The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-02-02
ALL At SEA"
REAL SUCCESS;
CROWD IS HUGE
Paucity Of Voice Materi-
al for Opera Produc-
ton Overcome In Well
Directed Playlet.


L. is often difficult to make a singer
into an actor. That is the problem
of all musical producers. The ability
to sing does not mean that the sing
er has ability to effectively portray a
character or play role.
But almost impossible TO make sing
ers where there are none. And II is
even more difficult to train singers
and actors At once where there are
none of either.
That is the problem that +. F. Beale
had to solve when he started out
with his high school glee clubs to
present a clever little operetta. "All
at Sea-, 4 conglomeration OF the
best known OF the Gilbert and Sulliv-
an light operas. To say that he sue
ceeded would be TO stretch a poin,
to say that ne did will indeed and
that ;he play was entirely in keeping
with Mr.. Beale's other successes here
would be strictly accurate and praise
enough.
IAN at Sea" was hit despite the
lack of capable voices around which
TO build riie play Never has the
American theatre been more crowded
than it was Tuesday evening. Easily
more than 200 persons were turned
away and other hundreds did not
even attempt to come because the
house was sold out hong before even
ing. To give everyone an opportunity
TO see the play. Il was repeated Thurs
day evening.
The play was frankly an amateur
production. The cast was not letter
perfect. But no one expected il would
be and the sometimes interruptions
were passed lightly by an audience
that was frankly interested and pleas
ed.
The story? There wasn't much. The
theme was a fanciful mixture OF Gil
bert and Sullivan operas in which
fairies and Susceptible chancellors"
and bevy of pretty girls and seamen
and pirates and police and lord OF
the admiralty and his huge array of
sisters and the Mikado OF Japan and
his high exeuctioner and a lot OF
other people were all on one little
boat the Pinafore. Human dices hav-
ing failed dainty fairy, Helen Miller.
transformed crew OF uncompromis-
Jag pirates into second rate poets.
There were no stars in the cast.
The theme did not permit any ono to
monopolize the stage. High Nights
were afforded by the quite remarkable
work OF little La Verne Rice, a mid
shipmite, who took to the stage and
the big audience like ducks to the
coast climate. He has big voice for
such 4 little fellow and the few lines
given him were quite audible 10 the
fartherest recesses OF the theatre. Pet
er Kim. a. Koko. the High Lord Ex-
eeutione~. hit another high spot. He
hooked the part with rather terrifying
implement to carry on his official
dutrs. And his Tit Willow" one
OF the Mkado better known airs, was
good. Even to the closing scene
where he rs forced TO admit, after
ducking his duties when instructed
to behead the pirate gang that he
has never exuecuted anyone and hcsit-
tates to begin on himself merely for
heart balm measure. the part was
well taken.
Other bright spots were the Mikado
impersonation and booming voice
OF Tom Stcuncnberg. the mechanical
obedience OF the London Bodies
headed by f. Lowell. song by three
japanese maids featuring Margaret
Hankins and the pleasant contras,
afforded 10 the average run OF the
voices on display by the tuneful
Rosalie Magee as Phyllis.