Evening star., 1921-03-29

ment administered by Prof. Montgom-
cry Gregory Of the Howard faculty
and the gripping story of the progress
of human fears. with it's tragic ending,
made the entire production one not
soon to be forgotten by those who
saw It,
The scenery. simple yet infinitely ef-
fective. aided by perfect lighting. was
designed and constructed by the stu
dents themselves under the direction of
Cleon Throckmorton. technical director
of the Provncetown Players. who made
rrequent trips here in the interest of the
play. The costumes were the work of
the young women of the same depart
ment, supervised by Miss Sue Gossin
and Miss Evelyn Lightner The Howard
nIv"rsty Orchestra gave the musical
program.
An "EmperOr'a" Experience.
When Emperor Jones' starts on the
light to escape his quondam subjects:
who have thrown off their negligible
veneer of civilization, have fiocked to
he incanta ton place in the forest and
started the huge ceremonial drum. whose
throbbing note is thereafter until the
md a constant undercurrent OF SOUND.
he is successful and self-confident. He
is ready to jest alike at the difficulties
of the trip and the abilities and spirit
of the vindictive blacks whom he has
exploited since his arrival on the island,
an escaped convict frcm the United
States. In his journey through the
-eile tropical night the mental and
spiritual assets which had made him
infinitely their superior are discarded
Due by one just as the gold-IncruSted
coat and the patent leather boots are
shed.
Through scenes re-enacting mem
cries of his own crimes and, delving
iurther into the past, showing the
81 rot
finally, the lair of the crocodile god
with it's attendant kongo witch doc
or. the flying tyrant dispels the sue
ceSSive halluclnatlonS with the Dul-
lets he had intended for his foes. In
final despair, the last one of all. the
silver bullet intended for himself in
final emergency is expended. That
bullet, his ti>isman, embodieS the
mental superiority which had held the
superstitious blacks in check. Its
waste symbolizes the dissipation Of
the attitude that had made him i'm
mune in the past. The climax comes
when the savages, utilizing the very
fetch which he had so convincingly
implanted in their sullen minds.
finally bring him to earth with
shower of silver bullets. nodded dur
ing the heather incantations earlier
in the night.
Students in the Cast.
hoWdro students IN tne cast were.
Eunice Matthews. Alston Burleigh.
Walter w. Goens. Harold Bledsoe.
Purvis ]. Chesson, Carl Garner. Rich
ard S. McGhee, John Erskine. John H.
Broadnax, Bernard WALTON. Marcelle
Brown, Martha Jones. Beatrice Walk
er. Arliner Young, Clyde Mobley.
Ethel Jones and Bernard Pryor. All
showed the results Of the perfect
drilling they had undergone in order
that Mr.. Gilpin. coming from New
York for this one special performance,
could carry on without a hitch.
An interesting feature was the gift
to the star of silver loving cup,
ers by George Brown, business man.
ager Of the dramatic association. Mr..
Gilpins tribute to the work accom-
plished here and Mr.. Browns speech
Of presentation were both, as to brew
ity and sentiment, models of their
kind. Mr.. Gilpin emphasized the fact
that his efforts are bent solely toward
demonstrating that a negro may be
an actor who. by his art. can appeal
to all, irrespective Of color and ire
spective Of the plot Of the vehicle in
which his talents are used. Actuated
by the same motive, the directors of
the colored players at Howard Uni
versity are trying to develop the dra-
matte talents OF their race, believing
that the negro has something to con-
tribute to the American drama, as he
has to American music. The ultimate
aim il to establish q negro theater.
Yesterdays performance marks a
long step toward this goal.
Emperor Jones" will be presented
again at the Belasco next Friday aft
ernoon, with George Williams in the
title role. Mr.. Williams has been the
understudy for this part in rehear-
sails, and those who have seen him
! speak in high terms of his abilities.