The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-23
CHINESE 0PtRETTA TO
Be PRESENTED N MAY.
Large Cast Of Principals and Big
Chorus Rehcarsing Score and
IAbrctfo OF s.Iittlc
Auburn Eyes,
HAVE ORIGINAL COSTUMES
Department of Domestic Science Toll
ing Faithfully Making Dresses and
Frills For PIaycrs-Art Department
OF High School Painting the
Scenery.

Rivahng in pretentiousness the pro-
dRction of "A Nautical Knot the
op,retta which proved such tremen-
dous success when presented by pu-
pills OF John Marshall High school
four times last year. will be the OPP
eretta, Little Auburn Eyes" sched-
uled to be given in the auditorium
of the high school on May 8. Wal
ter c. Mercer. superintendent Of mu-
steal instruction in Richmond's pub
lie schools and choral director at the
high school. Is rehearsing a cast Of
twenty principals and a chorus of
forty boys and girls for the produc-
ton.
Little Auburn Eyes Is a charm
ing operetta. involving interesting
situations arising around petite
Chinese maiden, from whom is taken
the title for the play. While the
libretto is one OF simplicity itself,
in It are some romantic lines, some
comic and some slightly tragic. How
ever. with expert training, under di-
recton Of Miss Ray Van Wort, head
OF the English department Of the
school. the principals are not having
much difficulty IN mastering their lines.
pleasant and of the lingering variety
and has an Oriental flavor that makes
itself instantly apparent. Director
Mercer realizes that some trouble may
arise in accomplishing the acme of
perfection in the delivery OF the solos
and choruses. and he is strainlng his
ability to the utmost in an effort to
achieve satisfactory results.
Products of High School.
In keeping with every theatrical
production given within the last two
years, everything used in the presen-
tation will be essentially product OF
the school itself. The task of CO.'S
tuning the principals and chorus has
been placed in the hands Of the do
mestic science classes, and. under the
supervision of Miss Hazel NJ Gala
CHER. the girls are working faithfully
to get the necessary dresses and
frllls ready in time for the first per-
Torrance. The department is not en-
tIrely unfamiliar with the work, as ii
provided some Of the costumes for
"A Nautical Knot" and also for LAS
You Like It." the Shakespearean Of
fering given by students of the school
last April for the shakespearean fes-
tival held at Westhampton.
All of the scenery to be used in the
production will be constructed by boys
Of the manual arts classes and will
be painted by girls OF the advanced
art classes of the school. The scenery
used in "A Nautical Knot" LAS You
Like IT, and "Zaraqueta" was the re-
suit OF the work of these two branches
of the schools curriculum, and not
only was it far above criticism. but
brought forth hearty commentator
When "A Nautical Knot" was pre-
scented by high school students last
year, popular demand called for its
repetition three times. 1t was acted
before the teachers and superinten-
dents of Virginia schools on Novem-
Der "a as an illustration of what re-
suits can be obtained in histriontc
art in the public schools The pre-
sentation proved to be the biggest
feature of the convention.
1t Is understood that proceeds from
the operetta will be divided between
the students loan fund and the Ii
brary fund OF the school.
Portland, Ore, April 2I.-F'rank r.
Kenney, of this city, has invented a
new type of torpedo, designed to
travel in the air or through the water
He is declared to have received an
offer for the device from the English
government but refused 1t to give II
to the United States government.
Tests OF the torpedo have been
made at Pacific coast naval stations
1t is declared that when tested, the
tOrDedO frny-eIin~ x~,oro 49,,