Sacramento City College - Pioneer Yearbook (Sacramento, CA)

Page 29 text:

Shakespeare ' s last original and uncollaborated play, The Comedy of the Tempest, was presented in two public performances on the evenings of March first and second at the Stanford Junior High School Auditorium. A private performance was sponsored by the educational department for Sacramento school children on Friday afternoon. Painted forests against a background of luxurious velvet cur¬ tains furnished a pleasing setting for the play, the action of which takes place on an uninhabited island. Changes of scene were designated by slight shifts in curtain arrangements and the addition of a few stage properties. Clever effects were obtained by the lighting which was designed by Marshall Brooke. The Tempest is full of human interest, fun and magic like A Mid¬ summer Night ' s Dream, but with a more wistful beauty and a deeper significance. The characters were well cast as to ability. Several important characters were double cast and both parties did equal justice to their roles. Russell Azzara and John Moller, as the savage Caliban, had two different but fascinating interpretations. Dorothy Pratt, as the sweet and innocent Miranda, and Elizabeth Gutherie, a more animated Miranda, proved that freshman can do fine things. Perhaps the most outstanding part in the play was Shakes¬ peare ' s brilliant character of Ariel, de¬ lightfully and successfully portrayed by Margaret Gleason. Ariel dominated prac¬ tically every one of the numerous scenes in which she appeared. Miss Gleason was charming in her depiction of the fairy sprite and her delightful singing voice added much to the difficult role. Kind old Prospero was played by John Ferguson and Ferdinand by Forrest Darby, both newcomers. Excellent bits of humor were inserted by the drunken trio of Trinculo, Ste- phano, and Caliban, the first of the two parts enacted by Joe Silva and George Sutter. These scenes rivalled Ariel in popularity with the audience. Mystery was added by the masque in which Prospero calls upon the spirits for enter¬ tainment. The appearance of goddesses, nymphs, dancers, monsters and divers spirits form a striking picture as well as furnishing a lull in the action. Top of page—Russell Azzara. Center—George Sut¬ ler, Joe Silva, John Moller. Bottom — Margaret Gleason, Dorothy Pratt, Forrest Darby, John Ferguson.

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■ A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS The second play of the season was presented at the Stanford Junior High School on December seventh and eighth, under the direction of Mr. Seymour, who was assisted by Charlotte Wilson. This play, which has the reputation of being the most popular Elizabethan comedy with the exception of Shakespeare ' s plays, has a varied cast of characters, both serious and comic. Its people have the bold colors and somewhat exaggerated personalities of the comedy of humours. John Moller was quite dashing as merry master Wellborn, the hero who found a new and unusual way to pay his old debts,—a way, which, unfortunately, is not practicable in all cases. Russell Azzarra gave another brilliant performance as Sir Giles Overreach, an extortioner, and the villain of the piece. His spectacular fall in the mad scene in the last act of the play was particularly effecti ve. Lady Allworth, a charming widow, was played by Mildred Houston. Margaret Overreach and Tom Allworth, the young lovers, were pleasingly done by Ruth Freidburg and Margaret Gleason who played Margaret in alternation, and by Laurence Davis who played Tom Allworth. That tipsy low-comedy pair—Tapweli and Froth—were acted by Dorothy Pratt and Ruth Gartler. Marrall, the shyster lawyer, was characterized in broad strokes by John Ferguson. In his case the reward for vice w ' as to be kicked off the stage. Lord Lovell was played by George Sutter. Charlotte Wilson, Joe and John Coppin, and Charles Rajnus were the amusing and spoiled servants of Lady Allworth. Other members of the cast were Mary Lynn, Martha Minter, Sarah Heilbron, and Ruth Gardner. This production was staged against a background of curtains. The costumes were elaborate and strikingly beautiful. The make-ups, many of which were unusual character studies, were done by the make-up class under the supervision of Miss Frater. The lighting was designed by Marshall Brooke. Laurence Davis and Margaret Gleason George Sutter and Mildred Houston Ruth Freidburg Left to right— John Moller, George Sutter, Mildred Houston, Margaret Gleason, Russell Azzara, Laurence Davis, John Ferguson and Owen Hiddleson.

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ADRIENNE LECOUVREUR A very successful drama season was brought to a brilliant close with the presentation of Adrienne Lecouvreur on April 19th and 20th at Stanford Junior High School. The choice of the play was admirable, Adrienne Lecouvreur being an example of a perfectly constructed play. The plot is artistic, dramatic, and fast moving, never lacking in interest, but moving swiftly on to its tragic conclusion. It was a delightful and beautiful spectacle to watch. The costumes were authentic and rich and both men and women wore powdered wigs. Evelyn Culver in the title role portrayed the life story of the famous French actress Adrienne Lecouvreur who was famous at the Comedie Francais in 1730. Miss Culver interpretated the role intelligently. The death scene was particularly beautiful and emotional, yet artistically restrained. Russell Azzara and John Moller completed a very outstanding repertoire of plays. In the past two years these young actors have taken leading roles in every production, and have created many fine characterizations. Russell Azzara played Michonnet. He reincarnated this lovable old man, who once actually lived and loved Adrienne. Adrienne ' s lover, Maurice, was capably played by John Moller. The Abbe de Chazevil, played by Laurence Davis, and the Princess de Bovillon, played by Dorothy Pratt, were two finecharacterizations, the Abbe being worldly and shrewd and the princess, polished, subtle, and villainous. George Sutter gave a very good interpretation of the role of the prince. Others in the cast included: Duchess D ' Aumont, Ruth Gartler; Marquise de Sancerse, Elizabeth Guthrie; Countess de Beauveau, Sarah Louise Heilbron; Mdlle. Joevenot, Ruth Friedburg; Mdlle. Dongeville, Dorothy Lipps; Susanne, Martha Minter; Poirson, Elizabeth Svetich; Quenaul ' t, John Ferguson; Servant, John Dulton; Call Boy, Marshall Brooke. A delightful feature that added greatly to the charm of the play was the music used. It was taken from the opera Adriand Lecouvreur” by Franceres Cilea, and played by John Coppin, violinist, and Arthur McCue, pianist. The make-up class received congratulations upon the splendid manner in which the difficult make-ups were created. This class was under the instruction of Miss Frances Frater. Martha Minter acted as make-up mistress. The electrical department continued to give the drama class support of the highest quality. This department was under the supervision of Marshall Brooke, assisted by Max Doan. Nanne Yost for the second time was ap¬ pointed the responsible position of stage man¬ ager. Under her efficient direction the back stage staff worked in perfect union. The tech¬ nical staff included: George Patterson, master of properties; John Dutton, prompter; Martha Minter, assistant prompter; John Ferguson, wardrobe master, assisted by Mildred Huston and Beverly Calvert; Elizabeth Gutherie, call boy.