every resident of Brattleboro
r%eioices in the completion of your mag
nifcent hall.
I'm the name of the Chamber of Com
merce | am sending n basket of flowers
which we trust you will be able to use
somewhere tonight and which we also
trust win convey in a very small meas
ure our esteem and regard for the en-
tcrpriSing citizens of Townshend. When
your hall IS formally dedicated we shall
surely plan to be present.
Trusting no more serious mlstortunes
may befall your beautiful town. l am
most sincerely,
Carl s. Hopkins. president"
Much Of the credit for the success of
the evening is due to the energetic work
of the committee. which consists of Mrs.
+. II. Lawrence. Mrs. w. NJ. Sparks and
Howard Osborn. They have been well
backed and aided bv the community
club president, Mr.. Robinson, and 9TH
CrS.
When the date of the play was set the
hall contained no chairs. though these
had been ordered. The stage had no cur
tain, wings or scenery. which handi-
capped seriously the rehearsal of the play.
There were ma tables in the dining room,
stove or dishes in the kitchen and no
lights Of any kind in the building. The
fact Of the seminary being in session and
but lew other young people in the vii
laEe made the selection of n Dlav re-
stricted, especially with the lack of
scenery. One by one, BY the aid of hours
of freely-glven. strenuous work and time
all obstacles We're overcome.
TOwnshend feels proud to open such
a hall, complete in all WAYS. to her
~neighbors of the valley and also feels
q debt of gratitude to the donor. Mrs.
Kate q. Dutton, for the thoughtfulneSs
ard magnificence Of her gift. The early
| opening of the han was in accordance
with Mrs. buttons wish to nave it in
use as soon as possible. The formal
dedication win be held later.
BRATTLEBOR0 LOCAL