Hillside High School - Epoch Yearbook (Hillside, NJ)

Page 33 text:

!'j !' ' 'IP I REHEARSAL DAYS ive, g - ELLO! Are you interested? This is the Senior Play cast lqyf ff L! speaking direct from Peg o' My Heart. We'v'e been W- having just the grandest time planning all the things we're lg lffjhvil going to tell you about our Senior Play rehearsals-of the fun we had during those weeks when the actual presenta- . - - -4 tion seemed so far away. Our program this evening consists of a little talk on Peg o' My Heart, J. Hartley Manners' stage success, but our Peg now and forever. When we began rehearsals, it seemed impossible to prepare, in six weeks time, a presentation of so ditiicult a play, for so critical an audience. But to those who are not fully acquainted with the Little Teacher in our school, this station now introduces Miss Ethel K. Stevens, the little coach and the big asset to Hillside. Did you say the Freshmen envy the Seniors? You are wrong-it is vice versa-the Seniors in this case most emphaticallv envy the Freshmen, because-interested listeners,- the Freshmen have the prospect of being with Miss Stevens for four more years while we, unlucky in that way, have to bid our little inspira- tion adieu. 4 Did you ever meet Peg o' My Heart? No! of course you didn't! But here, every day, when she is present, you are bound to encounter a real, honest-to-goodness Peg-pertness, winsomeness, truth and all-and strange to say, during rehearsals. she was always an early Peg. Oh yes, we mean Esther Middleton! Of course Peg had to have a lover, and our hero was more or less of a lady killer, in the acts, between the acts, and going home from the acts. But, right proud are we of Dav1d's portrayal of jerry. Jerry, with his democratic manners, was quite in contrast to Mrs. Chichester -Josephine Smith. Jo, with her new permanent wave reminds us of the good old play days when she forgot that she was a gray-haired aristocrat and sang out, Jackie says that Miss Stevens thinks she can teach Alfred to make love. Apropos of making love, we'd like this question answered,- Why is it that villains are always good at that kind of stuff? But Al isn't a villain in school life. Any of the faculty will vouch for this, even though in the role of Chris Brent, his success as a bad man was assured. And Jarvis! Poor Jarvis! Franklin was a great success on those January evenings, but he paid dearly for it. He was a mart r to all kinds of things-Allen's teasing, the girls' giggles, and Miss Stevens' sweet words of encouragement, Fat, get some pep. You're big and husky enough to talk more loudly than that. Now, once more! CI-Ie had already said it twelve timesb. Or. Franklin, will you move to the right just a little? I can't see Jackie! Then there was Alaric! Shall we ever forget Mrs. Chichester's drawl- Come Al-l-a-r-i-c, and the Cute, little lady-like trip of Allen Roberts, in the role of the young English chap-followed by apprecia- tive giggles from the cast and coach? Alaric, with his incessant Beastly boah, Fancy that, Ethel, All right, Mater, and Little Devil. Shall we not always treasure rehearsal days? Next in line comes Mr. Hocks, as Peg always called him. Milton Hock might be the quietest boy in the class,' but you can't judge a book by the cover. We formed our own opinion of Milton's character during those rehearsal days. We know that he is full of the dickens and a gentleman along with it. Shall we ever forget the expression of deep disgust on his face when Miss Stevens would say, Milton, for the seventy eleventh time-'Yesl That was why he spoke of her. ' But that wasn't Mr, Hock's fault! Miss Stevens adds to and suhtracts from a play until even its own author would never recognize it. And jackie, the pampered, snippy Miss Chichester. We often wonder how she succeeded in keeping that blase, bored-with-the-world expression during all those weeks of rehearsal. How clearly we recall her and Peg's giggles as Ethel would say Follow that path Cbroad Eng- lish accent herej and can't and after and fancy - -all in that aristocratic drawl. Indeed, we had all become artistocratic before re- hearsals were over. Of course we couldn't forget Cappy as the maid. And let me tell you she made the sweetest maid ever. She was lucky. Everything she did seemed to please the coach. CHow did you do it, Cappy?J , But the coach's remarks! We know them all by heart! The pet one, That's fine, children, but do it once more for me! became a bywordl Then just as we were sure that we were rivalling John Barrymore, we'd be startled with- More pep, you're all dead-keep it slow-come in on it-those long waits have all the earmarks of an amateur performance- Esther you've got to get more pathos-Davie you're overdoing it ! Then, with a long drawn sigh, That first act is in a hectic condition, and children it's Friday! VVell, maybe you'll feel better after you eat l Oh yes, we did take time to eat, during those days! Potato salad, beans, more beans, more potato salad, beans heated at the furnace and eaten at the furnace Cask Allen and Fatj. Then rehearsals went on and on and on! And so, folks this evening we won't have you go away with the idea that the first act. or any act of Peg o' My Heart was hectic, for during those hectic nights of eating tangerines and baked beans and potato salad, we did what all true Hillside High students will always do-we accom- plished our purpose and made Peg o' My Heart a dramatic success! More pep, you're all dead, was famous enough in those rehearsal days, but in the classes to come in H. H. S. you'll find lots and lots of pep. And now, we'll bid you good evening. Signing off, until nineteen twenty-seven comes along with her dramatic triumph! Good luck, '27. x

Page 32 text:

PEG O' MY HEART Un the evenings of January fifteenth and sixteenth, the members of the class of 1926 presented, as their Senior Play, J. Hartley lylanners' great stage success, Peg o' My Heart. Under the direction of Miss Stevens to whom is due the credit for the splendid performance, the presentation of Peg', reached the high standard characteristic of Hillside High School dramatics. Indeed, according to the press, a gentleman, who witnessed the performance, and who has been in the theatrical business for eighteen years, declared it to be Hthe finest thing in amateur dramatics he had ever seen. ln view of the frne achievements of l9Z4 and 1925, is it any wonder that we of '26 glowed with pride and happiness when we heard this and similar compliments? XXX- were pleased to learn that all who were kind enough to be present at our play, appreciated the great effort which the members of the cast exerted to make 'fPegl' all that The Little Teacher and Daddy Long-Legs had been. The comedy is one in which are mingled humor, sweetness, pathos, and truth. Peg, a poor Irish girl living in New York, is made an heiress by the death of her uncle, and is called to England to be reared by an aristocratic aunt. She is like a duck out of water in these surroundings, and continually shocks her aunt and cousins. She wins her way, however, and also a worthy VOUIIU' En flishman named errv. , s fi , . Esther Middleton made a very winsome and appealing Pegg and David MacNeil, the best looking boy in the class, as the hero of the comedy and the lover of Peg, was a real delight to the audience. Josephine Smith, with her mature ways, was the typical, aristocratic English lady, and as Mrs. Chichester was a great asset to the play. Jacqueline Sherman, as the pampered and snobbish daughter of an old English family kept her haughty role throughout the performance. Although we do not love a villain, Alfred Dowd played the part of Mr. llrent so well that we do not blame Ethel for wanting to elope with him. Allen Roberts as the English dude proved to be a splendid comedian and kept the audience in good humor throughout the evening. But what is a wealthy home without servants? The work of Franklin Reinhart as the butler, Jarvis, met the demands of the most exacting critic, while Catherine Tresslar, as the maid, was extremely attractive and very clever. Last but not least there was Milton Hock, who, in the character of the lawyer, Mr. Hawkes, rendered his lines to the satisfaction of everybody. The great ambition of the class of 1926 was to present Peg o' My Heart in a manner worthy of the high standard of Hill- side dramatics. If our friends, the critics, feel that we have accomplished our task, then we are content. L. T.

Page 34 text:

DEBATING TEAM Hillside High School's second Debating Team has met with unusual success. Debating the question Resolved 2 that the United States Government establish a separate, unilied Air Force, and upholding the negative side with Roselle, the affirmative with Summit, the team put two unanimous decisions to its credit. The teams were composed of the following staunch members: Roselle debate-Claire Crosson, Jane XN'illmot, Esther Middleton, leader, and Louise Manley, alternateg Summit debate-Louise Manley, .lane XVillmot, Frances ,leffery and Claire Crosson, leader. Up- holding the negative side, again, the team met Union High School's so-called unbeatable team, and scored another victory, this time, two to one, thus winning the silver loving cup offered by the Rutgers Interscholastic Debating League. This was the crowning success of three months of hard labor on the part of both the debators and the coaches, Miss Stevens and Mr. Cox. It is pleasant to know that we have added one more trophy to Hill- side's wished-for Trophy Case, This linal team consisted of: Claire Crosson, .lane NVillmot, Frances Jeffery, leader, and Louise Manley, alternate. This debate ended the victorious season of Hillside High School's Debating Team. THE COUNCIL AND S. G. A. President ..,.,...,.....,., ............. l Mvun MCNEIL Vice-Prcsidczzt ...,.,,.. i,....... X VILLIAM TIMS Treaszwer ..........,, ,,,..,,..........,.,. l :RANK POOLE Secretary ........ . .......,. GERTRUDE AACKERMAN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ALFRED Down WILLIAM PRLMMER MILTON HocK ALMA BoYL,xN ALBERT SVVENSON EMMA l'lAHNLEN LILLIAN PATTON GEOIQGE NVALKER