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CAMPUS MIRROR
14
The University Players
Berkeley Square
The University Players may well be
proud of their last production of the
school year, "Berkeley Square,” by John
Balderston. This play required unusual
lighting effects, good acting, numerous
eighteenth century costumes, and well-
timed sound effects. Every branch of
stagecraft was employed in making the
production a success.
The lighting designed by Kathlyn John
son. "39. and Gladys Forde, ’40. was ex
tremely unique. The costumes executed
by Marjorie Gaines. 39. Adele Walthall,
’41, and Myrtle Bowers. ’42. were very well
done, and the sound effects added a great
deal to the effectiveness of the play. Clar-
etta Scott. ’40. was stage-manager, ably
directed by John M. Ross, and Lawana
Davis. ’39. had charge of properties.
"Berkeley Square” was well-cast and
well-staged. Walter Westmoreland, a new
comer to the boards, was remarkable as
Peter Standish. the hero. His performance
was outstanding for the sympathy and
understanding which he used in interpre
ting the character of Peter and for the
ease and savoir jaire which he displayed
in his first appearance behind the foot
lights. From the first scene to the final.
Mr. Westmoreland lived the life of Peter
Standish, an American youth, who, hav
ing inherited his ancestral mansion in
London, discovers that he may at will, as
sociate with the ghosts of long-dead rela
tives. It was a difficult piece of acting and
very well done.
Mildred Cuthbert as Marjorie, the
American girl to whom Peter was en
gaged gave a creditable performance. Her
acting was both controlled and sympa
thetic.
Inali Smith, as Kate, the eighteenth cen
tury English girl whom Peter was sup
posed to marry, gave a very fine portrayal
of an extremely difficult and unsympathe
tic role. Inali Smith showed great versati
lity as an actress for her role required
that she be demure, sophisticated, tim-
ourous and commanding by turns. Inah
Smith was all of these to perfection and
acted as a fine foil for Thelma Worrell,
who, possessed of the finest part in the
play, gave a performance which might
have been much better, had she been able
to submerge her own personality in that
of the character she was portraying. As
it was. Miss Worrell seldom let the au
dience forget that she was Thelma Wor
rell first, and Helen, the heroine of Peter’s
Eighteenth Century romance, second.
Thelma Worrell, possessed of a charming
voice, and unusual grace of movement has,
nevertheless, an unfortunate affinity for
melodrama, which, embodied in her act
ing. serves to make it seem over-done. She
has ability as an actress, but she must
learn self-control.
Walter Echols was memorable as a
roistering, swash-buckling young blood
of Eighteenth Century London; while
John Lewis gave a remarkable perform
ance as the sottish, drunken Duke of
Cumberland. Robert Foster, as Mr. Thros
tle, an Eighteenth Century dandy, moved
through the play with a mincing, foppish
daintiness which almost stole the show.
Other members of the cast who gave
creditable performances were Alice Clem
ent. whose diction was memorable, Lil
lian Taylor. Maurice Speed. I. Sloan
Blocker. Jr., and William Nix.
Sam: “I have a new job.”
Tom: “What is it?”
Sam: “I’m a blacksmith at the candy
store.”
Tom: “What do you mean?”
Sam: “Just what I said. I shoo flies.”
Awards to Atlanta Univer
sity Players
Frances Mason ’39
The Atlanta University Players held
their closing meeting of the year in Howe
Hall. Tuesday, May 23. at 8:00. The
awards committee in a brief ceremony
presented the 16 outstanding members of
the organization with charms as tokens of
appreciation for their services. The
awards were made by President Read of
Spelman College, and President Hubert
of Morehouse College.
The two gold-filled charms for the best
actor and actress of the year were given
to Thelma Worrell. Spelman ’41. and
Mayo Partee Morehouse ’40. The silver-
filled charms for the second best per
formances of the year went to Inah Smith.
Spelman ’40. and Walter Westmoreland.
Morehouse ’40.
Bronze charms for excellence in other
branches of dramatic art were given to
Ida Wood, Julia Williams, Anatol Reeves.
Edna Kyle, Ollie Franklin, Charlie Mae
Williamson, Claretta Scott, and Mary
Alice Normand of Spelman, and Walter
Echols, Cuthbert Patrick, and William
Nix, of Morehouse.
After the presentation of these awards.
Mr. Ross presented to the A. U. Players
the Ross Trophy on which is to be in
scribed yearly the names of the members
whose technical work has been especially
outstanding.
President Clement of Atlanta Univer
sity announced the five members whose
names are to be inscribed on the trophy
this year: They are Kathlyn Johnson.
Ruth Hutchins, Gladys Forde. Peter Sin
gleton. and Richard Woodard. These per
sons also received bronze charms.