17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Tuesday, March 11, 1913: We decided tonight to have our play on the fifth of April.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
The previous evening Grandma did not go to play practice because it was raining. Probably the practice was canceled on the 10th and moved to the 11th due to the inclement weather. In general it seemed play practice only took place once—or maybe twice–a week.
Grandma had been going to play practices since January 27. She had the role of Chloe, the servant. It seems somewhat surprising that the date of the play was only now selected. The cast probably wanted to be confident that they knew their lines and were ready for the play before choosing a date.
I suppose there was no need to rush to select the date since the play was probably the only upcoming event in the small town of McEwensville–and nothing else was vying for the venue.
A Hundred Years Ago 
And I imagine everyone in town turned out for the play, too.
I can imagine a certain intensity developing in the cast by now as the time draws close – plenty of butterflies!
I agree with the previous comments: it was probably a big event!
Finny! I cant wait to hear abiut the turn out for the play!
I am looking forward to her telling us about the play since we can’t be there.
You’d think they’d make all kinds of clubs to pass the time. Like Chess club, Pet club…etc. I would imagine winter seemed even longer back then.