The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1908-06-04
SHYLOCk STALKS
COLLEGE STAGE
INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE AND coll
LEGE SENIORS PRESENT 1.-THE
MERCHANT OF VENICE BE-
FORE LARGE AUDIENCE.
Performance Was Part of Commence
ment Exercises Incidental 70
Close OF Session, Which Are
Now in Progress.

dental to the close of the twenty
third session of the Industrial Insti-
tute and College were inaugurated
last Thursday night, when Miss Bes-
sic Mabry gave her senior voice and
piano recital Miss Mabry graduates
from the music department of the
college this year, and her perform
ance Thursday night clearly evinced
the fact that she richly deserves the
diploma which she is receive when
the graduating exercises take place
Monday morning. Both the instru-
mental ana vocal numbers on a diff
cult program We're delightfully."- rem
dered, and she acquitted herself in a
manner which entities her to an ex-
alted position in the rank of talented
and accomplished musicians.
On Friday night the members of
the senior class presented THE Mer-
chant Of Venice" and the perform
ance was a revelation. THE Mer-
chant of Venice" is rather an ambi-
tious undertaking for amateurs. as
the play contains at least two char
acters which are exceedingly difficult
of portrayal. Even the veteran actor
will think twice before attempting
Shylock, while Portia has poven TO
be a stumbling block in the path of
many an experienced and highly ac-
complished leading lady. The young
ladies of the Industrial Institute and
College, however, have a knack of
making a success of every venture
which they undertake, and if any man
or woman in the large audience
which was present Friday night ex-
pected to witness an inferior or even
a conventional presentation of the
play, he or she, as the case might be,
was agreeably disappointed. Had
the play been given in a puerile and
listless manner it would have been
very easy to have passed it up with
the stereotyped statement that .aH
the young ladies acquitted them
selves in a credjtabIe manner, but
the high character of the perform
ance entities it to more dignified crit
fcism.
shylock, as has already been
stated, is character which taxes the
powers OF a capable male performer,
but Miss Ruby Caulfeld, who essayed
the role Friday night, portrayed the
character of the Jew not only intelli-
gently but forcefully and effectively.
The heavy beard which Shylock
wears naturally impairs the reso-
nance of the voice, but notwithstand-
ing this fact Miss Caulheld's enun-
citation was clear and distinct, her
every word having been ineligible
even in the most remote corners of
the large auditorium. Her gestures
were we'll timed and effective, and |
her work throughout realized the
purpose of the dramatist, which was
to emphasize and even magnify the
avarice Of the Jew.
Miss Vivien McQuiston appeared as
Portia, and handled acceptably a |
most exacting role. Her best work |
was in the famous trial scene, when
she seemed to fully realize the capa- |
bilities of the part. In order to por-
tray any role successfully the artist /
must for the nonce discard personal |
identity and become the living expo /
nent of creature existing only in
the brain of the dramatist and Miss
McQuiston in part accomplished this.
She read her lines with much feeling. /
and in giving to Shylock his ultima
tum when her decision regarding the
pound of flesh was rendered, her
work was marked by unusual po-
tency.
As Gratiano Miss Mary Barry Rog-
ers is exceedingly pretty, and her
every movement is the perfection of
grace. She was at all times vivacfous
and full of life, and her clever act
ing brought into prominence what is
generally recognized as a rather OBJ
scure part.
Miss Louise Holmes appeared as
Antonio, and was one of the hand
soonest figures on the stage. The
Launcelot of Miss Edna Duncan was
amusing, while Miss Mabel Jackson
as Nerissa and Miss Alice West as
Jessica gave clever portrayals of the
roles assigned them.
The play was produced under the
direction of Miss Sara Anderson and
the music was furnished by the coll
lege orchestra. The scenery was fur