The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-03-04
'HOMEWARD
BOUND IS
Big SUCCESS
Capacity House AppIauds
Tuneful Music, Clever
Jokes, Good Acting

IOf hdlpn L.. MOVES inc IlIle OIL oI.
Johnsbury premier librettist
composer and author The fine
success of this clever musical niece
as produced at the Colonial theatre
last night und,I the auspices of w.
r. Knapp Post, No. So, American
Legion, is a tribute to the genius
of Mr. Howcs. 1t was his first at
tempt at playwriting and produc-
ing and there can be no question
of the remarkable ability of this
young man in this field.
With an unusually competent
cast in every way, carefully drilled
and with music that has wonderful
harmony and charm, "Homeward
Bound" went over the top as gal
lantlv as did the war heroes, who
composed the major part of the
cast, in the late war. Last night
a crowded house enjoyed every
line of the performance and it is
expected that a canacity house will
be in attendance tonight when the
show is given its second and last
performance.
The performance brought out
again to the direct attention of st.
Johnsbury people the high class Of
local talent which the town posS-
esses and of the grave need of a
village or community hall where
such plays as "HomeWard Bound"
can be given at very minimum vi
expense. Various organizations are
lamenting the lack of rood stage
productions and the need of clean
entertainment in st. Johnsbury.
This can be readily provided if
such talented people as Frank
French, Mr.. Howes, the Misses
French, Mrs. Stanley j. Stewart,
Miss Madeline Randall, Leon Bax-
ter, Mrs. B. E. Dovle, Mrs. Jack
Hinch, and manv others who have
unusual musical and dramatic tai
ent. were given a place where they
could drill and give public enter
tainments of a dramatic and musi-
cal character, without the necessi-
f. of paying $50 night rental for
playhouse. Not only would a
public hall maintained at cost to
toWnSpeople promote clean enter
t"inment but it would develop in
st. Johnsbury class of talent of
which few if anv towns could boast
"Homeward Bound" opens with
Il scene aboard ship. 1t shows the
bridqe and main deck of a trans-
mort bringing home American sold
inrs after the Armistice has been
signed. The boys are all in d 1ollv
mood, so they Gather on the main
deck and have d minstrel show.
The sccnry was DESIGNED and the
s"ttin" nainted under the direction
of Ebert ]. lynch. 1t is verv ef-
fnctive and clever bit of work bv
Mr. Lynch and those who assisted
him.
Charles Hoernle is the execu-
tive officer Of tho shin and acts as
intercolutor in the minstrel first
"art "Charlic" made an excellent
'nterlocutor RAYMOND Flint aS tho
=
on deck and soon th"re is gatheed
first rob. Samuel Matson, second
COB. Sylvester Paino. Tom South
worth. sailor. impersonated nv
Richard LevaSSeur, and Jack Halo.
r"turnod soldier, rs tal-en by
Walter "Ted" Cox. Ca~tain H. A.
Wilcox marches aboard and re-
norts to the ship'S cantain that IS
'"oonS are readv 10 sail for home.
The last aboard is a colored CON
fln0ent comnosed Of Horace CaS-
tonpuav. Orrie jerks. Rlaine Gotta.
Bcrn"rd Danicl;. Paul Farnh"n
and Harold G. Powell. who arc the
o7d men of tho minstrel show
There is soldiers and sailors
chorus of G5 voices.
A medley Of old arm favorites is
,1ln" In the dcli0ht of the audience
Paul Farnham got lot Of pooI
l"ughS over his "Thc Mule" son".
The last verse told of the antics
of the home-brcw which had the
kick of the mule. "The Blues" AZ
sing by Orrie jerks was very well
do"" and j. d CATCHY soar
MANDY" as sung by Walter Cox
and chorus. was one of the mnSi-
cal gems of the show. Mr.. Cox
sang in excellent voice and the
male chorus made the song a de-
li"htfUl number.
Sheriff Worther. the Police. and
l L /
take their full shore of "ioshir""
in the nuns and local hits of the
end men
The Jokes were without anv
tin"e of acidit that could offend
aovono and even those who were
tho subjects Of the "ioshing" SEEM
ed ~ eniov the fun.
american, To Thee We're