Gertrude Goodwin Miller: in dramatic monologue

              Figure

GERTRUDE GOODWIN MILLER IN DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE



Figure

GERTRUDE GOODWIN MILLER
Presenting


FANCHON, THE CRICKET.
STAR-BRIGHT.
THE GIPSY GIRL OF PARIS.
LITTLE BAREFOOT.
THE COMING OUT OF MISS
CUMMINGS
AND OTHER DRAMATIC
MONOLOGUES.
Also
AN EXTENSIVE REPERTOIRE OF CLEVER SKETCHES, IMPERSONATIONS AND PANTOMIMES.





GERTRUDE GOODWIN MILLER DRAMATIC READER


Chautauqua Time Exclusively Controlled by
THE CHAUTAUQUA MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
Orchestra Bldg. Chicago




GERTRUDE GOODWIN MILLER
WE present Miss Miller to the Chautauqua committees with the assurance that her work will more than fulfill every requirement.  Her Monologues have been so marked with dramatic intensity that she has been an instant success.  Col. Bain has described the character of her work in a nutshell in these words of appreciation:

Miss Gertrude Miller was my surprise of the season.  As an actress she would make a fortune.  As a reader in Monologues she is already great, and a greater future is before her.  I congratulate the bureau that books her and the courses that secure her.

GEO. W. BAIN

There are, indeed, few readers who can so completely merge their identity into that of the characters they portray.  It is, perhaps, this power that enables her to obtain so complete a mastery over her hearers.  The Janesville, (Wis.) Daily Gazette called attention to this characteristic in a recent comment:

Gertrude Goodwin Miller, in her story of 'Starbright', yesterday afternoon, proved herself to be more than an elocutionist or a reciter of 'pieces.'

Her real power lies in her ability to forget herself, her audience and her surroundings, and for the time being to become heart and soul the castaway, harbored in the house of old Captain January.  There is but little elocutionary school polish about Miss Miller's work, but there is the ring of genuine appreciation of life and its impulses that can hardly fail to win the enthusiasm of any audience.

That Miss Miller's work has been a success is proven by the fact that over seventy-five per cent of the Assemblies where she appeared last summer have already arranged to place her upon their programs for the coming season.  A sample comment of Chautauqua managers is the following:

TO CHAUTAUQUA MANAGERS:

Miss Gertrude Goodwin Miller was with us three days during our Assembly of 1906 and proved herself one of our best attractions.  In fact Miss Miller is one of the very best readers and impersonators we have ever had in our six years experience.  Her work is artistic, her manner charming, her personal appearance very attractive, and above all, she holds her audience.

J. C. WESTERVELT, President Shelbyville Chautauqua.

Miss Miller presents for the coming season Fanchon, the Cricket, Starbright, The Gypsie Girl of Paris, Little Barefoot, and other dramatic Monologues.  Anyone of these is long enough for an entire program.  Fanchon is best
 adapted for the evening in fact, to give this Monologue at any other time loses much of its charm.

Fanchon, to those who knew the theatre twenty years ago, was a magic name.  In those days Maggie Mitchell charmed the hearts of the theatre going public by her wonderful impersonation of 'Fanchon the Cricket.'  The fact that Miss Miller, without the support of a Company, could please those who have seen Maggie Mitchell a number of times as Fanchon, is the highest praise.  In the soubrette parts of the play Miss Miller is not as good as Maggie Mitchell was, but in the emotional scenes she is much, very much, better.  Miss Miller is a finished artist; her elocution is faultless and her postures and gestures are perfection.—Somerset (O.) Press.

In addition to her dramatic Monologues, Miss Miller presents a repertoire of sketches, impersonations and pantomines, seemingly equal to all demands, and while her best work is in dramatic stories, yet these shorter sketches from life have proven immensely popular.


Oskaloosa has had a large number of readers and impersonators in her lecture courses and Chautauquas, but none who have excelled and but few who have equaled Miss Miller.  She made good with Oskaloosa at once.  It is a hard part of a program to fill, the first half hour, owing to the late arrivals and consequent noise, but Miss Miller held the close attention of her audience at all times.—
Oskaloosa (Ia) Globe.

It has been our aim to give only such items of comment as will illustrate the character as well as the quality of Miss Miller's work.  Below are a few short items selected from a host of press and personal comment.


The evening audience had been prepared to expect excellent and entertaining work by the reader, Gertrude Miller, but were not at all anticipating the superb, fascinating and dainty offerings made.  The presentation was Fanchon, the Cricket, and the familiar story was told with a dramatic rendering and intensely interesting recounting that held the big audience in delighted attention.  The beautiful costumes of the reader were crimson silk for Fanchon and white silk for the encore number.  Miss Miller has much capability, versatility and attractiveness in her work upon the platform and has been a fortunate acquisition to the Chautauqua force of entertainers.—
Belvidere, (Ill.) Evening Gazette.

Citronelle, Ala., March 14, 1905.

Miss Gertrude Goodwin Miller, Detroit, Mich.

Dear Miss Miller.—I cannot let you go from us without attempting to voice the pleasure felt by all connected with the Citronelle Chautauqua because of your great success as reader and monologist.  You have been with us for one week, and your numerous selections have ranged from the humorous and gay to the tragic, serious and dramatic, in all of which you have been most successful.  Particularly do I want to commend your pantomines.  I have never employed a reader who gave greater pleasure to Chautauqua audiences than you have.

Very sincerely,
GEO. H. TURNER, Superintendent.


Oak Park, Ill.

My Dear Miss Miller—You certainly made good with my audience at Sterling.  In Fanchon you were a whole company in yourself.  You have succeeded in getting out of the old Elocutionary ruts, and the audiences are sure to appreciate this.  I will always be glad to say a good word for you and for your excellent work.

Cordially,
M. H. HOLBROOK.


Enough cannot be said in praise of Miss Gertrude Miller.  She has a magnificent voice for this work, and possesses great dramatic power, which makes her one of the best readers we have yet heard.—
St. Thomas (Ont.) Journal.


It is with great pleasure that we draw the readers' attention to a very promising young artist in the person of Miss Gertrude Goodwin Miller, who has made herself very popular in her presentation of Fanchon the Cricket.  Miss Miller is materially assisted in her work by her exceptionally dramatic powers and powerful voice, and moreover, her talent is not forced, but each movement, gesture, and change of voice is given in that natural manner which denotes the finish of a true and earnest artist.—
The Chicago Dramatic Magazine.


Miss Miller, with her dusky hair and eyes and her mocking witchified manner, made one feel intensely the personality of the neglected orphaned girl; and in an extra number, The Coming Out of Miss Cummings.  Miss Miller made a decided hit.—
Niles (O.) News.


Fanchon the Cricket, given by Miss Gertrude Goodwin Miller, was a decided success.  Her work is highly artistic and shows great dramatic power.  Her witch scene was especially good.—
Port Huron (Mich.) Herald.


The pantomime, Mr. Jones Preparing for a Journey, was particularly good, while the other numbers she gave proved that Miss Miller was mistress of the different phases of her art.—
Greenfield (O.) Republic.


In the sketch, The Other Woman, a pretty piece of dramatic acting was done, and the rather tragic finale gave a splendid opportunity for the display of the strong, emotional powers of Miss Miller.—
Detroit News Tribune.


Miss Miller impersonates the seven characters in Fanchon the Cricket so that it is almost impossible to believe there is but one person in the work.  The changes of the voice are indeed wonderful.  She is the best reader who has appeared in this city.  She has personal charm which gives her a wonderful power over her audience.  Her version of a western girl's Coming Out in New York society was a decided hit, as was her Mr. Jones Preparing for a Journey.—
Brownwood Daily Bulletin.


Miss Miller is a dainty little creature.  Her readings, pantomimes and impersonations were delightful.  She is one of the most popular artists on the platform.—
Raleigh (N. C.) Daily News-Observer.


Gertrude Goodwin Miller as a reader excels in dramatic work, and as a pantomimist covers a range varying from the beautiful Nearer My God to Thee to Jones Preparing for a Journey, adapting herself to both most readily.—
Mobile (Ala.,) Daily Item.


Miss Miller showed remarkable versatility and power and her selections were well chosen to suit her power.  We were especially thrilled by her dramatic rendition of the French Court scene, and delighted with her Coming Out.  Miss Miller won repeated encores.—
Stetson (Fla.) Collegiate.


Miss Miller has an ease and naturalness about her that is rare and pleasing.  Her readings are exceptional.—
Jennings (La.) Daily Progress.


Miss Miller, the reader, took the audience by storm.  As well as possessing dramatic talent, she has a charming personality that is winning.—
The South Holy Springs, Miss.


Miss Miller proved a great favorite, perhaps the most striking feature of her reading being the absence of affectation.  There was no stupid posing.  The applause which greeted her was not forced, but spontaneous and genuine.—
Dixon (Ken.) Journal.