The Columbia evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-25
1000 ATTEND
STUDENTPLAY
AT THE HALL
Harlequin Players Display Re-
markable Talent in sBeau
Brummel' Pro-
duction.
JACK MOFFIT is STAR
Costumes and Scenery Give
Finishing Touch TO Play
Which Pleases the
Audience.

A new personality was introduced to
Columbia last night, when Besu Brummel
made his best bow.-and a very grand
one it was,-to an audience Of more than
1000 persons. The younger folk had
met him at the matinee performance,
which was exclusively for students Of the
Columbia and University High Schools.
Altogether. the production was by far
the most ambitious and the most credit
able one that has been attempted by an
amateur organization in Columbia. In
fact, the work Of the Harlequin Players
has been lifted out of the realm of anna
teur dramstics in the minds Of those who
met them last night. The audience was
keenly appreciative. Its receptive mood
must have been most satisfying TO the
players.
Technically, the production was a
hing to be proud of. There were prac-
iicaIly none Of those jars in the movement
Of the play which audiences have grown
accustomed to expect in all but profes
sional performances. Scenery and light
ing were well handled.
The opening scene, with the first ap-
pearance Of the Beau, created the mood
of the play, and cast spell over the au-
dience, from which they did not emerge
for some time after the final curtain. In
this scene, Nathan Ladinsky, as Mr.. Abra-
ham, did an effective bit of character act
ing. Kenneth Carter. as Mortimer, the
valet, was not quite at ease during the
first few minutes of the play, but regained
his poise as soon as he was relieved from
the difficult situation Of opening the
play all by himself.
JACK MoFFIT SCORES HIT
The Beau himself scored a triumph
from the very beginning. Jack Moait has
achieved finish and presence which
many an older actor might boast Of. His
Interpretation bespeaks sensitive tenn
permanent and arduous technical training.
His manner of taking snuff and Of putting
on his hat were a neyerfailing delight 10
;he audience.
Elizabeth Clauss, as Mrs. St. Aubyn,
the Woman of Fashion," made a strik-
ing picture, and was, altogether, a very
real person. Her voice was especially
pleasant.
The action OF scene two. in the Beau
reception room, was handled as well as
could be expected, considering the ex-
IRENE awkwardness of all eavesdropping
scenes, from Shakespeare down. The
scene in the Mall dragged somewhat, less
from the fault of the players than from
that Of the playwright himself. Clyde
Fitch is addicted to the wretched business
of promenades and 'asides,' in spite Of
the fact that they are the cast-of gar
ments of the drama.
The players surmounted these difficult
ties, however, in working up to powerful
climax, when the Beau makes his great
remuneration and stalks regally off-stage,
followed by the staggering bailiffs.
EMOTIONAL ACTING GOOD
The two remaining scenes gave to Jack
Moffit his great opportunity, and he made
the most Of it. He was by far a more ef-
feciive figure as the worn and tattered
Beau than as the Beau in all his glory.
Moffit carried off the pretense of perfect |
self-assurance and prosperity with superb
''eclate," as the Duchess Of bennington
would say, only 10 wiring the hearts of
his audience with that terrific sob at the |