University of Miami - Ibis Yearbook (Coral Gables, FL)

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liner, and Fay Hunter. Renee Greenfield, in her longest sustaining role, made thirty-two beards. And there you have it— the story of drayma here this year. It all began with “Judgement Day” being postponed last year. This year saw the beginning of the last stages—ut least in part for the duration. W ith that sad. sad story, we ask you: Is there a man among you who can truly say. They did not try. For regardless of the worth of the attempts, the dramatics did try. —BEBE FINE MAN. Heirs of an illustrious tradition comprising the annual follies and full-length dramatic production, the four members of Theta Alpha Phi did not begin this year bewailing their fate. All officers in good standing (Barbara Wedlock, president: Charlotte Motter, vice-president; Lowell Veach. secretary, and Manuel Roth, treasurer) they started in October to make plans. A name for this year’s Follies didn't arrive right away, but the theme was a natural. “This Changing World.” Skit ideas popped up. They were going to show life around school, in the army, in a ration line, taking a physical examination, how to keep the enemy from listening, etc. One idea for a running gag was to have a soldier make the rounds to see what’s going on during his first leave. Veach would have been a natural for the part, except that he was having to spend every spare minute studying navigation to get an officers’ rating. The Hurricane chorus was scheduled to be, for one of their girly-girly numbers, a set of USO hostesses. It was a very pretty idea, except that right about then the football team moved out practically in a body for military srevice. A few other little difficulties came up. There were the inevitable transportation problems. Sororities, not having houses, could rehearse potential skits only in the theatre, which was never available. The cause ol it all is Thota Alpha Phi with Voach. Willock. Mrs. Mottoi. C. Motter. on tho sola and Craver. Hayos. Lowi . Woiss and Planicko. Backstage space was rapidly shrinking away. Anyway, Theta Alpha Phi submitted its plans with the comment that Theta Alpha Phi was brave, very brave indeed, hut it was no go. That was about February. But hope was still alive. Ruth Jane Craver, June Deutsch. Patricia Auerbach, Fred Miller, Betty Batch-eller. Mary Ruth Hayes, Judith Weiss, Elaine Planek, Bill Diamant. Merry Lewis, ami Lester Moore accepted bids to membership. The annual drama production was still to come and the administration had amazingly approved the idea of presenting The Man Who Come to Dinner. Moreover, sets were available, having been bought the year before from the “Theatre of the Fifteen.’ A cast was assembled, including Lloyd Symansky (alum). Alan Collins and Leonard Muller (faculty members), Moore, Ruth Craver, Willock, Diamant, Dick 'Price, and Mrs. Alan Collins. They changed the name of Robert, the camera-fiend, to Roberta, and east Elaine Planek in the part. Sheldon Cour-slum, Frank Edwinn, Irving Epstein, Merry Lewis, Jing Troetschel, were also cast. Moore, Collins, and Diamant went into the army. Mr. Muller was taking a war course and Bee Collins was studying navigation. Dick Trice was flying the Africa to Orient route for Pan-American that month. Etc., etc., etc. .— DOROTHY LEVIN 27

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gan the new year with “Tomorrow is Forever” on the next hill. The only freshman author in local one-act history, Moore presented a play of character conflicts with care ami thoroughness. Bill Dianiant decided to write something he knew. “Passing the Buck’ was a slapstick picture of University life, with a set depicting the post office on the second floor of Main and action including a gin rummy game played on the hack of an accommodating student (Manfred Berliner.) Scene constructors and technicians during the entire history of one-act plays were Manny Both and Lowell Veach. Learning directing by directing were Maxwell Marvin, Phyllis Salter Kauders, Evelyn Auslander. Shirley Haimes Goldston, Mary Alice Kirlon, Barbara Wil-lock. Thelma Cox, Eli .aheth Stone, Meade Stockdell. Adele Rickel, Edith Rosencrans, Renee Greenfield, Bebe Fineman. Lester Moore. Manny Roth, and Bill Diamant. “We set the students to writing about things they know. Discarding all formulas, we start with people and write about life. We select the best of the plays written in class to he produced. Then at the end of the performance we talk about the production and get the people in the audience to give their opinions.” With this plan. Fred Koch, Jr., hopes to foster the University of Miami's own Paul Greenes and Thomas Wolfes. —RENEE GREENFIELD. BEBE FINEMAN. 'Wtajo'i 'Ptaductuutd Smoky Mountain Road was the first major production of the year. Fred Koch. Jr., was director of and played a leading part in the play he had written. A comedy of North Carolina. the play centered about the building of a road to Cable Cove, an isolated mountain community, and its effect on the lives of the people. Director-Author Koch was otilslaudiing as an actor in the role of Pap. Sharing top honors were Jack Lawrence as N'oey and Maxine Krieswirth as Cindy. Others in the cast were Judy Weiss, George Walz, George Ryals, Frank Edwin, June Deutsch. Renee Greenfield, Bernard Silverblatt. Patricia Auerbach, Martin Greenberg, Natalie Allen, Charles Tharp, Albert Steunenberg, Joyce Cobb and Diane Charles. Manny Roth was assistant to the director ami Lester Moore had charge of sound, including violins, cowbells, juke boxes, automobiles and accessories such as horn, brakes, and the screeching of tires. Family Portrait, directed by Mrs. Motter, appeared December 10, II, and 12. The stage designed to fit the intimate picture of the last three years in the life of Jesus, as seen by his family, included the house in Nazareth, whose patio stretched out over the orchestra pit, a wine-shop in Capernaum, and the eandle-lit hall of the Last Supper in Jerusalem. Mary Ruth Hayes appeared as Mother Mary, with Marshall Simmons, Manny Roth. Bill Diamant, and Lowell Veach as the brothers of Jesus. Others in the cast included Ruth Jane Graver, Lester Moore, Patricia Auerbach. Jing Troetschel, Elaine Planicke, Austin Rasco, Jake Watson. Jay Canter, Sheldon Courshon, Fred Miller, Charlotte and Zoe Motter. Barbara Willock. June Deutsch, Lee Carpenter, Bickley Keenan, Merry Lewis. Manfred Ber- Newsreel . . . Mary Low is casually chats with one o! her acquaintances, the Russian nobleman Bill Diamant . . . Mary Lewis on the arm ol an unidentihed cadet while Bill Dtamant reveals his true sell . . . Mary laces camera although cadet is bashful; while Diamant in pantomlno shows ho stopped just in time . . . Mary Lowis completes her Thota Alpha initiation tasks. Twas nothing at all answers Mary et al.

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SOMK SPEAK IT So they WENT: Scotty Mason to war, Miss Margaret McKenna. J. Ralph Murray, and Gordon Laurie Thomas just went. Into the Mulish department, for one semester, came Trustee Virgil Barker, also lecturer in art, who delighted blase students with clever quotable remarks. Camps till divided into pro-and anti-Tharpians, depending on whether you meant the man or the professor. Mrs. Natalie Lawrence of the sweet low voice read Shakespeare to charmed classes, while her office companion. Mrs. Mary Clarke, wondered if freshmen ever grew up. Out of the library came K. Malcolm Beal and from the journalism department came Simon Hochbcrger, teaching a few stranded classes. Bushed ami harried Miss Mary B. Merritt found that in addition to her other multitudinous problems, she must needs continue to teach English. And Dr. W illiam L. Halstead continued to amaze students with his light whimsy in elec- tive courses and his tough, academic attitude in those which arc required. Reduced in number, the English department could still claim personalities who made underclassmen want more or murder. Winter Institute wasn't this year, and neither was English Honors. It just occurred that they both dissolved into mists, probably because of the war. But the Snarks (named for the mythical half-snail, half-shark) were very much alive. If you don’t believe it just listen to this record (impressionistic of course, hut how else would you describe that nebulous body?) of a more or less typical meeting of the writers’ honorary: “Who'll read tonight? W ill you start. Rodney Winfield?” Poetry of sense and movement. Poetry of richness and rhythm. “Read it again. Color and vihrance. “You’ve got something there, hut .. “One word was wrong. “. . . break in the rhythm . . .” “Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.” Front row: Noblott. Smith. Mr . Lawrence. Stark. Levin. Greenfield • Back row: Reich. Diamant. Winfield are Snarke.