Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1903 — “Pansy From Parr.” [ARTICLE]

“Pansy From Parr.”

Ike Most Successful of all the Library Entertainments. The second performance of “Pansy from Parr,” given Friday night at the Ellie Opera House, dosed the most ambitious production ever attempted by the wellknown "J. P. L. Troupe, Ltd” and was by far the best amateur entertainment ever seen in Rensselaer. In fact, we heartily endorse the remarks of a well traveled visitor who deolared that it was entirely out of the amateur olaes and well into the professional. Nothing could have been smoother or more harmonious and the fact that the “gallery was with them” from start to finish showed that the aotors were up in their parts. The stars in particular were word-perfeot and their faking was above oritioism. The scenic and mechanical effects reflected great credit upon the management and upon Mr. Ellis’ efficient stage corps.

As a ourtain raiser, the ever popular Minstrels took the stage, with Mr. Zern Wright as a handsome and model interlocutor and Messrs. Orlan and Van Grant, Fred Paroels, Ross Benjamin, Cbas. Mann and Mont Burk as end men and Bruoe Hardy, Rufus Knox, Gurney Jesson and Geo Hemphill as the circle. The songs and gags proved popular and ifere heartily encored. The “Grant Boys” are certainly in a class of their own and with very little professional training wonld easily oarry the house in any oity. Mies Mabel Hoff made her nsual hit in a most becoming boy’s costume aud her songs were as pretty aud as well rendered as oould be desired. Orlan Grant’s parody on Miss Huff’s “I left my heart in Dixie,” together with his monologue and Van Grant's buck and-wing dance were loudly encored.

Immediately after the minstrel performance came the piece of the evening, “Pansy from Parr,” an original burlesque on George Ade’s “Feggy from Paris” written especially for Mr. Hugh Gamble and Miss Madeline Phillips by Mr. F. A, Ross who suooeeded in infusing into it an amount of snap, aotion, wit and lndiorous situations that are bv no means uncomplimentary to Mr. Ade’s original. The play abounded in local hits of the harmless sort. The Gipsy scene was especially beautiful in its arrangement. Mr. Gamble, as Squire Parsimonious Pinkamink, had the entire house with him from the beginning. His make-up as the typical country Squire was immense and was greatly to the credjt of Mr. Harry Parker, its designer. Mr. Gamble interpreted hie difficult part with an ease and finish that showed study and keen observation. Miss Phillips carried the part of Pansy “the etage-struok girl” in a manner that would have made her eqooeaeful actor-uncle, Augustus Phillips, very proud of his neioe. Her “Coo” song and “Emmaleen” were gems of sweet singing and bar lines were wordperfect. Nothing more need be said.

Mise Myra Watson, as Felipa, made so ideal fortune teller. Her enunciation was dear and foroeful and the oharacter was well sustained throughout. Mies Pauline Mossier, as a gipsy dancer, executed some difficult steps while the Misses Alios and Nellie Drake and Cecilia Hollingsworth danced an intricate triplestep in a perfect time and unison i that brought them several recalls. Their costumes were in harmony and they made a remarkable pretty trio. Miss Ethel Ferguson, as Anita,

and Miss Valeria Banes, as Margery Joy, made their first appearanoe as members of the J. P. L. Troupe and immediately established themselves as newly disoovered favorites by the oharming manner in which they sang. Eaoh has a pleasing personality and a good voioe and eaoh knows how to use them. Bruoe Hardy, as Teddy/ simply added to hie well earned reputation as one of the old reliable favorites who can be depended upon to throw every pound of an abundant energy into any part he undertakes without in any way overdoing it. He was ably seconded by Ohae. Mann who took the part of George, Pansy’s manager. As a matter of course, Miss Jennie Bernard, as Virgina Neilson, received hearty encores to her “Gay Fleurette,’’ Miss Bernard’s voice is worthy further cultivation for its tone, timbre and register are excellent. She was splendidly seoonded by her ohorue. Very unfortunately Miss Eigles bach was prevented from singing by extreme hoarseness but her Bowery dance with Orlan Grant was a great hit thd completely oaught the gallery.

j Among others deserving special | mention for the care they took in , their parts are Misses Doris Porter, Blanche and Ethel McCarthy, Lillian Rhoades, Mary Wright, Graoe Warren, Ceoil Morgan and Gertrude Leopold. Herman Tuteur and Harry Eger as Ringling’s Clowns, brought down the house as usual and were forced to repeat several times. The performance dosed with a genuine Roger Brothers’ character sketch by “The Grant Boys” whose make up, faking, stepping and allaround acting are above our criticism. They are natural born act bra cud should be proud of their hold upon 'their audienoes. The hilarious reoeption which greeted them in this sketch as well as in their characters as “Zaoh and Roosh —Them Twin Tarriers, Pansy’s brothers” ought to have been sufficient to satisfy the pride of any aotors in any oountry. The Jasper Public Library is indeed fortunate in possessing such tireless workers as Mrs. Delos Thompson and Mrs F. A. Roes and the loyal little band, the “J. P. L. Troupe, Ltd.” For the past four years almost the entire current expenses of the Publio Library have* been paid out of the net prooeeds of their entertainments, eaoh of whioh has demanded an amount of time, labor, thought and close management that are relative, ly enormous. The friends and supporters of the Publio Library are now earnestly hoping that the generous offer of SIO,OOO from Mr. Andrew Carnegie, the philanthropist, will speedily be accepted and the Publio Library thus be plaoed upon a solid and permanent basis that will preolude such individual effort for ; its maintenance in the future.