The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1922-04-06
OPERETTA GIVEN
BY HIGH SCHOOL

BY HIGH SCHOOL
More Students Have Special Parts
than in the Play Given Last
GIVE PLEASING PERFORMANCE
Experienced Singers Appear in the
Leading Roles
After a series of delays and dis
couragements the high school oper-
eta, the Nautical Knot" was pre-
sented last Friday evening in accord
ance with the announcements made
shortly before that date. In spite of
all the obstacles that had piled up,
the warblers steam-rollered their way
through to successful performance.
One feature of the operetta this
year was the fact that more of the
high school students had special parts
than in that of last. The most diff
cult solo numbers and the leading
character parts were taken by more
experienced singers, but at least nine
of the student members of the cast
had roles that called for more or less
individual ability as actors or song
sters. Peydon Guy, Bert Hazel and
Kenneth Smith as natty young sailor
lads won a lot of applause that was
well deserved not only by reason of
their snappy appearance, but also of
their rollicking songs of the sea and
their portrayal of the characters they
represented. OF course, they could
hardly have done less with such dan
gerous rivals for their laurels and
their ladies' affections as the three
dashing artists, Loren Davidson, Rod
erick Liddell and Arthur Ugelstad, to
say nothing Of the inspiration furnish
ed by the three fair maidens, Margaret
Brennan, Anne Crichton and lone Rob-
erts.!s These latter deserve special
mention for the way they carried off
their parts, if we only knew just what
to say and how to say it.
What was probably the outstanding
feature Of the evening, to those who
knew the circumstances, was the fin
ished performance Of Mrs. Savold in
the leading character, Julia. Frances
Nepstad, as victim Of the circum-
stance Of being a member of the pub
lie school faculty, was originally cast
for this part. She had learned her
songs and lines with her usual prof.
cheney, when less than q week before
the date Of the performance the sad
certainty became evident that the con-
ditions Of her throat brought about
by an attack Of tonsilitis would make
it impossible for her to go through
with, Il. After the weeks of work al
ready put on the operetta, and the
postponement caused by the "flu," this
was sickening disappointment not
only 70 her, but also to the other sing
ers. But with only few days in
which, to learn the part, Mrs. Savold
not only attempted but accomplished
the seemingly impossible. No one not
familiar with the circumstances would
have suspected that she had not been
working on the part for weeks. so
ably did she take it.
Glenn Dill as the conceited and ro-
mantle artist Barnabas, Arne Melby
as the stalwart but bashful seaman
Joe, Ruth De La Hunt as the gentle
and sorrowing Nance, and ]. C. Gould
as the well-meaning but withal bung-
ling old tar Bill Salt, the other prin-
cipal characters Of the entertainment.
took their parts with the effectiveness
that is always expected Of them.
The choruses showed marked i'm
provement over the choral numbers of
the similar program a year ago, re-
suit Of a second year of regular music
instruction as part of the high school
course. The boys in the chorus sang
several numbers for male voices which
received lot of commendation.
These annual operettas are present
ed as part Of the high school course
in music, for the sake Of the training
they provide the students Of this de-
partment. Thus the financial end is
secondary consideration. But the
money returns this year were most
gratifying to those in charge, especial
ly in consideration Of the exceedingly
brief time in which the final date Of
presentation could be advertised. The
receipts totalled over $4,000. The
expenses in connection with staging
an operetta are always heavy, the
music scores for the "Nautical Knot"
costing about $500. Added to- this
was hall rent, printing and advertis-
ing expense, costume rental, makeup
material cost, chair rental charges and
incidental expenditures which brought
the expenses up to total Of approx
imately 500. The balance Of slight
y over 5000 has been applied on the
debt on the music department minia-
ture piano.
The graduating class Of last spring
had fund Of about 5000 for a gift to
the school. The need for little piano
that could be easily moved back and
forth where it was wanted was 50
great that the school authorities re-
commended to the class that their Gift