COMEDY CLUB STUDENT GOVERNMENT BOOKS AND WRITERS MUSIC AND DRAMA RADIO BROADCASTING AMONOWN.- md Ar ~Iaikg Sectio T wo w VOL. XXXIV. No. 135 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 1924 PRICE, FIVE _ COM.Eaqvam&lY CLIJI3 NOW HOLDS STAG Plt Of Play Called Thrilling But Quaint THE CAST "CaptainApplejaci Appears This Of late,'plot has been rather con- spctuous byits absence in our larger campus productions. This season all the presentations which have achieved the high position of a run at the town's only theatre are said to have been woefully lacking in this regard. Plot and the Whitney l]ave not gone to- gether,-so far, but now comes a pro- duction which has enough plot in one act to make up for all past defi- ciencies. "Captain Applejack" contains a story which is not only thrilling, but unusually quaint and keenly satirical. Walter Hackett's play is in fact, one of the cleverest that Broadway has seen for many years. There are many good comedies, few- er good melodramas, and the number of worthwhile satires is not tiny. But a play which contains all of these, and in a combination which is as clever as it is unusual, is a rare thing. These are some of the reasons which led Comedy club to undertake its pro- luction. An outline of the plot is al- most unfair, for it can give but an inkling of the charm that "Captair Applejack" contains. Romance Calls Applejohn In England there lived a man who craved adventure. Applejohn was his name, and he came of an exceedingly respectable family. So he planned to sell his ancestral home, to leave his old aunt and loving ward, and to go to far away lands in search of thrills. But before he was able to carry out his plans for the welfare of his fam- ily, romance came to him, and saved him the infernal bother of upsetting his regular routine. Romance came with all its acces-j sories. It brought love at first sight,! thieves, a family treasure, and a dis- reputable ancestor,-one Captain Ap- n,'M;rwho w a pirate wanuy nigt,. t ie anc;ent tonme,a! fireplace, and good old nglsh whisky and s9da-br eoiff' the beauti- ful Russian Anna, admirably when, she niade her startling midnight call at the Applejohns'. . Her t rillg ,tale of flteeing, from Borolsky, the ruthlessly crafty Ru- sian spy, whio is but a few minutes be- hind her, wins the innocent Ambrose's confidence, and he agrees to hide her in the house. N sooner has he re- cuperated from that blow, when more midnight callers arrive. Moved by the hope that they might be prospect- ive buyers, he asks them in. Mr. and Mrs. Pengard furnish the second blow, he is a Hindu mystic, who prophecies weird happening in the peaceful home of the Applejohns. Finally, having completely bewildered the now des- perate Ambrose, they leave, promising to return in a very short time. But th-is is not enough for one night, as a climax to this wild evening comes Borolsky, the ruthless Russian. He is hot on the trail of Madame Va- leska, and is in no mood for dalliance. After a trying half hour, in which a revolver plays a major part, Borolky leaves, temporarily beaten but making dire threats at the head of the house of Applejohn. Poor Ambrose, entirely exhausted, is forced to sit up through the long night with a revolyer and his ward, Poppy, at his side,-the one to provide him with security, the other with coffee and comfort. Leadershp,-or Death Then Appleohn becomes upset by the unaccustomed late hours, the ex- tra amount of cocee, and th'e super- numary exciting visitors, and he has a bad dream, in which he reverts to type, and assumes a position as com- mander of a pirate ship, like his dis- reputable grandfather, and a name, not Applejohn, but Applejack. Borol- sky, the crook, becomes Borolsky, the1 pirate; Anna, the beautiful Russian, transformed into a Spanish girl, the cause of rivalry between Borolsky and Captain Applejack. Romance, satire, and juggling of character, make a! most ravishing combination for the story. At the end of the second act the two of them, the pirate captain and the mutineer, cut cards for leader- ship, and the fate o.' the loser is death. They draw, two cuts out of three; there is suspense as to the winner; and the curtain descends.. hTF romi Th Files In the files of the U. of M. Daily of June 30, 1898, an article appeared from which an excerpt follows: "The matinee given by the Comedy Nelson Tells Of Trials Met In Rehearsals J. Raleigh Nelson, director of the Comedy club, sat mopping his fore- head at the close of the rehearsal, beaming with evident satisfaction at - the vivid mutiny scene in Act II. Asked to comment on his impression of the- play, he ran on in his characteristic ,$: #1{ fashion: "Cave man stuff! There now, just -. as I thought! You see this wickedx old pirate play is going to corrupt my vocabulary as well as my morals. I dare say I shall be as profane as's, Captain Applejack for the next six - - months. Having been so severelyE-: scored on a past occasion by a young . critic for expunging one awful epi- thet from Higgin's rather lurid reper-: tory in Shaw's "Pygmalion," I really didn't dare refine the play too much.:- .- ..., Rockwell Good Pirate "The rehearsal of Act II is certainly one strenuous occasion! I alway. feel like calling the roll at the end to see how many fatalities there have been. Of course Charles Livingstone> does not count, for he is supposed to -; - - ; be killed. And how gorgeously and ."' ....:::.:*,.: with what unction Jack Hassberger picks him off. But the pirate crew with men the size and energy t Rock- - -.:. well and Parnall stage a mutiny that makes me ear for ears and eyes and noses. You may be relieved to know that so far all the cast is intact. "It's a queer play. It is built up deliberately of all the stage tricksj known to melodrama and farce. The wind whistles about the old house, Comedy Club will present its for- of Prof. J. Rahiegh Nelson. Among 24, and John Hassberger, '25M. Bot- the waves swish against the cliff, tieth annual play, Walter Hackett's the members of the cast are, left to tom row, Margaret Effinger, '26, Lester lights go on and off, doors bang, thugs, Captain Applejack, Wednesday and right: Top row, Phyllis Turnbull, '26, Palmiter, '24, Elizabeth Pike, '24, and vampires and crooks of every sort Friday nights, April 2 and 4, at the Charles Livingstone. '25, and Rhea William Spanagel, '25E. slink in and out, there are mysterious Whitney Theatre, under the direction Sch-laak, '24. Center, Edward Parnall, knocking's and, of course, 'the deaf r of Act II, one wild -melodranatic thriller: . Even the text shows' the same emn- THE CLUB'S HISTORY plyeto lwr tg eie:'H EL t'H O&Applejohn says to the butler who) enters suddenly, 'What -is 'it Lush?': "It is ten -o'clock, sir." -- "I wrote it myself," says Johnnfy - ,Jason of the parc-hment. - By Valentmine L. Davies play which opened the best period of attention to details of setting and "You wrote it yourself,"m echoes odern English comedy for Goldsmith lighting. Applejohn blanLky. j ne of the most interesting features and Sheridan were followers of Far- Professor Strauss, at that time "You wrote it yourself" pipes Poppy. of Michigan has been its steady -h!rchairman of the Committee on Dra-i "I wrote it myself," affirs Jason. growth from a tiny pioneer school of .u..r.matics, in his report to the University "ie wrote it himself," fainti gasps the west to one of the leading uni- A number of plays of a similar cali- Senate, on commenting on the play Applejohn sinking down half dazed. versities of America. No less interest- ber followed during the next years. said: 1 Play Fiiil of Humor - ing has been the growth of the various Barrie's "The Admirable Creighton," "After this most extravagant praise "It is one consistent fabric of tricks, campus organizations which helped 1909; "The Inspector," by Gogol, 1910; of our two most pretentious produc- -a sort of convention of venerable to give Michigan the name it has to- "The Title Mart, by Winston tions (the Opera and the Junior Giris' stage tricks. Farce, melodrama, but day. Churchill, 1911; "The Magistrate," by. Play), it may seem surprising to hear above all burlesque. For in a subtle Comedy club was one of the first Arthur Wig Pinero, 1912 "Money, that in our opinion the palm for gen- and persuasive fashion the whole play dramatic organizations to be developed by Bulwer Lytton, 1913; "The Scare- ral excellence this year - rightfully purposes to make all these tricks ap- on this campus. Organized in 1885 crow," by Percy Mackaye, 1914; "Po-i belongs to the Comedy club. pear ridiculous. And while the plot as the University Dramatic club, its mander Walk," by Stuart Louis Par-: Club Praised by Strauss Some Of Club's Alumni Are On Broadway Now { Of the several former members of Comedy club who have followed their collegiate activity in dramatics witl professional success on the stage, Phyllis Povah, ex-'16, of course. Is easily the most striking instance. Fol- lowing a rather colorful and tempera- mental career on the campus she be- came connected with Sam Hume and his work in the Detroit Arts and Craftsm Theatre. This invaluable experience led to an engagement as a "Lady" in "Abraham Lincoln." Luckily the play became phenomenally famous and she was next able to procure an understudy role in a Theatre Guild production. The casting committee of the Guild, again luckily for her, were so at- tracted by her personality that she was cast in the really important in- genue role of Milne's "Mr. Pim Passes By. S With this engagement came critical approval and her rise then became meteoric, through parts in "Hospital- ity" and "Icebound" to the leading role in John Galsworthy's latest play, "Windows." Norman Hackett, ex-'95, is another recognized actor who once starred in the Comedy club productions. His career has carried him through many successful seasons of Broadway suc- cesses, always earning for him well- deserved praise. His latest roles were in George M. Cohan's "The Tavern" and Sommerset Maugham's sophisti- cated comedy "The Circle." Thenlistinow. becomes thinner and can only include many whose talents are well known on the campus, but who have not yet won specificatten- tion elsewhere. Mary True, '15, is one, Mildred Henry another, and Kath- erine Greenough, Lewis Stoneman, There is also Amy Loomis, who seems the most promising of this group. She has only recently com- pleted a course in the American Acad- emy of Dramatic Arts with highest honors, and according to the reports is now awaiting that difficult but in- evitable first Broadway engagement. And perhaps-one need not laugh too loudly--there even may be on the campus today, and in the present membership of Comedy club, possibly in the very cast of the forthcoming "Captain Applejack," budding mater- ial for future stardust. Designs Special Scenery For Play Specially designed and constructed scenery will be one of the features which will make "Captain Applejack," Comedy club's fortieth annual play, rank with the leading campus produc- tions of the season. The set is being built by 0. S. Davis, of the New Detroit Opera house, from original designs by Prof. J. Raleigh Nelson, the club's director. The paintings are being done by D. L. Cornell, master painter of the New Detroit Opera house.'l Professor Nelson, who has made several trips to Detroit to look over the progress of the work, stated that the scenery is being unusually well finished in every detail, and that he is more than satisfied. Special lighting equipment will ac- company the scenery from Detroit, as many unusual lighting effects are re- quired in the production of "Captain Applejack," and it has been found necessary to augment the standard equipment of the Whitney Theatre.. terpretation it demands fine acting. Mildred Henry, who starred at Eliza, received unstinted praise. Two out- of-town performances of "Pygmalion" were given, one at Port Huron, and. one at Mt. Clemens. "Mr. Pim Passes By," last year's play, is too fresh in the minds of the public to need comment. In some ways it was the most perfect from the standpoint of acting, for a small cast of unusually even excellence brought another triumph to the club and to Professor Nelson. On Wednesday night, April 2nd Friday night, April 4th, the Co Club will present as its fortieth nual play, Walter Hackett's ami and brilliant comedy, "Captain A jack." The two performances ai be given at the Whitney Theatre der the direction of Prof. J. Ra: r Nelson. As in the old days when the Cor Club was the only dramatic orga tion at the University, and its an play was one of the big social e of the University year, the pr -performances are to be sponsore the President, the Deans, and 1 wives, who are to act as patron the club. Added zest is given to the play year by the fact that the Fridayn performance has been listed on program of special attractons -foxi two -thousand or more teachers in Arbor for the meeting of the Mich Schoolmasters Club. It was tho Captain Applejack-2 col 30 pt.. by the directors that a play give the University's oldest dramatic ganization would be of special v to the visiting teachers in view of I -great interest throughout the:b schools in amateur dramatics. Patronage Increasing'. CThe play this year is a rather in concession on the part of the clu the demands of its patrons for a p Jar play. Comedy Club has foRf years maintained a high standar production and has a Very honor record. Its aim has ibeen to pre each year one representative Eng omedy in a thoroughly adequate f ion, an'd its choices have been rmx very seriously. The last five y have seen "Alice-Sit-By-the-F "Bunty Pulls thetrins" "yg Ion,' and "Mr. Pim Passes By,"- given with marked success.,- While eaci yearhas"seen 'a growth in patronage, the ampui large has rather insisted that for c at least a recent'ppular 'success given.Ands so"CaptainAlpa ea which ran so brilliantly in Lont and then 1W New York, and which even invaded the movies, has b chosen. The play is quite unlike anyti else- in the whole: field of dram literature. It is at once a parod burlesque, and a satire, and a fa with very evident intent to make g natured fun of the mystery play the thrilling melodrama that has b so popular of late. Yet It also mi tains some of the very finest tr tions of English comedy. It is at- o robust melodrama, and almost bar esque in its delicate and subtle ha ing of situations. The love scene the third act, as an example, betw Ambrse Applejohn and Poppy F is as exquisite a bit of romance as will ever find. Will Play "Pinafore" Muse The production will be well sel scenery designed by the director I painted by 0. S. Davis,. of Deti while the costumes and properties befits the play, will be very colo and picturesque. As an additional attraction, the school orchestra, augmented by a professional players, will repeat both performances the music "Pinafore" which they rendered at recent very successful production 'that delightful old opera. Professor Nelson says that he fe that nothing could so well put audience in just the mood for en; ing the peculiar charm of "Capi Applejack,' as the "Pinafore" mu for, while the play is full of h raising thrillers and has at times breathless suspense of the mod mystery play, it is altogether one the most satiric plays of recent ye And after all most of its exciting : ments are quite on the order of "G ness me! What was that?" "Goodness me! It was the cat!" lHassberger Has Lead The cast intself includes many the best known players on the c pus. The leading role of Ambi Applejohn is carried by John Ha berger, '25M, who was Rab in "Bu Pulls the Strings," Freddy in "F mnalion," and Nedda in the last Un Opera. Anna Valeska, the' Russ dancer, is played by Elizabeth F '24, who was Tai Fah Min i Masq production of "The Yellow Jack +,,- tw v c, stn ot, n ._ M r-rthrmt,,, inh "' is so gripping, and the situations fol- low each .other so simply and are so truly thrilling, the whole effort is de- liclusly amusing. "One curious difficulty is that, since the author insists that it all be played wi.h perfect seriousness,, as far as the a tors are concerned, it must be ear-- nest work. That isn't so easy. I have' never worked with young people with such a keen, fine- appreciation of con-I edy values as Hassberger, Elizabeth' Pike and Phyllis 'Turnbull. They are succeeding admirably - in doing the thing right, but at times my apprecia tion of how funny it all is quite upsets the necessary seriousness of the situ-I ations. j , 7 l 71 1 r ( i] i IlHas(lever Interludes "Another interesting feature of the play is the fact that, contrasting with the rough pirate and burglar scenes, are interludes as delicately worked' out as scenes from a Barrie play. Per-1 sonally these lovely interludes are a comfort and joy to me after the stren-, uous passages at arms aboard the pirate ship of old Ambrose Applejack." The mention of the ship brought Professor Nelson back to the business at hand and with a smile he turned to his. fascinating and painstaking work of training pirates and heroes, ) villains and vampires, fortheComedy Club's fortieth annual production-l "Captain Applejack." Campbell Lauds Choice Of Play' Professor Oscar J. Campbell of the , English department has expressed his, opinion of the play, 'Captain Apple- jack," which members of Comedy Club are presenting on April 7, as follows: , ! { i 1 1 Y first presentation was "The Serious ker, 1915; and J. M. Barrie's "The A u 4'v"yr Family," a comedy directed by Pro- Professor's Love Story," 1916, all help- "The choice of Barrie's 'Alice-Sit- Lessor de Pont. ed to establish the Comedy club's by-the-Fire' was a distinctly hazard- A number of plays of the same gen- present position in the public mind. ous one, calculated to test severely A S.rtenumber of plays theresurcs ofan matur rgaiza cral character followed, none of which Startd tRegularieetings the resourc ay is eamateur ordaini were- particularly noteworthy, but Then came the war and with it the fanciful and whimsically fragile than which at least served the dramatic club's most turbulent days. In an cweuxpendtwhindialBarie thd. Ian we expect to find a Barrie comedy. needs of the time. effort to give the campus something That it was 'put across' successfully, Club Reorganized in a lighter vein, to counteract the' is a distinct triumph for the club In . the early nineties the old Dra- , grim reports from overseas, the club, and its director, Professor Nelson. Ad- matic club ceased to exist, and was in spite of its diminishing strength, mirably cast, carefully staged, with then reorganized as the present Corn- put forth its best efforts to make Je- fine appreciation of the demands of edy club. This, new club continued rome's "Miss Hobbs" and Mason's ;setting and properties, remarkally the policies as those of the older, or- "Green Stockings" come up to itsi effective by reason of the exceptional- ganization, choosing its plays from the traditional standards. ey adequate reading of the lines by current successes of the day. Re-! With peace and the year 1920 came virtually every member of the cor- ports of this period are not too satis- renewed life and activity. Regular pany and, above all, entirely free from factory. monthly meetings- were inaugurated, M the distressing barbarities of pronun- The club seems to have been a at each of which one or two short ciation and provincialism of enuncla- closed corporation, which functioned plays Ivere presented by a selected tion that have harrowed us in the for the most part as a sociel group, cast, staged and directed under the a past, the performance seemed to bring and membership was gained by dra- supervision of various members of delight to every person in the audi- matic friendship rather than dramatic the club. The plays were then dis- ence. ability. In spite of this, however, the cussed and the presentation criticized. "Professor Nelson excels in finding club had many members of real tal-- Thus, aside from giving a few public the right actor for each part and in ent, and its annual performances were performances annually, the members training his cast to bring out the most very popular. Such plays as "The gained a more thorough understand- delicate shades of the author's mean- Private Secretary," "A Night Off," and ing of drama and the actual problems ing Most praiseworthy, as was hint- "All the Comforts of Home," were of its presentation. eg before pris fulfillment of his presented in a quite acceptable man- -,The meetings were continued up obligations to the English language. ner. to the present season, when, for the: The students who have worked under The obvious deficiencies of the club first time, they were opened to the his direction derive a permanent ben- wvere soon recognized, however, and public, with unusual success. The pro- efit from his instruction in this im- thanks to the interest of Prof. Louis grams consisted of such plays as portant particular." A, Strauss a complete reorganization O'Neill's "The Dreamy Kid," and "'Op Following a success such as this, was affected in 1908. At that time the 10' Me Thumb." The final program, it would seem inevitable that the fol- present system of tryouts for member- which! was one of the outstanding lowing year's performance would ship was introduced, a change which presentations of the year, consisted of ome as an anti-climax. Such was was one of the greatest factors in the Yeat's "At the Hawk's Well" and "The cot the case, however, for in 1921 Mof- later development of the club. Key," by Ferenc Molnar, both given fat's "Bunts Pulls the Strings" was Chose Good Plays for the first time in America. The t Followig ' therepresentedonwith equally as much suc- Following the reorganization, the success of "At the Hawk's Well" was cess as Professor Nelson's first pro- practice of choosing plays of some such that, at the request of the Ypsi- duction. literary worth was adopted, although lanti Players, it was given in their Played in Port Huron this has never been the primary ob- theatre as a special attraction on en For this play one of the most beau- ject in the choice of plays. Comedy of their programs. For ahi layone se ms eu- - - ,. , ,.. ~tiful and elaborate settings ever used F 3 3 I