Pomfret School - Griffin Yearbook (Pomfret, CT)

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i THE CAST Left to right: Hubbell, V., Morgan, Chapman, Robinson, Day, Montegelas, Walker, Rockwell, Hodges, Draper, Dunn, Searles.

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lf4'ld'l. 'll ia room, Myrtleton enters in consternation, followed by Case. Myrtleton suddenly discovers that some bonds, entrusted to him long before by the deacons, are missing, and remembers that he is supposed to have selected a new minister for the North Church at Rambleton, a udty which he has not as yet performed. Case tells him of his suspicions con- cerning the make-up man, and immediately connects the bond robbery with Meredith's entrance through the window. Case reassures Myrtleton by promising to retrieve the missing bonds, then leaves the stage. Jervis and Bassett enter to find Myrtleton arranging some costumes as the act ends. The second act takes place during the performance of The Fatal Shot in another room of the same house. Betty enters as Jack is beginning his report on the play for Admiral March. He tells her that he has locked up Case, who had been shadowing him, because the detective, having been given a short part in the play to fill in, was overcome by stage fright. Jasper and the members of the cast of The Fatal Shot enter, and there is an amusing scene, in which Jasper attempts to obey six differnt orders at once. Case, having been at length released from the room in which Meredith has imprisoned him, enters clad in Scotch costume. Myrtleton enters and the two discuss developments in the bond robbery. Catching a glimpse of Meredith, Case leaves in hot pursuit. While Myrtleton is congratulating himself that he has got rid of deacons by sending them to church, they suddenly return. As Bassett is questioning him on his selection of a new minister, Case enters. Myrtleton, seeing an opportunity to relieve an embarrassing situation introduces Case as the Rev. Rob Roy McGregor, the new minister whom he has selected. An amusive scene follows, in which Case tries to impersonate the Scotch minister. The deacons finally decide not to engage the Rev. Rob Roy and Case leaves the room in mock despair. Applause in the next room and several properties, which are carried across the stage, arouse the suspicions of the deacons, but Myrtleton makes some ridiculous explanations, which appar- ently are satisfactory. The three try to dine, but owing to various inconveniences caused by The Fatal Shot the meal is sadly interrupted. After they have left the stage, Case enters, but on seeing Meredith, who has been given a sailor's costume by Betty, so that Myrtleton will not recognize him, he hides behind the window, Bassett returns and Meredith returns to him a wallet which he had lost. When Bassett has again departed Case tries to tell Polly and Vere about his evidence. Claire enters in tears and Vere. also depressed at the performance, follows. Suddenly calls for the author arouse them and they hurry off-stage. The deacons return, followed by Mrs. Van Styne, who informs them about the play, which had been so carefully hidden from them. As they leave, Case enters, and, finding some white hairs. the color of Bassett's, concludes that Bassett must be the make-up man's accomplice and that the wallet was, of course. the package of bonds. Meredith enters and Case accuses him of the robbery. Betty comes on, as the two men are quarrelling, and pretends to faint in order to allow her sweetheart to escape as Myrtleton appears. Betty soon recovers and Case leaves the room in disgust. Mrs. Van Styne then informs Myrtleton that the deacons are enjoving the performance. Myrtleton is stunned. but the entrance of the deacons themselves revives him. As they cf-f-use him of stealing their money, Case returns and accuses Bassett of stealing the bonds. Basset is about to strike Case. when Jasper enters. firing a pistol, which is Case's cue in The Fatal Shot . He rushes off and the curtain falls. The third act takes place in the same room. It is the morning after the performance and the place is in a state of turmoil. Jasper, who is putting the room to rights, suddenly discovers the deacons hidden under the two tables in 98

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llriifllillwll ' ia , the room where, terrified by the firing, they have been all night. After a short conversation they go away. Myrtleton enters and so does Case, who has been keeping watch outside the window, during the night. He discovers a letter, stating that the real make-up man was forcibly ejected from the house under the accusation that he was a reporter. Case then explains how he discovered that Basset and the pseudo make-up man were accomplices in the robbery of the bonds. When they have gone to another room to talk the matter over, Polly, Betty and Vere bring in the morning paper, in which is a long detailed account of The Fatal Shot . The article is signed, The Observer , which is Case's nom de plumeg hence, when he enters, they each accuse him of being the author and leave him stunned. Mrs. Van Styne and Claire arrive in indignation and Mrs. Van Styne humiliates poor Case even more by her vigorous accusa- tions. When they have left the stage, O'Rouke, a policeman, who has been sent by the real make-up man on a case of assault and battery, enters. Jervis and Bassett iind him and set him after Case, whom they believe to be mad. Case returns as the deacons go out. O'Rouke tries to handle Case as if he were a madman, and Case, thinking that O'Rouke insane, tries to humor him. They link arms and go off together. Myrtleton enters with the deacons, he picks up the pouch belonging to Case's Scotch costume, in which he finds the missing bonds. He agrees with Jervis and Bassett that Case is crazy. Some amusing scenes follow in which Polly, Betty, and Jasper try to keep Myrtleton from seeing the morning papers. O'Rouke then enters with the news that Case escaped. As he leaves the room, Case climbs through a window, in a dress suit, which is ridiculously too large for him. Finding some more white hairs he believes himself to be on the track. Again Jasper, however,picks a flaw in his reasoning by bringing on a white fur rug, from which the hairs have obviously come. Case departs, disgusted. Jack Meredith and Betty enter, and ask Myrtle- ton for his approval of their engagement. After some deliberation, Myrtleton, finally gives his consent. Mrs. Van Styne comes to show the article in the morning papers to Myrtleton and denounces Case as the author. When they have left the room, Meredith enters followed by Case. They argue for a few momentsg then Case calls for the police, Whereat Myrtleton, O'Rouke and the deacons rush on. They inform the misled Case that the bonds have been found in the costume he was wearing. Betty explains that the bonds were used in The Fatal Shot . Myrtleton then accuses Case of making The Fatal Shot public after he had strictly ordered that the performance kept private. Meredith confesses, but Myrtleton forgives him and merely laughs when, as the play ends, a wreath is given to him with the compliments of Rear Admiral March. Robinson, as the Honorable Geoffrey, Congressman from the Ninth District, had the longest and most difficult part in the cast of the play. He handled the part of the middle-aged congressman with the ease and skill of a far more experienced actor. He should prove exceedingly valuable to next year's club. Day took the part of Silas Jervis, a severe and suspicious deacon. The part called for some difficult character acting, which Day handled capably. Montegelas had another character part in Jervis's fellow deacon, Bassett. Bassett was stupid and deaf, and Montegelas' portrayal was clever and amusing. Hodges, as Ensign Jack Meredith, who is in love with Myrtleton's ward, had one of the few straight parts in the play. Hodges, a new comer to the club, proved himself a valuable member. 100