California State University Chico - Record Yearbook (Chico, CA)

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THE BCD!-IEMIAINI CI RL Wallace Matthews as Count Arnheim A few in the cast of The Bohemian Girl were caught by the camera. From left to right they are: Juanita Kendricks, con- tralto: Helen Canevari, soprano, who took the part of the Gypsy Queen: Idell Christopher, so- prano, as Buda: Evelyn Ensign, soprano. played the important part of Arline: and Warren Behnke, tenor, who was the ro- mantic Thaddeus. CAST OE CHARACTERS Count Arnheim, Governor of Presburg. r..., W allace Matthews Thaddeus, a proscribed Pole. ......................... Warren Behnke Florestein, nephew of the Count. ......... .....,. . Jack Taylor Devilshoof, Chief of the Gypsies ...... ,..... . Archie Hooper Captain of the Guard .--H ...,...,........ ....,,.. A .,.t, G ail Moore Arline, daughter of the Count- As child. ............... ..------. ...... G ,....,.... .Mary Joanne Berry Twelve years later. ............,.......,t......,,.... Evelyn Ensign Buda, her attendant falso understudy for Arlinej ,.....,,.,........t.............,......... Idell Christopher Queen of the Gypsies.- ....... A ...... ..,,t... . Helen Canevari Understudy .... - t..... - nn-- .o....... ......,. J uanita Kendricks Soldier ,.............. . ......,...,............................. ,---.John Berger Servants ....,. ..,..... . Jane Hauck, Jewel Behnke, James Burns Choruses. ....................................,........ A .... A Cappella Choir A well balanced and spirited chorus created a splendid musical background for the singing leads, who told in song the story of the loss of the beautiful young Arline from the spacious court of her father: the Count Arnheimg her gay and happy life with the Gypsiesg her romance with Thaddeus, a young Polish noble-man, who is a fugitive from his Austrian political enemies, and nnally her restoration to royalty. The opera is in four acts with act one taking place in the country estate of the Count Arnheim, near Presburg. Act two shows the outskirts of Presburg where the Gypsies are encamped. Act three is the interior of Count Arnheim's castle showing the hall of justice and in the final act the interior of the castle is shown. From the courtyard scene of Count Arnheim in the first act to the marble halls of the last, realistic stage settings enhanced the charm of the story. Musical observers were of the opinion that the performance surpassed any of the five operas given at Chico State. Miss Ruth Rowland directed the opera. Under the direction of Mrs. Alberta Potter Greening, the orchestra accompanied the singing leads and the choruses. Robert Douglas Hume was production director. The choruses were composed of members of the A Cappella Choir, which earned the distinction of being one of the finest choirs that Miss Ruth Rowland has directed at Chico State. The success of the opera has virtually assured the production of another opera next year. l a,mm ,w