University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Montana Masquers Event Programs, 1913-1978 University of Montana Publications 11-16-1955 Othello, 1955 Montana State University (Missoula, Mont.). Montana Masquers (Theater group) Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/montanamasquersprograms Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Montana State University (Missoula, Mont.). Montana Masquers (Theater group), "Othello, 1955" (1955). Montana Masquers Event Programs, 1913-1978. 105. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/montanamasquersprograms/105 This Program is brought to you for free and open access by the University of Montana Publications at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Montana Masquers Event Programs, 1913-1978 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. William Shakespeare's Fifty-First Season MONTANA MASQUERS Present William Shakespeare's OTHELLO LEROY W. HINZE, Director CLEMEN M. PECK, Designer and Technical Director •Original Music by MONROE C. DEJARNETTE CAST PRODUCTION STAFF In Order of Appearance Assistant to the Director....Sheila Sullivan Roderigo...............................................Harold Hansen Production Manager for touring company Stage Manager ..................... Ray Halubka | Iago............................................William Nye Electrician .......... ...................Bruce Cusker Brabantio ................................Bruce Cusker Assisted by ....................Gerald Wolfard Servant to Brabantio ..............Dick Riddle Properties..............................James Myhre Costume Mistresses........Sheila Sullivan, Othello ............................. Carroll O’Connor Beth Briggs Cassio ............................... Clifford Hopkins House Managers.............. Heather McLeod, Tempi Brown Soldiers........... Silver Chord, James Myhre Make-up.............................. Whitney Hines, Duke.........................Robert Higham Marjorie Edmondson Scenery Construction...... Tempi Brown, Senator ................................ Richard Howell Heather McLeod, Shirley Richmond, Desdemona ................Marjorie Edmondson Wilma Dilks, George Arnold, Duane Rowley, Marilyn Strickfadden, James Montano .............................. Richard Howell Myhre, Craig White, Gayla North, Neve- Emilia...................................Whitney Hines da Bonard. Box Office Manager, Marilyn Strickfadden Bianca ........................................Beth Briggs Program Cover by, Nancy Fields O’Connor Lodovico .................................... Dick Riddle Ushers ....................................................Spurs Gratiano...............................Robert Higham Theater Secretary....Marilyn Strickfadden SETTING Scenes are set in Venice and Cyprus. There will be a ten-minute intermission between Parts I and II. 'Copyright applied for. THE MISSOULA DRUG FIRST NATIONAL BANK COMPANY OF MISSOULA Higgins and Front Montana’s Oldest Bank Established 1873 OTHELLO.... The Directors . From its first known performance (before King LEROY W. HINZE, chairman of the drama depart­ James in 1604) to the record-shattering run of the Mar­ ment, has been director of the University Theatre garet Webster productions of 1943 (with Paul Robeson since 1947. lie holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin and and JosS Ferrer as Othello and Tago), this most success­ Cornell Univer­ ful of all Shakespeare’s plays has had a brilliant stage sity, and he has history. The role of Desdemona was the first ever done additional played by a woman on the English stage; and through graduate work at the years those of Othello and Iago have attracted such the University of a galaxy of stars as Garrick, Kemble, Kean. Irving, Illinois. Mr. Hinze Booth, Olivier—to name but a few. was director of The tragic story of Desdemona and the Moor, which community drama appeared in crudest outline in a. collection of tales by at the University Giraldi Cinthio (Venice, 1566), was the immediate of Wisconsin and source of the plot. But through the humanizing artistry a Rockerfellow at of Shakespeared the theme became universal, the psy­ Cornell before chology of the passions sound, the intrigue and denoue­ joining the staff at Montana State ment realistic and plausible. As the play opens amid University. He has exciting military preparations arising from Turkish directed 25 pro­ attacks upon the island of Malta (obviously influenced ductions at the by Marlowe’s popular play, The Jew of Malta, which University, includ­ was reproduced in London in 1603), one is led to expect ing “Macbeth,” a orama of warfare and heroic deeds. At the beginning LEROY W. HINZE Director “The Imaginary of Act II, however, a gentleman appears with the news, Invalid,” “Win­ “Our wars are done,” and the play becomes a pitiful terset,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Barber of domestic drama (having much in common, in fact, with Seville,” “La Boheme,” “Cavalieria Rusticana,” “I Heywood’s Woman Killed with Kindness, the first gen­ Pagliacci,” “Liliom,” “The Lady’s Not for Bhrn- uine domestic tragedy, which also appeared in 1603). ing,” and “The Taming of the Shrew.” From this point on, the Greek unities are observed, and trie unfolding tragedy is considered Shakespeare’s most perfectly constructed play. Othello, a professional soldier who has charmed Des­ demona with tales of adventure, well exemplifies Aris­ CLEMEN M. PECK, designer and technical director totle’s tragic hero—a great and good man marred by of the University Theatre, is a native Montanan. He the tragic flaw of naivete, of immaturity, of being un­ has major degrees from Montana State College and able to penetrate beneath the surface in dealing with the State Univer­ pon-military situations. “The Moor is of a free and sity of Iowa, and open nature, that thinks men honest that but seem to has done addition­ [be so.” But there is nothing naive about “honest” al work at the Chi­ Iago, to whom everyone in the play turns for comfort cago Art Institute, and advice in time of need. Descended from the Ma­ University of chiavellian hero (or, rather, from the contemporary idea Pennsylvania, and of the Machiavellian villain, somewhat different from the International the original) through Barabas in the Jew of Malta, Iago School of Art in in his soliloquies shows quite plainly the reasons for his Mexico. He did villainy—wounded vanity, wounded pride, as Othello commercial art has achieved success publicy and privately which Iago work, two years, for the American thinks his own due. As to Desdemona, her guilt lies in Crayon Company disloyalty to a rigid code of ethics, in disobeying her of Sandusky, Ohio, father to marry the Moor. ‘ ‘ Look to her, Moor, if thou taught art, twelve hast eyes to see,” says Brabantio regretfully after the years, at Great elopement; “She has deceived her father, and may Falls high school, thee.” Emilia’s loyalty to Desdemona never wavers, is and was Technical underlined even in death when she parodies the death Director, 10 years; of her mistress, singing a bit of the “Willow Song.” at Temple Univer­ For as Iago’s diabolic intrigue works upon Othello’s sity, Philadelphia. jealousy, it brings to destruction all the chief persons CLEMEN M. PECK Mr. Peek was de­ Designer in the drama; and: one is left with a feeling of grief at Technical Director signer and tech­ the futility of it all, poignantly expressed by Othello nical director, six himself—“0 Iago, the pity of it, Iago!” summers, for the Virginia City Players. He has de­ signed and been technical director for more than 130 NAN COOKE CARPENTER plays and musicals. The Cast. Carroll O’Connor, Bruce Cusker,I' an- who plays the title other veteran per­ role OTHELLO, is former with! the a graduate assist­ Montana masquers ant in the MSU who was on tour speech depart­ with the Ur iver- ment. He is well sity theatre group known on the last year, p 1 ays Irish stage where BRABANTIO. His he appeared for hometown is Mis- two years with the soula and his eol- internationally fa­ lege major is edu­ mous Dublin Gate cation. Mr. Cusker Theatre Company appeared previous­ —starting point ly as Grumiol for the careers of “The Taming of Geraldine Fitzger­ the Shrew,” ald, Orson Welles, Mercury in “J im- James Mason, and phitryon 38,” and other stage per­ as Matt hie w sonalities. In 1951 Skipps in “The Mr. 0 ’Connor BRUCE CUSKER Lady’s Not for played at the CARROLL O’CONNOR Burning.’? He is Edinburgh Fes­ also electrician for the Othello touring company. I tival of Music and Drama with an Abbey Play­ ers touring company under the direction of Len­ nox Robinson. He has appeared on Irish radio, BBC-TV in London, and on the Kraft Television Theatre in New York. Mr. O’Connor was an un­ dergraduate and a member of Montana Masquers on the MSU campus in 1948 and 1949, though he received his B. A. degree from University College Dublin. He was seen here in “Life With Father,” “Winterset,” “Antigone,” and “Our Town.” Marjorie Edmondson, cast as DESDEMONA, is a Whitney Hines, Billings, a senior in drama, has been senior in drama from Sidney. She previously at­ in the theatre since the age of 5. She plays EMILIA in tended MacMurray College, Jacksonville, Illinois, “Othello,” and was on the state tour with the troupe Colorado Univer- last year as the sity, Boulder, Widow in “The Colo., and worked Taming of the for radio station Shrew.” Miss K O A, Denver. Hines is a veteran