University of Chicago - Cap and Gown Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 125 text:

An excellent piece of character work was done by Ralph Benzies in the part of Pio, the bashful priest to be. With his usual skill, Benzies gave to a part that might easily have been spoilt by a suggestion of the always unpleasant ttsissyf3 a thoroughly pleasing interpretation. Without verging on the effeminate, he held the character up to the gentle ridicule, but never to the contempt, of the audience. NIaruja, the leading part among the women, was gracefully rendered by Miss VVillnwdean Chatterson. Her vivacious acting portrayed a character laughter- provoking and full of sunshine. Miss Harriett Grimm, as the kindly and over-solici- tous wife of Indelacio, acted the patient and self-appointed guardian angel with great discrimination. Dona Blasa, the loquacious mother of Pio, played by Miss Inez Jackson, was one of the best character parts of the play. Bliss Jackson gave an amusing interpretation of the talkative and scheming fortune hunter. Gregoria and Perico, played by Bliss Eleanor Day and Paul Davis were quite a departure from the usual servant types, and in both cases the parts were most adequately handled. The Program GREGORIA, servant ........................................... ELEANOR DAY PERICO, man-of-all-work ........................................ PAUL DAVIS DONA DOLORES, wife of Indalecio ............................ HARRIET GRIMM MARUJA, her niece .............................. WILLOWDEAN CHATTERSON DON INDALECIO RUIPEREZ, wealthy farmer of Salamanca ..... HILMAR BAUKHAGE DON SATURIO, village doctor ............................... JOHN RACKAWAY DONA BLASA, mother of the parish priest ....................... INEz JACKSON P10, her son, anxious to become a priest ...................... RALPH BENZIES CARLOS, nephew of Indalecio, student of iMadrid ............... DOUGLAS SCO'fT AMBROSIO, hack driver .................................... GEORGE GARRETT HERMOGENES ZARAGUETA, Iliadm'd moneyelender .......... FRANK SHACKELFORD TIME: The Present SCENE: The Living Room of Indaleciots House 125

Page 124 text:

ttZaraguetaf, the Dramatic, Chib5s Junior Day Play for 1908, was in several features unique. It was at once pleasing and graceful in construction and quaint in its representation of a phase of Spanish life unknown to the American playgoer. Of added interest to a University audience was the fact that the translation was the work of Professor Howland, a member of the faculty. A play depending in no way upon any startling departure in plot, ct Zaraguetai, presented the simple story of the carc-free mischievous youth in aisetting 0f witty yet kindly satire. Unlike most translations, the text was indeed fresh and un- hampered in its native atmosphere; yet without the intrusive foreign elements that spoil so many adapted comedies. Hei'mogenes Zaragueta, the title r010, was played by Frank Shackleford. Shackleford gave to the character of the deaf 01d money-lender just enough grace of manner to tone down his miserablencss, but kept enough of the usurer to allow the audience to taugh at his final discomfitin'et The part of Carlos, the student: lover and black sheep was well acted by Douglas Scott. He made a very sett- possessed and gracious deceiver. and kept the sympathy 0f the audience to the end. Don Indelacio Ruiperez, the gOOd-natured gourmand, rich and happy, was played by Hilmar Baukhage. The amusing 01d fellow, ever thoughtful of his family and his stomach. was well Characterized by Baukhagc. who brought out the old Iiiaifs weaknesses without burlesquing them. John Raekaway interpreted the pompous Village doctor. Don Saturio,ptaying the self-assured rival practitioner to good effect by giving him a character not unfamiliar in real life. 124

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x ,7, NW 7; a m Ht The Dramatic Club in presenting Goldoni,s tt The Fan,i as the Winter Quarter play for 1909, attempted something just a little beyond the ordinary run of Uni- versity dramatics. With scenery and costumes that represented an expenditure exceeding those of many professional productions, and With a larger cast than usual. The play, although better supported than in previous years, was not a financial success. ' Though not familiar to AmericanAaudiences, T:The F an,, easily lent itself to amateur production; and, with its lively action, its interesting style, its sim- plicity and humor of line, situation and character, it was especially well received. Albert Henderson played the leading role of Evaristo, the passionate, dis- traught and eventually rewarded lover, in true Henry Woodruff style. Miss Cleary, acting the part of Candida, his beloved, was sweet, haughty or loving, as the occasion demanded. Francis Orchard, hero of the minor love plot, kept the audience With him and won his peasant sweetheart to every onesi satisfaction. Miss Chatterson, as Giannina, played the character about which most of the plot revolved and showed herself quite capable of managing her share in the troubles. She made Giannina stand out clearly as the spirited little minX, quite sure of her own mind, loving and hating with a sincerity Which created a part, very real to the audience. Baukhage, as the near-villain and spurned lover, did his best with the ungrate- ful but essential role of the aristocratic Baron del Cedro. With Miss Chattere son,s Giannina, Benzies Count Rocca Marino stood out as one of the most vivid portraits in the play. Benzies played the broken down, scheming old nobie with great consistency and played the lines for every bit of Character and humor they contained. Clarkis Coronato, the Innkeeper, was a smoothly acted-piece of comedy, intelligently read and keenly characterized, bringing plenty of well-deserved laughs. 126