Benedictine College - Raven Yearbook (Atchison, KS)

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The Twin College Players' stellar production of this year was T. S. EIiot's Murder in the Cathedral presented in Febru- ary on the Mount St. Scholastica and Kansas City Municipal Auditorium stages. In this scene we see Robert Sheldon, '37, in the leading role surrounded by the chorus and tempters. The Passion and Death of Our Lord, enjoy- ing a prestige gained for it last year, lived up to its fame as the most stirring dramatic produc- tion of the year. The Rev. Mark Merwick, O. S.B., pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Atchison, again played the role of The Christus and far outshadowed everyone in the cast with his por- trayal. The musical background for this year's pro- duction Was furnished by the college symphony orchestra, with mood and atmospheric music by a mixed chorus, composed of students and choice local singers. The use of the orchestra and mixed chorus was an innovation this year and greatly enhanced the beauty and value of the entire production. Students of the college co-operated with Catho- lic laymen and women of Atchison in oifering the Passion Play. Mrs. Harry Roche played the part of the Blessed Virgin. joseph Bach, soph- omore, presented Peter and Karl Kappel, fresh- man, was cast as judas. William Curtin, fresh- man, portrayed Saul of T arsus. Francis Don- nelly, junior, as John and Maurice Nugent, fresh- man, as Nicodemus also turned in credible per- , formances. The Rev. Maurus Kennedy, O.S.B., was in charge of production and the play was presented March I5tl1, I7th, and 19th in the col- lege auditorium to packed houses. Amateur Night took a new lease on life this year when the word 'amateur' was defined so that Page 23 Robert Sheldon in a close-up as Archbishop Thomas a Becket. .i 2 I l u lr

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Central 'figure in the irrposing Passion Play presented by members of St. Benedict's and Sacred Heart parishes and the college is that of the Christus, here portrayed by the Rev. Mark Merwick, O.S.B. Several college actors may be observed hiding behind the false shrubbery at the left. The Play's he Thing TWO stellar productions complete the roster of dramatic productions offered by St. Benedict's college this year. What was lacking in quantity, however, was more than replaced by quality. The names of the two productions, Murder in the Cathedral and T he Passion and Death of Our Lord, will give the reader an inkling of their quality. Combine this W.th the knowledge that the directors were the Rev. Maurus Kennedy, O. S.B., director of dramatics, and Sister Benedicta Howe, O.S.B., director of dramatics at Mount St. Scholastica College, that the Twin Col- lege Players contributed to the casts and every- one will be apprised of the excellent quality with which they were presented. Robert Sheldon, yf1,7, portrayed the character of Thomas a Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Other members of the cast from St. Benedict's were Paul Wentworth, Maurice Nugent, Karl Kappel, Francis Donnelly, john Van Rheen, james Gronstal, Henry Gardner, and William Curtin. Bob Sheldon, without a doubt the out- standing actor, portrayed the role of Thomas a Becket with such vividness and reality that even his spiritual struggles and temptations were clearly revealed to the audience. He portrayed an archbishop in the throes of bitter temptations- the desire for pleasure, power, compromise, and, most agonizing of all, the sin of spiritual pride- but rising in his greatness above them all. The consensus among those who have witnessed a great many of the college productions is that it was the greatest play ever produced by the Twin College Players. The abbey a Cappella choir, under the direc- tion of the Rev. Anselm Llewellyn, O.S.B., formed a musical background to the drama. The choir has spent years in perfecting its technique and its contribution to the play added greatly to the atmospheric effectiveness of this play with the twelfth century setting. Murder in the Cathedral by T. S. Eliot has been presented in London and New York before large audiences. Elio 's masterpiece utilizes a medium which has been practically a lost art. He used poetic drama to tell the tragic story of Thomas a Becket, his trials, his temptations, and his martyrdom. Costumes, historically accurate and in keeping with the scenes, were correct in every detail in accordance with the raiment of the period. The production was staged January 25th and 26th in Atchison and February 26th and 27th in the Municipal Auditorium of Kansas City, Missouri, scoring a tremendous hit in both cities. Page 22

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The Angels All were Singing no students could compete in those roles in which they had specialized as members of the college music and drama departments, Twin College Players, or in which they had won prizes in former college amateur nights. In past years interest had lagged a little because the 'professionals' of the college always walked off with the prize money, but from now on these fellows are to be whittled down to regular size. Another distinc- tion made this year in Amateur Night was a split in prizes. A plaque was given to the class which put on the best show collectively. This was in addition to the prizes awarded individual acts. Thus a class could win the class plaque for the best all-around performance without winning an individual prize. Amateur Night is the crowning event of the year for the ambitious but neglected student embryonic entertainers. Anything and everything goes on this night, as long as it is pleasing. And almost everything did please Coach Don Elser, drafted as this year's master of ceremonies. The junior class proudly walked away from the scene of battle with the plaque signifying the best production. The freshmen were runners-up and the ecclesiastical students held the ticket for third place. In the individual prizes, Freshmen Maurice Nugent and Lawrence Wisely came through with 'flying colors to capture first prize, while Junior Bob McAlpin rolled into second place. The ecclesiastical students were consist- ent in that they again held the ticket to third place. In the field of dramatics and entertainment, much credit is due those students who are ever willing to fill last minute requests for entertain- ment. Every once in a while, entertainment committees find that their plans, so carefully worked out, have gone awry. A hurried last- minute search is sure to reveal some student who can fill in missing numbers. The students who are most frequently called upon to perform these duties are Jack Roche, tenor par excellence, George Schaefer, pianist with a knack for classical music, Henry O'Neill, another pianist who can trot out any tune from Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata to the latest swing number. Then comes Bruce Kettenbeil, Vic Barbieri, Eugene Drimmel and joe Goodwin. These and many others leaped into the gap on numerous occasions to supply a bright spot of entertainment. Their frequent radio appearanc- es also spotlighted a stellar year. Top-Bob Burns and Jane Zimmerman rehearse for their radio drama. Middle-Jack Roche warbles for air wave audience. Bottom-Bruce Kettenbeil runs through the scales before the nightly show. ' E.