Medford mail tribune., July 27, 1952, Image 13

Medford
MEDFORD, SUNDAY, JULY 27, 1952
Pages 1-14
Public Meets Festival Actors 21 t Bards Heyday
By SUE LICHTY
Actors and valley people mingled at the third annual Bard's
Heyday held for the second time at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Berthold Barnum, South Pacific highway, Sunday, July 20, with
the coming Shakespeare plays at Ashland the main topic of
conversation.
Given by the Tudor guild, a subsidiary organization of the
Oregon Shakespeare festival, the Heyday raises money for
players and other festival purposes and provides an opportunity
for the public to meet the actors and producers of the pfays. A
large group was present for the outdoor program and speeches
about the festival, and interest seemed to be high as they
realized that the opening of the season is drawing near.
Gathering around the pool and in groups in the yards they
enjoyed the buffet supper served outdoors. Shown above (left
to right) Rodney Keating, president of the Oregon Festival as
sociation; the Rev. A. H. MacDonnel, rector of Trinity Episcopal
church, Ashland, and long-time festival supporter; and Mr.
stage, takes the part of Miranda In the Tempest, Princess
Keating's son, Tim, eat and talk Shakespeare. Mr. Keating later
acted as master of ceremonies for the program.
. .Whenever a player was in a group attention centered on
him as it was on Arnie Nelson (shown above right), who was in
the midst of telling (left to right) Mrs. R. W. Frame, Phoenix;
Marjorie Lovberg, actress; and Mr. Frame, about his parts of
. Marullus in Julius Caesar and Jamy in Henry V. He has roles in
all four plays to be presented. Miss Lovberg's main part is Hero
in Much Ado About Nothing, and is in all of the plays also.
, Greeting the guests at the Heyday was (below left, left
to right) Mrs. Berthold Barnum, hostess; welcoming Hans Lampl,
new music director for the festival; Miss Janet Saltus, Ashland,
a player who sold souvenirs wearing an Elizabethan costume;
and Mr. and Mrs. Dion Chesse, both actors. Besides his role of
Fluelen in Henry V, Mr. Chesse plays Octavius in Julius Caesar,
Francisco in The Tempest, pnd Borachlb ii Much Ado About
Nothing. Mrs. Chesse, who goe by the name Virginia on the
Katharine In Henry V, and also plays In Julius Caesar. Those
who met Mr. Chesse had questions about his beard which he
said was not especially grown for his part in the festival.
Officers of the Heyday were not too busy to chat with the
actors and join into the fun of the day. Below right (left to right)
are Rick Risso, actor; Bill Oyler, actor; Mrs. Richard Finch, Med
ford, Heyday chairman; and Mrs. Harry Skerry Jr., Ashland,
supper chairman. Rick, whose real name is Richard, has been
rehearsing for his part of King Henry, in Henry V, along with
learning his lines for Ferdinand in the Tempest and Metallus
Cimber in Julius Caesar. Bill Oyler received the part of Brutus
in Julius Caesar this year, and will act in all three other plays
with the roles of Pistol in Henry V, Antonio in the Tempest, and
Conrade in Much Ado About Nothing.
At the end of the Heyday there was swimming in the
pool, and the actors stayed after dark, for this was their last
main social event before dress rehearsals which begin this week.
From now on their schedule will be a rigid one.
(Photos by Brainerd)
tV p