Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 147, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1916 — KING HENRY IV PRESENTED AT COLLEGE [ARTICLE]

KING HENRY IV PRESENTED AT COLLEGE

Large Audience Witnesses Annual Play Given By St. Joe—Many Visitors Being Entertained. The first event of commencement week at St. Joseph’s College took place Monday ’night, being a presentation of Shakespeare’s King Henry IV. A crowd of nearly 700 persons greeted the student actors, who were warm in their appreciation -of the manner .in which it was produced. A band concert by the Rensselaer band preceded the play. The college authorities appreciated very greatly the help thus extended as many of the members of their own band had parts in the play. The college campus 4sespecially beautiful at this season and with the drives and walks thronged with automobiles and people and brilliantly lighted, it presented a pleasing picture indeed. John Cherry, of the class of ’l6, gave the address of welcome, mentioning the fact that the occasion celebrated the 25th anniversary of their alma mater and the 400th an.niversaryspf the birth of the great author of the historical drama pre seated. , ~—- —— The college orchestra rendered pleasing orchestral selections betweei acts knd a violin solo by John MeGahey evoked prolonged applaust from the audience. The following is' a synopsis of the play: After Boling,broke has deposed Richard II of England and ascended the throne as Henry IV, he seeks a time of peace to go on his long-con-templated crusade, but it dissuaded by the news of uprisings and battles in Wales and Scotland. The Scots under the command of Douglas make an incursion and at Holmedon suffer defeat by the English forces of Northumberland’s son, Henry Percy, the famous Hotspur of history. The king no sooner hears of the victory than he demands the prisoners. These Hotspur is unwilling to give up unless the king will ransom Percy’s kinsman, Mortimer. They quarrel; anti Hotspur sends his prisoners home without ransom and plots with both the Scots and the Welsh to overthrow the sovereign he had so recently helped to seat.

The madcap pranks and dissolute companions of the Prince of Wales are a source of anxiety to his father. The Prince’s boon companion is a corpulent warrior, Sir John Falstaff, who wars mainly with his tongue and the wine bottle. Falstaff and three companions rob some travelers on the highway and are set upon in turn by the Prince and one comrade in disguise, who put them to flight, and when later Falstaff would boast of his imaginary encounter with innumerable foes the Prince has a hearty laugh at his-expense. His merriment is interrupted by news from the coui-t of Hotspur’s rising in the north. The Prince immediately his royal father of his intention to be more worthy of the title of Pimce and is entrusted with a wing of the army that is proceeding against Hotspur. Hotspur is disadvantaged by the non-arrival of bodies of troops counted on by him from his father and from Wales. Neverthless he encamps at Shrewsbury and resolves on instant battle when the royal troops approach. The King leads his army in person, and before Shrewsbury holds parley with the rebels, to whom he promises pardon if they will lay down their arms. But Hotspur is misinformed of the terms of the parley and gives battle. In the spirited and decisive contest the rebels are defeated. Hotspur is slain by the Prince —though credit is claimed by the rascally Faistaff for the death—and King Henry begins to realize the true worth of his valiant son. ■The leading parts were taken by the following persons: King Henry IV—Mathias Lause. Prince of Wales—Theodore Fettig. Sir John Falstaff—John Bruni. Hotspur —Robert Loughrey. There will be a band concert this Tuesday afternoon and the dedicatory exercises in the gymnasium. This evening there will .be a banquet with covers laid for two hundred. Visitors numbering more than two hundred are being entertained at the college.