Central High School - Brecky Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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The Uliertentenarp of the Jfirst Jfulin, ' 16234923 HIS year marks the tercentenary of the first edition of the Shakespearean plays in the form of a folio, an event which might well be noted throughout the world. The Folio of 1623 has often been described as the greatest contribution in a single volume to literature of any age or country. This Hrst col- lection of Shakespeare's plays was not edited during his life, but was the result of the unceasing efforts of Shapespeare's actor friends, John Hemminge and Henry Condell. During Shakespeare's life only sixteen of his plays had been published Cwith the exception of a volume of nine plays issued by William Jaggard in 1609 in quartol, and consequently the Folio of 1623 with its thirty-six famous plays was a priceless possession. The playwright of the Elizabethan days did not prepare his plays for publication, as it was not to his interest to have them published. He considered the publishing of his plays dangerous to his door receipts, and he did all in his power to prevent them from falling into the hands of the publishers. Consequently it was with the greatest difficulty that correct manuscripts of these plays could be found, as the copies were very few and easily lost. VVe may readily see, therefore, what a difficult task these friends of Shakespeare had set themselves when they endeavored to collect those thirty-six plays, and what a great amount of credit they deserve for accomplishing their purpose. The tercentenary of the First Folio has been duly commemorated at Central as the annual spring play was the Shakespearean produc- tion, Twelfth Night. Twelfth Night is by far the most diHicult play ever undertaken by Central's, Dramatic Association, but the brilliant results were well worth the many long hours of work. All the other high schools presented Shakespearean plays as follows, and in this way observed the tercentenary of 1623. Business presented The Taming of the Shrew , Eastern, A Midsummer Night's Dream g Western, The Winter's Tale g and Tech, The Merchant of Venice. A silver cup was presented by the Brown Alumni Club of Washington to the School whose play was judged to be the best ex- hibition and much to Central's joy, this cup was awarded for the excellent performance of Twelfth Night, while Plastern's play A Midsummer Night's Dream was given second place. A Shakespearean pageant commemorating the tercentenary of S

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1623 was held in the auditorium of Central High School. This pageant was pronounced a success artistically, for it,was one of the most beautiful productions of its type ever staged. Selections from each of the Shakespearean plays presented by the high schools were included in this pageant while Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth with her ladies-in-waiting and courtiers did much to add to the beauty of the pageant. Then, too, this pageant enabled the high schools to be brought together for the purpose of working for a common goal with no rivalry in mind, and for this reason was considered a notable achievement. Various performances of Shakespearean productions have be- come numerous during the past year and have been well attended throughout the nation. The portrayal by Walter Hampden of the roles of Macbeth, Hamlet, and Shylock, has met with marked signs of appreciation, while Sothern and Marlowe have interpreted Romeo and Juliet delightfully. Another famous Shakes- pearean production was Belasco's presentation of The Merchant of Venice. The American National Theatre, the working name for a corporation which will, no doubt ultimately become a national interest, has, as its forty directors, fifteen of the most important theatrical producers, besides a majority of college presidents, pro- fessors, authors, and actors. This group under the guidance of its Executive Chairman, Augustus Thomas, has entered upon the ambitious undertaking of establishing a truly American Theatre. The directors of this enterprise propose to assemble a cast of dis- tinguished players to present the best plays. The corporation will be endowed and therefore will not be hampered by economic diffi- culties, but instead, will be able to give people in the various sections a chance to see what is thought to be good acting. They launched this undertaking in VVashington, the nation's capital, with their first production Shakespeare's As You Like ltf' as an appropriate start for this vast scheme. Throughout the entire world evidences of the far-reaching influence of the great Shakespeare are to be seen, and the commemorating of this tercentenary has been carried into all corners of the earth. As this Folio has become invaluable and dear to all booklovers and has had facsimiles issued a number of times, we realize that the world is echoing Ben Jonson's words, that he was not for an Age, but for all Time! MARY LUCILLE AsQUI'rH. 6