The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-03-01
PRETTY COMEDY
At OPERA HOUSE
''''''L u HOME TALENT
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Elliot Score
Another Big Success
WELFARE ASSN BENEFIT
Amateur Production with At
mosphere of Professional
Stage Folks
WELFARE ASSN BENEFIT

THE Saving Grace C. Hadden
Chambers three act comedy, was
produced at the opera house last
evening, under the direction OF Mr..
and Mrs. Arthur Elliot and for tie
benefit of the Bennington Public We'll
fare association. During the years
that have elapsed since Mr. and Mrs.
I'll OF first established their perma.
nent home in Bennington they have
been the guild influence back Of
number of amateur theatrical efforts,
all o. which have been highly en-.
dorsed by the public and crowned
with much success from every
point O view.
While the rehearsal for "The Saw
ing Grace were in progress Mr.. and
Nrs. Ellio frequently predicted that
the comedy would excel all Of their
piey Gus efforts In Bennington, and,
in the opinion of persons in the audi.
ence qualified to make tie assertion.
the prediction was more than veri-
fed.
Every community from Foxboro
Four Corners to Manhattan has its
home talent shows and in most In.
stances the audience expects to
make allowances for impereectlons
and to derive a portion Of its amuse-
ment out OF a comparison between
the efforts of the personally known
members Of the cast and its reco.-
lee. cns OF professional production.
Thi, feature was conspicuous by its
21sC-ce last evening. Few amateurs
are abe, from first to last curtain,
TO maintain a created chaI>Nler. AL.
most invariably at some period they
lapse into their own personality and
the audiences catches glimpses of
William Jones and Mary Smith as
they appear day alter day on Main
street. but the cast Of THE Saving
Grace" never once went back; the
professional finish was in evidence
every second unit ] the final Certain.
The cast of THE Saving Grace" Is
typical OF English comedies. Luther
Graves, I'd as "Blinn Corbett." the
clustering. financially busted bound
er who proves to be the good sort in
the end: Mrs Lillian H. Vondette as
the Mrs. Corbett," the brainless,
laundering wife redeemed by Yer un.
faltering devotion; Mrs Margaret O.
Stevens as Mrs. Guilord, the doting
SUPERB l!ous mother; Miss Anastacia
F tzgera d as Susan Blaine" the
pretty niece with a thorough compre.
hension OF the failings of her foster
parents; Zebra Q. Graves, as Ripley
Guilford, the big boy in love with
Susan; Richards Kellogg, the man.
servant with pay in arrears who was
too loyal to quit and become a
swell butler; Miss Adelaide Chand.
Ter as Ada Parsons" the neat aud
capable ma d, likewise too good
sport to cave her employers In their
hour Of adversely made a delightful
combination OF characters.
The gripping moment of the com.
edy was tie close Of the second act
With the amily resources reduced to
a few shi'lings banked in one of
Susan's old stockings and loves
young dream apparently shattered
the shadow OF tragedy descended up.
on the household with crushing force
and its reception dep cted more than
any other feature the exceptional
ability OF the leading characters. II
was a wonderful bit Of acting.
The comedy was materially assist.
ed by an unusually pretty stage set.
ting In the audience were many
who have been regular attendants at
the opera house for years but it is
to be doubted IL any OF them are able
to remember such a ripple of appreci
atiye applause on rising curtain be.
fore an unoccupied stage.