Riverside High School - Mercury Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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THE GGCDSE HANGS HIGH The curtain swung shutl The house lights flashed onl The crowd roared its approval while the cast took their curtain calls. Then the audience began to melt away into the night, the footlights blinked as if tired, glowed strangely, and finally died out. At last the long awaited play was over, but what pleasant memories remainedl Memories that flash across my brain in spasmodic succession and seem to give out an incoherent series of pictures yet somehow manage to tell a complete storyl Memories that go back to the first penwell HarQraveS, Joyce Gerald Tom Leonard, Edith Cozza, Helen Hughes 96 Silencel All of you! day of tryouts for the playl There is a large room filled with noisy people reading and rereading lines in order that they may convince Miss Williams of their acting abil- ity. This continues for days until the cast is narrowed down to twen- ty-one, then to seventeen, then down to fifteen, and finally thir- teen. Still no one knows for certain which part he will receive. At last the final cast is listed, and there is a general rejoicing, for almost everyone received the part he wanted. Somehow this scene seems to fade away into the past, and in its place come weeks and weeks of hard yet enjoyable work consisting of rehearsal after rehearsal which somehow never gets boring. Every night we find something new in each line. These rehearsals consist not only of hard work, but also of many laughs and lunches, for whenever anyone is late, he has to treat the cast. These rehearsals seem to separate themselves into a series of dim visions. There in the corner are Jerry and Joyce practising that certain love scene which they never perfect. And there's Helen in the front row knit- ting on something or other ll never could figure out what it wasl which seems to grow larger and larger until l wonder what she's going to do with it. And there's Bill worry- ing whether anyone will be late today. ln the back row Gene and Henry can always be found discus- sing some physics problem. Sur- prise! There comes Edith across the stage again with a different dress on. She has the hardest time de- ciding what will look fitting for

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STAGE AND RADIG CREWS The Riverside Stage Crew is responsible for the scenery, lighting effects, and prop- erties of the junior-senior play, the operetta, and other performances requiring the use of the stage, Mr. Raynes is the adviser and director of the Stage Crew. l-le is also the director of visual education, and under his supervision the members of the crew act as operators. The seven members of the crew are: Robert Dumke, manager, Sawyer Grobben, chief electrician, Russell LaBorde, assistant electrician, Edward Shermacher, fly manager, Neil McLellan, assistant fly manager, Robert Rick, property man- ager, Walter Goodwillie, assistant property manager. Jerry Shermgghefi Walter Goodwilliei Edward , R ber La Border Robert Rlclq' O Ray Pell, Gilbert Corwin The Radio Crew consists of two boys, Gilbert Corwin and Ray Pell, who are under the supervision of Mr. Schneck. lt is their job to see that the school's public address system is functioning properly, that the microphones are set up for school convoca- tions, and that the phonograph is set up for the penny dances on Fridays. They also set up and operate the equipment for club pro- grams and rehearsals. Since the new radio was instal'ed, there has been not only more enjoyable work for the radio crew, but also clearer reception for the school. bben SaWY9 Glo t Durnlsei

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They're here ' her grandmother's part. Janet is still rehearsing her lines. And never to be forgotten is the rehearsal after the February graduation when Tom and Gene do a chorus girls' ballet across the stage, and, moving to an imaginary audience, bump into one of those enormous flower pots filled with water. lt rocks perilously from side to side as the water slurps out onto the floor. As it finally comes to rest, Miss Williams appears. Somehow this vision fades from my mind at this point. lLucky for Tom and Genell The next recollection that comes to me is that of dress rehearsal. Everything seems to be confusion. Miss Skinner and her art crew are decorating the scenery. The stage crew is arranging the back drops and trying to get the right lighting effect. Despite all these hind- rances, the cast gives a fairly good performance for dress rehearsal. Everything goes smoothly until the bell refuses to ring. Jerry is push- ing it frantically with no response. Meanwhile Bill waits impatiently on the stage for it as a cue. Finally he asks, Did I hear a bell? One of the stage hands pushes the correct button, and the bell rings. Yes, responds Bill, I guess I did. This too fades into the past and the big night comes into view. Everyone arrives early and checks all his properties. Then the make up man appears and com- mences changing everyone. Gene and Bill get mustaches. Edith ages rapidly. Henry gets gray, and all of us get excited. Time passes swiftly. The house fills, The over- Tl-IE GOQSE HANGS HIGH but what pleasant memories re- ture is played. The house lights go out, and the show is onl Our ner- vousness is forgotten when we get on stage and begin acting. Things proceed rapidly. The twins come home and uoset the house-Father loses his job-Hugh becomes en- gaged-the children fina'ly come through and save the family, and the curtain swings shut. The house lights flash onl The crowd roars its approval while the cast take their curtain calls. Then the audience begins to melt away into the night. Owney Eu Qene G Ollogly Gerald Hargraves, Edith Cozza, Helen Hughes, Tom Leonard 9