Manual High School - Mirror Yearbook (Peoria, IL)

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THE MANUAL 1920 Mff+,1f!lS.H f , . .V , E ,,,i:,,. , ff ,mn--lg A I' 1 '- incisive wit and humour were the spice of the play. No less ad- mired than her twin Philip, was the ever-talking Dolly Clandon. Her pleasant and affable personality coupled with her beauty and charming voice enthralled her audience! Thus ended the favorable criticism of this publication. Nor without any laudable comment is the Chicago American, which writes: 'fThe play given last night by the Peoria Manual High School cast was a tremendous success. The appearance of the star performer, Miss Dolly Clandon, met with repeated applause. Her acting was so filled with life, vigor, and emotion that she immediately cap- tured the hearts of the audience. With due respect to Mr. Crampton, it must be said his growl- ing aroused the patience of the members of the canine family, who retaliated with feeble inferiority. The composure of Mr. Val- entine after his many shocking matrimonial viciszitudes and em- barrassmnets was indeed admirable. The parts of Gloria Clandon, Mrs. Clandon, Mr. McComas, Mr. Bohun and Balmy William Walters Shakespeare Boone were also played admirably well. In all, the play was a treat to the fastidious play lovers. So much for newspaper eulogy. No sooner was the week's en- gagement over than there appeared dozens of managers from different play-houses throughout the country, eager to secure the Manual Com- pany for their theaters. The highest bid for a six weeks' contract was that offered by the Knickerbocker Stock Co. of New York. The small sum of 31,000,000 was offered and finally accepted. However, Mr. Bohum, the lawyer for the cast, held out for 352,000,000 but his objection was overruled. The six weeks' appearance at New York City was also marked with a complete triumph and success. The comment of the daily papers of that city would ill volumes and encourage the purchase of spectacles. Thus ended the dramatic story of the success of the play in America. Four weeks were then spent on a successful European tour. m The rest of the story can be briefly told. The cities of London, Paris, Bourdeaux, and Rome were visited. Everywhere the play met with approval and admiration. Everywhere it attained international fame. It was then acclaimed the unrivaled dramatic triumph of the twentieth century. . Among the great notables at one of the performances was the author himself, Bernard Shaw, who lauded the play as a perfect interpretation of his personal conception of the play. At another performance were his

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- THE MANUAL, 1920 .... , . Qlibe Hsiun of Eau jaeher Glam Gisli The curtain had descended for the last time. The play was over. From all outward appearance it had proved a success. The people were loud in their praise and their only wish was to see it again. Thus ended the night of the initial performance of You Never Can Tell. But gossip and news travel rapidly and the next day a local com- mittee of citizens called upon Mr. Brown to secure a second performance. The request was granted and the performance was given. This time hundreds of people were turned away. As a result the play was given the third time, but still people met with the same fate at the door. The cast and director then 'hit' upon a plan. They de- cided to charge one dollar admission and thus check the crowds. But the admission might as well have been three pins, for the persis- tent audiences were ever increasing. Price was no obstacle to keep people from witnessing this inviting play. Its success was instan- taneous and its popularity, gossip. It was then decided to give only three more performances and dissemble the scenery, but what appeared after these performances can scarcely be believedgan invitation to present the play at the Peoria High School Auditorium. This re- quest of course could not be refused and so the play received another volume of applause and admiration form the audience of that school. In the meantime both the local papers phenomenally agreed that the paly was the best ever presented by any cast in Peoria, amateur or professional, not barring East Peoria. It happened by chance that the manager of the La Salle theater of Chicago was stopping at the Jefferson and read about the success of the play. He immediately investigated and was so delighted with a special performance that he offered the cast and director the nominal sum of 550,000 for one weekls performance at this theatre. The offer was accepted. The performances at the LaSalle theater met with much enthusiasm, for real art is indeed appreciated everywhere. The warm approval of Chicagoans was plainly evidenced in the papers. Comments the Chicago Tribune of june 26: The new version of Bernard Shaw's 'You Never Can Tell' was indeed unique. The interpretation by that cast has even excelled that of the Metropolitan Stock Co. of New York City. The elaborate settings were perfect. Philip Clandon, to the writer's belief, was easily the star of the performance. His know- ledge of human nature was a great asset to his person, and his

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THE MANUAL, 1920 'Q,:.Xj - --..f2l..f'. 'NWN' 15 IR- 3' rfh. A .., ..... - . . ll, f .- majesty, King George of England, and his royal highness, King Eman- uel of Italy. In order to show their esteemed appreciation and high regard for the Manual performance the former conferred the Grand Order of the Bath upon the personnel of the cast, while the latter monarch bestowed the coveted Order of Macroni, which paid honor to the great wireless inventor, In short, every conceivable honor, from University degrees and medals to freedom of the cities and the seas was bestowed on the members of the cast. Even the EX-Kaiser of Germany lamented the fact that he could not see the play and said that had he known of these European per- formances, he would never had declared war. After some heated dis- cussion by the cast, it was finally decided to send his abdicated High- ness a program to mitigate his grief. Hence, after a seven weeks' world tour, the Manual High School cast returned home covered with glory. Get out of the morgueY shouted the property man. I fell with a thump from the box seat upon which I was sleeping. I pinched my- self and started to shift Scene III. It was all a dream-but- You Never Can Tell . 'By Opium Dreamer. P. S. -The play did go to Brimjield. Iflfhere next? sa 1 fm I i ,S zz 'xxx l wi g, X9 'Y X W3 -u 1' 4' 5-'S flim- ' -'T.' ln. 5. :'. l WWF , ,. 'fN,f,1' 'C - ri. A' 2-f X . .1 :Q Y tl I 1 '