Epic

 

Drama of Father Kino’s Missionary

 

Work Springs to Life on U. of A. Stage

Kermit Hunter’s Play
Has World Premiere
As Festival Event

By REX KING

After nearly two years of plan-
ning, writing and preparation,
the Kermit Hunter script of the
life of Father Kino called “The
Bell and the Plow” came to life
last evening*on the University
of Arizona stage.

The whole production was a
colossal undertaking requiring
the efforts of a small army of
people most of whom never
stepped before a footlight until
last evening. Literally hundreds
of people labored to produce the
show the audience saw last night.

In presenting the Kino epic the
Tucson Festival society hopes to
have a script that can be revived
in succeeding seasons as a part
of the festival.

Director's Chore

Actually the three-hour play
has several integral parts which
Peter Marroney as director had
to bring together into a smooth
working whole. These were the
chorus under the direction of
Harold Porter, the orchestra
directed by Sam Fain _ playing
original music by Jack Frederick
Kilpatrick, the cast of principal
actors,, the mob scenes, and the
various technical crews.

Bringing them all together was
a task of the first magnitude and
if the play creaked at the seams
on occasion last evening it was
the fault of no lack of ability on
any one’s part, but because of not
quite enough rehearsal with
groups that were slow in respond-
ing and a casting jinx that
founded the show until two days
before opening at which time a
major cast change had to be
made.

Gerrish Triumphs

First to the acting on main
tage and first honors to Martin
Gerrish as Father Eusebio Fran-
cisco Kino, the Jesuit priest
whose name is so closely linked
with the history of the southwest
in the very early days.
| Gerrish is a newcomer (com-
pared to some) to the Tucson
stage. His abilities as an actor
Ihave already been proven in
other roles that he played on the
Herring hall stage, but last even-
ing he played a part that would
ax the ability of the best pro-
fessional and Gerrish was equal
to the bo i His portrayal
was reverent and humble yet
shot through with the fire of the
zeal that the Padre on Horseback
must have had. We found that
Geriish supplied the sustaining
quality so badly needed when the
seript became tediously wordy as
it diel on occasion. A most notable
and excellent performance.

Second Honors

For. sheer subtle delivery of
line and excellent characteriza-
tion, second acting honors must
go to George Morency as Father
Pardo. He was outstanding in
this role.

Guy Greene offered a rich full
voice to the role of Atondo, the
admiral of the fleet as well as
a convincing arrogance and ruth-
lessness,

A duo from Herring hall
brought their sterling talents to
the second act of the play. Both
playing priests it might have been
difficult to recognize William Haf-
ford in a red wig playing Father

 

 

Father Kino, at left with the Indian children Francisca and Eusebio, is shown as sketched by
artist Ross Stefan. To the right is Stefan’s impression of Isidro de Atondo y Antillon, an admiral of
the Spanish fleet. Mi

 

 

Mora or Ray Merritt (remember
him in Stalag?) as the Father
Polici. They say that no one is
indispensible in the theatre—but
these two will leave a space hard
to fill when they leave the local
drama scene.
Convincing Part

Playing a straight role very
convincingly was Ross Cope \as

the Viceroy of Mexico, Michael,

Rosenberger
rish well in the part of Father
Goni, and Louis Venturini came
through with not only a conyine-
ing portrayal of the Indian Muse-
bio, but looked the part as’ well,
There are only four speaking
roles for women in the play and
all played ‘their brief moments
well, Only Francisca, the Indian
girl appears in more than one

scene. Played by Norma Steven-%

son it was a fine job of acting in
a difficult role. .

Other principal players were
Paula Mayer, Richard Bruce,
David Henderson, William Reese,
Paul Emerson, Richard Meecham,
Howard Ennis, John Barton, Isa
Stableford, Peggy Kellner (these
two offered most of the little
humor in the play), Arnold Wake
Susan Sanford and Ronald Kalish,

Supporting Roles

Added to these actors were
priests, acolytes, pages, standard
bearers, guests, soldiers, Indians

 

(students from the Tucson Indian
Training school), townspeople,
and dancers (the Wisdom
dancers).

The singers added much to the
production and the orchestra did
much, to tie the show together

-from scene to scene as well as add

color to many of the scenes.
The list of people who added
their talents to the show is much

 

too long to be includéd.here but
a few will speak for them all.

Robert Burroughs for the sets,
Gene Lafferty for the lights, Fair-
fax Walkup for her costumes.

“The Bell and the Plow” will
play for two more nights at the
auditorium and no Tucsonan
should miss this easy way to bond
up on the history of the south
west.

 
\

Ghe Artzona Batly Star me BA

Wed., April 28, 1954 Tucson, Arizona |
H

Two hundred and sixty-two years ago much of our land was a
valley of parched earth, raw men and dusty dreams.

Into that valley of lost hopes rode the first white
man, wearing a black robe and carrying a bright cross.
“With him he brought a bell, a plow... and the stars, _

The man was Father Kino, founder of San Xavier
Mission. The bell was the Bell of Faith that rings

in every man's heart... once it has been heard,

The plow was the Bice of work. Work to build the
land: homes for the people and a Holy House for

their Father, who came to live with them.

The stars were our future. The future of Tucson, which today

S ceeteemenenenl i

proudly looks up,af the stars and sees a land

grown enchantine , dowed with faith and enriched by God's
lovely light and blessed with such fine people.

To Father Kino, our eternal thanks for his Bell,
his Plow and his Stars.

vb

Great Ameri Can UN ten NY al ei Steinfeld’s, which has pioneered in the cultural advancement

ae Peery of the southwest for the past 100 years, is proud to salute

mi é j
‘ Pong ~Y. Tucson’s Tohono Festival and the world premiere of
Ci ele br at Ing ye aah S with Tucson | “The Bell and the Plow,” epic drama by wae Mites ; =
mre «Ra

to be presented at the University of Arizona Auditorium,
April 28, 29, 30th. Don’t miss it?!

UP SUNSHINE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!
§