Central High School - Brecky Yearbook (Washington, DC)

Page 12 text:

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