Wichita State University - Parnassus Yearbook (Wichita, KS)

Page 24 text:

0ur Townl' Upenec Wilnerites led out the campus dramatic season with U0ur Town, Pulitzer Prize winner by Thornton Wilder. . . ln this three-act play which was pre- sented in the University Auditorium Qct. Q6-28, all scenery, usually deemed necessary, was done away with, leaving the entire mood and feeling to be carried out by acting ability alone. With the plain red briclc of the Auditorium wall as a baclc- ground and a few necessary chairs as property, University players put on a drama of unsurpassed intensity and strength. With the largest cast of the year-3Q spealcing roles-Prof. George D. Wilner, head of the dramatic department, toolc the part of the casual pipe-smol4ing stage manager who summed up life at Grovefs Corners, N. l'l., in a simple straightforward manner. -l-alcing the feminine lead, Alma l.ouise Gray turned in an unforgettable portrayal of little Ulfmily Webb, and won the hearts of the audience by the charm and grace with which she played the role. Jack Castor, who made his initial campus performance as UGeorge Gibbs, sweetheart and husband of Emily,H filled his part most convincingly, and Ethel Jane Myers, Bert McGinnis, Alberta Zimmerman, and Gene Setzer gave excellent support. The Hfarrarsf' Queena and uNed,,' came to life under the sparlcling wit of Miss Gray and Bud Gould in ul-ler Masterls Voice by Clare Krummer. . . . Presented in the Auditorium Dec. '14-'16, and at the University of Kansas, feb. 28, the comedy blithely frolicl4ed its way through two acts of a young couple's troubles with a rich idiocentric aunt and ended with the proverbial happily-even after touch. Miss Gray turned in her usual superb performance as the vocal aspiring Queena, and the part of Ned, slow-and-easy-going husband who unwittingly got a chance at the singing career his wife wanted, was excellently played by Mr. Gould. Miss Myers was most convincing in the role of Queena's bedraggled, befuddled, and widowed mother who suddenly blossomed out in new finery and a new husband. But scene after scene was Above: a sign in the Ad Building advertising Gm 'l'own,H first play production, second, Bud Gould smirlcing happily between stars Alma Louise Gray and Ethel Jane Meyers 'H it was Ml-ler Master's Voicef, comedy, and exchange production with KU., and below is Jaclc Castor being made up for his part in Qur Townf' At right: The auditorium lighted as play- goers see it, Prof. George Wilner tallcing things over with producer Rolla Nucldes of the KU. play l'loliday'f, and interesting moments in the plays HQur 'l'own,', and Death falces a l-lolidayf'

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Fight! Fight!! Fight!!! Loudest and most persistent cheerers were the talk-it-up boys Coleman, Kielner, and Sullivan, ofticial Whock cheer leaders. . . Best stunt was a basketball game between halves of the regular game with Whocksters clothed in boxing gloves and long- handled undies. . . Most Fun was the booster trip. . . Qrganized in Qctober, 1938 to remedy a serious lack of school spirit, Whock is now headed by Howard Jackson. OFFICERS First Semester Gaylord Smith ................. President George Scheer ..., ..... V ice-President This year Whock provided entertainment be- l-ldrolcl Brown ' S ecretdry tween halves at the football games, helped organize pep rallies, and took part in the Homecoming preparations, chile feed, bonfire, and snake dance. Faculty sponsors were again Dr. l.dWI'CI'lC2 l2dI'iCl4 and Roy Elliott. Fred Partridge ..., ...... T reasurer Howard Jackson .........,.... Treasurer Second Semester Howard Jackson ...,...,,..... President Wally Wilkins.. ......... Vice-President Bob Ray ....... ......,. S ecretary

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IIE Df6lTIdl'lC 5265011 stolen from these veteran campus actors by a new- comer, Roberta Newell McGinnis, who played HAunt Min,H a middle-aged woman who decided Queena was being mistreated and must Hget away from it allf' from the start of Queenafs Hvacationn through the hilarious sleeping porch episode at the end, the audiences enjoyed it hugely. ln exchange for the comedy sent to the Jayhawk hilltop, University of Kansas players, April 5, presented in our Auditorium ul-loliday,', a play in three acts by Phillip Barry. . . The plot revolved around a mild triangle consisting of two sisters in a wealthy and socially significant family, and a very nice young man. Martha Alice l-lorner who played the young man's slightly disdainful fiancee, Reola Durand as her vivacious sister, and Conrad Voell4er, as the young man himself, showed excellent acting ability, but the characters of the Potters, good- natured but slightly slap-happy friends of the sisters, and ulNled Setonf, nonchalant brother, proved to be real scene snatchers. Drawing a most successful dramatic season to a close, the University players appeared in Death lakes a l-loliday,H April T8-QO. . . Based on the idea that Death comes to earth for three days during which time he suspends all activities, the lead role of Prince Sirldi' or 'Deathn was played by the capable actor Gene Setzer. Miss Gray again appeared in the leading feminine role as HGrazia, Deathfs earthly sweetheart, and exhibited an abundance of stage presence and poise. As the slender, blase uAlda,', Miss Myers gave an excel- lent performance as did Beth l-lattan as the sweet and fair Hprincessf' With these exceptionally fine student productions, professor Wilmer again proved to Wichita audiences his outstanding ability not only as a director of others, but also as an actor. l-lelping to malce the plays the successes they were, was slcilled Stage Manager Eugene Spangler, and his student assistants.