Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-04-18
The Coburn PLAYERS.

The time is drawing near when def
mite, detailed plans for The open-air plays
by the Coburn Players on the old college
campus are being made. After much
discussion, and the exchange of several
letters with the company, it has been
decided to offer GAS You Like It TOR the
matinee and the Canterbury Pilgrims"
for the night performance. Shakespeare's
GAS You Like 1t" is the most nearly ideal
for outdoor performance of all the great
dramatists works. Anyone who sees
his first open-air play in GAS You Like
IT. may be sure OF happy introduction
to this very pleasing form of presenting
the poetic drama.
For the past seven or eight years the
Cobun Players have devoted themselves
to the Interpretation ofthe classics. With
them, 'the plays the thing" hence they
give their productions out of doors where
the scenic artist is nature herself, where
the "drops" are trees that really grow,
the arras, actual shrubbery, and the stage,
the grass. With the sordid world shut out
by the high tent wall of canvas which
the company carries, it is not hard for
the audience to imagine themselves in
the Forest OF Arden where Orlando may
attach his love missives to the living trees,
and Rosalind approach one, not from
somewhere cup stage" but through the
swapping bushes.
One OF the most charming features in
the Coburn's Shakespearian comedy pro-
auctions is the introduction OF the in
cidental songs. After a great deal OF
research, Mr.. Coburn has secured music
for these songs that seems authentic and
decidedly Elizabethan in style. There is
no orchestra, for there was none when
the plays were first given al the old Globe
Theatre, but the music is sung by quar-
tet of mems voices. Away in the shrub
berry, where the men are hidden from
view, rise and fall the quaint, appealing
old tunes, lending sylvan atmosphere
to the productions.
"The Canterbury Pilgrims" Percy
Mackaye's poetic comedy, has left trail
of laughter in its wake wherever it has
been produced throughout the country.
The characters are from the immortal
Canterbury Tales of Chaucer, with Chau-
Ger himself as the chief mover in the plot.
The breezy personages of the story are
seen first in the courtyard OF the Tab
ard Inn at Southwark, near London.
Here they have gathered fortheir journey
to Canterbury TO the tomb of Thomas
a. Beckett. Later we see them in the
garden OF the One Ninepin Inn at the
little hamlet OF Bob up and down.
Though Mr.. Mackaye has moderniZed
the language, he has done il SO Sklfully
as TO retain>ail the charm of the Old Eng
lish. Aooutthe members of this strangely
assorted band he has woven a series OF
diverting incidents that might reasonably
have betallen them as they logged along
Canterburyward.
One need not be a Chaucer scholar,
indeed, it is not even essential that he
know such man ever existed as good
Don Chaucer, in order to appreciate this
irresistible bit OF comedy. Everyone
who ever sees it leaves the performance
loyal devotee of the whole merry party,
for who could help loving the ProreSS,
devout yet charmingly coy, the brave
Knight and his handsome son, the Squire,
the lisping Friar, who cleverly adapts
himself to his companions and surround
ings, the merry, misunderstanding wife OF
Bath and her army of Suitors, the Pal
doner, the Summoner, the staggering
Host, Harry Baily and good Don Chau-
Ger himself, the gayeSt spirit OF them all ?
Although May 10th seems long time
off, SO many have inquired concerning
prices that it seems just as. well to state
the rates the company are allowing. To
citizens Sl.OO for one performance or
ST. so for both. To students and men,
bers of the Graded School, also pupils
and teachers Of the nearby schools, Is
cents for one performance and 81 90 for
both.