Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-21
STUDENTS SCORE
IN CLASSIC PLAY
Rock Island High School Youths Give
Splendid Interpretation Of
Merchant Of Venice"
PUBLIC SHOWS APPRECIATION
Completeness Of Production Wins
Praise From Large Audiences
Various Roles Ably Acted.

THE Merchant Of Venice the
Shakespearean play that was present
ed at the local high school yesterday
afternoon and evening in commemora-
| ton of the terCentenary of the great
dramatist's death, April %, 1916, was
one of the most successful and GER
tainly the most unique Of the produc
tons given at the school, The total
attendance at both performances was
a record breaker. at least thousand
people witnessing the play. and it was
the unanimous decision of all present
that the performance was the best anna
teur presentation that they had ever
seen.
Everyone and everything about the
play came in for some sort of praise
from the audience. The scenery was
Of the best and the costumes were the
source Of much admiration. Moreover,
the neat way in which the characters
had been made up by Director W. H.
Garlough made the costumes very be-
coming to the cast. All the artificial
elements that entered into the play
were perfect.
In spite of these features It was,
after all, the cast that made the play
a success. Everyone, from the lead
ing roles down to the minor parts, did
credit to their positions and to their
training Each part was completely
mastered by its representative.
The part of the leading lady, Portia,
taken by Miss Dulce Seeley, came in
for especial praise from the audience.
She discharged her difficult part with
the greatest of credit. The other lead
ing role, that of Shylock, the Jewish
usurer, was also taken in most sue
cessful manner by Dwight La Grange.
By many he was picked as the best in
the play and it is certain that in man
ner and expression he could not have
been better.
Bassanio and Antonio, the two Vene
tan friends, were represented in a
most accomplished manner by Arthur
Dodson and Harry Lyford, respectively.
Both of these characters were big fac
tors in the success Of the play.
| The parts of Gratiano and Nerissa
were taken in an excellent manner by
! Vivian Thomas and Elizabeth Olmsted.
/ Both of these characters would have
| been hard to surpass in their roles.
The parts of Lorenzo and Jessica were
also favorites, these parts being taken
/ by Harold Wilson and Sarah 1even-
stein, respectively.
Clown Is Hit.
/ The comic part of the play was fur
nished by Launcelot Gobbo, the clown.
This part was taken by Richard Dopp
and he acted the part with complete
success. He made a decided hit with
the entire audience.
Chief credit for training the cast
must be given to Director W. H. Gar
low of Chicago, although Miss Jennie
B. Sturgeon of the school faculty also
gave valuable assistance In his abb
sence. The credit for managing the
scenery efficiently is due to Robert
| Ackley, stage manager, and to his as
sistant, George Adams Both of them
have been very faithful in their atten-
| tons to the play. The music for the
play was furnished by the school or
chestra and was greatly appreciated
| by those in attendance
The better part of the audience at
the matinee given at $50 was COM
posed of grade school children who
had been given a special admission
rate. In the evening a more diverse
| audience attended.