Cotner University - Croaker Yearbook (Bethany, NE)

Page 102 text:

The P lay The largest crowd in the history of the Cotner auditorium crowded the doors for admittance, on Thursday, February the ninth at eight P. M., to the musical play Keep Step. The play was Written and staged by two Cotner students who are members of the Class of '22. The book and drama were written by Yandell S. Beans, While B. Errol Parish Wrote the lyrics and music. The entire production Was under the auspices of Cotner Lodge No. 297, A. F. 8: A. M. A musical play of the nature of Keep Step cannot be staged with the ease of an ordinary play or drama. Even the opera is not so complex in its composition. The musical play is three-fold in its essential qualities: it partakes of the musical, the dramatic, and aesthetic dance. It can readily be surmised, therefore, that such a play necessitates an unusual amount of hard Work and untiring efforts. To the cast then, belongs no small measure of credit. Through the superb acting, singing, and danc- ing of the persons of the cast, the message in Word and song was inter- preted to the audience. Not only did the cast Which made up Keep Step succeed in doing this, but they did it far beyond the expectations and hopes of even the authors. Keep Step is not a musical comedy but rather might it be termed a tragi-comedy, for the reason that the chief desire is only partially grati- fied. The music is heavier in composition than the ordinary comedy and almost reaches in many instances the range of light opera. Hence, it may better be classed a musical play. The Writing of the manuscripts was begun early in the fall of '21, the practice by the cast about the middle of October, and the completed production came on February 9, '22, to an appreciative audience, with every seat in the house occupied. Page Ninety-two

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I I FI I I THE BULL DOG I. I. E I Ie - I If I, I I I I I I AI Fey Bradley Beans Shull Parish Smith Harris McCann L. Conwell Anderson E G. Conwell 1 I' I I I W I K St I By I I Yandell S. Beans and B. Errol Parish 1 I Auditorium by Cotner students. The leading parts were carried by Vir- I ginia Harris, Lois Connwell, Richard McCann, John Anderson, Ray Brad- I ley, Yandell Beans, and Golda Conwell. The play was supported by a gi chorus of eight Cotner girls, Sylvia Moore, Marie Woodruf, Helen Sher- I man, Lora Harlan, Georgia Munger, Yvonne Harmon, Freda Mills, and Lois Robinson. - . I Keep Step, the musical play superb, was presented at the Cotner I, 5I ' Page Ninety-one 77,,

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XIII THE BULL DOG The Class of 1922 Presents is gg 99 The Silver Lining Book and Drama by Yandell S. Beans. Music and Lyrics by B. Errol Parish. The Silver Lining, a musical drama, is unique in production and new in character. It portrays the modern interpretation of the Prodigal Son. Ralph Wharton leaves home in the first act because of the stigma placed upon his name by the general public, through the conviction of his father of a crime which he did not commit. The second act shows the young man in the whirl of modern social life, attempting to forget. At the psychological moment the young prodigal finds himself within the val- ley of decision, and in the third act the cloud which overhangs the home is lifted. The play opens with a prologue and closes with an epilogue, tell- ing the story in music and speech of the departure and return of the prodi- gal of the Orient. The leading dramatic roles will be taken by Ray Bradley, Wayne Sorrell, Earl Saladen, Edith Anderson, Ruth Oberlies, and Mrs. Leavitt, while the musical roles will be supported by B. Errol Parish, Harold Fey, Charles Stanton, Alice Sorrell and Lola Raver. The cast will be supported by the same chorus which featured in the musical play Keep Step. Executive Staff : Advertising Manager ....... .......... S . R. Bradley Business Manager ......... .......... G erald Rowland Property Man ......... .......... J oseph Moore Stage Manager ........ ......... W ayne Sorrell Producing Staff : Musical Director ........ ......... B . Errol Parish Playwright ............... ....... Y andell .S. Beans Orchestrator. A ,YYY YVVV rg, Y AV , . r . Page Ninety-th' -