Imperial Valley press., 1927-12-10
HELP YOURSELF
GREATLY ENJOYED
BY BIG CROWD

BY Big CROWD
Playing to well filled house, the
first performance of the senior play,
Help Yourself.' took place last
night in the high school auditorium.
The program, which was decidedly
successful, will be repeated tonight,
with the curtain rising promptly at
$ p. NJ.
The high school orchestra, under
the direction of Miss Margaret Col
Inns, preceded the play with "Col-
lection of Old Fashioned Melodies,'
followed by other selections between
acts.
The orening scene is the veranda
of the Stag Horn Country Club in
the late afternoon Of summer day,
with the "Countess Hoefle,' Paul
inc Sharpe, Attorney Lansing
Donald Kennedy, and Winfred
Norton,' an actor, Scherel Walquis,
discussing the property of 80 Abigail
Fairweather,' Norma Young, which
has on il lake of mud with mys
terious medicinal qualities.
Unfortunately Abigail S fiance,
"Courtnev SUMNER young arch
itcct with high ambitions, played
by Billy Foss, does not approve of
Abagal's feminist idea of support
ing herself. and insists that she sell
the property. The Countess, really
mining expert nj disguise, well
comes the chance to buy the valu-
able lake. and under pretense of
desiring Il for a villa site, she keeps
its mineral qualities secret from the
others.
Complications arise when "Jack
Forrest,' the perpetual student,
Paul NaSh. meets Abagail's widowed
sister Fora2cllc. played by Evelyn
Pope. who insists that they become
engaged.
In the meantime Jack and Aba
gail have formed "A corporation to
, pvt the mud on the market, and
the Countess is trying to secure the
property without arousing suspicion.
The climax comes in the third act
when the mud is analvZcd and found
70 contain radium, the frame-up of
the Countess and Lansing is uncov-
cred, Florazelle unexpectedly clones
with Courtpay, and Jack and Aba
rail are left sole owners of the i'm
mcnselv successful Medicated Nun
cane Mud Corporation.
sta PLAYS Well
The ct9r role Of lack Forrest rs
,lavcd bv Paul Nash could not have
hoon irn~oved upor. rs inteyprH-
ta';on of the part, from the time the
.urtaio rises On the perpetual stu
lent force Of circumstances, until
10 throws away his glasces aud his
'.come anl launches on the trcmcn-
lows 'us'oass riroo~ e;tioa 18th ABB
. rail. ia the outst oNdiuC feature of
'hc rlav. II would be hard 70 decide
which be dacs better, the light conf
'dv cr the more serious parts.
Norma Young as Abigail Fair
'ceather lends youth, energy, fresh
rcss, AND eyubcrance to the role of
the Independent but charming fem
mist, who tries hard to be true to
the feminist doctrine. hut yet is
'Dh, so IKE woman!
The difficult part cf Countess
llofclc is PLAYED very well and clev-
crlv by Pauline sharpe. One min
! rtc she is the Countess, naughty and
disdainful. the next minute she leaps
into the bluff. business like mining
expert, interchanging the characters
very successfully.
ATTORNEY Lansing, colleague of the
Countess, is plavcd by Donald Ken
ncdy. who ably portravs the h. 4
tcrng, Cver-important lawyer. Biiiv
| Foss rs Courtnay Sumner, Jack s
! half brother, shows all the onthus.
assn and hopes of Young architect
still looking for his first big job.
He is indignant at ald rather asham-
81 of his fianccc IS independent IDEAS
and although he tries unsuccessfully
20 help her and his brother, it all
turNs ont for the best.
Winifrcd Norton. the actor, play
cd by Schcrcl Walquist, has the light
comedy part. and his amusing ac-
tlons. keep the audience in c1ntin-
t,al laughter. Lee Willoughbv as
Johnny, the keeper of the club, plays
tie part of the typical old retainer,
long in the service of the club, and
helps to solve many puzzling prob
| lens.
Unrcscrved credit is due to Mrs.
Thcma Upton Ray, senior class adj
visor, without whose tirclcss efforts
in coaching and scenery designing
the plav would not be the success
which it is. $. +. Allen deserves
much appreciation for the constru@-
ton of the scenery and the unusual
lighting effects. The unique pro-
grams, representing "A Jar of Medi