North Central High School - Tamarack Yearbook (Spokane, WA)

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THE TAMARACK

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THE TAMARACK The Operetta Carnival time in Vienna was tlie settinjr for Pickles, one of the most glamorous and gorgeous operettas ever given at North Central. It was presented on Friday and Saturday nights, December 13 and 1 i. Tlie musical show was truly an all school production, the music being directed by Mr. Rice, the dancing bj- Miss Pinkham, the speaking and dramatic parts by Miss Jones, the costumes by Miss Dalquest and the scenery by Mr. Youngman. The story of Pickles is one filled with l)eauty, romance, mystery, color and excite- ment. Jonas Pennington, an American million- aire pickle manufacturer, arrives in Vienna with his daughter, June, in the midst of pre- parations for the annual carnival. He is amazed and dismayed when he finds out that Jones, his advertising expert, has been advertising Peter Piper Pickles too well. Lady Vivian, ii very charming and wealthy English lady and an old friend of Jonas, also comes to Vienna at this time in an annual .search for her daugh- ter who disapjieared near here at carnival time when only a baby. Kinski, the pompous police- man, aided by his faithful sleuths, Bumski and Ilumski, tries to substitute the lost child of Lady A ' ivian in hopes of marrying her for her fortune. A band of gypsies led by Jigo, their chieftan, and his supposed daughter, Ilona, visit the carnival. F.vents lead all to a mystical pool in a gypsy camp that reveals the face of Lady Vivian Delancy ' s daughter. .Arthur Crefont, a poor but promising artist, wins the recognition of his art and the hand of the fascinating June Pennington. Lady Vivian says yes to Mr. Pennington and the suppo.sed gyp.sy girl, Ilona, is returned to her mother. The entire stage was used. . 11 the action took place in the innyard where the carnival was conducted. During the carnival the place was full of color and laughter of the tourists and gypsies who were making whoopee. American tourists, Venetians and Ciypsy vag- abonds all helped carry the action from the fast moving cabaret scene through the bril- liant carnival time to the quiet love making. A magic silver pool, moonlight pictures by the Gypsy and Venetian choruses and the haunt- ing balcony love scenes were some of the unusual features. The gorgeous costumes and novel scenery were great factors in giving at- mosphere. Leads for the operetta were: Jonas Pennington Ben Roberts June Pennington Laura Alice Sawin Lady Vivian Delancy Lucille Boyer Ilona Doris Boyer Jigo I-eslie Wade J. Jennison Jones Earl Wyatt Captain Kinski Wardell McKay Bumski Bill McCluskey Kumski Clyde Vigil . rthur Crefont Don Safford Others in the cast were: Ray Hendricks, Hans Maicr, the proprietor of the Wurtzel- praeter Inn; Virginia Ludcke, Louisa, a wait- ress; John Hayes and Vernon Boland, waiters; Viola Mason, a Gypsy girl, and Merwin Peebles, a tramp. The five dances directed by Miss Pinkham were very colorful with their tambourines, cos- tumes, and clever steps. Black and White Steps, Romajiy Patteran, A la Carte and Dream Children are the names of the dances. Kathleen Flynne did Gaya a solo Gypsy (lance. STAGE CREW In connection with the class play and the operetta an acknowledgment of the fine work done by the stage crew should be made. The boys of the crew, a.ssisted by Mr. Youngman and Miss Jone.s, spent many hours in repaint- ing old scenery and building new. The set for the operetta was built in the shop together with many of the properties. The boys spent much of their time after .school and after dinner working to make North Central ' s dra- matic productions a success. A large part of the credit for the smooth functioning and clever appearance of the scenes of this semesters plays and programs should be given to the fellows on the crew. Clinton Bailie is stage manager. Bill Rodgers and Randall Beebe had charge of painting the .scenery. Other assistants were Jack Worley, Charles Vedder, Thomas Farmer, Ronald Khode and .Austin Soderquist. 147]

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THE TAMARACK Class Plai| A coincdy riot from start to finish was the thrcf-act play, Notliing But the Truth, given l)y the senior dramatics class under the direc- tion of Martha Pearl Jones on Friday and Saturday ni.ehts, November 8 and 9. An un- usual feature was the fact that the play was presented by a complete double cast. Hoth acted In a truly professional manner. N ' otliinp I?ut the Truth was one of the most il(li)thtful and successful comedies that a .senior cla.ss has ever had the privilege of presenting. It had a three year run in New York and an eighteen month run in Chicago. ' I ' lie acti m takes place in the uptown offiei ' of a wealthy New York stock broker and is continued to the drawing room of his Long Island summer home. During the course of a conversation in the office. Bob liennett bets •i ' lO.OOO which his sweetheart, Gwendolyn Ral- ston has entrusted to him to invest and double for her, that he can tell the absolute truth for twenty-four hours. Mr. Ralston, Dick Don- nelly, an office partner, and Van Dusen, an elusive customer, thinking that this is impos- sil)le quickly take him up on it. From the first the odds work against poor Bob and the situations that he gets into are screamingly funny. The three men harass him day and night by all kinds of questions, all of which he has to answer truthfully or lose the $10,000, together with the heart and haii.i of tile girl tliat he loves. In this case he finds nut that tlu ' truth pays but oh, how dear! Sometimes tlu- truths hurt and white lies are the kindest, but he is (hiiied the use of I ' ven these. Bob gets him.sclf and all others connected with the bet in hot water and in rather tick- lish situations, but he does not waver. His life ' s future is hanging in the balance and things are looking black indeed when he is saved only i)y the timely end of the twenty- four hourii. Kvery thing is ex) lained satisfac- torily and no real harm is done after all. The casts consisted of the following: K. M. Ralston Guy Miller, .Ma. Vel)er Clarence Van Dusen Bill McCluskey, Herman West I{i i)crt Bennett. Charles Cam|)bcll, Karl Wyatt Richard Donnelly .. Weldon Bean, Clinton Bailie (Iwendolyn RaLston Margaret Bnrdsley, Bertha George Mrs. Ralston Beatrice Bemiss, Eleanor Martineau Bisliop Doran Austin .Soderquist Ethel Clarke .. Dorothy Jacobs, Lucille Latham Mabel Jaek.son Beatrice White, Roberta Shanks Sabel Jackson .. Marjorie Rhodes, Alice Taylor Martha Frances Jones, l.eamae Cantrell The Band Organizations mean nothing in school life imless they accomiilish something. North Cen- tral ' s band is probably the oldest enterpri.se in the school and one of the biggest promoters of student activities. The band has done more than its share in providing pep and spirit at the games for the past fall. Very favorable comment was received on the stunt which the band presented between halves at the annual Thanksgiving game. First a huge C S was formed by the l)and lioys who then i)layed The Star Spangled Banner. Next the letters I, C took shape and the L wis and Clark school song was played. Finally they formed the letters N C and proudly ))layed their own .school battle song, Red and Black. The officers have been conscientious in their work. Those with the rank of l)andmaster are: Harry Hale, wlio is directing the sax sextet; [49]