The Washington herald., 1909-04-25
College Theatrieals.

Your college man, being a versatile
person. takes time occasionally from the
demands of the classroom, the rostrum.
and the campus TO show to the outside
world the measure OF his attainments
in the field Of dramatic art. So. donning
the sock and buskin. he struts his
brief hour upon the stage, very much 10
his own satisfaction. the edIhcation of his
family and friends. and the amusement.
in varying degrees and kinds, Of the
general public
Since the day when an older generation
went TO college and mouthed the sOnorOus
lines Of "Rlchelieu" and Hamlet" upon
the little stage In the familiar han where
commencement exercises were held and
distinguished visitors made much OF. col
lege theatricals. like athletics, have
grown and developed in Importance and
in advertising, II not intrinsic value. IN
til they are now become a highly or
ganlzed system fulfilling a recognized
function in the various activities Of uni
versity life The putting on Of a col
lege play IS q good deal more Of q bust
ness matter than II was when you and I
used 70 practice our classic parts under
the tutelage Of an earnest. but none too
capable instructor. and the scenery OF
last years Richard III VAS resurrected
furnished 10. and repainted. and made 20
do honorable service for this years "A
Celebrated Case" To-day. particularly IN
the larger universities. Shakespeare and
fellows Of that FIX are mostly thrown in
the dust heap, with the old worn-ou;
scenery. by the college dramatic club.
An Up-to-dste musical comedy. written
BY students. IS made the medium Of their
expression Of the art, professional coaches
are employed 10 train the cast in their
parts and make the production as near
perfect as possible in every detail. the
youthful thsspians enter into the thing
with heart and soul. giving without re-
serve Of their energy and time 10 fhe
work: and when all preparations have
been completed the college company. like
its professional prototype. tours the coun-
Try and gives a finished performance to
crowded houses They co not send out
invitations. as did those Of a former day.
but advertise IN the accepted manner
by poster and press agent. charge 8 a
seat, and appear 20 be willing TO stand
or fall on their merits. Lovers OF the
theater pay the price eheerfully and gen
orally get their moneys worth.
Princeton. with its Triangle Club. and
Pennsylvania, with its Mask and Wig
Club. are. of all the universities. best
known TO Washington for their renditions
OF musical comedy Columbia. Yale. Dart
mouth, and many others each year pro-
duce creditable plays OF this character.
Harvard, in keeping with lis classic tradi-
tions and standing in the world % cul-
tUre. has boldly and laudabiy essayed
the Greek drama. and with goodly
measure Of success; bat the tragedies %
Sophocles and Euripides are somewhat
heavy diet for popular consumption. If
the Cambridge students should go on the
road with 'Oed1pus. the King. they might
draw audiences by paying the people 10
come. bat hardly by charging admission.
And this is no reflection on either Oedi-
pus or Harvard
While IL is perhaps 10 he deplored that
the college man with dramatic ambitions
does not direct MS energies toward the
Interpretation Of something higher than
the ephemeral musical show. yet it may
be urged that in no sort Of theatrical
offering Is he able 10 appear 10 better
advantage. Low comedy. singing and
dancing, rather than Shakespeare and
Sheridan. seem 20 Fl IN most aptiy with
tie college Temperament. II there he such
thing And. after all. The Duchess OF
Bluffshire. artisticaIly enacted. is more
delectable. and. possibly. more uplifting
than Hamlet butchered to make q col
lege holiday. What We should Ike 10 see
would be an avoidance OF either extreme
and an attempt az the most excellent
lighter dramas OF the modern school.
We wonder what the Triangle Club could
do with a Clyde Fitch comedy?