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About Southern Oregon miner. (Ashland, Or.) 1935-1946 | View Entire Issue (July 29, 1938)
Page 2 Friday, July 29, 1938 SOUTHERN OREGON MINER Shakespearean Plays Ready for Series FOUR PLAYS TO BE PRESENTED FOURTH ANNUAL FESTIVAL IS SET With a statewide organization lending support to Che productions, the fourth annual Oregon Shakes pearean Festival approaches its opening August 5 with every promise of an overwhelming suc- cess. Last year's production tripled the box office receipts of the year before and this year’s shows prom ise to double last year's attend ance. While the festival is strictly non-professional, a healthy box of fice is gratifying to its sponsors since it permits them to make such modest expenditures as are necessary to the artistic success of the plays. EXM’NDER and director of the The festival actually started four years ago when "The Mer * annual Shakespearean festi chant of Venice” was presented on val i» Angus L. Bowmer. drama a specially constructed portable profeasor at the Southern Ore stage at the Southern Oregon Nor gon Normal v'hooL seen ulsive mal school and later at Klamath a» Hamlet. Falls. The following year, the first 4 Shakespearean festival was pro duced with "Merchant of Venice" and “Twelfth Night" as the 1 and with fireworks and a carnival to help draw a crowd. The second year festival found the organiza • The Merchant of Venice," per tion definitely growing in popular ity with the guest register show- , ennial favorite of Shakespeare en ing visitors from many parts of thusiasts, will appear twice on this the United States, and the reper year’s festival program, the first time on Saturday evening. August toire was enlarged. Last year’s festival, with three 6. and the last time on Thursday plays presented, brought out rec evening. August 11. A brilliant cast will bring to ord crowds, and by popular de mand this year’s list of plays has life the characters in this immort been broadened to include four al play. Although several parts favorites two of them comedies stand out as featured roles, the and the other two more serious in well balanced group of players have made of each character a nature. Although an association has little classic. It is doubtful if there been formed to promote the in has ever been a better-balanced terests of the festival, the plays “Merchant" cast than the follow are still an important summer fea ing: ture of the Southern Oregon Nor Duke of Venice Tom Fairchild mal school and Dr. Walter H. Red Prince of Aragon Leroy Lindner ford. president of the normal Antonio Hagen Moore school, is president of the Shakes Bassanio Angus Moore pearean Festival association. Salanio................... John Reisacher ----------- •------------ Salarino Gordon Davis Gratiano................. Robert Stedman Outdoor Theatre Is Lorenzo..................... Harry Priestly Shylock............... Angus L. Bowmer Elizabethan Model Tubal. ................. Jimmy Baughman Launcelot Gabbo Wm. Cottrell Theatre-goers attending the Old Gabbo......... Jimmy Baughman Oregon Shakespearean festival Leonardo..... ........ a__ Arden Hall will be seeing plays staged on the Stefano................... Leroy Lindner only outdoor theatre stage of its Portia.. . .................. Grace Forsythe kind in the world. Doreen Leverette Nerissa The faithful reproduction of the Jessica ............... Ann Kos stage on which Shakespeare's plays were originally produced is J the only civic Elizabethan stage in the world and the only one of its type in the United States ex cept for the one in the Smithson ian institute in Washington, D. C. That stage, however, is never used in actual play production. For real, down-to-earth comedy, ----------------------------- •---------------------------- few plays have ever surpassed Kitty Ingle, of Ashland, who "The Twelfth Night," which has made a great hit as Juliet in "Ro been brought byck this year for meo and Juliet" last year, returns one performance. For the past two this season as Maria in "Twelfth seasons it has proved one of the Night." a part she also played last most popular playa on the Shakes season. "Romeo and Juliet” is not peare repertoire, and Director An included in this season's reper gus Bowmer capitulated to popu toire. lar demand again this season and returned “Twelfth Night" to the list. Following is the cast of ■Twelfth Night.” Twelfth Night Orsino Angus Moore Sebastian ................ Jim Parsons Antonio Hagen Moore Valentine -........... ........ Don Sloane Curio Norman Hamilton Sir Toby Belch Angus L. Bowmer Sir Andrew Aguecheek . Tom Fairchild Malvolio George F. Smith Fabian William Cottrell Feste___ Robert Stedman Olivia Melba Day Viola .......... Sallie Geary Maria ...... Kitty Ingle Priest ........... Don Sloane Rates that assure Officer..... Arden Hall modest monthly bills • TRAINED STAFF HANDLES DETAILS OF PRODUCTIONS ä MERCHANT’IS BACK THIS YEAR ‘TWELFTH NIGHT TO BE REPEATED • Convenience and Comfort on the bargain counter HOT WATER j REFRIGERATION i COOKING • HEATING j j » y » Ai r • • • zu 1 1 PHONE 23-F-2 >/ .* , FOR QUALITY AND SERVICE! CLOVER LEAF DAIRY l Behind the actors who appear on the stage and interpret the lines of Shakespeare’s immortal plays stand a corps of workers whose part in the productions are less spectacular but equally im- portant. They are the people who have charge of the lighting, the wardrobes, the sound, the makeup and the various other features without which the festival would not be a complete success. Following are the members of the technical staff who take part in this year’s plays: Bookholders: Frances Schilling, Dorothy Grossman, Lucille Lam bert; electrician: Tarvis Wertz; wardrobe mistress, Maxine Gear hart, assistants, Marcella Rawe, Lois Brown, Louise Du Boise, Jean Du Buis; properties: Lydia Smith, Margaret Molitor, Alda Luebbe. Sound control: Don Halfhill, Dick Putney; makeup: Marion Ady; programs: Dorothy Pruitt; musical director: John Reisacher; publicity: Gordon Davis, Roy Craft, L. C. Fox; fencing director: Harry Priestly; official photogra pher: Bushnell studio; costumes and properties constructed by workshop classes. ------------•------------ The newly planted grass within the ampitheatre is growing nicely and adds a fresh touch to the festival setting. RESERVED SEATS WILL BE ON SALE Tlie fourth annual Oregon Shakespearean festival, staged in the world’s only civic Elizabethan theatre, will «»pen in Ashland Aug ust 5 and will continue through August 13. Under a cool Oregon sky, with Ashland's beautiful Lithia park ns a backdrop. Shakespeare's im mortal plays will be priKiuced just as Shakespeare knew them. Four of his most popular plays will be produced during the eight nights of production. They include ’ Hamlet." “The Merchant of Ven ice," "Twelfth Night" and "Tam ing of the Shrew." To the student of Shakespeare as well as to the casual theatre goer who wants to be entertained, the festival productions mark a high sjKit in the summer program. Directed by Angus L. Bowmer. the Pacific coast’s leading author ity on Shakespeare, and with lead ing actors from all over the United States taking part, the produc tions offer something unique in entertainment. Following is- the schedule of plays: Friday. August 5, "Hamlet." Saturday, August fl, “Mer chant of Venice.” Sunday. August 7. no play. Monday. August 8, “Taming of the Shrew.” Tuesday. August !», "Ham let." A NEWCOMER to the festival Wednesday, August 10, la Ann Koa, above, who "Twelfth Night.” playa Jettalca In "The Merchant Thursday. August II, “Mer of Venice.** chant of Venice.” Friday, August 12, “Taming of the Shrew.” Saturday. August IS, "Ham let.” ‘HAMLET’ TO BE SERIES FEATURE ’’Hamlet,” with Angus L Bow- mer in the title role, will be fea tured on this year's Shakespearean festival program. Three of the eight festival nights have been set aside for the production, which will open the series Friday eve ning, August 5, will again be pre sented Tuesday evening, August 9. and will close the festival Sat urday evening. August 13. Elaborately costumed, and with every characterization brilliantly played, the production has been wqll chosen to lead this year’s fes tival attractions The cast of char acters: Hamlet Claudius Tom Fairchild Hamlet Angus L. Bowmer Polonius Wm Cottrell Horatio....................... Gordon Davis Laertes................. Harry Priestly Ophelia Dorothy Pruitt Queen Gertrude Grace Forsythe Voltimand . Leroy Lindner Gildenstern Norman Hamilton Rosene ran tz Angus Moore Osric Jimmy Baughman Priest Norman Hamilton Marcellus Angus Moore Bernardo Robert Stedman Francisco Norman Hamilton Renaldo John Reisacher Player King Don Sloane Player Queen Alda Luebe Lucianu# Robert Stedman First Gravedigger Wm. Cottrell Second Gravedigger...................... John Reisacher Fortinbras Robert Stedman Captain ............ Leroy Lindner The Ghost Hagen Moore ----------- •------- Players Come From All Over Country From all over the United State« have come the players who take part’ in this year’s Shakespearean festival. Drawn here by the opportunity to take part in productions unlike anything else in the country, and with a real opportunity for study ing Shakespeare as Shakespeare himself knew it, the players have made up the strongest company in the history of the festival. Every character, even to minor bits, is played by a skilled and talented actor. -------•------------ GOVERNOR MARTIN LAUDS FESTIVAL ACCOMPLISHMENT When Dorothy Pruitt and Dor een Ix-verette made their good will visit to upstate cities in the Interests of the Shakespearean festival, one of their most en thusiastic greeters was Governor Charles H Martin, of Oregon. Describing the festival as a "definite contribution to the cul tural life of the state,” Governor Martin assured the young ladies that he and Mrs. Martin are plan ning to attend the festival again this year. Governor and Mrs. Martin at tended last year and were warm in their praise of the work being accomplished here. John Reisacher, Medford, be sides playing several important roles in this year’s festival, also has charge of the music for the shows and composed the music for Ophelia’s songs in her mad scenes in "Hamlet.” the completion of Shakt<s|M*iin*an membership drive tn aoutheni Oregon August 3. re served neats will be placet! on sale at the Chamber of Commerce in Ashland and Pruitt’s Radio-Music center in Medford Each membership ticket entitles the holder to six reserved seats to the productions, and thorn* holding tickets may exchange them tn either Medford or Ashland for In dividual reserved seats The tick ets are printed so that they may be punched when the reserved seats arc Issued Seats will be reserved by num ber, enabling the purchaser to choose the exact location in the theatre from which he would like to see the productions Paul Luy. of Medford, is In charge of the re served seat- sale Individual chairs will be available in the reserved seat section, according to Luy A number of students of the Cornish school in Seattle, out- standing drama center of the Pa cific coast, arc here for this year’s Shakespeare festival. ------------ •— If you have bought u festival membership, don't forget to make your seat reservations us soon us the tickets are placed August 3 TO CALIFORNIA It may lx hot at blurt outuda, but you won't mind ■ bit whan you are aboard one of our air- uMiditionad trains. The tctiipar*- turt of all iart, regularly attignad ail California trains, is autotna- ticslly maintained at just the right degree for your greatest comfort Evan the air is waihed of im puri net' You’ll arrive at your destination tool, dean and calm Doctn't coat much either I Bar gain rad and Pullman farsa, 10» ami 15, Tray Food Service, low cost dining car meals are all aaay on your train traval budget. Southern Pacific For delaili »ce your R.K. ayant or »rice J A ORMANDY, GfJL. Gii Pai ita Bldg. Portland, Ora. ‘THE SHREW’ IS POPULAR PLAY "Taming of the Shrew,” one of Shakespeare’s most popular come dies. will be presented for two nights on this year’s festival pro gram. It will be presented Monday eve ning, August 8, and again Friday evening. August 12 Katharina, the Shrew, is played by Salile Geary of the Comiah school, Seattle, and Petruchio is played by Robert Stedman. The cast follows: Taming of the Shrew A Lord I-eroy Lindner Christopher Sly Hagen Moore Hostess Katherine Denser Page .—.............. Frank Smith Huntsman Norman Hamilton Baptista William Cottrell Vincentio Leroy Lindner Lucentio . Angus Moore Petruchio Robert Steelman Gremio John Reiaacher Hortensio Harry Priestly Tranio .............. Tom Fairchild Biondello Gordon Davis Grumio Jim Baughman Curtis Grace Forsythe Katharina ......... Salile Geary Bianca................ Doreen I^everette Widow ........................ Alda Luebe Costume Department Does Wonders With Limited Expenditures Audiences viewing Oregon Shakespearean festival produc Lions have been amazed at the richness and splendor of the cos tumes. but should they see the limited budget on which the coa- tume department operates, they would be even more amazed. With a few stock fabrics pur- chased at little coat, dyed and painted by the costume depart ment, and with many rich fabrics donated by Shakespeare enthus iasts in the valley fine velvets, satins and laces from cloaks and frocks which have served their purpose the costumers fashion many rich garments for the play ers. Lois M Bowmer, costume direc tor, with members of the southern Oregon Normal school workshop, has made the costumes for this year’s productions. The workers have been busy with thread and needle, and the costumes for ’’Hamlet," "Merchant of Venice,” "Twelfth Night” and "Taming of the Shrew” rival in beauty and design the expensive costumes of more heavily endowed Shakespear ean companies. Mrs. Bowmer'» costumes reflect the faithfulness of her recent re search work In London and Strat ford-Avon, during which time she went to the source of Shakespeare material for her inspiration. 0 FIRST NATIONAL OF PORTLAND . . . 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