Staging "Heartbreak House"

The fifth - and we assume final - in a series of articles about Bellairs performing with the College of Saint Teresa Drama Department.

John Bellairs began teaching at the College of Saint Teresa in Winona, Minnesota, in September 1963 and soon began participating in plays produced by the college's drama department.

"Heartbreak House" is a play written by George Bernard Shaw and published in 1919 [1].  Members of the College of Saint Teresa Speech and Drama Department performed the play in the spring of 1965.

The play had "two successful New York productions, four major successes in Britain and one in Paris. Its last major production in the United States was by Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre in 1938." [2]

Performances

The play was performed on four subsequent nights, starting at 8 p.m.[3]

• Sunday, February 14
• Monday, February 15
• Tuesday, February 16
• Wednesday, February 17

The production was staged in the college auditorium. The setting is a room "built to resemble the afterpart of an old-fashioned high-pooped ship with a stern galley. The room is on two levels with the Captain's drafting table on a level joining them. Bay windows center with window seat - French doors and single leading to the garden. Final act takes place in the garden." [3]

Cast

Faculty

• John Bellairs - Boss Arthur Mangan
• Norbert Geier - Hector Hushabye
• John Marzocco - Captain Shotover

Crew

• Eileen Whalen - director [4]

Reviews

• "John Bellairs was cast in the role of boss Mangan, the 'captain of industry,' but he played it the same way he seems to play any part in which he is cast - with a great deal of eyerolling and grimacing.  It is quite amusing the first time one sees it." [5]
• In an undated letter to Dale and Marilyn Fitschen (c. Feb.-Mar.), Bellairs mentions a review in the Winona Daily News commenting on his role [6]. One assumes this Feb. 15 article is the review in question.
• "The various English accents that Miss Whalen had most ot the cast use were at least consistent.  Marzocco did not use any, and this proved to be wise. Technically, the play was staged well, and its costuming was often gorgeous. [Randell Utterword actor Gerald] Wadien should note, however, that an upper-class English gentleman in full evening attire would not have his socks hanging about his ankles in our Midwestern fashion." [5]

References

• [1] Wikipedia: Heartbreak House
• [2] "Cast Rehearsing at Saint Teresa for Shaw Drama"; Winona Daily News; Feb. 7, 1965.
• [3] "Teresan Players to Present Shaw". Winona Daily News, Jan. 28, 1965.
• [4] "'Heartbreak House' Run Opens Tonight". Winona Daily News, Feb. 14, 1965.
• [5] "Shaw's Wit Come Across in Drama", George McCormick; Winona Daily News; Feb. 15, 1965.
• [6] Correspondence with Marilyn Fitschen.

(Above) This scene from Heartbreak House seems to indicate all is peaceful and serene but... Heartbreak House was given by the College of Saint Teresa in 1965. John Bellairs is the dozing figure seated in the front of the window (p. 189, College of Saint Teresa Aldine, 1965).

(Above) Mr. John Marzocco, Speech and Drama Department, the Captain, rouses Dr. Norbert Geier, English Department, from a restful nap in Heartbreak House directed by Miss Eileen Whalen of the Drama Department (College of Saint Teresa Aldine, 1965).