The Alliance Herald

JUNIORS MADE HIT
IN SHAKESPEARE

Amateur Presentation was Just "As You Like It."—All Deserve High Praise

There was a well filled house out Friday night to greet the members of the Junior class of the Alliance high school when they appeared in Shakespeare's "As You Like It," at the Phelan opera house. Each and every one of the amateur actors exhibited talent which was beyond even the expectations of the director, Mrs. Ray Stansbury of the Alliance School of Music.

The play opened with Orlando (Howard Bennett) telling his servant Adam (James Burns) how he had been misused by his brother, Oliver (Philip Grove). The latter had kept him, Orlando, in subjection, using their heritage for himself. Orlando determined to throw off the bondage and live his own life. Oliver in vengeance for his brother's outburst secured the services of a noted wrestler, Charles (George Fenning), to put Orlando out of the way.

At the wrestling match Orlando won over his opponent, and also won the kindly regard of Rosalind (Edith Reddish) the heroine.

In the following scene Rosalind who had been living with her uncle, Duke Frederick (Boyd Hamilton), was banished from the latter's court. Her cousin Celia (Beulah Reddish) declared an inseparable friendship for her and the two planned to go together into exile. Rosalind dressed as a boy and together they went into the forest of Arden taking Touchstone (Ralph Watteyne), the court fool, with them.

Here they met Orlando, who was suffering from love sickness. The youth Ganymede (Rosalind in disguise) offered to cure him by taking the place of his lady love.

In another part of the forest the Duke (Rolph Joder) father of Rosalind, who had been banished from the court some years before by his brother, Duke Frederick, was yearning to see his brother. As he with his friends in exile were about to eat a noonday meal, Orlando appeared demanding food for his faithful servant, Adam, who was faint with hunger.

In the next scene a forester, Silvius (George Fenning), was making love to Phoebe (LaVeta Boyden), a shepherdess. The latter had fallen in love with Ganymede (Rosalind in disguise) and refused to hear the shepherd's words of love.

In the meantime the brother, Oliver, appeared to Ganymede and Celia bearing a bloody handkerchief given him by his brother, Orlando. He related how he was going through the forest, and was attacked by an animal. Orlando saved him but was wounded, and fainted from loss of blood, calling on the name of Rosalind, to the last.

In the last act Ganymede appointed a meeting place and time for all those in the forest who were in trouble, promising to grant each one his heart's desire.

The scene opened with the Duke longing for his daughter. Orlando for his love, Rosalind; Phoebe for Ganymede. The latter appeared in her natural dress, and the wishes of each was fulfilled, except for Phoebe who was compelled to give up her dreams and marry the shepherd. Oliver was present and found his heart's desire in Celia, Rosalind's cousin. Touchstone, the fool, also carried on a love affair with Audrey (Ethel Chary), a shepherdess and furnished the audience with much of Shakespeare's humorous philosophy in his wooing.

Other characters were Jacques (Homer Barnes) brother of Orlando, living with the banished Duke; William (Leo Snyder) a forester; Jacques de Bois, played as a girl (Jessie Johnson), sister of Orlando; Corin (Charles Sisley), a forester; and Le Beau (Walter Anderson), a courtier.

The actors and actresses were dressed in new special costumes and the whole play was well equipped and out of the ordinary. The characters were as strong as amateurs could make them, every actor showing real ability. The effort was a worthy one and every one who took part, the several actors and actresses, Mrs. Stansbury who directed the production, and Mrs. Wiker and her orchestra who filled the short intermission with delightful harmony, are entitled to unstinted praise for the almost truly professional manner in which the piece was staged.