Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 294, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1916 — HOME TALENT GIVES FINE ENTERTAINMENT [ARTICLE]

HOME TALENT GIVES FINE ENTERTAINMENT

“Fi-Fi of the Toy Shop” Delights a Crowded House In Second Performance.

The musical fantasy in three acts and six scenes given under the auspices of the Charity Board of this city Friday night was one of the most clever home talent shows ever staged by our people. The ability of Rensselaer young people to give a high class entertainment on the stage was demonstrated. Had the performers not been known to the audience they would have called them professionals instead of ama-

teurs. The orchestra did its full share in furnishing music that was thoroughly appreciated by all. Marion Parker, who as Bonnie, was the daughter of an old toymaker ' (Harry Moore) is wandering in the wood near her father’s shop at the close of day, is overtaken by the Sandman (Wm. Waymire), who casts her into a magic sleep. She dreams a wonderful dream, in which the bisque and wooden creatures of the tby shop .ome to life. The toy fblk have many wierd and wonderful bidventures, in which Bonnie is permitted to take part, before the morning light dispells the charm and awakens her from her magic sleep. The second scene, the Toy Shop, Aurqjia (Eva Moore), a retired fairy, gives to Bonnie a bottle ®f sneezing salt. With this salt all of the dolls are awakened. Prince Lolly Pop (Robert Loy), Lieut. Tin Heart (Paul Beam), Lcosey (Luella Robinson), Captain Barnacle (Howard York), Ink Spot (Lucile Luers), Fi-Fi (Wilda Littlefield), Talking Doll (Lenora Carr), Japanese Doll (Rose Luers), kept the audience in an uproar of laughter. Every one of them were stars and the audience forced them to return many times to repeat, their acts. The Jumping Jacks, Byron Hemp* hill, John Hunt, Robert Donnelly, Frances Turfler, Raymond Herath, John Hopkins, Harold Sharp, Watson Fendig and Harold Hickman were as clever as they could be. The animals were represented as follows: Donald Sink, a dog; Paul Wynegar, a frog; Harold Roth, a pig; Geoige Reed, a cat; Max Rowles, a monkey and, John KresLr, an owl. That these boys did their part to the approval of the house was evidenced by the applause they received. The two clowns, Harry McColly and Walter Randle, were experts and did their part to the hearty enjoyment of all.

The paper dolls, Helen Warner, Helen Parkinson, Elizabeth King, Ruth McKenzie, Faustino West, Minnie Waymire, Elizabeth Witham and Thelma Martindale, were pretty in their costumes and so graceful in their actflrg. Luella Harmon, Monta Oglesby, Bernice Long, Gladys Arnott,- Francis Ham, Ada Robinson, Mildred Joqes and Lucile Knox as china dolls, acquitted themselves with great credit. A very neat, exercise was given by the Letter Blocks, Helen Townsley, Marybelle Euneman, Lillybelle Allen, Luella Squiers, Lucile Field, Cherie Keith, Elizabeth Fleming and Anabel Hindahi. Harold Littlefield as the Man-in-the-Moon, in his beautiful costume, wins the heart of Fi-Fi and they flee to the moon and visit many other celestial bodies until she is frightened home by the Polar bear. Her return was effected by the Fairy Queep, represented by Catherine Watson, who looked and acted the part of a real fairy. The charming singing of Marjorie Loughridge, as 80-Peep, was greatly enjoyed by all. Tin heart is the winner and Prince Lolly Pop the loser of the heart of Fi-Fi and the last scene is all set for the wedding. The bridesmaids as, beautiful and graceful as ever attended, were, Solo Dancer, Marguerite Brown, Maurine Tuteur, Florence Allman, Angela Kolhoff, Nell Drake, Martha, Ramp, Edna Robinson, Charlotte Kanne, Mildred Biggs, Mrs. Don Beam and Vera Healey. The Christmas Fairies were as charming and pretty as they could be. They did their act in a manner highly complimentary to themselves and to those who had charge of their training. The following were in this part of the entertainments Jeaneep Scott, Virginia Kresler, Frances Wood, Doris Larsh, Mabie Eisele, Elizabeth Yates, Laura Sawin, Mary Preston, Mary Jane Brown, Elizabeth Lamson, Francis Boicourt, Lois Price, Helen Hartman, Josephine Dayton, Ethel Hartl, Viola Cox, Mildred Wagoner, Iris

Hicks, Vera Bever, Ellen Kresler, Lucile Herath, Margaret Myer, Mariana Ham, Myrtle Dayton, Esther McColly, Elizabeth Kresler, Irene Hoover, Geraldine Roth, Marjorie Hill, Carrie Retherford, Elsie Golton, Marguerite Carlson, Elizabeth Hartman, Ruth Gill, Virginia Rogers, Madge Griffith, Virginia Wasson. We wish we had the space to give each and every one who took part in Fi-Fi a very special mention. They are deserving of it. Too much praise can not be given the leading characters, Marion Parker and Wilda Littlefield. They have a very special fitness for the parts they played. With the unexcelled support of every other person in th< cast, their performance was first-class. Back of the curtains and out of view were the ladies who did a. very great amount of good hard toil, with kindness and patience. They did it so well that all want to extend to them their sincere appreciation. Everyone who has had anything to dp with Fi-Fi speak in words of highest praise of the director, Mr. Grenville M. Cooper. He won them all by his ability, and his manliness.