The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1921-05-12
SENIORS PLAY
DRAWS CROWDS

UNAWOVnUWU
Net Proceeds of $4,000 Will He Used
for the Purchase Of Memorial
l for School
CAST ENTERTAINED BY COACH
Exchange Of Class Plays With Ellen
l dale is Called on
The senior class play, "Mary's Mil
lions," was presented as advertised,
on Friday and Saturday evenings. The
dress rehearsal on Friday afternoon
was witnessed by about 200 of the
school children, and to Judge by the
wild cheering that nearly raised the
roof after the final curtain, they en-
joyed it. Seats had been provided for
about 300, and both evenings the
house was nearly full.
In the first place, the play was we'll
chosen by the members Of the COM
mittee Of the senior class that had the
selection of the play in charge. The
plot was sufficiently complicated to be
very interesting, but not so complicat-
ed as to be confusing. There were
a lot Of laughs, but it was all good,
clean fun. In fact, it was real play,
and was we'll worth the royalty Of
$500 that the seniors had to pay the
author for each performance.
| The leading character in the play,
that Of Boggs, the village "consta-
bule," described in the bills ~ the
human fivver, because he could do
anything, was taken by Aubrey Og-
den. Whether because the part fitted
him so we'll, or because Of his hith-
erto unsupported dramatic ability, he
acted the part so we'll that one forgot
at times that it was only q play, and
not an exciting bit Of real life. =
| While there were no really minor
parts, probably the most important
character among the girls was Mary,
whose millions gave rise to the COM
plications Of the plot. Frances Free
mans natural charm added to the at
tractiveness Of the young heiress, and
she went through several rather diff
cult sentimental scenes in manner
worthy Of special notice, being neith-
er affected nor on the other hand
) mushy.
Christine Swanson gave evidence of
much heretofore latent ability along
the vamping line in the important and
difficult role Of the French countess.
AS Jimmie said about her in the play,
she had chain lightning slowed down
like the r. F. d.
II Mary Gordon also had hard part
to play in the character of the am
bilious aunt, endeavoring to marry
off her heiress niece to the Count De
4 Selles for his title. She had to be
affable to the count and countess, and
at the same time hold firmly in line
not only Mary, but her husband Ezra
and all the others.
Emma Walter, as Mrs. Nudge of
psychic powers, was, to use her own
oft-repeated expression, Wonderful,
simply wonderful" Ruby Ames, in
the part of Eudora, the hired girl, had
a chance to say some Of the "durndest
things" and say them in her own in
imitable way that brought down the
house. Mabel Benzel, as the village
|schoolma'am, wept many tears, and
incidentally proved herself to be as
wise as the proverbial serpent while
appearing to be as harmless as the
just as proverbial dove, finally captur-
ing the man of her choice.
Erling Anderson, playing one of the
most far-fetched character parts in
the play as the Count De Selles, was
one Of the screams of the play. His
appearance and manner as we'll as his
speech were so in keeping with his
part that it required only his entry
upon the stage to start the audience
laughing.
George Fordyce acted the part Of
Uncle Ezra, the village storekeeper
and postmaster, in a way that was al
most uncannily natural and lifelike.
The manner in which he would peer
over his specs was alone worth the
price of admission.
u Warren Ferber as Jimmie, the
young stock salesman and all-around
ladies' man, and Bert Hazel, taking
the part of Jack, the young surveyor
who finally beat out the count in win
ming Mary's hand, both proved that
in dramatic ability they could be rank
ed as seniors, even if their scholastic
classification is somewhat less ad-
lvanced.
i The high school orchestra provided
music in it's usual harmonious way be-
fore and after the play and during
intermissions. Between the second
and third act special musical num-
Der was presented by Evelyn Kahl,
Lois McPhail, lone Roberts, Blanche
Roney, Peydon Guy, Marion Freeman,
Maurice Nepstad, and Clark Smith.
They were forced to respond to sew.
eral encores.
u A report Of the play would be in
Icomplete without mention Of the vii
lage choir, trained by Boggs. With
whip for baton, he could start them
,V- Al -sAN