From the files of Eleanor Mather:

May 05, 2004

Thank you to Eleanor Mather for the following article. See how many names you recognize.

Red Acre Farm
Comic-Drama Is Grand Success

Red Acre Farm, a comedy drama presented by the Central Waterford Parent-Teacher association Tuesday and Wednesday nights at the Cohanzie schoolhouse, was a grand success, dramatically and financially. The auditorium of the school was filled to overflowing on Tuesday night and again last night it was filled to capacity.

The play itself, a three-act comedy-drama, went through from beginning to end without a skip or miss and plainly showed the careful rehearsing and ability of players.

The play hinges around the loss of a valuable pearl necklace which the owners of Red Acre Farm, the old couple, Josiah Armstrong and his good wife Amanda, have decided to use to pay off the mortgage on the farm. The theft of the necklace destroys all their plans and when the interest falls due again they are unable to pay and are forced to leave the home that has sheltered them for 40 years. A happy climax restores the necklace as Josiah and Amanda are about to leave the old home, reunites the family, clearing of guilt an innocent party suspected of the theft.

Of the players it would be a difficult task to pick out the best. Walter Barrett, as Josiah Armstrong, owner of Red Acre Farm, and Mrs. Roy Ames as Josiah's wife were the hard-pressed old couple, passing through their adversities but still retaining their faith in God. Their characterizations were well done.

Gertrude Lamb as Nellie Armstrong, the sister that was driven from home after being accused of the theft of the pearls, and Mabel Sistare as Laura Armstrong, the weak sister, who really stole the pearls in one of her weak moments, were convincing in their parts.

Rufus Church as Colonel Barnaby Strutt with his Crawling Codwoilopers and When I Was in Timbuktu furnished a good many laughs. Lola Green as Mrs. Barnaby Strutt, the Colonel's wife and boss, and Mrs. Edna Sweet, as Junior, adopted daughter of the Strutts and Arthur Bezanson as Jonah Jones, a farm helper and sweetheart of Junior. Were the centers of a number of comical situations that were carried out in good fashion and livened up the play considerably.

Earl Bezanson as Dick Randall, in love with Nellie Armstrong, was a good lover and had the audience with him all the time. Morris Bowers as Squire Harcourt, the holder of the mortgage on the farm, capably carried out the part of the hard-hearted money-lender. Edward Devine as Harry Harcourt, profligate son of the Squire, was a bad man and with the aid of a heavy mustache to hide his usual smile, was a capable heavy. George Greenwood as a traveling merchant didn't have much chance to show his ability but carried out his part well when he was on the stage.

Mrs. G. F. Radway was the director and the play committee was made up of Mrs. Leroy Leister, Mrs. John Crandall, Mrs. Edna Sweet, Alice Young, Mrs. Stanley Morgan and Esther Grover.

The orchestra members were Charles E. Griswold, saxophone; Palmer Griswold, cornet; Mrs. Howard Boss, mandolin; Howard Boss, violin, and Thelma Griswold, pianist.


Reprinted from The New London Day, c.1928

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