Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-08-22
COLLEGE AND THE DRAMA.

One of the most suggestive articles for the month carries the above title. and is published in Appleton's Maga- zine for September.
 ''Of all the changes" says the ai- thor which recent years have mark ed in our colleges and universities, by way of expanded curriculums anl broader social activities, none Is more significant than the new attitude to- ward the drama. change which manifests itself alike upon the scho- lastic and the social side Of colleg" life.
 .The yicissitudes of the college theater have resembled those of the theater at large. From medieval days, logged into submission or living in permitted lawlessness. the student ever has been the actor and play wright. Supposedly suppressed. the drama of his world has thrived in se- cret. as In the outer world under Puri- tan rule. and. because secret. has de- yenrated. Time was, as now, when teachers and pupils united in its ere ation and support. Until Cromwelrs day. Oxford and Cambridge entertain ed their royal guests by dramatic per formances directed by learned doe tors and the master of Arts. thelr colleges surpassing the facilities even of the London theaters. and their stu dents forming the sanest of existing companies of players.
 "American colleges had no early experience with theatricals. All were governed by theological interests, and were. indeed training schools for the pupil. Love of learning. save as a means to an end, was rare. During a revolt against the narrowness of laws and life. dramatics were born amid the resulting excesses. and, although bitterly opposed or treated as if non- existent. in reality secretly increased Even less than century ago a college presidents would have shamed the heathern's rage. could he hay dream ed of to-day's professors ? ,ncing in white fiannels across the te shis court or dellghting in directing the reiiear- sals of a play by Congreve.
 Theatrical freedom, nevertheless led further: dramatic clubs at sev. eral colleges. notably Harvari. Co. lumbia. Princeton. and Pennsylvania appearing in professionally coached musical extravaganza. the words. ly- rics. and scores often the work ot undergraduates. Many were cleverly concoctsd and skiIlfully interpreted hut they seldom rose above music. hall stiffness. and although the facination of college theatricals on this sumptuous scale is admitted and none hut a 'rnucker' woul1 decry tbs road tours social doings. their general influence was to be deplored. Inc u,ore serious undertaking of tho classics under direct faculty super vision originated with Harvards sue. ceSsful pru.iucfion 0f the 'Oeslipus Ty- rannTs' of SophocIes. arouSinC pro- found interest throughout this. coun. try and in Europe. A quarter cen tury later tlBe classical department again scnred by the presentation of iha greatest of Greek tragedies. the 'AgarnenEuon' of Aerhylus. The cost Iv costumes. moieIesI after paintings on ancient vases. and all the acressor- ies at the cousmand of a wealthy university with arcl.aIc vividness re- produced the first Athenisn prpduc- tion of n1ore than two thou<a1.i years sgo. Tn this and h other re- cpnt instances we find return to the collaboration hetvpen teacher ansi pupil known ia fhe days of TdsIl and cur hrst English comedy
 TheNsufhor of the article in Apple tons goes on to describe the growing