MARGARET
WEBSTER
NOVEMBER 22
Belles
OF SAINT MARY’S
GOVERNOR
HOEY
NOVEMBER 20
Vol. IV, No. 5
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
November 15, 1940
Margaret webster
GIFTED DIRECTOR
WILL LECTURE HERE
Subject To Be Development of
Acting Styles
the performance of one Douglas
TTci-r, ”
Secret of its success lay solely
utso:
Ye Olde Time Hero.
pi) 'liiieuy in uu
*’Pli.sh-gi-een with envy, while he
Jg'te love to “Patsy Tate,” alias
HcKenzie. The Southerners in
crowd enjoyed a brief moment
p] t*tire bliss wdien Robert Connolly,
by Harry Davis, so capably
^®«ted tie Yankees.
(Continued on page 2)
EDITORIAL
^largaret Webster, cited as one of
ttie ten most outstanding women of
1939, will lecture on the develop
ment of styles of acting as direct
Outgrowths of dramatic literature in
lue Saint Mary’s Auditorium on
November 22. Miss Webster, an
Actress of real merit, having Avon
especial fame in the role of Masha
m 2'he Sea Gull and of Mary Mag
dalene in Family Portrait, Avill her-
'^elf illustrate the main points of her
discussion.
iMiss Webster is best knowm as a di
rector of Shakespearean drama, and
oiso as many critics liaA'e acknoAvl-
odged, the only contemporary woman
director of note. In 1939 George
’Can Nathan of Theater Week ac-
kftoAvledged her work as the “Best
.ireetion of the Year,” basing this
station on Miss Webster’s staging
Y Jiamlet, Richard II, and Henry
in partnership with Maurice
^'■I’ans. Miss Webster also directed
uut and Fontaine in The Sea Gull.
^liss Webster is an American by
irth. Her father is Benjamin IVeb-
mcr, a distinguished Shakespearean
and her mother is Dame May
uitty, famous English actress and
of several American movies,
uus lihe many actresses Miss Web-
^ m spent most of her childhood in
?^d around the theater. She played
. first important role at eighteen
Jlornlet with John Barrymore.
House of Connolly
Playmaker Production
Received With Acclaim
The interpretation of man’s
cruelty to man through the histori
cal development of individual na
tions demands not only a critical
point of view but also an unbiased,
restrained presentation. (Man’s in-
bnmanity during a single phase of
history reflects more than the ruth
less injustice of that time. Inhu
manity is of all time a terrifying
embodiment of human intolerance
and greed.
Injustice breeds fAirther injus
tice. Harsh judgment toAvards a
single period in history cwen from
a contemporary jwint of aucav is
dangerous. To condemn the pas-
sionatf' zeal of the Germans who
seek I'eA'cmge and a retAirn to AA'orld
poAver is to condemn in a sense the
inherent nationalism of all men.
We neither condemn nor justify
the causes of this Avar or the nio-
tiA'os of the men Avho guide its
course. Rather Ave deplore those
supposedly conscientious individ-
Aials A\dio in the self-satisfaction
and security of their oaa'ii Hax's re
fuse to accept the responsibility to
do more than talk and deplore
world conditions. Each individual
is a part of those seemingly irre
pressible forces Avhich threaten to
obliterate Imman rights. Let us
have more than passive regret. Let
us combat these forces noAV Avhile
AA'e are strong.
Four City Colleges
Sponsor Appearance
Of Jerold Frederic
Watson Wins Praise As
The Dashing’ Hero
f . amour, I’amour”—yes, m every
1 ®^iuine heart for a solid tAvo hours
W*" Monday night. The Saint
Dramatic Club attended the
Qj ^el Hill version of “The House
Connolly” en masse. This play
^ story of the Old South ably
Pj®rpreted by a score of Carolina
jjj^yuAakers. To our girls, hoAvever,
a
® Sat quietly in our seats, turning
Young American Pianist Plays at
Pullen Hall
Jerold Frederic, spectacular young
American pianist, played to
preciatiA-e audience last night, ihe
concert, Avhich was held in Pullen
Hall at State College, Avas sponsored
by Meredith, Peace, Saint Marys,
and State College.
Mr. Frederic played in a strik
ingly original style. Tirades of tone
marked the interpretation of most of
his selections. His soft, melodic
tones, however, lacked fullness and
Avere often oA-ershadoAved by a too
heavy bass. His failure to achieve
proper tone-balance betAveen the
hands resulted in many melodic pas
sages unconvincing either in melodic
beauty or in natural harmony. Ihese
qualitiesAvere especially eAudent in his
opening number, a Liszt transcrip
tion of Bach’s Grandes Variations.
Technically Mr. Frederic was
much more of an artist. His runs,
played at a rather amazing speed,
were smooth and effortless. Liszts
transcription of the Chopin Chant
Polonaise, Avhich he included m his
second group, displayed his technical
control and ability rather well.
Mr. Frederic’s interpretation ot
tAVO Chopin nocturnes Avas the most
conventional of his aaEoIb program.
Unlike his Liszt selections, they Avere
not dramatic, but were played with
restraint and quietness.
The real key to an analysis of
Mr Frederic’s style Avas in his play
ing of a Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody.
Ill this Avork aloiie did all his tone
seem justified, and he achicA'ed, in a
very real sense, an orchestral effect.
SAINT MARY’S BEGINS
VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN
FOR AID TO BRITAIN
Aim to Reach Goal of $1,000 By
April 1, 1941
First Civic Concert
Presents Rubinstein
World Famous Pianist
Enthusiastic Crowd Hears Rendi
tion of Classics
Artur Rubinstein, Avorld famous
pianist, played to a capacity house
ill the first of the series of concerts
presented by the Raleigh Civic
Music Association in the Memorial
Auditorium on November 12.
Critics liaA’e cited Mr. Rubinstein
as a most perfect technician, but
haA-e qualified their praise by saying
that his restrained playing lacks
emotional feeling. In his Raleigh
program Mr. Rubinstein included
fcAV selections Avhich Avere in the
truest sense dependent upon the emo
tional make-up of the artist. For
the most part he chose Avorks of
great technical difficulty and bril
liance.
Mr. Rubinstein opened his pro
gram with Busoni’s piano transcrip
tion of Bach’s Toccata in C major,
Avritten originally to display the
technique of the performing organ
ist. Mr. Rubinstein’s interpretation
Avas indeed magnificent, for the very
nature of the work demands perfect
execution. To conclude his first
group Mr. Rubinstein chose Bee-
thoA’en’s “Appassioiiata” Sonata.
Most outstanding in the second
part of the program was Mr. Rubin
stein’s rendition of four works by
Chopin. His playing of the A flat
major valse was especially notable,
for aside from its technical nature
this AA’ork demands a decided rhyth
mical acuteness.
Other Avorks included on the pro
gram Avere three modern composi
tions by Isaac Albeniz.
A campaign for British War Re
lief began at Saint Mary’s during
assembly on November 8, Avith pleas
Amiced by Elizabeth Toepleman,
Miss Nell Battle Lewis, and Mrs.
Cruikshank.
As Elizabeth Toepleman, presi
dent of the Political Science Club,
explained the project to the student
body, money is to be raised through
voluntary pledges by individuals,
through entertainments giA'en by va
rious organizations in the school,
and through vohnitary contributions
collected at other affairs sponsored
by the students. This money Avill be
sent to England to be used to buy
surgical supplies and to provide for
the homeless. The goal, set at
$1,000, must be reached by April 1,
1941.
Miss Nell Battle LeA\ds, Avho is an
admitted “pro-Britisher,” endorsed
this plan as a means of fostering
interest and sympathy for a Avorthy
cause. “England is defending ideals
near and dear to us,” Miss Lervis
declared. “Our Christian religion
and constitutional liberty are the
tAvo moral elements of controversy
of the Avar.”
“The s])irit of the British in the
defense of London is one of the
greatest things in human history.”
Quoting from her neAvspaper col
umn, Incidentally, she stated that
Avar is always the test of the strength
ol a nation; just as adA-ersity is the'
test of a man. The noble spirit of
the British and the remarkable Avar
in Avhich they have risen above their
problems might, according to Miss
LeAvis, set a worthy example for all
Americana. “Let us give them ad
miration, gratitnde, and a silent
prayer,” she continued. The speaker
pleaded that by helping Britain noAv
Americans might save the lives of
many young men, Avhose fates ai-e
hanging in the balance during this
crisis. Miss LcAvis closed her plea
with the awe-inspiring lines of “The
Spires of Oxford.”
Following Miss LcAvis, Mrs. Cruik
shank gave her support to the under
taking and expressed her faith in the
generosity of Saint Mary’s girls.
She announced that the British War
Relief campaign Avould get under
way Avith a talk by Governor Hoey.
The^ talk Avill be held in the school
auditorium on November 20, and the
voluntary contribution to be collect
ed there Avill be the school’s first
effort^ toAvard saving the lives of
Britain’s homeless and Avounded.