Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-10
RED ACRE FARM"
MAKES BIG HIT
WITH AUDIENCE

RED Acre Farm" b rural comedy
drama in three acts, was presented
Friday evening by the Star Club at
the Acme Theatre, and was u pro-
nounced success. The cast was an
excellent once every member of which
nad mad much experience in amateur
dramatics. II. Price Weber was Sc
cured for some of the earlier rehear-
sails and Ralph Brown of Augusta
finished the coaching and directed
the presentation.
Act l opened in the living room at
Red Acre Farm, Josiah Armstrong;
home. Josiah was seen seated i'm q
comfortable chair beside the table,
looking over papers and apparently
in despair. His wife, Amanda, en-
tered and the audience learned that
there was q mortgage due on Red
Acre Farm and no money to meet it,
Squire HarcOurt who held the mort
gage, was misery and vindictive and
would not let them off. They decid-
ed, however that they would sell the
family heirloom, a necklace of pearls,
most unWisely kept in the family
clock. When they went to look for
it. however. it was gone. They sus-
pected unjustly Nellie, the Ratient
school teacher daughter, because
her ambition was to go on the Usage.
In reality Laura, the lazy daughter,
had sold it to a travelling merchant
to get money to buy fine clothes.
Harry Harcourt. the son of the
grasping squire and the villain of the
play, made love to both daughters.
Nell was driven from home and went
to the city where her sweetheart,
Dick Randall had already gone, both
go on the stage.
Ant TT cbowo1 tho oytorior nr Pod
Acre Farm in summer, Nell and
Dick returned in time to stop the
elopement of Laura with Harcourt,
but Nell was again driven from home.
Act three showed the living room
of the farm again in winter. Squire
Haroucrt appeared to foreclose the
mortgage. Laura had run away; the
old folks were desolate. Just as they
were ready to leave the old home.
Nell, Laura and Dick. appeared, all
misunderstanding were cleared up
and every one was forgiven.
The comic element was furnished
by Col. Barnaby Strut whose fav-
orite exclamation is "crawling cod
wallpapers" Junior, his adopted
daughter. and her lover, the awkard
farm boy. Jonah Jones.
The cast was as follows: Josiah
Armstrong. owner of Red Acre Farm.
Carroll Gray: Colonel Strut. Wal
lace r. Brann: Josiah Jones. Law
renee Slack; Squire Harcourt, Car
roll Stevens; Harry Harcourt, Mar
inc Galzia: Dick Randall. Harry
Hamilton; Tom Busby, the travelling
merchant. Harry Rideout; Amanda
Armstrong Josiah's wife. Mrs. Nor
man Gray; Nellie Armstrong, Mrs.
Moves Wheeler: Laura Armstrong.
Florence Stevens: Mrs. Strunt the
Colonels wife, Mrs. Harry Rideout:
Junior, adopted daughter of the
Struts, Mildred Head.
The parts were all so well taken
that it is impossible to discriminate
among the acts. The interpretations
were adequate and excellent and the
audience was delighted. The inter
esting situations and the comic parts
made every moment OF interest.
Specialties between the acts We're
a pleasing solo by Raymond Schaf-
fer and a delightful little song acted
out by a group Of children. cara
Miller had the solo part, that OF
little girl longing for a playmate. the
other little singers who respond 10
her call were Doris Schaffer. Bar
bara Schaffer. Frances Woodside. and
Hulda McKelvey. The audience
showed it's pleasure in this act py
unstinted applause.
A dance followed the play. Music
was furnished by Douglas orchestra.
The affair was very pleasant and a
credit to the Star Club. and the cast.