With the Players
A S THIS article goes to press, the D. O. C. members are praying for snow and cold weather so that they can go ahead with their preparations for Carnival. Meanwhile, the Players are in full swing whipping the Carnival Show into shape before exams put a temporary stop to the work. Long before Christmas vacation, Messrs. Bentley and Longhurst were working with the choruses and principals, and no sooner had we returned to the dry and bare streets of Hanover, than once again the walls of Robinson Hall echoed with the words of "My Hero" and the steady music from Professor Longhurst's piano.
In reviving the Carnival hit of 1927, TheChocolate Soldier, the Players feel sure that it will be even more successful than when first presented to Hanoverians. In the title role is Robert Lang '38, a member of the College Quartet, who is making his initial appearance with the Players. Supporting him are two other newcomers, Barton Jones '39 and James E. Gibson '40, who promise to more than fill the shoes of Alexius and Massakroff respectively. Joe D'Esopo '29, who sang Alexius in the 1927 Carnival show and who is well known to Hanover audiences, cavorts again, this time as Colonel Popoff. Along with these principals, the Players are lucky to have Mrs. Marion Folger, wife of Joe Folger '21, singing Nadina, and Mrs. Emily Merrill, wife of Red Merrill '56, as Aurelia, while Mrs. Laura Carter, wife of Bill Carter '20, who was last seen with the Players as the fairy queen in lolanthe three years ago, returns to do justice to the part of Mascha.
Some of you will appreciate, from your own experience, the long hours that these principals and the choruses of twenty students and sixteen fair ladies from the neighboring districts of Hanover, are putting into rehearsals for the show. During the week Professors Bentley and Longhurst hold the important tasks of directing the acting and singing, while on the weekends, Otto Ascherman journeys from Boston to teach the dance routines and steps which add much to the well-rounded performance that the Players hope to present.
In the basement of Robinson during this time, pandemonium, in a directed fashion, has cut loose. Sets are being built and painted with the crews practically fighting for floor space on which to work. In the room in the corner, properties are being stored with care, for 1890 properties are a bit scarce and fragile. Jammed in under the stairs in what is known as "Henry Williams' Sweatshop," the costume crew are keeping the two electrical sewing machines humming, as they sew gored skirts and waists with leg-o-mutton sleeves for the ladies.
