St Marys College - Dial Yearbook (St Marys, KS)

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 DRAMA ! V f V - THE MASQUE. As a distinguished feature of its Diamond Jubilee (year) celebration the college will present a Masque entitled ‘ The Mother of Youth” on June 10, 11 and 12. The Masque is an allegorical representation of the protection afforded youth by the Blessed Virgin under the guise of St. Mary’s. Youth is the leading character of the play. The opening scene portrays the joy in heaven upon the birth of youth on earth. The second scene shows the consternation and hate at the same event in Hell. Evil calls a conference ot Ins conorts and they decide to capture the boy’s soul. For this accomplishment they come to earth and slay his earthly mother. However, the Blessed Virgin sends down St. Mary’s to guide him. The boy goes to college under the protection of his heavenly guide and becomes one of her knights. Evil again pursues him under the guise of ambition and for a time seems likely to win him over but due to his protector, all turns out well and Youth returns to his heavenly home a victor. The undertaking itself is a stupendous one involving much preparation. Over four hundred characters will participate. One-half of these will be college students while the female speaking parts will l e handled by members of the Immaculate Conception Parish. The local Catholic High School will send three groups of dance choruses while Marymount College ot Salina, Kan., Mt. Carmel Academy of Wichita and St. Mary’s Academy ot Leavenworth will send one group each. The magnitude of such a production as the Masque makes it necessary to practice each group separately and the whole cast will come together but once in a general dress rehearsal the day before its first public presentation. It was found necessary to build a larger stage in the east end of the college auditorium; also to install a new system of lights, essential for the scenic beauty of the Masque, as it depends a great deal upon colored lighting effects. The production was written and the music arranged by Rev. Daniel Lord S. J., of St. Louis University, St. Louis, Mo., and the scenic effects planned by Kev. Louis Egan, S. J., also of St. Louis University. Father Lord is well known throughout the country, especially in Mid-Western states, as an exponent of “The Little Theatre” movement. He produced and personally directed the St. Louis University Centennial Pageant in 1918, which required a cast of over four hundred actors and which received much favorable criticism from the press. Both men paid a short visit to the college after Easter to get things started. After their departure Fr. Kuhlman, S. J., assumed charge and has worked unsparingly for a successful production. He has been fortunate in having as assistant, Miss Regina Pessimier who has charge of the dancing groups from St. Mary’s City and Mr. J. Winfred Roleke ’24 who has charge of the college dancers. Mr. John P. Rose, ’23, will portray Youth while opposed to him will be Mr. C. M. Boland, ’24, as Evil. Both these men are well known in college circles for their ability to act and without a doubt they will be at their best in that greatest of all St. Mary’s Productions, “The Mother of Youth.” DIAL ANNUAL One Hundred Nine

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WV y- - vW xi VV— V— DIAL ANYMUAL THE SEN-JUN PLAYERS. THE JUNIOR COLLEGE PLAYERS. This year saw the birth of a new organization at St. Mary’s and incidentally witnessed a forward step in the field of Dramatics. Shortly after the resumption of school, the Senior and Junior classes united to form the Sen-Jun Players, an organization whose functions were to be in the dramatic sphere. J. P. Rose was elected president, E. T. Lenihan, vice-president, and Rev. Fr. Herbers, who has been instrumental in its formation, was the moderator. The endeavors of the society took the form of several plays given at various times during the year. On Thanksgiving evening we were given their first offering. “The Britton Case,” an interesting playlet dealing with the problem of crime. Joseph Morriscy, Edward Lenihan, Walter Pope comprised this cast, and in their initial bow to the public as Sen-Jun Players acquitted themselves noblv. This success was quickly followed bv another. On the evening of December 20. the society presented “A Candle to Christ,” by Daniel Lord, S. J„ a play with a Christmas theme, appropriate to the season. John Rose. Carroll Boland. Frank Morris and Charles Bland ford appeared upon this occasion and by their excellent work further enhanced the Society’s reputation. After Christmas, because of the preparations for the Masque, the organization was unable to continue its work. Yet the new body has in its first year built up an enviable reputation and it is the sincere wish of every student that it may live in the future. On Thanksgiving night, the Small Yard entertained the student body and the visitors, by their meritorious presentation of the one-act play, “No. 15729.” An escaped convict comes to the house of the Bishop for food. The convict, due to prison life, is a misanthrope in every sense of the word. His antipathy for Church and Religion is remarkably portrayed. However, the Bishop’s pleadings win him to the faith and to proper feelings for his fellow man. The part of the convict was well taken by Kenneth Gregory. His work certainly promises much for his future in the line of dramatics. John Berg made an ideal bishop, in fact, one that would be loved in real life. Gerald Morriscy. as the bishop’s nephew, a really clever lx y, added much to the interest of the audience. John Walsh upheld the law as a French gendarme. Taken all in all these budding artists should do much for St. Mary’s dramatics during the rest of their sojourn here. One Hundred Eifiht

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 MOTHER OF YOUTH. Cast of Characters. St. Mary’s ..........................Jeannette Byrnes and Regina Pessimier Earthly Mother.................Josephine Demarais and Winefride Mitchner Blessed Virgin ......................Eulalia Erbacher and Winefride Parrel HmwiiIv I m-p .......................Ella Pearl Sipes and Marie Verschelden First A,Herald.::........................................Francis Motherway Second Angel Herald.........................................Wilfred Hayden Evil ...........................................Carroll Boland Ignorance ...........................................Thomas Muddy Disease .....................................................Joseph Loftus Sin ........................................................Francis Morris Demon Herald................................................Patrick Slattery Poverty..................................................Charles Bland ford Youth ..ZZZ.....................................................John Rose Contempt .....................................................Joseph Wade Messenger Knight...........................................Joseph Morrisey Ruined' Soul...............................................Edward Lenihan DANCE GROUPS Guardian Angels................Immaculate Conception H. S., St. Marys, Kan. Oriental Dancers...............Young Ladies of Immaculate Conception Parish Lily Dancers....................Alt. Carmel Academy Girls of Wichita, Kan. Sword Dancers........................Marymount College Girls of Salina, Kan. Victory Dancers...............St. Mary’s Academy Girls of Leavenworth, Kan. Demon Dancers.................................Students of St. Mary’s College Morris Dancers................................Students of St. Mary’s College Youth Dancers.................................Students of St. Mary’s College OTHER GROUPS Angels of Frieze...............Immaculate Conception H. S., St. Marys, Kan. Parapet Angels.................Young Ladies of Immaculate Conception Parish Attendants to St. Mary’s.......Young Ladies of Immaculate Conception Parish Attendants to Blessed Virgin..Young Ladies of Immaculate Conception Parish Knights Group.................... ;..........Students of St. Mary’s College Bodyguard of Evil, Slaves of Evil, Trumpeters, Squires, Pages, Armorers, and Heralds..-............................Students of St. Mary’s College Qllllllllil jn 5 DIAL ANNUAL One Hundred Ten