Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-30

Under the title "springtime". the
Augusta Girls Community Clubs
third annual production carried an
enthusiastic audience through two
hours and a half. packed full of en-
joyment and pleasure at the first
nights showing at the Augusta OPP
era House, Monday evening. The
theme of the play deals with the
blighted romance of scion of the
aristocracy of 1868 and a daughter
of the founder of the famous Brew
ster Pills. Through three genera
lions of frustrated courtship. the
legendary romance at last reaches
its happy elimination in the joining
in wedlock of the grandson and
granddaughter of the sweethearts
of over fifty years previous.
The story of "Springtime" is I'M
folded to the audience most inter-
estingly through the medium of the
retelling of the old romance by Mrs.
Elkins edna Briggs) a lady of
another generation. to the friends
of the Priscilla of 1923. The beauti-
full romance of the three generations
is also wildly portrayed in the &C
ton of the piece and it is this con-
nection that the sprightly dances OF
ehS ~ SoNhh ilAAAC lO6CtiCI Win Liz
more dignified and stately gavottes
and plaintive music if the previous
generations, are introduced to make
this one of the most tuneful. varied
and gorgeously costumed produc-
tions ever presented by local anna
teur talent.
1t is usual to pronounce anything
by home talent as good, but the ap-
plause and appreciation of the au-
dience of last evening. indicated
that the Girls Club effort of 1923
was absolutely and unqualifiedly OF
the highest order, as tuneful en-
tertainment and as delightful
spectacle. We could call on all the
stock Of descriptive adjectives and
designate 'Springtime" as excep-
tional. interesting. intriguing, color
full. gorgeous, brilliant, glorious. etc.
but we would only be saying in an
other way that it was good, and we
liked it,.
We do not want to spoil the pleas
ure of the audience which will at
tend the second nights performance
tonight, by telling all there is to
tell about this thoroughly satisfying
entertainment. Many people have a
genuine treat in store for them to-
night, and we guarantee it will APP
peal to all alike, from the we'll
known tired business man." to the
most eXactingly critical or blase
theatregoer.
To give adequate credit where
that credit is due, it would be nee
essary to mention and say word
about every member of the cast
from the tiny tots of the 1923 May
Day scene to Mr.. H. Edmund Hill
who directed the performance for
tho John B. Rogers Producing COM
pany who staged this lavish pro-
duction. OF the leading characters,
each and every one seemed to be
perfectly cast for his or her part,
and the dancing and singing groups
which gave the leads such splendid
support throughout were wonderful
ly chosen, drilled, and perfect. and
put the show over with a verve and
swing that would have been credit
cipals follows at the end of this
story. of this group we must speak
of the convincing and highly humor-
Gus portrayal of the parts of James
Brewster and his sister, Thankful
Standish. by Lester NJ. Hart and
Miss Ruth Leavitt.
Miss Florence Wilson as Priscilla
Brewster was a strikingly beautiful
but disconsolate bride in the we'd
ding scene of 1868. a sweetly and
matronly Pricilla Higgins of 1918.
and as Pricilla Dean, a most happily
romantic and youthful bride-to-be in
1923. Ton Higgins as played by
Harry E. Farnham was a debonair
dandy from Boston who ran away
with the heart and hand of the
beautiful Priscilla, and as in the
story Tom passes out of the action
through his designations. Mr.. Farm
ham doubled in the third act as
Parsons. Bobby's valet. Primrose
Standish. cousin to Priscilla. charac-
terizcd by. Miss Dorothy Stone was
a sweetly demure and absolutely
lovable little bit of femininity in
Act one, and an intriguing wife to
Jack Wainwright in Act ?. Miss
Stones acting was of the best and
her stage appearance brilliant.
Ludger Vermette's clear tenor voice
added much to his Interpretation of
the part of Jack Wainwright, the
poor inventor. and his duet numbers
with Miss Wilson were most pleasing
to the audience. Miss Antoinette
Lacombe CARED the difficult role of
the butterfly and vamp through all
three scenes of the action. Her work
was convincing and thoroughly ap-
preciated for it's artistry. Bobby
brewster, a lion with the ladies, was
very naturally portrayed by Don
Hewitt, and this young man not only
lived up to the expectations Of his
friends who have seen him in other
roles, put surpassed them, indeed his
characterization was perhaps the
most natural and best rounded out
of any Of the male roles. Miss Jessie
Carr was an interesting Abigail Tom
kins, and though designated as
Susceptible Maiden" she proved
her acumen by exchanging certain
lovers gift from the gay young
Bobby for a $4,000 check.
When Miss Ruth Henderson made
her entrance on the stage as Zen
obia, Bobby's newly acquired wife,
and responsibility, she found she had
many friends and admirers of her
consistently fine transformations, as
she was greeted with q salvo of APP
plause, as Zenobia. q specialist in
thunder, Miss Henderson was as ever
scintilatini:. Little Priscilla by Miss
Constance Flynt and Master Jack
Wainwright by Stanley McCurdy de-
serve more than the passing word
which must be their measure in this
story. They may be diminutive stars
but they are none the less brilliant,
and thei.' every word and gesture was
letter perfect.
The entire musical program OF
"Springtime" is exceptionally tune
full and catchy. The duet by Priscilla
and Jack was particularly appealing, as
was my Garden of Memories" by
Miss Wilson and the Memory Dane
ers. the "Stephanie Gavotte" by
Miss Lacomb and the May Day
Guests. Ludger Vern.etto with the