Fort Hays State University - Reveille Yearbook (Hays, KS)

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, 1 The second play of the theatre season dated back to the Renaissance and featured slapstick Comedy St an FI inn, Ellis sophomore, played a waiter in the second play of the fall, A Servant of Two Masters, (photo by Monty Davis) he Italian comedic style of Commedia Dei ' Arte came to life in November, as the Fort Hays State theatre department presented A Servant of Two Masters. The farce dates back to the ancient Roman empire, and the Renaissance period. Commedia Del ' Arte was an improvisationa! style of comedy, in which travelling troupes of actors acted out a plot outline while making up dialogue. That formula, together with a great deal of slapstick, made up the plays unique characteristics. The right amount of precision and timing are important, Lloyd Frerer, director, said. In the play, the enterprising servant, Truffaldino (Darryl Corcoran, Bonner Springs senior,) not only works for one, but two masters. The first master was killed in battle, and his identity was assumed by his sister (Julie Rich, Great Bend junior,) who roamed through the streets disguised as her brother. The servant ' s second master (Todd Smith, Topeka freshman,) is one he assumed a position with, believing the former master was deceased. When the servant believed that his first master was indeed alive, he continued, in a cunning way, to serve both masters. Truffaldino became smitten with Smeraldina (Virginia Crabtree, Bucyrus sophomore,) the maid of the family to which Truffaldino ' s first master ' s fiancee belonged. The show was an entry in the American Collegiate Theatre Festival. Although the show itself was not nominated to perform at ACTF, individual actors Patrick Kelly, Bonner Springs sophomore, Dorathea Kelly, Lenora junior, and Corcoran all performed at the regional festival competition in Missouri in January. In a humorous scene during one act of the play A Servant of Two Masters , Truffadino; Darryl Corcoran, Bonner Springs junior, rescues a waiter; Stan Flinn, Ellis sophomore, who has fallen under a heavy trunk, (photo by Monty Davis) by david burke Dr. Lombardi; Marvin Walls, Hays sophomore, tries to convince Pantalone; Denny Grilliot, Hutchinson junior, that his daughter ia legally bound to marry his son. (photo by Monty Davis) 28 - Servant of Two Masters

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Lord and Lady Robert and Christiana Luehrs stand at the head of the stairwell qreetlnq quests, (photo by photo lab) Lord Robert Luehrs and Lord and Lady Rick Kuehl preside over the feast, (photo by photo lab) As servants carry In the traditional boar ' s head. Lord Robert Luehrs blesses the plq and the feast, (photo by photo lab) 4 mong songsters and revelers, the Lord i of the Manor toasts his guests mightily and welcomes them into his castle. Is this really England in the 16th century? Can all these people really be landowners, aristocrats, the royalty of the time? Are we actually in a castle? No, to be strictly literal, we ' re in the ballroom of the Fort Hays State Memorial Union. But with a little imagination we can be in the romantic setting that has been prepared for us by the hard work of many people. We are sitting now at a table below the dais, where the Lord and Lady Robert and Christiana Luehrs are seated with their honored guests for the evening, and the Fort Hays Singers. A fruit and cheese board is laid out in front of us, and we are talking quietly, enjoying the atmosphere, and noticing the multi-colored banners around the room, and the backdrop behind the dais. A moment or two earlier, we had been treated to a fanfare by three most talented trumpeters, filling our ears with golden royal tones, and making us all sit up and notice as the castle servants led the Lord and Lady and their court to their seats. Now we pay attention again, as we notice that the pretty background music we’ve been enjoying is actually live, and our palates are teased with a baked onion soup. We pray that this feast which has been prepared for your pleasure will be as pleasing to your eyes and ears as it is to your palates, Lord Luehrs said. The madrigal guests, Lord and Lady Lawrence Weigel, Lord and Lady Rick Kuehl, Lord and Lady James Venters and Lord and Lady Robert May. 30 - Madrigal Dinner