Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1942-01-22
The
What Not Shelf

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Ten members of the Smyrna Lit
tie Theatre were thrilled last week
to see the Wilmington Drama
Leagues production of Shake
peare's Twelfth Night" The act
ing, the costumes, the set-in fact
every phase of the production was
unquestionably superb. The good
directing of Gladys and Willie
Frank was evident by the smooth
ness and efficiency with which the
play ran. Not only that, but this
uproarious comedy was especially
adapted by the clever Franks
What impressed us the most,
however, was the steadfast cour-
age of one of the actors = one
Legs" Mulderic, alias Raymond
Elmer Cornelius! 1t takes a lot of
nerve for anyone with legs like
lamp posts to don long pink tights
and appear on brightly lighted
stage before 400 people! Moe"
should reverently thank his lucky
stars that nice, loose-ftting trous-
ers were invented before his day!
Anyhoo, Legs" gave swell in
depreciation of the silly-witted Sir
Andrew. Maybe the long blonde
wig helped. And Willie Frank,
padded to three times his size, (well
maybe two times) nearly brought
the house down with his antics and
rotundness. Only the voice was
Willie. The rest was Sir Toby, the
rogue. AS a matter of fact, we
went backstoge before the play be-
gan, and stood talking with friends
for five minutes before we realized
that the fat old thing with red hair
that we had been looking at was
Willie. 1t was good thing we
recognized him just then, for just
at that moment, he spotted us, and
waddling over, stretched forth a
pudgy arm, tweeked our cheek, and
doomed" Aha, me comedy wench >"
- =
During the intermission of the
Sunday afternoon New York Phil
harmonic broadcast, Mr.. Deems
Taylor spoke on the Importance of
continuing creative work during
time of war. The creation of mu-
sic and art and drama and litera-
ture, he said, is more important
than ever in times like these, and
that the artist is doing as much, if
not more, for the defense of his
country as he would be doing in
some other form of defense work.
He warned artists of any kind not
to drop everything because they
feel guilty about doing something
that has no apparent connection
with helping this country through
a war.
1t would seem that Mr.. Taylors
good council could be carried even
farther. Until acute emergency
occurs, everyone, first of all, should
lend all the service he can to aid
defense-but at the same time, also
to aid defense, maintain as nearly
the same routine of normal life as
possible. Before giving up activ-
tiles, first weigh their Importance
carefully, and if they balance in
the scheme of living, make an eff
fort to continue these activities.
Using the war as an excuse to dis
continue certain duties is laziness,
and not patriotism.
Although having encountered
many difficulties, in the form of
Draft Boards, Illness, and Tire Ra-
the Smyrna Little Theatre
is still rehearsing for the two one
act plays, "Triffles," and "a Shop
Girls Honor" which they hope to
present the middle of February.
Several parts in both plays have
had to be recast so much that the
others in the cast are not surprised
to see a new face each week. But
things like that don't discourage
real troupers, and things look in
pretty good shape now.
And as the Little Theatres part
in defense, it might be possible to
take these plays to one of the army
camps nearby, for the entertain
ment of the soldiers. 1t just might
be possible-if the proceeds from
the production in Smyrna were
enough to cover the expenses of
such trip.