The Wrangell sentinel., 1922-04-20
High School Play Mary Jane's Pa
 A Great Success
Audience Is Delighted With Superb Acting by Our
 Own Boys and Girls

Never before in the history of school life in Wrangell has there been an af- fair of any kind that would rank with Mary James Pa," the High School play which was produced in the Redmen's hall on Saturday night. Every seat in the house was sold and standing room was at premium.
 The plot of the play was most clev- erly conceived. Hiram Perkins, d treakish young journalist, is unable to resist the wanderlust. He sets out to see the world, leaving his country newspaper and wife and babies be- hind. No one can account for his mysterious disappearance. For more than ten years the paper is published by Mrs. Perkins, who has a very try ing time of it, but in the exigences of her yicissitudes she reveals unusual strength of character, and the edito- rial columns of her paper. The Clar- ion, are more dreaded by corrupt politicians than all the opposition of the opposing political party. Finally Perkins comes home. He is so chang ed that only his wife recognizes him. She gives him job as cook, and in the end he is reinstated in his wife S affections.
 The cast was well selected and all of the characters were exceptionally we'll sustained
 John Coulter, as Hiram Perkins, was a wonderful success. The way he played the part of man of 40 was enough to make everyone for get that less than three years ago he was wearing knee pants.
 Miss Ruth Tucker, as Perkins wife, sustained the role of the leading lady in manner that would have done credit to a professional. This is no extravaganza of expression, but a simple statement of fact.
 Miss Helen Fletcher, as Lucille Perkins had the audience with her in the heartaches she was experi- encing while passing through that sometimes wearisome borderland from which childhood passes to wo- manhood.
 Miss Myrtle Jaynes, as Mary Jane Perkins, carried out the part of childish innocence most successfully.
 The villains part was well sustain- ed by Eugene Wheeler who took the part of Joel Skinner, corrupt poli- tician. He was made up to appear about 45 years of age, and his acting was good
 Elton Engstrom sustained well the part of Rome Preston, a clean candidate and an admirer of the widow Perkins"
 Homer Worden, as Eugene Meri- field, the type-setter, was one of the biggest successes of the cast. Had Miss Rees had a thousand young men to select from it is doubtful if she could have found another who would have been better suited to the part Miss Katherine Loftus, as Ivy Will COX created more merriment than any other character, unless it was Robert Edmunson, the printers devil. Fred Gunderson, as Barrett Sheri- dan. the actor lover, was on the love making job for all there was in it and of course won out in the end. The minor parts were well sus- tained by Miss Flora Wyatt as Miss Faxon; Neil Grant as John Whipple; Oliver Johnson as Line Watkins; AL fred Royalty as Star Skinner; Edward Loftus as Claude Whitcomb.
 The stage manager, Donald Sin clair Jr., discharged the duties of his position in highly satisfactory manner.
 1 Neil Grant being block off the old chip, was successful business manager.
 Too much praise cannot be given Miss Rees. the principal, under whose direction the play was produced.