PLAYERS MASKED
UNIQUE PRODUCTION by
B.C. COLLEGE OF ARTS
Students of the stage-craft and theatre-arts classes of the
B.C. College of Arts made their bow to the Vancouver
public Thursday night, when they presented their first play, a modern adaption
of Ben Jonson's comedy, "Volpone."
Cleverly original in stage setting and in costuming, the play was staged in the
main studio of the college, 1233-39 West Georgia Street, before a large audience.
It was probably the first occasion on which "rare Ben Jonson" has been revived in a
Vancouver Theatre. It was certainly the first time in which a masked play has been
presented in the city. And it was the first in which three-dimensional stage settings
have been used.
"What fools money makes of men. They'd sell the Almighty if they could lay hands on gold."
Thus Mosca, the Gadfly, personal attendant on Volpone, wealthy and foxy Venetian, gives
the keynote of the play in one of his speeches.
Volone, aided by Mosca, works on this weakness of men. He plays at death to bring more
money to his overflowing coffers.
THE BLIGHT OF GOLD
He proves that men will give up those they hold dearest if there is sufficient gold to
induce them. Cleverly he weaves the web to catch them, but unexpectedly he is caught in
his own web. And Mosca, the Gadfly, the Puck of the play, is left to laugh at them all,
Volpone and his grasping, greedy friends.
Guy Glover, who interpreted the part of Mosca, carried off the
major honors. His performance was exceedingly clever giving just the right impression of
airiness and clever cunning.
Jack Avison was a realistic, foxy Volpone, making apt use of
his hands as well as his voice in interpreting the part.
Also excellent in their roles were
E. Clegg as Voltore, the vulture;
Alex. Dalgleish as Corvino, the raven;
John Varley as Corbaccio, the crow;
Leslie Planta as Leone, the lion;
Edith Paull as Canina;
Alice Bailey as Colomba, the dove;
and Barbara West as the judge.
Minor roles were well portrayed by
John Verril (sic),
Jimmy Dickie,
Orville Fisher,
Berna Moore,
Dorothy Bedlington,
Edith Limon,
Paul Goranson,
Betty Pike,
and Glen Woodside.
CLEVER MASKS
Especially clever were the masks worn by the players throughout the play and which
were designed by B. Brooks,
A. Bryant, K. Clark,
P. Falk, E. Green,
A. Hillier, M. Jessiman,
O. Kerr, Edith Limon,
R. Moore, N. Nelles,
L. Ross, and P. Sully.
An unusual feature of the play was the manner in which the scenes were rapidly
changed before the eyes of the audience. In one, a bed shoved up against the wall
became on the reverse side a window altar.
The use of music, both orchestral and vocal, and the subdued lighting, all
added to the attractiveness.
"Volpone," which was directed by Isabell Wintemute
with Hazel Moore in charge of scenic arrangements,
will be repeated at the college studio tonight and Saturday.
D.S.M.
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