The San Francisco call., 1909-04-06
PAINTING SCENES
FOR CONSTANTINE"
Artist 0'SuIIivan Preparing a
Magnificent Setting for
SOuth's Play
Famous CatacOmbs of Rome to
Figure in Santa Clara Col
Iege Production

OF assistants in painting the scenery
for the forthcoming production of Con
stantine" at Santa Clara college. has
completed the massive setting of the
catacombs, which win be one of the
strikingly original scenes of the spec
tacular play.
The famous underground cemeteries
Of Rome, that furnished a refuge for
the Nazarenes in the first three CEN
turies Of the Christian era have never
before figured in a production on the
public stage, and the artist has made
a conscientious study Of details both
from historical works and from pres
ent day photographs of the subter-
ranean labyrinths for the purposes Of
Charles D. South's new drama.
IN ". W Story's translation of Fran
els wey's Rome" it is shown that in
the third century there existed. in ad-
dition 10 scores OF private catacombs,
26 great catacombs which answer TO
the number Of parishes of that time
IL has been calculated that these cata-
combs must measure $50 leagues of
dead. The narrow corridors are built
one above another TO great depth
These catacombs have been called the
cradle Of religion. the elysium Of the
martyrs OF imperial tyranny. and they
are consequently of interest 10 all
sects. as all Christians may claim
common ancestry in these early fol-
lowers Of The cross.
fo.-TarN-r-n aFSn TTK-TNE
In some cases narrow stairs or traps
were used in descending mysteriously
from points on the surface to the real
catacombs. Before the year 316 one
Of these cities OF the dead. where the
holy mysteries We're celebrated and
where catechumens were instructed,
sometimes hid as many Of the living
as they concealed Of the dead and IL
is therefore. easy TO understand how
at the moment when Christianity was
offcially proclaimed. 1t had rallied all
the lower and middle classes. leaving
the ancient institution of paganlsm TO
the support Of the Roman aristocracy.
BY first yielding TO the necessity of
attracting the Nazarenes to his party.
and finally adopting the cross as his
standard. Constantine made sure Of the
empire: In hoe signo vinces." How
imperious the necessity was may be
imagined whenit is recalled that CEN
tury before under Septimus Severus,
Tertullian affirmed that If the Chris
tians were forced TO emigrate, the
Roman empire would become a desert.
In the cstacomb scene Artist O'SuI-
livan has given a Vividly impressive
picture Of these wonderful underground
chambers. The aspect OF narrow. low,
never ending passages. through which
people are guided with the aid of
torches OF tapers, has been faithfully
depicted and the catacomb scene will
emphasize the fact that. If the torches
or tapers were 10 go out. those de-
pending upon them would be con-
demned TO await death in the tomb of
countless souls.
Many Of the successors of st. Peter
during the first three centuries had
their seats in the catacombs, and the
playwright has used this suggestion IN
introducing Pope sylvester. who fig
ures prominently in the climacteric tri-
umph Of Constantine
DIRECTS BIG PRODUCTION
Father George G. Fox. 5. J.. the able
director OF the Senior dramatic club
is supervising preparations for the
big production. and the expense will be
little short of $2.500. The costumes
armors and other trappings. along with
tents. chariots, etc, for the armies of
Constantine and MaXentius. ruder hab-
iiiments Of the barbarians who are
seen in the early stages of the play:
the rich garments Of the patricians, the
simpler habits of the lowly Christians,
the Characteristic togas Of senators and
the Distinguishing dress of the cour-
tiers Of that time make up an array
as attractive as ii is varied.
IN all, nearly 200 persons will be
seen on the stage, the speaking parts
numbering more than 30. The first
third and fifth acts are laid in Rome
the second in the Gallic hills. the
fourth on a descent OF the Apennines
in italy, where the vision of the cross
appears. The scenery will be the rich
est, perhaps. ever set on the college
stage, which has witnessed many splen-
did dramas.
All the old horizontal scenes. along
with the sidewings. grooves and cleats.
have been removed from the stage to
make way for the new oblique. or box
scenes, with which the college stage
viii in future be equipped Daniel
Tadich of San Francisco is the new
stage manager, and a competent staff
or assistants is being drilled.
AN IDEAL CONSTANTINE
william II. Johnson. who ESSAYS the
title role. IS undoubtedly the best actor
Santa Clara college has produced in
the last decade. He is man OF COM
manding presence. standing more than
SIX IeeL IN AelR4L ana DuilL In heroic
proportions. His elocutionary and dra-
matte powers, combined with his fine
physique. make him an ideal Constan-
tine. Peter J. Dunno. Michael Grif-
fth. August Aguirre and Gerald Beau
mont have achieved notable distinc-
tion in the dramas OF the past, and
Edmund S. Lowe. Desmond Gallagher.
James r. DAILY, George J. Mayerle and
Bernard Budde rank among the lead
ing student actors OF today.
The drama of Constantine" is largely
on the military order and, with refer
ence TO its relations to Christianity.
o. il differs widely from all Christian
plays hitherto written, inasmuch as
South's story is that of Christian trj-
umph. not merely spiritual, but phys
ical as well. and moreover, a historical
triumph which has place with the most
stupendous epoch making achievements
in the annals of the world
The initial production will take place
Monday afternoon. May 3. when the
students Of colleges and converts OF
the cities about San Francisco bay will
come by special trains TO the matinee
performance.
Tuesday. May 4. will be alumni das
at the college. and the play will be
given on that night under the auspices