Operetta

     Dick Erne and his friends, Tom Tupper and Sam Slippy, are members of the U.S. Naval Reserves.  While upon a cruise they drop anchor at Gloucester and there Dick receives a letter from his father.  To the amazement of both himself and his stalwart crew, he is therein instructed to find Kitty Adair, a girl to whom he had been pledged fifteen years before, and wed her.

     A moment later a crowd of pretty high school girls, under the leadership of Kitty Adair and her friend, Dorothy, come dancing in and at once the young tars become acquainted in an unconventional manner.  Tom Tupper introduces himself and his friend, Dick, and latter tells Kitty of his errand.  She conceals her identity from him and after a little deliberation the whole party goes to the woods for a picnic.  After spending a pleasant afternoon, the sailors conceive the idea of having a dance aboard their ship, "The Barnacle," that evening by the light of the moon.  The girls readily consent and the sailors set forth to prepare for the evening festivities.

     The second act opens aboard ship, where Tom Shannon, a relic of the "jolly tars" of the former years, is endeavoring to entertain the crew upon his slide trombone.  After considerable argument he is induced to wait until some other time to exhibit his musical proclivities, as the guests are beginning to arrive.

     The festivities are disturbed a little later by the arrival of the chaperon, Mrs. Brown, who in the girls' haste had been thoughtlessly left upon the dock.  Her wrath is quickly appeased and everything proceeds according to the program until Tim Shannon comes upon deck and recognizes in the widow, Mrs. Brown, his old sweetheart, Kitty Adair.  He exclaims her names, and overcome by the shock, poor Dick Erne, who is by this time deeply infatuated with Kitty, is carried below by his comrades.  The hero decides to go back to the city in order to live down his disappointment, but he is caught by the crowd as he attempts to leave the boat.  Kitty discloses her identity and accepts his proffer of marriage.  The play ends with joy and pleasure reigning supreme.

     Max Van Scoy took the part of Dick Erne with success, both singing and speaking voice being well suited to the part.  Helen Walpole played opposite him in the role of Kitty Adair and was well received at all times; her solo work was especially good.

     In the part of Tom Tupper, LeRoy Fessler gave us a real, life-like picture of the breezy, good-natured sailor of today, who is ready for an emergency.  Everyone who saw the operetta feels that the choice of Mildred Kurtz for the role of Dorothy was a happy one, for she played her part at all times with a finish that was worthy of a professional.

     Merwin Mathis and Lydia Weythman took the parts of Sam Slippy and Barabara with a favorable result that plainly showed their hard work and consistent practices.

     While the principals were very good, we feel that the chorus cannot be given too much credit, for the support of the soloists was all that could be asked.  Their faithfulness to practice and the downright hard work they put in made them deserve all the many favorable comments they received.

     As a whole, the operetta was a success, not only along musical lines, but also in a financial way.

     It reflects much credit upon Miss Hinshaw in her ability to handle a large chorus and to secure the desired results.