West High School - Senior Occident Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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The Year’s Dramatics While our athletes have been winning victories for West High upon the athletic field, our many amateur actors have shown the school and Its friends what Rood results High School students can achieve in the Une of dramatics. The first play of the season was William Shakespeare s As You Like It. which was enacted by the school's Dramatic Club. It was the firs: time in three years that Rochester High School studeuts had attempted to produce Shakespeare. The result was a distinct success. The oft-expressed opinion that High School audiences care only for light farces was once for all com- pletely disproved by the close aud appreciative attention displayed by the audience throughout the whole play. Those who took the different parts entered into the spirit of the play, and their lines showed careful study and preparation. On Friday. December 7th, the January Senior Class gave their Senior play: FSeveu-tweniy-eight. or Casting the Boomerang.” We shall not soon forget that benevolent old gentleman, Mr. Lancelot Bargiss, or his son-in- law, Mr. Hollyhock, who got into such difficulties. The play was such a merited success that, in response to a general demand, the class gave a second performance, which was the first matinee ever presented in our Assembry Hall. The joint classes of January and June, 190S. gave as their Junior farce, The Last Rehearsal.” It was replete with amusing sensations, dramatic situations and would-be fussers. Its plot was unique—although not very evident, its staging effective, and every part was well taken—that of Mrs. De YorbuVg-Smith finding especial favor with the audience. In addition, ii was the financial success of the year, in the line of dramatics. We now come to the social and dramatic event of the year—the June, 1907, Senior play. A Continental Dragoon.” Without exception this was the best productiou ever given by West High School students. The plot was thrilling, intensely interesting, and developed to au artistic aud touching climax. As one gentleman in the audience said: It was quite superior to many High School farces and plays, in that it possessed a strong plot.” The Senior play would have been a very creditable production under the best of circumstances, but when we consider the great difficulties under which it had to be given—difficulties which almost necessitated its postponement— its dramatic success approaches the marvelous. But he la In error who thinks that to the students should be given all the credit for the success of this year's dramatics. We should remember Mrs. Ellis, who. through her continued interest, unstinted co-operation, and able supervision, has made this success possible. And now a word in conclusion. There was a time when every class In High School—not even excepting the Freshman—wanted to and did produce a play or farce. That was the time when a large number ol plays given and not dramatic excellence was the question considered. The natural result was that it soon became difficult to secure a good audience for a High School dramatic production—the students and general public had been filled to satiety. We believe that West High School has at last succeeded in striking a happy medium. The past year was notable not only for the marked ex- cellence of its dramatic offerings, but even more notahl Tor the small number of these offerings. A precedent has been established, that if fol- lowed. will prove to be for the best interests of the High School and its dram rules. .rt7

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J. Alfred O'Kane Managet of Baseball Andrew Sutherland Manager of Football Harry UIoss Manager of Basketball ka.wnund A. Linder Mammer of I rack

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Adolph Sruher President of the Executive Council d Sm f. i ■ Theodoro Ha .ard Treasurer ,»n«l Kquipmcnt Miimicrr Harold I . Snucd Munasor of die Musical Raymond II. Fuller Business Man-iircr of die Occident