Schuster School - Proscenium Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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Leland McMurphy gave a very consistent and interesting portrayal of the shop- keeper. John Kirwan, and Edna Rohan, as his wife, played with remarkable force and sincerity. Hazel Sloyer's interpretation of Kirwan's sister, Mary, was a remark- able piece of emotional acting, and Gertrude Brice, as the hardened Mrs. Diamond, gave a sincere and consistent character study. John Alexander, as Dr. Luke Dia- mond; Lee Altemus, as Dr. Power O'Connor; and Harry Schoelwer, as Dr. Jack Power O'Connor, his son, all did excellent work. The others in the caste Faith Tracy, Edwin Rickey, Albert Cash, Allen Stelten, William Curtin, and Bert Thompv son e did not allow the fact that they were playing minor parts permit them to fall short in any way. The entire production was played with the assurance and sin cerity of professionals, and was such a success that it was repeated for the Mac- Dowell Society. This was an opportunity to play before such an audience of artists and critics as before whom professionals rarely have the privilege and honor of appearing. MARION T. REEVES Who has made a specialty of Folk Dancing. Page twentyvfour

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;-,, THE TWO COMPANIES LTHOUGH the Little Playhouse was built primarily as a greatly needed addition to the school, plans had also been formulated towards establishing it as a Little Theatre, in which intimate drama would be produced by a professional company, assisted by the advanced students of the school. This plan, however, was deemed inadvisable at the time and was temporarily abandoned, but a stock company of advanced students was formed, called The Little Playhouse Company. This company is semi-professional, several of its members having had experience on the professional stage, and has produced unusual plays in connection with the regular work of the school, as examples of what can be done if the Little Theatre idea is seriously taken up and placed on a firm Financial basis. Besides The Little Playhouse Company productions, and those Which were merely class plays, there have been productions by The Schuster Players. This company is made up of advanced students, assisted by preparatory and interme- diate students. In the following chronological arrangement of the plays produced at The Little Playhouse during the year 19144 5, the company producing each has been designated. PERFORMANCES October 16, 1914n- 'iAil-of-a-Sudden Peggy, a three-act comedy by Ernest Denny, presented by the Schuster Players under the direction of Mrs. Helen Schuster-Martin. Miss Estelle Borkes, a post-graduate pupii, gave an easy and clever perform- ance as Peggy O'Mara. Mr. John Alexander, as Jimmy Keppel, made an attractive juvenile lead opposite Miss Borkes. Wesley Tracy,s character work as Lord Craken- thorpe was creditable, and Miss Irene Griffin's portrayal of Mrs. OiMara showed her long and excellent training. Others in the cast were Misses Faith Tracy, Linnie Townsley and Gertrude Brice, and Messrs. Edwin Rickey and Harry Schoelwer. October 23, 1914eiiEverywoman, act one, a morality play by Walter Brown, presented by The Schuster Players under the direction of Mrs. Helen SchustereMartin. Miss Pauline MacLean gave a sweet and graceful portrayal of Everywoman before she leaves her home to seek King Love. Albert Cash, as Nobody, used more voice and less variety of reading than was called for. Mr. Allen Stelton was satisfactory as Fiattery. Miss Faith Tracy's character work as the witch Truth was adequate. Mr. John Alexanders performance as Love was very good, and the Misses Edna Ramsey, Olga Reinstatler, and Dorothy McCord as Youth, Beauty, and Modesty did very creditable work. December 4, l9l4a'iThe Bribe, a three-act drama by Seumas OiKelley, produced by the Little Playhouse Company under the direction of Mr. Boyd Agin. 'iThe Bribe was the First production by the Little Playhouse Company, and is an irish play of the intimate type so often produced at the National Theatre, Dublin. Page twenty-three

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MISS BRICE Page twcnIy-Hve