“The Stolen Will” Offered a Big Chill, If You Will!
BY DANNY McCARTHY
This is about the Southold New York’s various engagements of what could be classified as the dynamic The Stolen Will.
Shedding Some Light on the Subject
The May 28, 1959 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman shared what truly could be interpreted as a truly stand-out show where folks really cheered and stood up so graciously giving praise.
????It seems that in July 1959, there would be a special performance of The Stolen Will via the Whitaker Historical Collection Committee. That May 28, 1959 edition gave some information that is also clarified so much later on:
????“… Because ‘The Stolen Will’ seems still to be the most popular ever put on in Southold, and still to hold top place as ‘money raiser’ for worthy causes {-} having bought a fire-engine {stet} in 1891 and a piano for the Southold Union School in 1902, with admission at 25 cents, mind you, but performances in Southold, Greenport, Mattituck and Riverhead{,} with the halls crowded to capacity and ‘standing room only’ by curtain time{,} the Whitaker Historical Collection Committee chose its revival as the committee’s contribution to Southold Township’s part in the New York State ‘Year of History’ Celebration, as well as to raise money for the purchase of historic papers and books on early Southold for the Collection, which is housed in {the} Southold Free Library.
????The following bit, taken from a ’25 Years Ago’ column of the Traveler now in the Huntting Scrapbooks, gives an idea of the reception of the play in 1891.
????‘January 21, 1891. The drama, the Stolen Will {stet} was presented to the largest audience ever gathered in Belmont Hall. …’ ‘… The comedy-drama, The Stolen Will, played in Stirling Hall, Greenport, to a packed house, many being unable to gain admission. The play was also given in The Rink, Riverhead, to a big house.’
????Before it was put on in 1902, the following publicity piece appeared in the Traveler: ‘… This play was given here {in Belmont Hall} and at Greenport and Riverhead eleven years ago for the benefit of Protection Engine Co.. It was played to crowded houses and was a great success, the receipts being over $400.00. As far as possible{,} the same members of the cast are in the play now as in 1891.”
The June 4, 1959 The Long Island Traveler Mattituck-Watchman spotlighted this:
????“The Whitaker Historical Collection Committee’s ‘Year of History’ Revival of ‘The Stolen Will’ at Southold High School on Saturday evening, June 27th, has brought many of the things written about the former productions of the play to light. In 1923, for instance, the following pre-performance piece appeared in the L. I. Traveler. We have been mightily tempted to change the names of the cast and so to bring it up to date, but virtue has won out, as it does in the play, and we have put such thoughts aside. Here, then, is the ‘un-stolen’ write-up.
????‘The old-time three-act comedy, ‘The Stolen Will,’ will be given by the Southold Community Dramatic Society at Belmont Hall{,} Southold, Thursday and Friday evenings, April 19 and 20. …’”
“… If you are looking for a modern, up-to-date, society problem play, then you will be disappointed; but if you want to see an old-fashioned play of the type of the Old Homestead and Way Down East, you want to be on hand at the presentation of The Stolen Will. There is a splendid plot running all through the play, and you do not know how it will come out until just before the curtain falls in the last act. The comedy parts will keep you in roars of laughter. There is not a dull moment in the play, no lagging in interest, and it is all action from the word ‘go{.}’ Thirty and again twenty years ago{,} this comedy-drama was played to packed houses in Southold, Greenport, Mattituck and Riverhead, standing-room being even at a premium. Then, as now, the leading role of Chip Winkle, Esq., was played by J. N. Hallock. He says he never enjoyed himself so well in a play. …
… ‘The Stolen Will’ is a play that appeals to the heart, and shows, of course, the triumph of right. It proved the greatest hit ever scored by the Southold Players, and we are sure it will do it again. …”
The June 18, 1959 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman furthered this item:
????“There are many ‘beehives of activity’ in Southold and Peconic …, as work progresses on the production of that old favorite, ‘The Stolen Will.’ June 27th is just around the corner, and members of the Whitaker Historical Collection Committee, producers of the play as part of the Southold Township observance of the New York State Year of History Celebration, assisted by many helpers, are making sure that everything will be in readiness so that the curtain can rise promptly at 8 P.M. …
????… After the performance at Belmont Hall in 1923, Alberta T. Kellock reviewed the production in glowing words. Her article was too long, to reproduce in full, but here are a few of the highlights:
????‘… Who in that full house, filled to capacity both nights, could have been disappointed? It was a splendid show, from the moment Betsey first brandished her broom … The play is an old one, unlike the modern ones we have been accustomed to on the stage – and that added to the interest. The old-time humor was delightful. The plot, with na?ve ‘badness’ and ‘goodness’ was refreshing, and it was interesting to see the curtain raised upon a stage of thirty years ago – perfect as to settings and costumes and character and atmosphere. …’
????Each member of the large cast was mentioned and commented upon ... Hon. Edward Enwright was well impersonated by Alvah Goldsmith. He preserved a quiet dignity throughout, quite in keeping with his character, and he knows how to wear a frock coat and side whiskers as if he were born with them … and finally: Chip, we saved you for the last. Not because you were least, but because we’ve saved you for dessert. After our first look when you ambled in … we were thankful that dessert was served during the entire meal and not just at the end. …
????… So come prepared to journey back to the era when fun was really fun; simple, uncomplicated and refreshing; when villainy was to be hissed at and goodness expected. For to quote from the L. I. Traveler from January 18, 1891, ‘there is nothing coarse or unrefined in it (The Stolen Will) {stet} and no one can bring the slightest objection to it. …'”
The Fifty Years Ago column in the February 14, 1952 said:
????“‘The Stolen Will’ was presented at the Greenport Opera House.”
The Twenty-five Years Ago column that appeared in the June 19, 1952 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman included just a bit of fine-tuned-related information:
???“A Sohmer piano was ordered from Elliott Young for the Southold Union School. The greater part of the money was raised by the play, ‘The Stolen Will.’”
Now … Truly! … Here’s Something!
The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman that was dated May 21, 1959 had this to say:
????“The 350th anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson and of Lake Champlain by Samuel de Champlain will be celebrated throughout New York State from April 30 to October 4. The celebration promises to be the most lengthy and spectacular in the state’s history.
????Southold Town will receive its well-deserved ‘place in the sun,’ with county and state-wide promotion and publicity listing events of both past and present historical significance taking place during 1959.
????Already scheduled and in active state of preparation are two Southold Village affairs. The first, a presentation of an 1880 play, ‘The Stolen Will’ (author anonymous) {STET!} … Mrs. Stanton Mott, Chairman of the Whitaker Historical Collection Committee, which sponsors the event, assures a ‘smash hit.’
????… The second event, an event entitled ‘Children’s Past,’ is offered by the Historical Committee of the Southold-Peconic Civic Association. The exhibit may be seen at the American Legion Building, Main Road, Southold, July 22-23. Mrs. Ann Currie-Bell heads the committee.
·???????Now of course, the Southold-Peconic Civic Association became the Southold Historical Society in 1960 and the president was Mrs. Ann Hallock Currie-Bell!
The June 25, 1959 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman reported:
????“In reporting many of the historical facts and fancies of ‘The Stolen Will,’ some aspects of the present production have not been brought forward until now. For instance, music of the Gay Nineties will be played whenever the velvet curtains are closed. Mr. Dwight M. Pettit will be at the piano, and Mr. John Ulp, {cornetist}, and Mr. William Moulton, guitarist. There will be entertainment between the first and second acts by The Al Homan Barbershop Quartet, and an ‘Old Time Song’ between the second and third acts, with Mr. Pettit at the piano and Mr. Ulp leading the audience in singing the old songs. …
????… The Whitaker Historical Collection Committee has decided that anyone who has bought a ticket for Saturday night’s performance, and is unable to attend, will be welcomed at the dress rehearsal on Friday evening. Please bring your ticket with you, as no one will be admitted without one. See you at The Stolen Will.”
The July 2, 1959 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman stated:
????“Mrs. Eunice Prellwitz Receives High Praise for Her Directing; Cast Well Chosen for Roles …”
????“An old-time melodrama has not lost its power to please. Just as in in 1891, 1902, and 1923, ‘The Stolen Will’ again charmed a capacity audience. Southold High School Auditorium last Saturday night had a gathering which may not have taken the show as seriously as those who saw it in the now-vanished Belmont Hall, but those present certainly must have enjoyed the play as much as the previous audiences.
????With a villain to hiss, a noble and lovely heroine to applaud{,} and a comic bumpkin to laugh at, who could care if by today’s standards the plot was the quintessence of corn? A dastardly villain and a scheming housekeeper seek to do the heroine out of her rightful heritage. She is turned out of her home, goes to the city, becomes a governess in the employ of a society matron whose daughter seeks to marry a rich widower, is kidnapped together with the widower’s child by the villain who unknown to her is her own father, … and after the will is stolen, re-stolen, re-re-stolen{,} and yet once again, all comes well in the end. The heroine is slated to marry the widower, the bumpkin gets a rich reward{,} and the villain makes a deathbed confession. …”
The Fifty Years Ago column in The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman dated March 29, 1973 included:
????“Joseph N Hallock, Southold Town Clerk, Editor of the Traveler{,} and former Assemblyman, was to play the lead in a presentation of ‘The Stolen Will’ by the Southold Community Dramatic Society. The versatile Mr Hallock had played the same part twenty years previous and also ten years before that. He announced this is positively his last performance.”
Just for the Sake of It – Friendly & Theatrically Speaking Personally
Here is a link carrying my Linkedin.com post about Belmont Hall: