The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 15, 1940, Page Page Eight, Image 8
Press Bate
Collect
By George Zuckerman
PROGRAM NOTES ON "DARK TOWER":
Equipped for quips with a couple of Annie Oakleys presented
without ceremony by fireball Christophersen, you wandered through
the Tuesday night drizzle to Drayton Hall . . . Just what your status
was is somewhat dubious, but you remembered that editor Hendley
had requested a "metropolitan review" of the play. This of course
meant you had the precarious privilege of blasting the performance,
the play, the director, or the loud mouthed dame in the 6th row.
To sum up matters before trifling with the Players' opus, you go
on record with the opinion that Christophersen and his dramatic
group did a very competent job, taking in consideration the limita
tions of the local talent and the sensitiveness of the script. Unlike
"Captain Applejack", "Dark Tower" is a play redundant with
Kaufmaniacal lines, lines which take weeks of rehearsal for even
Broadway's best Barrymores. For witlut the proper delivery, the
gag lines go over the heads of the audience like telegraph lines. It
is your opinion that the University Players had a batting average
of about .750 with the minced mirth of the play. All of which is
pretty good in the collegiate dramatic league.
* * * * *
Biggest surprise of the evening occurred when Arnold Muir, the
Russian from Rochester, appeared in the role originally intended
for dictator Joseph Stalin. Muir came across with an excellent
borscht accent. And Stalin, who was busy signing away ice cube
concessions from the Finns, was not missed.
No credit on the program was given to Muir who really was
subbing for Albert Eggerton, playing the role of Damon Wells. An
actor comparable to Howard and Lunt, Wells (in the play) is sup
posed to disguise himself as Max Sarnoff (played by Muir) and
murder the third rat in the play, the only one who wasn't caged and
who wasn't so white. That vexing vermin was Stanley Vance-no
relation to the Dodger hurler of the same name.
You really don't know the reason for Eggerton's need of sub
stitution in the Sarnoff episode. But you believe he was unable to
make the conversion from the Southern drawl to the Russian dialect.
If ever Eggerton has need to interpret the role in the future, you'd
suggest that he go in training at Rivkin's delicatessen. With several
doses of caviar, pickled herring, and pumpernickel bread, Eggerton
would begin to sound off on vodka on the Volga like any of Stalin's
compatriots.
* * * * *
Among the best portrayals were those turned in by two refugees
from Walt Disney's studio, two white mice in a cage. This duo
was responsible for all the scene stealing in the first act . . . the rats.
In fact, their nonchalantics behind the wire bars were most inter
esting to the audience, many of whom never took elementary bi
ology. With the arrival of act two, scene two, the mice were for
gotten, were relegated to oblivion by a pair of gambs belonging
to Patsy Dowling, known off stagc as Lora Lee Green. Incidentally,
Miss Green, though she was cast in a minor role, probably turned in
the best individual performance. Anyway, it could be said that
she is well able to stand on her own two feet.
Another "Oomph" girl in the play was Daphne Martin, portrayed
by Jane Loyal. She had a penthouse chassis and an acid accent,
which are difficult to master, especially for a member of the saddle
shoe society.
Also effective in their minor roles were Mary Crow as Hattie,
the plump maid from Albany; and Hennig Cohen as the bearded Dr.
Kendall.
* * * * *
In the leading feminine role, that of Jessica Wells, was Jaqueline
McCutchen. Her part was difficult, for most of the play she had to
glide across the stage under a hypnotic spell. And she was effective
until the final scene of the drama. Then she made her Thespianic
faux pas by reciting, "Ben, Ben, Ben" like she were imitating a
volley of pistol shots. Of course this might be blamed by some
astute students on the fact that she is president of the Delta Delta
Delta sorority-and used to the rapid repetition of words.
Among the minor mistakes in the staging of the play was the
placing of Albert Eggerton behind a chair in the rear of the set
in act two. The result was that the audience on the left hand side
of the auditorium thought the name of the play was "The In
visible Man".
.The most glaring errors occurred in the printing of the program.
Names were misspelled. And the acts and sce-nes listed incorreetly.
In fact the audience almost walked out before the end of the play
because, according to the program, it was all over.
ELITE CAFE EA,hc'
"COLUMBIA'S MOST UNIQUE"
Where Students Meet Made In Columbia
and Eat
1736 MAIN STREET -- ALWAYS OPENFRS DAL
TWIN LAKES
--4( ANNOUNCES ).
The Dance Pavilion Is Now Open
Come Out And Dance
BOWLING
DANCING
SKATING
* Skating Instructor *
Two Miles Out On Leesburg Rads
-Faculty Ousts Fraterni
(CONTINUED
rolled as a student at the University
designated.
Any interpretation of this action
quest to the Faculty Committee on
tions.
Due notice of this action is to be
fraternity."
A copy of this letter is going t
with- the notice that each of you
office on or before March 18, 1940.
Vry truly yo
W. F
-Dark Tower
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)
the difficult task of playing two roles
-and also engaging in a couple of
fistfights and committing a murder.
All of this he did very nicely.
Interesting minor roles were those
played by Lora Lee Green and Jane
Loyal, two young girls of the mod
ern generation, one a stenographer
and one a chorus girl. Ana the slinky
villain was Bob Quinn--he whose
amusement was white mice.
-McCall Testifies
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)
tacker was seized. The killing was
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volver which was fired through the
end of a handbag.
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of South Carolina between the dates
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Fraternities and Student Organiza
sent to the national officers of that
o every member of your fraternitN
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urs,
RANK TAYLOR, Jr.
Director Student Activities.
-Painting Crew
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)
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