Evening star., 1941-04-03


The vernal production need not
be play, in fact, to attract sizable
group of would be stars" at tryout
time. It may be a musical variety
show, such as "Swingtime Revue"
being presented by cast of $50 at
8 o'clock tonight and tomorrow night
in Mckinley High School. No mat
ter what the form of make-believe,
the teachers who serve as directors
and stage managers are certain to
be besieged by boys and girls who
want to act. sing, paint scenery or
work the lighting systems-either as
the first step toward a career or
just for fun.
Students Must Sacrifice.
A sincere interest in things the
atrical is a prerequisite. for the
spring show is an extracurricular
activity, and participants must sac
rifice outdoor pursuits for many aft
ernoons to remain several hours
after classes for rehearsals.
Western High School offered MY
Friend From India" last week: An
acostia High School will offer a
variety show, May Daze." May Is
and Is, and Calvin Coolidge High
School will present three "one-
acters"-one by the faculty, one by
students and one by parents-May
% and %.
Every afternoon is different when
spring play is being worked into
shape There are laughs and mo-
ments of acute aggravation. as well
as heckling from the cronies of
fall football hero who has turned
TO the drama with the coming of
mild weather A typical rehearsal
was in progress a few days ago on
the stage of the auditorium in
Roosevelt High School. where
"Trelawney of the Wells" will con-
clude tWo-night run tonight.
General Is Insulted.
Give look at the bellhop!"
The exclamation followed en-
trance of a tall youth who sported
a scarlet uniform Jacket and pill
box" cap with chin strap. 1t de-
veloped he was cast as a general
and was wearing what customer
assured him was the approved habit
| for a general in play.
''Ali I know is the man gave me
this; I figured he knew more about
it than I did," was his reply to a
chorus of laughter and jibes.
A teacher told him firmly the cap
was not called for in that production
and it was discarded.
Il can't find my hoops" walled
a pretty girl as/she looked ruefully
at her billowing skirts and then at
/ the other feminine members of the
cast. DO you have my hoops?"
she asked the leading lady. who de-
clared firmly she had the hoops
duly assigned to her and intended
to keep them.
Clutching her hoopless hoop
skirt, the worried young actress
wandered about the stage, not at
all set at ease by report there
were plenty of hoops downstairs
in a box"
During this, the department-in-
charge-of thunder was busy with
important experiments in the
wings.
"By itself, that would be terrible,
but we do have the bass drum.
said directing teacher as a men,
ber of the stage crew regarded her
questioningly while he ratified a
metal sheet. At this point, the
asbestos curtain began to go up,
prompting shrieks from idle theS-
plans who had been leaning against
it. The department. n-charge-of
thunder went doggedly about its
work, oblivious to passage of a girl
who strolled about reading her lines
aloud
There Are Also AcrObats.
The same day dress rehearsal
of the Mckinley High School revue
was being held and a visitor to the
auditorium stage would have found
youthful acrobats tumbling about
between pieces of scenery and
throwing each other through the
air, while in the orchestra pit a
young conductor was sitting on a
rail and shouting:
When 1 say "Cut!" you cut, and
you gotta be ready, because I may
cut va any time. It's an acrobat
act"
The musicians appeared impressed
and, at a signal from the boy in
shirtsleeves on the pit rail, begar
playing. They played until the
leader "cut" them, as the spirit
moved.
l Youths Ia oveYlls. lettersd Tech