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

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Robert Douglas Hume, who played the diflicult part of David Bliss, the eccentric father of Sorel and Simon. His amus- ing costumes and actions were uproariously funny. www 'N-mf! Above is a comic shot of the Hay Fever production. Pictured are: Alberta Guptill, Violet Graves, .Do-Be Melcon. J. Frederick Johnson, R. D. Hume. Willard Lane, Anna May Henning. and Geraldine HAY FEVER Hale. Noel CoWard's most sophisticated and hilarious comedy Was presented by the college drama depart- ment March 9. Robert Douglas Hume directed the play. Although this unusual play Was considered as a possibility for dramatization for some time, a suitable lead could not be found. With the return to school of Violet d'Egilbert Graves, a former stu- dent, problems were smoothed over and the play Went into production. In her role as the eccentric Judith Bliss, Nlrs. Graves made the farce something to be remembered. The plot was centered around the complexities of a Week-end at the home of the Blisses, a family of artistic inclinations, Each member of the family invites a guest and all sorts of difficulties come up. When a refined diplomat, a fiighty young girl, a butter and egg man, and another screwball meet up with the Blisses, there is little left for the imag- ination. Comedy turns into true farce when these people get together. A large house acclaimed the play one of the best presented by a Chico State drama department in many years. The production staff came in for a share of the plaudits through the fine lighting, makeup, and stage settings. Virgil Smith acted as technical direc- tor and stage manager: Alberta Ciuptill, production manager: Barbara Fosgate and Elizabeth Kroesing, property managers, and Jeanne Gallatin, make-up manager. The cast included: Sorel Bliss .... .......,........., - -.-.Geraldine Hale Simon Bliss ..,. ..,, D D ,.....,.,,,....... ,r.r,. R oy Cook Clara ,.,... - .,..., W .,,.,....r.r . Anna May Henning Judith Bliss ..... ,..,. V iolet d'Egilbert Graves David Bliss. ...... ..... .,....., R o bert Douglas Hume Sandy Tyrell. .,,.,., d--.-,,.James Frederick Johnson Myra Arundel. ,.... ,t....,.,.......... Do-Be Melcon Richard Greatham.-,-, ., .v... Willard Lane Jackie Coryton ...l,r........l.,.......,i.., Alberta Guptill May 18, l9, and 20 saw the climax of the season with the Far Western conference of Alpha Psi Omega at Chico State College. The Xi cast of Chico State presented Shakespeare's Hamlet, While the Arcata players from Humboldt State College oHered Her lVlaster's Voice. Violet cl Egilber whose stage stood her in good as she portrayed thc centered idol of the ter, Mrs. Judith Bliss

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TI-I E RE'S ALWAYS JU LI ET The next play of the season was There's Always Juliet by Van Drutten. This play was directed by James Frederick Johnson. The play received much adverse criticism from townspeople, although one of the town papers praised it highly. The criticism was not upon the acting of the students, however, but upon the selection of the play as an undesirable type for a student dra-ma. Characters were: Leonora Perrycaste. ...,.r .... . . --..- .,t. . Helen De Ruchie Florence, .... ,... ....... , . , ..., .. ,,o,., ...Rose Marie Nyburg Dwight Houston r.u,... .u,r.. . James Frederick Johnson Peter Walnisey ...............,..,t,,..,.,, ,Enoch Crumpton Next occurrence for the dramatists was the presen- tation of a double bill of two one-act plays. These included The Duchess Says Her Prayers by Mary Cass Canfield, a costume play of the early Italian Renaissance period, and A'lVlansions by Hildegarde Flanner, a play of contemporary religious drama. The actors of these two plays were: Jane Hauck, Geraldine Hale, and Enoch Crumpton. The outstanding hit of the year was Hay Fever by Noel Coward. It was directed by Robert Douglas Hume. This was a modern comedy of an eccentric family. Their individuality brought up many entan- glements that delighted the audience. ww W-wfwmw'-wmflfwp-mmwrrm .m:.rw.-ia., weasel James Frederick Johnson played the male lead and directed Theres Always Juliet, which was presented by the dramatics department early in the fall semester. Pictured are Helen De Ruchie, seated, and Johnson. In this scene. all of the characters in Theres Always Juliet are pictured. Only four people are cast in the highly dramatic play. The students in the scene. from left to right, are: Helen De Ruchie, Enoch Crumpton, James Frederick Johnson Jr., and Rose Marie Nyburg.

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CASSILIS ENGAGEMENT With a splendid supporting cast, the modern comedy drama, The Cassilis Engagement, was staged by the drama classes March 22. The play was Written by St. John Hankin and proved fitting entertainment for a large group of theatre-goers. J. Frederick Johnson directed the play, under the supervision of Robert Douglas Hume. Helen De Ruchie did well in the leading role of Adelaide Cassilis, a mother Whose affection for her son prompts her to break, in a subtle and clever fashion, an impossible engagement with a girl of contrasting tastes and desires. Johnson was seen as Geoffrey Cassilis, in addi- tion to directing the Hankin comedy. A newcomer, Lucille Stockwell of Compton, did well in the diffi- cult role of the aristocratic Countess of Remenham. Students pictured in this scene from Cassilis En- gagement are, left to right, Lucille Stockwell, Doris Cushman. Rose Nyburg, Mary Helen Er- win, J. Frederick John- son, Helen De Ruchie. Frances Moore. Jeanne Gallatin, George Butts, and Hazel Hall. Miss Stockwell showed her previous experience at the University of Southern California had stood her in good stead. Several fine actors were uncovered through sea- soning in this play. The cast included: Adelaide Cassilis ,.,,,t, ..,. . .... . ..,t Helen De Ruthie Geoffrey Cassilis ..... ..... . James Frederick Johnson Ethel Borridge ....,. ........... R ose Marie Nyburg Lady Mabel Venning. ....... tit... . .,.,... H azel Hall Countess of Remenham. ,...,,.,..... Lucille Stockwell Mrs. Borridge. ,,......... L ......,.... .Mary Helen Erwin Lady Marchmont ,..... . .i.....,. Frances Moore Dorset fthe 'maidj ....t.. .... . Jeanne Gallatin Mrs. Herries. ii... L ..,..... . ............... ...Doris Cushman Reverend Hildebrand Herries --- .......,, George Butts Major Algernon Warrington. ...,. .,,, . Roger Blay Another shot from the popular play shows the same characters with the addition of Roger Blay, third from the left. In the central action can be seen Johnson. Miss De Ruchie, and Miss Moore.