New Utrecht High School - Comet Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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Following this auspicious introduction, the Utrecht Victory Chorus raised its collective voice in You and If written by Maurice A. Popkin and Zachary A. Serwer. Then, in the first of several appearances, Mr. Abraham Warchaizer, bald-pated gym instructor, who, it is generally agreed stole the show, brought down the house in a timely skit, entitled We're In The Army Now. This skit described what happened when a lucky group of students were given the opportunity to turn the tables on their teacher. No sooner had this skit terminated, when four would-be Metropolitan Opera Stars, presently affiliated with New Utrechtis teaching staff-Amblin' Abe Felcher, Singiny Sam Applebaum, Waltzing Waiter Minz, and Ample Abe Warchaizer, wistfully recounted the tale of how a villain of the gay nineties was foiled in his attempt to run off with the hero's best girl. This scene helped to corroborate the suspicion held by many that some teachers are capable of doing more than teaching, if they put their minds to it. A serious note was struck in the next number in which a group of stu- dents strikingly demonstrated the importance of Air Raid Precautions. This scene was particularly outstanding for the excellence of its staging. There then followed a thrilling demonstration of agility and physical ntness by the Victory Tumblers in addition to an impressive demonstration of both marching and musical ability by Mr. Charry's Victory Band. Two students, David Seltzer and Sam Adel took the stage in a comedy routine featured by a series of clever imitations of some of the characters, who infest radio programs. Particularly amusing in this talented pairis skit, entitled It Seems Radio Is Here To Stay, was an imitation of the man who vainly attempted to answer the 3564 dollar question on one of radio's many quiz programs. Favorite songs of all the nations constituting the United Nations were sung with gusto by the Victory Scout Chorus. While this group was sing- ing characteristic songs ranging from The British Grenadiersn to Chi Lai, jack Oldstein, a student, realistically imitated President Roosevelt's historic speech delivered to the nation on February 25, 1942. This scene brought to a triumphant conclusion the first act of Victory Paradef, L Almost two hundred members of the Victory Orchestra and the Vic- tory Chorus opened the second act with a rendition of Walt Whitman's musical cantata, UI Hear America Singing. The leading solo was admir- ably handled by Merrill Miller. Presented in an almost completely blacked-out auditorium, Dive Bomb- er, a starkly dramatic radio skit, which told of Colin P. Kelly's historic sinking of a japanese battleship, packed an emotional thrill unparalleled by anything else in the show, as witnessed by the audiences strenuous applause. The next scene, Good Neighborsj' perhaps the most colorful of all as regards staging and costuming, stressed Pan-American solidarity. It was Twenty

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featured by the antics of Mr. Warchaizer, who returning this time in the guise of a gallant Spanish toreador, coursed up and down the stage in vain pursuit of a very human bull. The comparison of an American school and a Nazi school constituted the theme of the following scene entitled Approach to Learningf' This scene vividly impressed upon the audience how the German school teachers distort every field of learning to fit the needs of the Nazi Party. Gunther Wertlleimer excelled in the main role of the German refugee narrator. The finale was all that one expected it to be-magnificent. Even the vast stage of Utrecht's auditorium was completely filled-jammed full by a horde of swing-crazy jumpers, and jivers, swinging to the fast and catchy rhythms of Mr. Pelcher's Victory Stomp. Now, after the frenzied excitement that attended the Parade during and preceding its five nights run, we can find some imperfections in the show. But, these blemishes are to be expected in any school presentation. All in all, we think that Victory Parade is the greatest show in all of Utrechts history. The one factor, we think that so clearly distinguishes it from similar shows of the past is the idea behind it. 'KVictory Parade was a symbol of the ever-growing spirit of patriotism that has permeated Utrecht since December 7. It was a symbol of Utrechts willingness to do its part in this war. Twefzty-one