The Kelly’s Cross Dramatic Club was organized in the late 1890’s and met with great success during its first years producing many three act plays which were presented not only in the community, but also in other centres on the Island. With some ups and downs the people con- tinued the club until the 1940’s. The advent of the radio, T.V., better transportation took up the interests of the young people, and the atten- dance at the plays grew less and less.

During the early years the play that is best remembered by the older people was “The Old Hickory Farm”. t was presented about the year 1900, and John Bradley who was a song writer. and poet of his day, wrote :1. song that was sung during the play. This song “The Old Hickory Farm” can be found in another section of this book. An “old timer” living in the senior citizens home recalls seeing this play, and he remembers one of the specialties in particular. He rmembers James H. Monaghan tapping the floor with a whip to the accompanying steps of Clement “and, :2nd giving him an odd crack on the shins to make him jump higher. You could «all that “dancing to the tune of the whip”.

There was no chance of hiding your talents under the bushel in those days. So if you could sing or dance; fiddle or recite or play the piano or any instrument, the community shared your talent.

For a few years a quartet banded together to provide music and song, and their ability to entertain, and provide the music for weekly dances was acknowledged by all who heard them. There was Lena Mon- aghan (Mrs. Haughey) at the fiddle with Joe Kelly by her side; Levi Trainor with all his genial wit, and Frank Flood who accompanied them on the piano, and made the hills resound with his songs.

In 1922, Milwood Doyle, undertook to stage the rather beautiful and very Irish play, Kathleen Mavourneen. This was a play very close to the hearts of those who saw it. It was a love story interspersed with Irish wit, and the song that has won fame through the singing of John McCormack.

There were other plays staged during those years, but the one that brought recognition to both the players, director, specialties, and the sup— porting cast was “An Arizona Cowboy”. It happened this way. Austy Trainer, who was no doubt one of the best actors, comedians, directors in draniatics on the Island, and off it, assisted at the play, and invited the club to present it in the old Prince Edward Theatre in Charlottetown, in the spring of 1926. The following account taken from “The Guardian”.

BUMPER HOUSE AT PRINCE EDWARD FOR “AN ARIZONA COWBOY” Capably Presented By Kelly’s Cross Dramatic Club

Charlottetown theatre goers have been entertained this season with a more than ordinary number of amateur dramatic performances, and last, but not least, is “An Arizona Cowboy”, which was presented to a

—134—