The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-11-28
LEGION SHOW
''WENT BIG
The "Darktown Minstrels"
Kept Big House 1.
A-roarin'
SONGS AND DANCES
UP TO THE MINUTE
Another Performance Will
Be Given This
Evening

| It; snappy wouldn't do it justice. Spice,
pep and ginger, combined with clever
songs and dances, were the elements
which made "Darktown Minstrels,' put
on last night at the opera house by the
Barre post Of the American Legion, the
hit Of the season regardless of the rep
utation of other shows which have
played here this year. Different" was
the word on the lips of all who saw it
and the difference was what made last
nights performance 60 over so big.
An audience estimated at close to
800 was kept roaring and laughing for
over two hours and with cooperation
| by the public to-night's performance
should bring out the dust-covered sign,
standing room only From the first
scene with Sam Dowers as Zeke Mead
ows, the village storekeeper, making
peculiar sale with Irene, the village
yamp, portrayed by James Ingram, the
show was on the road to success; ana
when Sheriff Hiram Doolittle, brought
back to life by Charles Gibbons, APP
peared on the scene with his oflicious
demeanor things started at a lively
clip. William Green, tie tobacco sales
man. i'm the person of Douglas lnglis,
brought down the house by his Ponzl
methods of fleeing the general public
with mysterious interest rates.
The first chorus. entitled, I've Got
Ny Habits On,p with Katherine
Brown. Mildred Lander, Myrtle Calefs
Clara Lawliss, Dolores Glynn and June
Tassie, solicited a great deal OF APP
plause, both for clever dancing and Tor
the remarkable costumes which the
girls wore. The less said about Charles
Gibbons and Oshkosh B'Gosh,' the bet
ter. for it might bring more pains to
sides aching from laughter. Anna
belle. with Douglas Inglis and Made
line Gladding. was the cutest song his
of the season both by the popularity
Of the singers and the manner IN which
| it was rendered.
sPuttin' on a Drammer in the Old
Town Hail. with Messrs. Dowers, Glib
bons, Inglis and Ingram shaking out
dance and roaring out comic stanzas,
brought the house dawn around thelr
ears and several encores were neces-
sary to appease the audience.
James Bennett, the well-known ten
or. opened the second scene Of the play
with .Smile Through Your Tears" and
so popular did it prove that it was with
difficulty that he escaped after an en-
core. Al dance entitled 4Chinese Cherry
Blossoms with Ellen Inglis and Choir
us. introduced new lighting effects
which added greatly to the beauty q
the act. Miss Clair Bennett displayed
remarkable ability in her solo dance
and was generally applauded The
windup for the second part OF the Pro-
gram came with clever little ditty
on ''The Bride and the Groom by Mil
dred Lander, in which she delightfully."-
followed the adventures of the pair ON
their honeymoon.
The third part of the program cast
decided chill over the audience not be-
cause of it's bloodcurdling element but
because il was entitled a "Trip TO the
North Pole. and the scenery OF drip
ping icicles added touch of winter to
| The scene. The two first choruses, Ding
Dong Bell, by the ice maids, and the
ballet dance, by the snowfiakes' were
| full of lev brilliance, enhanced by pure
white costumes, and went over well.
Miss Doris Lander gave delightful
solo dance in an icy cavern which
would have done credit TO an old art
ist and she was called back several
times for encores. Another dance, en-
titled. "Nymphs Are We" by the ice
maids. ushered in Mrs James Stewart,
who charmed both her cast and audi
ence by her "Slumber Song" Mrs. VIII
liam Holden gave one of her well-ren-
dered solos with generous encore for
the close of the third part.
The final act entitled, The Dark
town Minstrels,v was a real live COM
edv hit from "She Walked in Her
Husbands Sleep" by James Ingram, 70
the finale. entitled, $50 Lcng," by the
entire cast. George Hurley, supported
by the Goddard quartet, sang "Gypsy
/ Lady" in the most approved form and
repeated encores were called for. Il
Love Her, She Loves Me-" by Paul
Giacherio, kept the house wondering
whether the song was comic or tragic.
and. failing TO decide, they applauded
vigorously. Charles Gibbons showed
fine control In a selected sentimental
solo. Jake, the Shiek," by Ralph Olli-
YER. Somebody Lied" respectfully
submitted BY billie" Howie, and
Lonesome Mama Blues" portrayed in
new light by James Biggs. were the
comic successes of the evening so that
after several fine selections by the God
dard male quartet the audience was
ready for more and the finale came as
a distinct shock.
The Legion boys need big house
this evening to make the play hnan-
cial success and last nights perform
ance iustifies the attendance of every
one in town regardless Of financial
circumstances.
End men In the minstrel show we're
Ralph oliver. Jane Ingram, Sam
Dowcrs. Chris Biorn. Eug,De Buckley,
James Biggs. William How're. Paul
C;acherio. Leslie Wilson and Bernard
Shea Members of the other support
ing choruses not mentioned were:
Chinese cherry blossoms, SYLVIA Rizxi,
Nadine Sullivan. Marion Jones. Lena
Croce. Ida Bedeli. Angie Buzz, Flor
rnce Perry. Rena Giani. Ellen Inglis;
snoufakes. Edith Cooper. Catherine
NcKerron. Alene Walker. Dorothy