Welsh Journals

flruwstli Deanerp magazine. Vol. IV. (New Series). MAY, 1908. No. 185. LLANIDLOES. Our heartiest congratulations are given to all who assisted in making the performance of " Dan the Newsboy " and " The En¬ chanted Glen " in Easter week such a pro¬ nounced success. It was no light under¬ taking to prepare two different works in one winter, but the time and energy ungrudgingly spent during the winter nights were amply rewarded by the unstinted applause and delight of the audiences which met to witness their production at the National Schools. Miss E. S. Jones had been unremitting in her efforts to train the children and adults, and congratulations are especially due to her and to Miss Lena Davies, who gave her invaluable assistance, for the unqualified -success which attended their work. The performances had been looked forward to with great eagerness by the children, and the general interest which they had awakened was strikingly demonstrated on Wednesday night. The schoolroom was crowded, and many were disappointed when they found they could not be admitted. On this night " Dan the Newsboy" was presented, and from the rise of the curtain to the end not a hitch occurred to mar the performance. Space will not allow us to deal at length with the various characters and scenes, and we must content ourselves with saying that the various •' get-ups," the pretty dresses, the picturesque scenes, the well-executed movements and dances, the splendid render¬ ings of tuneful choruses and charming songs, and the display of histrionic talent of no mean order by several of the performers, combined to give an entertainment of first- class merit. The comic element in the piece was brought to a climax in the scene which was laid in China, whither Dan, with two companions, had been sent on a mission. The appearance of four Chinese acrobats in native costume and pigtails is the beginning of the fun. Their leader is Jing Bang, and after the English trio had joined them as acrobats, they all made their appearance in Oriental garb in a fair, during which merriment reigned supreme, Jing Bang and Inky M'Ouill being conspicuous bv their antics. This scene was followed by a Chinese umbrella dance and a fan chorus. Other items which appealed to the audience were the mail-cart trot and polka, which were excellently done. During one of the scenes, Miss Doris Holmes (who appeared in fancy dress as Punch) gave a castanet dance, for which she was deservedly encored. The characters were represented by the following : — Dan, Fred Davies ; Laird, Albert Roberts ; Duncan, A. Webb ; Pedy Legit, B. Lewis; Inky M'Ouill, E. Nuttall ; Charlie, Bertie Roberts ; Jeanie Gray, Lily Roberts; Polly, Ettie Owen; Mistress Jean, Annie Evans; Jenny Nettles, Cassie Jones ; Leezie Lindsay, Emma Jones; Bessie Lee, Ada Walters ; Fisher-girls, Florrie James, Beatrice xMarpole, Lena Hampton and Evelyn Davies; Newsboys, Bennett Owen, Iorwerth Evans, Trevor Mar- pole and John Davies ; Policeman, E. Nut- tall ; Chinamen, Pryce Williams, A. Moyle, and Stowell Marpole; Jing Bang, Albert Roberts ; Orange girl, Edith Davies ; Match seller, S. E. Wood; Toy seller, Ceridwen Jones; Chinese dancers, Cassie Jones, Annie Evans, Ada Walters, Emma Jones, Jennie Jerman, and Evelyn Davies ; Castanet dancer, Doris Holmes. Thanks are due to Messrs. Albert Roberts and E. Nuttall for getting up the characters of Jing Bang and Inky M'Quill respectively at a very short notice in addition to the two other characters which they so excellently represented. "The Enchanted Glen" was produced on Thursday night. It is a very interesting operetta for girls, and consists of three scenes. The two in the glen were very attractive : the movements of the fairies, the village girls, the milkmaids, and the principal characters producing pleasing animated pictures. All were prettily dressed, and the choruses and songs, the march and dances, reflected the greatest credit upon all con¬ cerned. The performance delighted the large audience, and as on the previous even¬ ing, everything was gone through smoothly and successfully. During the operetta Doris Holmes gave a dance to the tune of " The Ash Grove." The characters were :—Dame Grumpus, Miss Webb ; Nora, Ettie Owen ;