Benson Polytechnic High School - BluePrint Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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W Benson Polytechnic School W 29 l. will forget how .lack looked when he made his appearance as jim, the K'gob . llarlan Potts assumed the name of 'WVal- ter Webster , jim's brother and rival. Potts took his part well and deserves credit for his acting. Frank Davenport played the part of Colonel XVells, the jovial officer, to per- fection. Merrick Bradford was a great success in the character role of Lazele, the French dressmaker. This was the liveliest male part in the play. James Hoyt did well in his representation of Mr. Larkin, the irritable old father. Gerald Cunliff was not only prompter and butler, but took some feminine parts during the afternoon rehearsals, when the girls could not be there. Linger Longer. Letty is a war-time play in which the plot centers around Letty and Jim. Letty is the Cinderella of the Larkin family, and Jim is a long, lanky sailor, just returned from active service. Mrs. Brewster enters in search of her son, and encounters Nancy. They have a short conversation about Mrs. Brewster's brothers, Jim and VValter. Mr. Larkin rushes into the scene, condemning a bow- tie, and looking for Letty. She responds from the cellar, and appears in a relic of a bathing suit, carrying an ice cream freezer. jim is in love with Nancy, as is Wfalter, and Letty is in love with NValter, but she wouldn't have Jim on a bet . .lim and Letty decide to change matters. She tells him all of his characteristics which are displeasing to women, and Jim tells her of the things which would make her more pleasing to men. The effect is magnetic. Jim obtains some new clothes, and Letty sends to New York for the fa- mous modiste to make her some new gowns. The situation changes. VValter falls

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we - za The Poly Tech for June 1925 'Sitting: L. Helgesson, M. Bradford, J. Hoyt, H- POUS, I- Clafk- Standing: Ray O'Nee1, C. Buschmann, Mr. F. A. Brainerd, VV. O'Neal, C. Beetle, Cv. Ten Eyck. Linger Longer, Letty HLINGER LONGER, LETTY,U the play pre- sented by the members of the june gradu- ating class, was a huge success, both finan- cially and artistically. The play was pre- sented on March 20 and 21, and played to two full houses at the Washingtoii High School auditorium. The feminine members of the cast who were selected from Mrs. Bess Whitcomb's dramatic classes, are, in a sense, responsible for the success of the play. All the girls except Miss Virginia Bailey, who played the part of Mayme',, the beautiful young widow, had had experience in other class plays. Miss Helen Lee Grant played the part of Letty, and was the 'fhit of the play. Miss Grant deserves a great deal of praise for the excellent manner in which she played her unusual part. Miss Grant was assistant coach for Clarence, the dramatic produc- tion of the last graduating class. Mrs. Brewster was characterized by Miss Claudia Serasanous, who helped with the coaching of Jack Strawn, NVashington's last class play. Miss Helen Scott, who took the part of i'Nancy , may be remembered from Clarence , in which she lived the part of HCora Wheeleru. The cast is grateful to Mrs. Whitcomb for the hours of persistent drilling of six inexperienced boys, to prepare them to as- sume the various roles of the play. jack Clark was the hero of the produc- tion, and played up very well. Few of us

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CF 30 The Poly Tech for June 1925 W5 Bass WHITCOMB deeply in love with Letty, and Nancy for jim. jim and Letty, however, have devel- oped a weakness for each other, and they decide to tie the knot and let the rest of the world go by. Nancy and Wfalter follow suit. Lazelle's affections are drawn to Mayme, the widow, whom he wins. This not being enough, Mrs. Brewster proposes to Mr. Larkin, who accepts, to keep from starving to death, as his daugh- ter, Letty, has deserted the kitchen to take up the role of vampire. The producing staff did excellent work, and was an important factor in the success of the show. Its members were Oliver Whitesell, business manager: Clyde Busch- mann, assistant business manager and ad- vertising managerg Leonard Helgesson, electriciang Ray O'Neel, property managerg YVilliam OlNeal, stage managerg Clarence Beede, costume managerg Urban Smith, assistant stage manager: and Gerald Cun- liff, prompter. The members of the cast, in order of their appearance: Claudia Sersanous Helen Scott ...... James Hoyt ...... . . . Virginia Bailey. . Helen Lee Grant .... .... Frank Davenport. Harlan Potts ..... jack Clark ....,. Merrick Bradford Mrs. Brewster Nancy Larkin ..Mr. Larkin . .. .... Mayme .Letty Larkin . . .... .Colonel Wells .Walter . ..lim ...Lazelle