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

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Saga M., V,- B v F' ,Ill .af ig Chun Play fruf Doris Smith , . I ull: lllh-r Liumrln Xssistaunl CUIIUII PAGE 27

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PACE 26 THE CLASS PLAY On May 22, the June '31 class of Benson presented its class play, The Haunted House, under the able direction of Mrs. Doris Smith. The Hauntd House was written by Owen Davis, a writer who has many suc- cessful stories and plays to his credit. It is both a mystery play and a comedy, and is intended to be a burlesque on mystery plays. This type'of play has never been attempted by any previous graduating class, but the presentation was very satis- factory, as indicated by the enthusiasm of the large audience witnessing it in the new auditorium. The play has to do with the adventures of a young married couple who are spend- ing their honeymoon in a supposedly haunted house belonging to the bride's father. Many mysterious things occur-doors open queerlyg chains clankg shrieks and groans are heard, unexplainable shots are fired. At the beginning of the play, a young lady who was once engaged to the hero comes to make his life miserable for him. When she goes outside, a shot is heard, followed by a scream. Investigation results in the discovery of blood near the young lady's car, and a shot-gun containing an empty shell is found nearby. An oiticious novelist living near the house takes full charge, having great con- fidence in his ability as a psycho-analist and sleuth. He gets nowhere, but says many things beyond the comprehension of the town's hick sheriff, provoking the latter a great deal indeed. This sheriff, however, is given more to talking and fainting at the sight of blood than actually to aiding in solving the mystery. Dur- ing the play, everyone is suspected of the crime, thanks to the changing deductions of the author. Then the bride's father arrives, confessing that he fired the fatal shot. It is discovered that the novelist had been the cause of the ghostly noises in the past, for he was providing color to a previous story named The Haunted House. At last, the murdered woman enters, having been asleep under a tree in the woods nearby. The play closes with the startling information that the one who was killed was merely the milkman's best cow. All hte members of the cast performed well, making the play an outstanding one. The lighting effects added greatly to the success of the play, making it seem all the gloomier and more mysterious. The feminine roles were filled by three young ladies from Grant High School who did as well as they would have had they been acting for their own school. The cast of characters is as follows: Tramp ..,..... ........................ .,l........................ ......,..Homer Smith Emily, the bride ........... ----------,-, M arvel TWiSS Jack, thg grogm ,,,,,,,.,,,.,,, ........ C lllT0!'d NOCHCI' Thomas, the chauffer ....,.... ----A-------4 M l1t0H Roberts Duncan, the author ........ -----A--4 E IWYH White Ley Helen, Duncan's wife ....... ----,---,-,-,,-- H elel Rvberts Isabel, the girl .,,.,,,,,,,,,,, ..,............ I ,ucille Hott' Ezra, the constable ....... Ed, the mllkman .............. ........'I'homas Telford ........Telore Abendroth Grogan, the detective .,... ....... -------------'-'- R ll Ssell Dick Evans, the father ,.,,,,,,,,,,..,,,,,,,,,.,, ,,,,,,,,., ..... ..., M o r 1-is Friedman The production staff is as follows: Director --,----,------,-,.,,,,,-,,,,,,,-,,,, H .,,-,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,, D oris Smith Assistant Director ........ --------- I lydifi Pllttfl' Stage Manager ..,w-,-,--- ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, W llll8.Il'l Slslel' Property Manager ,.,..... -.----------.A---------,------------,-,-.--- S fa-HICY Hall Electricians ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,,,,,, L8St6l' Sl'll1ll0l!l'l, RlCll8.l'd Wood Business Manager .,,,--,-, ,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, R obert EbClIHCSSeT

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