The Park School - Spark Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

Page 32 text:

Page Twefify-riglzf The Spark On floor--Art Meyer, Mary Lea Scheu, Sally Pitcher, Haines Danforth, Jo Truscott, Ruth Setel, Jackie Sharp. Scared-Nancy Posmantur, Bobby Hoyt, Jean Kimball, Sue Wilson, Alsy O'Brian, Betty Vandebilt. SfH11t1fl1,Q-MY. VanArsdale, Anne Backus, Warren Miller, Curt Dell, Dave Leopold, Ran Chadwick, Alan Benjamin, Fred Hubbard, Bill Rice, Cynthia Bissell. Alzsenf-Jane Stryker. Shakespeare Glula it O be or not to be, that is the ques- tion. And what a question, for the mem- bers of the Shakespeare Club are trying to decide from what play the quotation comes! One thing they are sure of: it was written by Shakespeare. They cannot decide, how- ever, whether Romeo, King Henry H, or Caesar said it. Finally, with the help of their faculty advisor, they come to the startling conclusion that it was uttered by Hamlet in the play of the same name. This episode, although not entirely false, must not be taken as typical of the best ac- tivity of the Shakespeare Club. In reality they do a very fine job. For each meeting they read a Shakespeare play and then at the meeting read important lines and dis- cuss the play in general. At times they rise to great heights and even act out parts of the play to the immense delight of the play- ers and spectators. This group was organized last Fall by a few students who wished to supplement their classroom study of a few Shakespear- ean plays by intensive reading and discus- sion of all of them outside of school. Mem- bership was to be open to any and all in the Middle and Upper Schools who were in- terested. An announcement of the first meeting was made at lunch, and about six or seven were expected to attend. When all were accounted for, twenty-five had answered the call, and the same number has been present at the subsequent meetings. With such marked popularity, the club promises to become one of the most active at Park.

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Nineteen Forly-one Page Twen fy-seven On floor-Dave Guillaume, Doug Walter, Howard Fernow, Haines Danforth. Sz'ufm'- Pete Klaussen, Ed Strickland, Mr. Petcrkin, Pete Kranz, Curt Dell, Seymour Urban. Sfanding--Ed Kelly, Towney Wilson, Art Meyer. Abseuf-Bill Mowat. fDiscussion Club I-IE great success of having visiting speakers last year encouraged this year's Discussion Club to plan more meetings with guest lecturers. Many fine speakers were in- vited and the discussions became more inter- esting and lively. At one meeting, Mr. Cheek spoke on the European situationg at another, Dr. Pratt of The University of Buffalo discussed the Philippine Islands and the part they play in the affairs of today. Mrs. Cheek also spoke on current events outside the local interest circle, while other speakers ventured into fields of city planning and league athletics. Mr. Boehm's talk on Fairhaven Village aroused an active discussion on other city improvements and slum clearing measures. In line with their interest in city affairs, the Club invited District Attorney Hagerty, who spoke on county government and the duties of a District Attorney. A talk on scientific crime detection was given by Dr. Brown of the University of Buffalo. One of the liveliest meetings of the year featured a discussion of swing music with jazz records for illustration. After the meet- ing there was to be an orchestra audition for the Spark dance, so the members of the Spark Board were invited to attend the dis- cussion. Stimulated by the sweet swingi' and hot jazzv of the records and later of the orchestra, the students enjoyed one of the most successful social events of the year. Later in the year, the Club was led in a bull sessionv on athletics by Jim Wells, local sports announcer. At another meet- ing, our own Mr. Smith, by popular de- mand, was again invited to conduct a dis- cussion of religion.

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Nimflcrn Forty-one Cfirial by Qury Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta, Trial by jury, was the chief dramatic presentation of the year. Plans and casting began last Fall when one could see people solemnly going to Mrs. Doblin's apartment to try out their voices and emerging with smiles on their faces gleefully singing some oper- atic air. That was only the beginning! As soon as the main characters knew their songs and the chorus had been thoroughly put through its paces, they were brought together and rehearsals began in earnest. From then on anyone who had a free period could usually be found work- ing on some part of the operetta, either practicing the songs with Mrs. Doblin or getting professional advice on the acting from Miss Massey. Haines Danforth and Don Webster were seen running around talking in technical terms about stage light- ing, etc. The string group attended all rehearsals, and their music greatly improved the production. The Jurymen turned out to be the real comedians when they did their chorus num- ber, which could not have been bettered even by the Rockettes. Bill Mowat sur- prised everyone with the fine tone of his voice this year, and Betty Vanderbilt, as the broken-hearted bride, soon forgot her troubles and took an interest in Bill Rice Cas the Judge, of courselj The defendant, played by Art Meyer, forgot that he had just gotten out of a scrape and started flirt- ing with the bridesmaids. An added attraction for the audience was the Hne new stage, presented to the school by the Senior Class. Herm Landel was the chief carpenter, but many students came out to school during spring vacation to help build it. The school has been wanting a permanent stage for many years, and now that we finally have it, it will greatly help in future productions. Page Twenty-nine C ,.. 0 . Y iff' T' .,,,.5.,. J f 'sa' ' H lu mal I Nw N-7i'll bg PDQ!!-QTLA. MM- Kim. MDL Qgys haul. snot, 'Fu-nf T '70o l' 7-Nu. Qu-