This production of "The Gift of Eternal Life" by Albert Herter was staged at the old Lobero Theatre on March 20, 21, 22 and 23, 1929. The theatre, built in 1871, had been renovated just four years earlier.
In the original playbill Albert Herter gave some acknowledgments. "Mr. Herter wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness primarily to L. Adams Beck, the well-known Orientalist, for the theme of this legend and for much of its imagery; and also to Rabindranath Tagore, and to Ananda Coomaraswamy, for several lines from their writings which he has put into his own verse. An even greater debt he owes to Mrs. Jerome Chaffee, Mrs. John Frederick Murphy, and their many helpers, for their able interpretation of his costume-designs; to Douglas Parshall, John Dwight Bridge, Hartwell Ayles and W. F. Marquette, for their rendering of his sketches for the sets; and to many, many others for their untiring work on jewelry, properties, and other accessories. He wishes, in this place, to thank with profound gratitude and appreciation all those, who through their generous co-operation, have made this production possible - a labor of love and altruistic devotion to a Community effort."
Mr. Herter also gave a quote: "Send then thy Golden Messenger to free mortality from fear, since even fools now know the full futility of everlasting life on earth."
Cast
Name | Role |
---|---|
Albert Herter | The King |
Catherine Wills | The Queen |
Margaret Pigott | Gunga |
David Imboden | The Pangeran |
Martha Foster | Ahalya, Dancer |
Lutah Riggs | Ferouda |
Ratan Devi | Imami, Overture |
Ruth St. Denis | Rabia |
Nanette Beals | Fa Fa |
William Hamilton | Fazuldin (An Arab) |
Alden Burrell | Il-Abdeslam, Attendant |
Sylvia Cram | Namouna (A Dancer) |
Thornton Woodbury | A Hindu |
Laura Breske | Arab Girl |
Yale B. Griffith | Another Arab |
Alfred Jarecki | A Third Arab |
Jack Dalton | A Persian |
Doris Howard | Chanting Woman |
Martha Baxter | Chanting Woman |
Andriette Bowen | Chanting Woman, Other Arab/Persian |
John Burton | A Messenger |
Winslow Bushnell | First Attendant |
Richard Romaine | Second Attendant |
Roderick Show | Third Attendant, Persian, Attendant of the Pangeran |
Jack Dalton | Attendant |
Maurice Soloman | Attendant of the Pangeran, Attendant |
Gabe Spaulding | Attendant |
John Tucker | Little Bearer of the Pangeran, Attendant |
Roger Casier | Attendant, Other Arab/Persian |
James Mentry | Little Bearer of the Pangeran, Attendant |
Joe Egus | Little Bearer of the Pangeran, Attendant |
H. F. Bailey | Little Bearer of the Pangeran, Attendant |
George McConnel | A Merchant |
Forrest Travis | Page |
Martin Setter | Page |
Mariah Curtis Pettingell | Lesser Wife, "Woman Servant" |
Nienke Niedermuller | Lesser Wife |
Lora Kimball Tilton | Lesser Wife |
Mercedes Mahon | Lesser Wife |
Margary Lewis | Dancer |
Iola Bauhaus | Dancer |
Ruth Reynolds | Dancer |
Hazel van Nostrand | Dancer |
Marion Morris | Dancer |
Genevieve Peake | Dancer |
Athea White | Attendant |
Virginia Edwards | Attendant |
Katherine Curran | Attendant |
Zoella Gabbert | Attendant |
Beulah Smith | Attendant |
Marvin Breckinridge | Attendant |
Ella Scarborough | Attendant |
Adele Miles | Attendant |
Marian Osborn | Attendant |
Augusta Trimble | Attendant |
Mary Haley | Attendant |
Naomi Kerr | Attendant |
Helen Diehl | Attendant |
Peggy Carroll | Attendant |
Catherine Green | Attendant |
Margaret Bailey | Attendant |
Helen Cooley | Attendant |
Molly Gray | Attendant |
Dot Pugh | Attendant |
H. F. Saxauer | Other Arab/Persian |
Elizabeth Peck | Other Arab/Persian |
Mary Graham | Other Arab/Persian |
Marjorie Jarecki | Other Arab/Persian |
Nan Ware | Other Arab/Persian |
Sima Seltzer | Arab Dancer |
Alexandra White | Arab Dancer |
Marianne Peck | Arab Dancer |
Irma Baker | Arab Dancer |
Nancy Means | Arab Dancer |
Joseph B. Wheelwright | Musician |
Harwood White | Musician |
Loring Andrews | Musician |
Cornell Trowbridge | Musician |
Eleanor Diestel | Deva |
Helen Burton | Deva |
Olivia Long Converse | Deva |
Caroline Herter Bridge | Deva |
Staff
Name | Position |
---|---|
Community Arts Association | Producer |
Albert Herter | Playwright |
Charles H. Meredith | Managing Director |
Wilbert Hodgson | Stage Manager |
Mrs. Alonzo Klaw | Production Chairman |
Mrs. Jerome Chaffee | Costumes |
Mrs. Archie Edwards | Properties |
Lyle Smith | Electrician |
Brainerd Beckwith | Publicity Director |
Albert Herter | Setting Design |
Wilbert Hodgson | Set Construction |
Lyle Smith | Set Construction |
Miss Elizabeth Peck | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Margaret Garland | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. John Frederick Murphy | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. H. P. Moseley | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Wallace Frost | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. George Dalton | Costumes Assistant |
Miss Edith Lamm | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Dwight Bridge | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Jack Burton | Costumes Assistant |
Miss Marian Peck | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Alonzo Klaw | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. George Baker | Costumes Assistant |
Miss Ann Woodward | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Otto Neidermuller | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Pettingell | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. George Tilton | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Mary Trask | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Louis Patten | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Gartrell | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Robert E. Easton | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Eugene Patterson | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. George McConnell | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Richard Smitherem | Costumes Assistant |
Mrs. Roy Jones | Properties Assistant |
Mrs. Eleanor Diestel | Properties Assistant |
Mrs. Donald Myrick | Properties Assistant |
Mrs. Helen Holman | Properties Assistant |
Miss Marion Lincoln | Properties Assistant |
Mr. W. F. Marquette | Properties Assistant |
Miss Ingeborg Praetorius | Jewelry |
Miss Lydia Herter | Jewelry |
Miss Elizabeth Hunter | Jewelry |