The Delta independent., 1907-05-17
HIGH SCHOOL PLAY
A BIG SUCCESS
"Merchant Of Venice Up.to.Date'
Presented to Large Audience
Last Friday Night.
PLAY WAS WELL RENDERED
Proceeds Go to High School Athletic
Association, and Were tncourag-
ingty Large.

The Delta high school presented the
Merchant of Venice Up-to-D date" at
the opera house last Friday night to an
audience which almost filled the house
physically. and which completely filled
it with appreciation and enthusiasm.
The appreciation was well deserved and
the enthusiasm was spontaneous and
irrcpressible.
The play is said to have been one of
the best given in the Delta opera house
during the past year. Certain it is that
all who saw it were well pleased.
The play WAS under the management
of Principal Andrews. and reflected
credit upon the training given the par
ticipants. Recognition must also be
accorded to the histrionic talent pos
scssed by the young people. without
which training would have been useless.
The High School Athletic Association
was back of the play. and paid all bills
and received the proceeds. The boys
handled the business of the event with
commendable ability. and looked after
every detail. The patronage WAS SO
liberal that the association was enabled
to pay of its indebtedness and place a
neat sum in the bank As a starter on
next falls foot ball season. They are
naturally clated over this result.
The play follows the lines Of Shakes
pcarc's original comedy. but is brought
up to date and arranged to suit present
day high school conditions. Bassanio is
q suitor for the hand Of Portia, but in
order 10 win her he must pass one Of
thrus examinations. This be can not
- vielIsuk. = -sApy.s, sse-kssWing-
anything about Latin n-he was "nerety,
In the class" Shylock is the only
person who has pony and to secure it.
Antonio. captain of the high school
football team, pledges q pound Of his
hair. to be cut from his head nearest
his brain" With the aid of the pony
Bassanio passes the examination and
wins Portia, but forgets to return the
pony"
In the meantime Antonio carries off
Jcssica, whom Shylock himself desired
to wed. and hence there is added to
Shylock's $ legal claim to the PONY" his
hatred Of Antonio. and he plans to wait
until the Thanksgiving football game.
when he will have Antonio shorn of his
locks and thus deprive him Of his
ability to play football and cause his
defeat and humiliation.
This he does, and at the trial Portia
proves to be the shrewd lawyer who
demands expert Testimony as to the cx-
act location of Antonio's brain. with
the result that German professor
takes an X-ray photograph and de-
clarcs that he has no brain-"a mere
player Of football"
The cast of characters was as follows:
CAST OF CHARACTERS
The Duke of Venice. ...... Cell Burson
Antonio, a senior, captain of high
school football team. Robert Wilcox
Bassanio, his friend. and suitor to
Portia. a........... Chester Harding
Gratiano. another friend. Lester Shock
Shylock, n wealthy gambler 49,.
Harry Hayward
Tubal, his friend and captain of Bel.
mont football team. Herbert Dale
Launcelot Gobbo, a servant to Shy
lock k................ Frank Bowden
The Professor. ........ Edward Jacobs
The Policeman an.......,.. Eldon Hauser
Portia, Il rich heiress. Mildred Harding
Ncrissa, her friend ... Hazel Musser
Jcssica, Shylock's ward. ..........
Bertha Mundry
Abbic s. Threedice, a teacher 49,.
Jeanette Arnold
Polly, Portals maid
Antonio's mother Agnes English
Mrs. Gobbo
Foot Ball Players 80, High School boys
All of the parts were well taken, the
principals doing especially well.
Frank Bowden, as Launcelot Gobbo,
was fine as fun maker. He and the
audience were certainly en- rapport.
When he grinned. they smiled; when
they smiled, he grinned; and when he
really got into action, they exploded.
The scene where he carries Off the
bundles and band boxes of the cloping
Jcssica brought down the house.
The scene where Bassanio takes the
examination was one of the best of the
evening. 1t produced almost continu-
GUS laughter. Bassanio certainly used
the pony" while he had II.