The Coconino sun., 1927-03-11
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HIGH SCHOOL NOTES

presented "The Merchant Of Venice''
| Friday evening. The young people
| appearing in the play, as we'll as the
| other members of the school, were
| greatly benefited through their study
and Interpretation of this play.
| Shakespeare, whose very name com
notes the highest in literature and
drama, deserves study.
Shakespearean drama presents
problems in staging not encountered
| in the usual modern play. The Mer-
chant of Venice, in five acts, is divided
into q total of fourteen scenes. The
scenes followed each other in rapid
succession, made possible by the adj
dition of d new curtain to the already
quite adequate stage equipment at the
| school. The street scenes were shown
before this curtain, while the exterior
and interior scenes We're built-up sets.
The fact that the whole play was run
Through in two and half hours, and
that without ruinous cutting, goes to
show that the stage mechanics were
carefully planned and executed. Many
of the stage effects were indeed ex-
cellent. The scene where Lorenzo
| margaret Matson) elopes with Jes-
| sica (Weltha Beardl, showing the ex-
terror of Shylock's house and lighted
to indicate evening, was beautifully
made, and Lorenzo's serenade, beau
tiful song, rendered in this setting
was worthy of the praise of the most
exacting critic. The casket scene pre-
sented Portals home in the more for
NAL aspect of its beauty, and two
small pages, whose duty it was to part
the curtains and present the caskets,
deserve credit for their carefully exe-
cuted parts. The court scene, which
marks the climax of the play, was
properly accented. One could readily
sense the formality and gravity of the
situation.
The matter of costumes might dis
suade one from attempting Shake
spearean drama. However, after one
glimpse of the stage Friday evening
no one worried about the limitations
of the wardrobe division. All of the
costumes were either prepared by the
actors themselves, or made up at the
school. The vari-colored costumes of
the men, tights, with doublet, cape
and feathered hat, and for the wom-
en-, long skirts, high wasted, with
modesty the apparent motif, illustrat-
ed the decided change in styles since
the sixteenth century, contrast not
altogether unfavorable to the earlier
era. Certainly the men Of that period
were romantic figures, at least while
young and slim. The high school
BOYS showed favorably, which was
fortunate, as there were fifteen boys
and but three girls parts in the play.
Two girls played boys parts, how
ever.
The part of Shylock is undoubtedly
the most difficult that has fallen to a
high school player here This was
creditably done by David Slipher.
Shylock has many long and difficult
speeches which were negotiated by
Mr.. Slipher without difficulty. In
common with several of the other
youthful players, there was some
hesitation, and one could discover
some little Interpolation, but there
can be none but praise for the youth
who played Shylock in his high school
sophomore year. Portia, considered
by many to be the most beautiful
woman character in Shakespeare
writings, was played by Ann Jake.
Miss Jake is actually much better.
actress than one has right to expect
to find in high school, Her remark.
able poise and stage presence, coupled
with her fine voice in speaking the
beautiful lines assigned to her and
seemingly memorized to perfection,
was electrifying. She had the center
whenever she wanted it. AS her.
waiting-maid, Mary Jane Raudebaugh
was enfirpIv satisfying
Bassanio, played by Lawrence Corr
bett, must be mentioned early in COM
mendation. The part is long and diff.
ficult from a memory point of view
not to mention the tortuous path of al
youth who plays the part Of lover
among his fellows. Mr.. Corbett, be-
cause Of his natural ease of manner,
missed the pitfalls. The clown to be
found in all Of Shakespeare's come
dies, was Launcelot, played by Mil
dred Matson. She added the reliev-
ing light touch throughout the play.
Arthur Schwab, as Old Gobbo, gave,
perhaps, the most finished character
performance of the evening. As such
an old part could not be type-cast in
such a young group, we must conclude
that Mr.. Schwab has considerable
ability, Antonio, the merchant, was
creditably played by Harold Burman.
Gratiano was John Thomas; Duke of
Venice, Stuart Anderson; Salerino,
William Narrower; Solanio, Oran Cor
bett; Prince of Morocco, Harry Bross;
Tubal, Winfield Beard; Balthazar,
John jake; Stephano, Loren Dickin-
son.
The directors Of the play were j.
p. McVey and Eunice Jones, both
members of the high school faculty. |
To large degree, the success of the
undertaking may be credited to these
people.
During the intervals between the
acts the audience was entertained byl
the girls glee club, Miss Selma Aas,
director; Miss Pauline Bigham, Misses
Vivette Wilson, Harriet Bushnell, |
Catherine McNamaar, and the high
school orchestra, R. F. Johnson, Dir |
rector.
Al dinner is to be served next Tues
day night at 6:45 o'clock by the Py-
THAN Sisters in honor of the KNIGHTS /