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VOL. 9. No. If
LINCOLN, NEB., SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1894.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
" AMONG THE BREAKERS. "
An Eruption of Home Talent on the Lansing Stage.
E spoke last week of a contest between the mantles of Edwin
ill Booth and Laurence Barrett for the possession of Frank
J Polk. "Among the Breakers" and Frank Polk were produced
at the Lansing theatre Wednesday evening; but the mantles, or one
of them, and Mr. Polk did not effect a consolidation. There were
too many other actors, young men who did not, like Byron, have to
wait until morning to find themselves famous, but who won glory in
a single bound and before 10:30 p. m. there were two many other
artists, we repeat, and the mantles were bewildered.
''Among the Breakers'' was the most successful home talent en
tertainment ever given in this city, and we say this with memories
of bright entertainments in which the elongated Mr. Iligginbotham
and George Foresman, always so coy, and Lieutenant Griflith and
the then Miss Minnie Latta, and Miss Lemist, and other interesting
and capable people participated.
There was a large and fashionable audience- and it was an able
audience, able to appreciate the good things in the performance.
Under ordinary circumstances it is never wise for amateurs to
attempt to put en as heavy a piece as "Among the Breakers." The
best success is obtained with farces; but this play which has a de
cided leaning toward the melodrama, with m- m murder and villains
in it, was carried in such a manner as to give, in the language of the
.TourvaVs dramatic critic, "complete satisfaction to those present."
Whatever of drag there might have been in it was effectually dis
pelled when Frank Polk once got fairly started on his mad career,
and the rolling thunder and Mr. Reese's heavy lines, which were
well read, were nicely balanced by Frank Burrs facile fun and Ross
Curtice's markedly successful Irish comedy.
In the first act Mr. Reese as David Murray gave an intelligent
interpretation of a role calling for considerable ability, and he im
proved steadily all through the play. He is to be congratulated on
his acting and make-up. Ross Curtice and Miss Grace Burr opened
the act with a pretty domestic 6cene, in which Miss Burr charmed
by her grace, and Mr. Curtice elicited the warmest approval by his
decidedly clever Irish sketch. Mr. Curtice invariably makes a hit:
but we believe he never appeared to better advantage than as Larry
Derive. Miss Burr's Biddy Vane was at all times a delightful
accompaniment to the roguish Larry.
Mr. Hicks who early made his appearance with Sam Low as Clar
ence, his ward, might have sacrificed the beautiful for the sake of
propriety, and added whiskers or something else that would have
given him a more venerable appearance. Sam Low's lines were cast
in pleasant places very. He receives an inheritance iu the first act,
and after some fine love scenes with a very pretty girl, Bess, he
finally, at the end end of the play, wins her hand as well as her
smiles. Some young men in Mr. Low's place would have felt like
whooping it up a little, but he took things very seriously, and when
he said, "What, jou my father!" it is not at all unlikely that strong
men in the audience wept. That Mr. Low should have tried to send
his father into a dark room with a tea cup for a light instead of the
candle was not at all remarkable under the circumstances. Most any
man, had he known, as Mr. Low knew, that everything, including
Bee., was coining his way henceforth, would have been a little
tlurried at first.
Frank Burr's impersonation of Send, a colored servant, added to
that gentleman's reputation, and distanced many a professional per
formance of a similar character that has been seen on the same
stage. Mr. Burr has much ability, and his stage presence is excep
tionally good. His specialties added much to the enjoyment of the
entertainment. His song was original, and this with the musical
selection given by him and Miss Burr and Mr. Curtice, were well
rendered.
Mr. Polk figured in the play sometimes as Peter Paragraph and
sometimes as Frank Polk. It wasn't an easy matter to tell j'uet
where the one left ofT and the other began. Ho had a pleasant time
with himself from start to finish, and his remarks on the side were
usually to the point. He referred with much tact and good taste to
The Couicikk, and ho also took occasion to give some good advice to
Frank Zehrung. who occupied a prominent place in the auditorium.
His blood-curdling business with the long knife was a clever bit of
burlesque. There was never anything on any stage like Frank's per
formance, and nobody who saw "Among the Breakers" will ever for
get Peter.
A strong feature of the entertainment was the Fcene in the last
act were Bruce Hunter placed his arm around Be. If Mr. Hicks
desired to impress upon the audience the idea that this particular
process is entirely out of his line, we must say that he effectually
cleared himself of any suspicion that might have been entertained
on this i)int.
Miss Ruby Joues, who carried the role, of Mother Carey, won much
well deserved applause. She gavo evidence of excellent dramatic
Judgment, and her reading was intelligent and forceful. Mother
Carey was charmingly done.
Miss Grace Oakley had an exceedingly ditlicult part to play, and
the way in which she acquitted herself is deserving of the highest
credit. It requires abandon, much more than most amateurs are
capable of exhibiting, to save a soubrette role from utter
failure. Miss Oakley met the requirements admirably. She was
entirely self-possessed and her graceful facility lent much color and
spirit to the performance. It was perfectlynatural for the men in the
play to pay tribute to the lovely Bess. Her hornpipe in the last act
was executed with infinite grace and dainty effectiveness.
Minnie Daze was done by Miss Rachel Brock. Miss Brock's ap
pearance called forth many expressions of admiration. She wan
strikingly handsome, and she sustained her sometimes trying part
very cleverly. She had a clear understanding of what was expeeted
of her, and she was at all times an engaging personality.
'Among the Breakers" was preceded by a short program consist
ing of a pleasing recitation by iliss Myrtle Stevenson, entitled "The
Walts Quadrille' a selection by the University Glee club that at
tested the skill of this organization, and "The Marble Dream." a
recitation by Miss Efh"e Steen, which was highly entertaining. Miss
Steen's recitations are always enjoyed.
The entertainment was for the benefit of the poor of the city, and
8200 was realized.
"For a long time I suffered with stomach and liver troubles, and
could find no relief until I began to use Aytr's Pills. I took thoni
regularly for a few months, and my health was completely restored.
D. W. Baine, New Berne, N. C.
