The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-04-13
STUDENTS SCORE
IN OPERETTA
SWEET-VOICED PLAYERS PLEASING
One Thousand See High School Boys and
Girls in COlOrfuI Musical
Performance

teur theatrical performance. except
perhaps those of some of the chautau
quas of few years ago, when loca
talent presented plays that were heard
several times, has ever been witnessed
by more people than 1.-THE Gypsy Ro-
ver," presented last Friday afternoon
and evening at the Rialto theatre.
The ovation given the boys and girls
of the high school was a tribute to
Mrs. c. II. Henney, who for a number
of years has been in charge of music
in the city schools. Some of the play
ers have been under training of Mrs.
Henney for several years.
Many superlatlve adjectives could be
used in a story about "The Gypsy Ro-
yer. :" 1t may be passed, however. by
saying that it was the best amateur
musical PEI lformance, considered from
all angles. ever presented here. The
singing of the students was remark
able, and a feature that may have
been overlooked by the audience in
general but which should be given a
prominence. when the play is coEsid-
cred, was the orchestra. This aggre-
cation, composed of high school stu
dents, accompanied the singers in the
Operetta with skill that was nothing
less than marvellous. These young
sters have not been practicing long.
Yet, when Mrs. Henney took her stand
before the big Rialto organ and gave
the word they played like veterans.
1.-THE Gyspy Rover" was colorful,
pleasing show. Miss Prudence Spight
made the most of the many opportunl
ties afforded her in the lead as Lady
Constance. When Miss Spight sings
hereafter Hood River people are going
to display an immediate interest. She
has a rich soprano voice, one of sweet
ness and volume. She was a real lead
ing lady.
All Hood River knows that Johnny
Carson is a good soldier and an athlete.
He proved himself Friday before the
fOotlights. While Mr.. Carson lacked
the scope of Miss Spight, his tenor
was sweet and appealing. He won APP
plause many times. There was an es-
pecial charm about the scene in which
he appeared with the gypsy children,
telling them fairy tales and singing
them songs aboutathe woodland sprtes.
The play developed scenes of laugh
provoking comedy. Paul SlettOn,
Morris Kinsey. Harold Dixon, Clifton
Emmel and Paul Pemberton made the
most of a number of scenes. Sletton
and Kinsey were lively in comedy ac-
tion and displayed talent in song.
Dixon, an English fop and the villain
of the play, acted his part so well that
the audience wouldn't have minded
much if the gypsies had manhandled
him. Emmel became a real English
gentleman. He mastered the language
and even wore head harness as well as
a one-eyed pair of specs. Young Penn
bertOn was the butler. He "buttled'
in true form.
Miss Marian Butler displayed a
pleasing soprano voice of greater pow
er than one would expect in a girl.
She played opposite Will Chapman, the
latter taking the part of an English
army officer. He has a baritone voice
and the two were good in duets.
Miss Opal Walker. whose voice is
contralto, took the part of Meg, foster
mother of the leading man. She was
in song and acting. Her
was good.
Miss Betty Staten, as Zara. possesses
a sweet soprano voice that has won
plaudtits from Hood River audiences
on former occasions. She was the
belle of the gypsy camp, and was
pleasing in her solos and in duets with
Morris Kinsey.
James johnson is another high school
boy who gains the bachelor of ugli-
ness class" 1t is not meant to infer
that young johnson is not good look
ing. In certain eastern colleges the
annually elect a bachelor of
lgliness. Before a man is eligible he
has to display ability as a student, an
athlete and general student body popu-
arity.
The chorus selections we're repeated
" encored from the overture to the
grand finale. Indeed, it was an after
noon and evening of much pleasure.
At the matinee performance the audi
snce was largely composed of school
rural classes having been dis !
missed, in order that the youngsters
might be present. They came, despite |
IF town and valley filled every seat. |
Business men and orchardists for a
few hours forgot interest. loss and |
profit, spray problems and fertilizers, !
and lost themselves with their hearts |
full of pride, watching their children
IN wholesome sport, their eyes asparkle |
with enthusiasm.
The high school orchestra includes
Roger woodward, Leonard Thomson. |
Boyd Cuddeford. Wendell Wing. Carl |
Hal Wittenberg. Russell
Seobee and Dorothy Davenport. Miss |
Sara Howes was accompanist. Walter |
Wells augmented the orchestra. Mrs. |
Edgar Franz directed the dancing |
numbers. The execution of difficult |
igures enhanced the show from an
artistic standpoint.
A number of little tots and small |
boys and girls played we'll their parts.
Especially appealing we're the young |
sters in their fairy dances and in a |
scene where they gathered around the
eading man and appealed to him for |
stories and songs. Youngsters paftici- |
Dating we're: Fairies-Henrietta Bra
.eau. Verlene Nickelsen. Ann Keller, |
June Taylor. Chiquita Winkler. Mar
yaret Turnbull, Margaret Smithson /
and Lois Russell. GYPSY children
Ruth Critics. Emma Howard. Lois 4
Peck, Edward Shoemaker, Ted Cudde-
ord and Bobby PerigO.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles n. Clarke su-
the make up Of the young /
players.