1928 - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Yearbook Collection
Miss Katherine J. Burns
A brightly lighted stage .... actors entering and exiting in their parts . . . swift
action or quiet, sedate conversations finally the last word, the last gesture,
and the curtain descending for the last time.
That is a play—the culmination in a few short hours of weeks of preparation and
rehearsing, of weeks of acting the same scenes over and over, adding, subtracting, or
remodeling the sections, in order to achieve the nearest possible point to perfection.
That is the finished product, but in the weeks of polishing up and perfecting lies the
success or failure of that production.
To Miss Katherine Burns, director of dramatics in East High School goes the task
of tutoring senior actors during the weeks of preparation, and of getting out of them
the most and the best that they can give. Judging by the reception accorded the senior
presentations, she has done the taks admirably well. To Miss Katherine Burns, therefore,
should go most of the credit for the success of the senior class farces and plays
presented in this school.
Under the direction of Miss Burns, four plays were produced by the 192.8 graduating
classes. The Class of January 192.8 started off well with "At the End of the Rainbow,"
and soon followed with "Just Out of College." June 192.8 reverted to more serious
light comedy in "Seventeen" and "You Never Can Tell." The latter play is considered
rather difficult for a high school production, but the ability of the cast is carrying
off the action so smoothly seems to have exploded that theory.
The Class of January iyiy rounded out the dramatic season with "The Charm
School," a comedy.
Besides the four class plays mentioned, there was one production staged in the
school auditorium of undeniable merit, and deserving of praise. For two nights the
accomplished actors from among the faculty graced the stage in their annual alfair,
the "Faculty Revels," which consisted of one drama, two comedies, and several
short numbers. The ponderous task of directing these determined thespians fell upon
Erie Remington, talented English teacher, talented actor. Everyone who saw the
"Revels" realized that he did extremely well, both in the matter of acting and in the
matter of directing.
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