The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-07-08
By CATHERINE D. MEEKINS

by CATHERINE ID. MEEhlNS
Staging one of the finest open
ing night performances in the his
tory of the show, "The Lost
Colony" got underway Friday
night, July /, as it opened its 18th
season in Waterside Theatre on
Roanoke Island. The actual count
of the audience stood at 949, but
there were certainly more than
1000 attending. Many of the
audience were members of the
Roanoke Island Historical Associa-
ton, holding season tickets, and
the chances are most of them for
got to exchange their tickets at
the gate for numbered seats and
didn't get included in the count.
Author Paul Green, who attend
ed the opening with one of his
daughters and two of his grand
children, was enthusiastic about
the performance, and high in his
praise of director Clifton Britton.
Mr.. Britton had whipped the show
into shape under rather difficult
circumstances this year, as many
of the leading roles were portrayed
by new actors, some of whom had
never even seen "The Lost
Colony. The male lead, John
Borden, was played by Martin F.
Gerrish of Tucson, Arizona, who
came to Chapel Hill last spring to
addition for the part. His perform
ance should have satisfied even
the most critical member of the
audience. While it was easy to
catch oneself listening for the
voice and the infections of Robert
Armstrong, who played the part
for so many years, it was satisfy
ing to see the part played by one
who could so quickly and so ade-
quately step into Armstrong;
place.
Old Tom Harris, the tragi-
comic figure who gives the comic
relief, was also played by a new
actor, j. David Bowen of New
York City, and with him the part
recaptured something it had
- n the last several years. His
ayal of Old Tom eliminates
{ of the "niceness" which had
crept into the characters voice
and actions. He has acquired
certain harshness of tone in both
speaking and singing voice, which
is more in keeping with the part
of a poverty-stricken beggar. AL
so, he is using certain bits of
stage business which have not
been evident for the last several
years, and which some of US older
Lost Colony enthusiasts had
missed.
At this opening performance,
Oliver Link of Salisbury played
the role of Sir Walter Raleigh for
the first time, and in his bearing
there was just hint of condes-
cenion toward his social interiors,
but no pompousness-the quality
that sometimes has crept in to
spoil the part. Links performance
was good, his voice strong and his
bearing in keeping with the
character of Sir Walter Raleigh.
Ernest Faust of Goldsboro,
playing Simon Fernando for the
first time, portrayed the swash-
buckling Spanish sea-captain's
part with assurance, and here
again he did a good job of re-
placing George Spence, who had
through several years., created a
place for himself in the part.
The Master of the Queens
Ceremonies, played by another
new actor, William L. White of
Topsham, Maine, is in fine form
this year. While not long part,
it is most important one. and
White gives it a fine quality 1t
has lacked at times.
Along with the new actors, many
familiar ones are back with the
show this year, among them Don
nell Stoneman, whose portrayal of
Father Martin is even stronger
than last year; Anne Martin of
Cherokee, who plays the female
lead, Eleanor Dare; Mary Wood
Long better than ever as Queen
Elizabeth; Gerd Young as Dame
Coleman; our own Grace Davis of
Manteo as Agona; and many
others.
Director Britton gives much
nraise to his assistants, who d.
led various phases of the show.
- win Gordon as choreographer
- improved the dancing and has
.Ade the Indian dances more
authentic and primitive. They are
even more beautiful than ever this
year. The milkmaid dance he has
made again into a lovely simple
See LOST COLONY, Page -Four