Sacramento City College - Pioneer Yearbook (Sacramento, CA)

Page 25 text:

Left to Right: Wilde, Atkinson, Sutter, Graff, Ford and Davis. TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA The Two Gentlemen of Verona ' presented by the Dramatic Art Department March 15 and 16 as their first Spring play, offered the first opportunity for Miss Frances Frater to direct a major production at the Sacramento Junior College. The sprightly Shakespearean comedy was played on a specially constructed set designed by Miss Frater in the style of the Italian renaissance, with its characters costumed in the authentic manner of the period. The cast included John Ferguson in the role of the Duke; Elizabeth Guthrie and Dorothy Lipps alternating as Julia; Tom Wilde, Proteus; Margaret Dumont and Theresa Graff, Sylvia; George Sutter, Valentine; Elaine Pagel and Celeste Johnson, Lucetta; Laurence Davis, Thurio; Robert Gold, Launce; James Clayton, Speed; Wesley Speich, Antonio; John Dutton, Panthino; Max Fackler, Sir Egla- mour; Owen Hiddleson, Host; George Strouse, an outlaw; Mary Louise Atkin¬ son, Ursula, and Crab, a dog, who almost stole the show. The technical staff consisted of Marshall Brooke, electrical design; Vincent Learned and Roy Jensen, assistant electricians; Wesley Speich, stage manager; Edith Brazil, assistant stage manager; Jean Toffee, properties; Ruth Friedberg, makeup; Mary Louise Atkinson, promptress; Ruth Gartler and John Dutton, wardrobe, and Laurence Davis, business manager. The vocal music was directed by Miss Ivine Shields, with Calvin Ford as soloist, and the orchestra by David L. Burnam. —21

Page 24 text:

Left to Right: Speich, Dumont, Ferguson, Fackler, Lipps, Morgan, Clayton, Rivette, Bartler, Artz, Gold and Davis. A LIVE WOMAN IN THE MINES The Department of Dramatic Art opened their 1934-35 season with the production, A Live Woman in the Mines, a typical melodrama of pioneer days described as a highly diverting, moving, and moral comedy of life in early California. Ruth Gartler and Jean Toffee alternated in the title role of Mary Wilson at the two performances, on December 6 and 7, with George Artz as John Wilson, Mary ' s husband and the upstanding young hero. George Sutter and Tom Wilde portrayed Cash and Dice, two most villainous villains with base designs upon the inexperienced and virtuous John and Mary. John Ferguson was seen as Pike County Jess, a diamond in the rough, while Dorothy Pratt and Margaret Dumont alternated as High Betty Martin, Pike ' s rough and ready girl friend. Other members of the cast were Laurence Davis, James Clayton, Celeste Johnson, Margaret Knox, Joseph Rivette, Wesley Speich, Cecil Morgan, Robert Gold, Max Fackler, Owen Hiddleson, Mary Louise Atkinson, Dorothy Lipps and Lawrence Schei. The play was directed by John Laurence Seymour, with Miss Frances Frater as production manager and technical director.

Page 26 text:

Second Row—Left to right: Speich, Clayton, Atkinson, Dutton, Ferguson and Sutter. First Row: Davis, Graff, Dumont, Toffee, Gu.thrie and Friedberg. DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY Death Takes a Holiday ' one of the most famous of all modern dramas, was the Dramatic Art Department ' s last production of the Spring semester. With Death himself as its central character, the play tells of his three-day holiday as a mortal, while he seeks to discover why some men fear his coming, others are unafraid, and some few welcome his single visit. From the other characters, Death learns that love is the prime motive of all human existence, controlling the lives of men more than any other force. However, Death leaves his role as a spectator in the lives of his temporary friends when he falls in love with Grazia, a beautiful and sensitive young girl. When he is faced with the necessity of telling her his true identity, Death learns the meaning of human suffering. Wesley Speich played the role of Death, with Margaret Dumont in the fem¬ inine lead. Both are Freshmen students and have appeared in the other two college productions this year. The cast was completed with George Sutter as Duke Lambert; Ruth Fried¬ berg, Alda; lean Toffee, Duchess Stephanie; Theresa Graff, Princess of San Luca; Laurence Davis, Baron Cesarea; Elizabeth Gutherie, Rhoda Fenton; John Dutton, Eric Fenton; Tom Wilde, Corrado; John Ferguson, Major Whiteread; Mary Louise Atkinson, Cora, and James Clayton, Fedele. John Laurence Seymour was general director of the production; Miss Frances Frater, technical director, and Mary Jane Bloomberg, promptress. The play was given May 9 and 10, in the Stanford Junior High School auditorium. Death Takes a Holiday was rewritten for the American stage by Walter Ferris from the original Italian of Alberto Casella. — 22 —