The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-06-21
MRS. HOOVER
AT OUTDOOR
SPECTACLE

The First Lady nf the Land and
several thousand other citizens OF
the National Capital last night
witnessed one Of the most
delightful outdoor presentations
OF DIANA that the city has seen
for many a long day. The drama
was Sherwood" the ever-appeal-
Ing story of Robin Hood ana his
merrie men, as told in flowing
lyric verse by Alfred Moves. and
offered by the Community Drama
Guild, to its very great credit.
The scene was one OF rare lowell
ness - the picturesque outdoor
stage. masked in with tail trees.
the fun moon rising in a cloud
laden sky, and the tall white shaft
OF the Monument cleaning in the
BACKGROUND. The vast audience
covered the grassy hillsices-an
audience that followed the play
with q rapt attention that not
even the threatening storm could
distract, It was, moreover, an
audience such as is rarely seen AT
auy play. for 1t included grown
ups and children. boys and girls
In great mum bers, many OF whom
had attended all the rehearsais'
and who knew by heart the ro-
nance of England's famous out
law. Robert Hood.
As seen last night, 1t was a
colorfuE vivid presentation, ful!
>of the spirit OF forest life and
fairies. not unmixed with GER
tain beautiful symbolism as ex-
emplified largely in the character
of Shadow .of-R-Leaf, well played
by Anne Ives The fairy scenes
surely interpolated in this story
by EngIand's poet laureatel, were
lixhtsome and lovely, as offered
bv the Mckinley Dancers, with
Caroline Mckinley as Tftania,
Cricket Caukin as Puck, and
Clarke Beach as Oberon.
The Drama Guild members gave
a good account OF themselves,
each and every one, both singers
and players. the comedy being car.
ried by III. r.. Baukhage az F'riar
Tuck, and Clarence Reubsam as
Much, the miller's son, and the
villain by the wicked Queen
Elinor and Prince John. vice
gerent OF England. excellently
played by Grace Peters johnson
and Aaron Rosenthal.
There were the old Lord Fitz-
walter, played with Maurice Jar
Wis usual skill; the clustering
Sheriff OF Nottingham. by James
Otis Porter: Little John, by Mil
ton Norman.
Alan-a-Dale and BIondel, sung
with fine feeling by Robert David.
son and Esteban Cerdan. respec-
lively. There was Maid Marian.
played by 1.ahuna CLIFTON. and
last and best, there was Robin
Hood himself, who certainly held
the hearts of the junior portion
OF the audience in the hollow OF
HIS hand. And Robin was splen-
didly played by Frederick oechs-
ner, newcomer in washington.
with a charm and abandon that
was delightful throughout.
A word must be said as to the
music, written just for this YER
sion by Edward A. Mueller, and
full of beauty. The orchestra of
the Marine Band did 1t fun JUS
.tice, also the choral numbers as
sung by the Epiphany Church
choir were excellent. ANA in keep.
ing with the spirit OF the play.
Indeed. the whole performance.
directed by j, Minor DOrey. was
beautifully woven together. and
moved graciously from prolog to
epilog. without intermission. and
with a perfection rarely seen in
an amateur production OF such
large proportions and big cast OF
players.
washington may well look for
ward to the second season OF the
Community Drama Guild with
high homes for fits f,ItTrA