Ventura College - La Revista Yearbook (Ventura, CA)

Page 69 text:

I El I l I? 1: 1 1 174 ■I A SUCCESSFUL CALAMITY [usi what was tin- Successful Calamity: li concerned the home oi .1 wealthy man — a man wearied by business cares during the day and by social function during the night, until in desperation he announced that he had failed Financially. This gave rise i the varied situations that followed and proved itsell in the end to have been an entirely Successful Calamity. The funior College dramatic department gave an exceptional presentation oi this play on November 14. 1930. Under the direction of Arthur Brady, the cast portrayed their parts with marked ability. Burnett Atkinson was exceptionally fine as Harry Wilton the father, carrying his role consistently. Lucille Berry was the charming wile, endlessly occupied with social duties. Virginia Xeece and Harry Moore. Jr.. were most natural a? the daughter and 1 ' ilin De Serpa, playing the role oi Conners, the butler, did outstanding work and justly deserved the commendation he received. Erwin Zander and John dela Guerra, as rivals for the hand oi the daughter, Jean Waterman, the fiancee 1 the son; Hester Alan as the maid. Robert Coats as the doctor, John Ratekin as the Italian painter, and Dick Stock as the lather ' s business partner, all played their parts with a skill approaching the professional. Left to right : E. Zander, J. DeSerpa, . Meece, I . dela Gi erra, 11. Allen, T Atkinson, L. Berry, J. Ratekin, R. Si ck, R. Coats, II. M iore, I. vterma

Page 68 text:

I El 1 1 V 1: 1 1 171 ■s ™- 31 THE DRAMA CLASS The Dramatic Department was run on an entirely different plan this year. The twenty-five students in the class were the only ones eligible to try out for the High School plays. Under the leadership of Arthur C. Brady, the department had a very success- ful year. The first big production was A Successful Calamity. This initial perform- ance proved the cast ' s worth as entertainers. In the weeks to follow three short plays were given bearing the titles, The Trysting Place, Moonshiners, and Knives of Syria. A vaudeville skit entitled Foot and Foot was given at a service club. Just after the beginning of the Spring semester they started work on the second big play. This play. The Whispering Gallery, was one of the finest ever put on in Ventura. The students displayed professional ability. At the close of the school year the class is scheduled to give three more one act plays. They are, The Valiant, Backstage, and The Camberly Triangle. Dram Class Top row: Mr. Arthur Brady, J. Ratekin, J. dela Guerra, R. Stock. J. Df. Serpa, ( i. Stavros. Second row. V. Dickson, B. Hallowell, Z. Morss, G. Bachler, B. Stein, E. Zander, E. Nicholson. Third row: L, Kinney, D. Proctor, B. Young, B. Williams, Y. Neece, J. Water- man, I .. Berry.

Page 70 text:

I El I. I 151:1 1 1 1 31 The Whispering Gallery Presented April 24,25. 1931 AT THE Ventura Junior High School Students who took part in The Whispering Gal- ery are: John De Serpa, Robert Coats. John dela Guerra, Virginia Xeece, Becky Stein, John Rate- kin, Barbara ikeiams, F rank Dixon, Zki.ua Morss, Erwtn Za nder, and Milton Flentge. Coached bv Arthur Brady.