The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-07-08

on, the WnOIe 0chO0I rises nOblv tn
the occasion and donates any fur
-niture which may be needed from
any Of its rooms. This system ac-
counts for the beautiful period
chairs In the directors ONCE, which
is otherwise . barren and almost
impoverished room.
yes, I had to have some new
chairs" he explained 10 us when
we commented upon the unexpect-
ed magnificence Of these ONCE an.
purtensnces, so I thought I would
order some that would do for
set They're not quite as comfort
able for ONCE work, but they look
we'll In q yellow light" n
The round table in the next
room. about which. In accordance
with the tradition Of. the theatre,
new plays are read, Is also occa-
sionally removed and allowed to
occupy the middle Of the stage.
Both the stage settings and the cos
tunes for every play are planned
by the students. with the help and
supervision Of one Of the directors.
On the mezsanine floor Of the school
there is q large wardrobe filled
with singular and astonishing gar
mentA designed and laboriously
stitched together by embryo stars,
q few of whom have already start
cd their careers on Broadway.
The production record of the
school is amazing. During the last
five years in which it has been in
operation, it has given $50 public
performances of IS different plays.
Plays of all types are given. Old
and accepted plays are used good
deal because they furnish excellent
training which is not easily &C
Quired by the young actor in the
present-day theatre. Modern COM
edies and serious problem plays
are also produced. Several one
act plays are given each year. and
no season is complete without its
quota of new plays written by the
students themselves and produced
by the authors, with such assist
ance and supervision as may be
desired. Many interesting expert
ments are worked out in produc-
tons dealing with the newer stage
craft, with plastic or unit scenery
and the emphasis on lighting.
Fine Productions are Given.
In addition to the regular fac
ulty, the school is occasionally
honored by the attendance OF Wis
iting professors, usually eminent
producers, who give productions in
the school theatre with casts Of
players chosen from the student
body. Among such visitors have
been William Poel, director OF the
Elizabethan Stage society of Lon
don, who gave a production of Ben
Jonson's "Poetaster;" Donald Rob-
ertson, under whose direction the
students gave 1.-TWO Gentlemen OF
Verona" and "Tartuffe;" Francis
Powell, who produced THE School
for Scandal" and B. Iden Payne.
who has given many productions,
| including THE Rivals" Twelfth
Night" and John Galsworthys
THE Silver Box" for which Mr..
| Galsworthy himself was present
through the final rehearsals and
the first performance.
While the school theatre is not
operated on a commercial basis, it
is open to the public for finished
performances. and usually draws
capacity audiences. Often. more
over, these audiences contain we'll
known stars, who, in passing
through Pittsburgh. have been in
terested in seeing and appraising
the work done at the school.
I'VE are going to lose one of our
students as the result Of the visit
of one such star" said Mr.. Stevens,
the director, when the tour Of the
school had ended and we once more
stood in the white marble corridor.
HE has been engaged as juvenile
in a summer stock company. This
does not mean sudden fame, OF
course, but it means splendid train
ing. Here he is now"
A tall, athletic-looking young
man, with an admiring damsel
clinging to each arm, hove grace
fully into view.
mo, l can't pretend that I'm not
thrilled" he was saying enthusiast
tically. 81 would like to be blase
about 1t, but l can't. 1t means the
opportunity I've been waiting for
all my life"