Alexandria High School - Alexian Yearbook (Alexandria, MN)

Page 31 text:

1934 THE ALEXIAN 1934 THE BOHEMIAN GIRL Under the leadership of Harold W. Arentsen and Gordon B. Melby, the music department and the stage force combined this year to put on the biggest musical production that has ever been attempted in this school, Balfe's Bohemian Girl . Delegations from cities within a radius of fifty miles, along with Alexandria music lovers, filled the gymnasium auditorium to overflow- ing to witness the spectacle. Approximately 1500 people attended. Few amateur organizations are capable of presenting a production of the Bohemian Girl type as well as we heard it presented here. The well-selected principals, the beautifully costumed and well-drilled chor- uses, the expertly trained orchestra, and the superb scenery and lighting effects all combined to make this opera the best ever staged by the Al- exandria music department and stage force. The solos, duets, trios, and quartets of the principals won enthusi- astic applause from the audience. Favorite renditions seemed to be I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Hallsf' sung by Miss Minerva Pepinsky and Then You'll Remember Me, sung by Mr. Ording. Miss Pepinsky, taking the part of Arline, and Theodore Ording, portraying Thaddeus, the Polish exile, sang the leading roles with ex- cellence. They were well supported by Superintendent L. S. Harbo of Osakis, as Count Arnheimg Pearl Oberg, as che gypsy queen, Clifford Rykken, as Devilshoof, the gypsy Chieftain, and Lynn Bauman, who played the role of Florenstein. The part of the child Arline was well portrayed by Betty Jane Landers. As the swarthy villain, Clifford Rykken excited much hilarity in the audience. Pearl Oberg played her role with all the vindictiveness necessary. As a fastidious, foppish young nobleman, Lynn Bauman was very commendable. Under the dexterous leadership of Professor Abe Pepinsky and with the aid of three university musicians and Mrs. Harold W. Arent- sen, the high school orchestra gave one of the best performances that rhc local audience has ever heard it give. Beautifully costumed under colorful lights, the ballet chorus, trained by Mr. Arentsen and led by Dona Du Beau, danced a charming interpretation of a court dance. The choruses, composed of members of the choral and glee clubs, gave just the proper amount of support necessary to the leading singers. A great deal of credit must go to Mr. Arentsen for the splendid performance. I-Ie has steadily built up the local music department in preparation for productions of this sort. To Gordon Melby, local stage director, goes much praise for the at- tractive staging. His assistant, Frances Jane Peterson, very efficiently took charge of constructing the four artistic settings for the opera. The dramatic coaching by Dr. Lloyd W. Lyons and the supervision of the costuming by Miss Alice Kolbe were also commendable. The costumes were vivid and picturesque.

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. f3.! ' 2 I E 1934 I THE ALEXIAN 1934 OPERETTAS ,ji Pearl Oberg Lynn Bauman Participating most prominently in glee club and operettas, two mem- bers of our class have been preeminent in the major musical activities of the school. Pearl Oberg has sung leading roles in all of the four operettas pre- sented during the years she has been in high school. In Rosamunde, she sang the part of Baucis, a shepherdessg in I-I. M. S. Pinaforef' she played the leading role, that of Josephine. She por- trayed the part of the Japanese girl, Yum-Yum, in the Mikado, an- other Gilbert-Sullivan operetta. In the Bohemian Girl, so ably pre- sented this year, Pearl sang the role of the venomous gypsy queen with the excellence that has characterized her singing in all the operas and operettas in which she has taken part. Lynn Bauman has pleased Alexandria audiences with his excellent portrayals of leading characters in our operettas for the past three years. In his sophomore year, Lynn took the part of the boatswain, a prominent sailor on the I-I. M. S. Pinaforef' In the Mikado, Lynn sang the leading role of Nanki Pooh. In the Bohemian Girl, he por- trayed Florenstein, the fastidious nephew of Count Arnheim. Our class can well be proud of these two of its members who have so well represented it for four years. Pearl and Lynn have, of course, been ably supported by the music director, the glee clubs, the orchestra, the stage force, the make-up and costume managers, and the dramatic coaches.

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1934 THE ALEXIAN 1934 Stage Force Front row-Sylvia Love, George Watters, Robert Mayer, Frances Jane Peterson. Back row-Elmer Watters, John Wohlers, Mr. Melby. Our stage force has been ably managed by Frances Jane Peterson, a senior. Other members of the hard-Working crew have been Sylvia Love, Robert Mayer, George Watters, Elmer Watters, and John Wohlers, juniors. Throughout the year, this organization has provided artistic scen- ery and lighting effects for numerous junior and senior high school stage productions. Much credit is due Gordon B. Melby, the science instructor, who has worked assiduously with the group as its director. School Patrol Under the leadership of Patrick Boland, the school patrol has ef- ficiently carried on the duties which were designated at the initiation last year. Patrol officers have been at their appointed places at all the corner crossings near the school building during the noon and afternoon recesses. They have greatly aided in the state's iight against accidents caused by carelessness in crossing streets. Claude Jackson, a senior, has acted as patrol chief. His assisting captains have been Freeland Stevens, a junior, and Roy Havens, a sopho- more. Christian Backhaus, another sophomore, has been the secretary. 28