The San Francisco call., 1909-03-14
STUDENTS TO GIVE
new ROMAN PLAY
Artistic Production to Be Pre-
sented In Santa Clara Coll
Iege Theater Nay 4
Drama Dealing With Conditions
Under COnstantine'S Reign
to Be Presented

The Santa Clara college dramatic So
ciety, which produced Clay Greene's
passion play with eminent success, Will
this year present for the first time the
new and original Roman military drama,
Constantine" by Charles D. South,
A. NJ. '0l. author Of Santiago" and a
professor I'm the institution for which
he has written his latest work. Father
George Golden Fox. director of the
Santa Clara dramatic society. declares
that Constantine" has every element
10 make ii an artistic triumph Its plot
deals with the Vaccinations Of Max
entius. the usurper, TO accomplish the
downfall Of Constantine. and with the
latters historic march from Gaul to
Rome, during which appears in the sky
the vision of the cross and the words,
In hoe signo vinces."
The play contains FIVE acts and six
scenes. The scenery viii be elaborate.
Michael O'Sullivan of san Francisco
and a corps of assistants are preparing
the scenic environment The first act
is laid i'm Rome near the arch of Titus
Nespasian and the gorgeous monument
viii be reproduced with all its splen-
did surroundings. The chief incidents
Of this act take place during a tri-
umphal procession of the followers Of
the emperor MaXentius.
MANY THRILLING SCENES
The second act introduces the spec
tator 10 the encampment Of Constan-
tine in the Gallo hills. where several
thrilling episodes lead UP to the war
rior's determination TO march on Rome.
In the third act the first scene oc-
ours ia richly gilded palace of justice,
while the second scene will reproduce
aH-
picture of the Roman catacombs This
scene viii show the subterranean gal
leries and the labyrinthine passages of
the catacOmbs, and added realism will
be afforded by a procession of priests,
acolytes and other worshipers intoning
2 Latin hymn on their way TO the sac
rifice of the mass. An invasion of the
Christian fortress by the soldiers Of
the emperor furnishes a striking eli
max for weirdly attractive scene.
The fourth act discovers Constantine
and his army encamped on a declivity Of
the Apennines. Here the autho rhas
taken fun advantage of the opportunity
given by the legend of the vision in
the sky. and a climax of great power
IS emphasized by scenic effects of an
entirely original description planned
by Rev. Richard A. Bell, professor Of
electrical science.
NEW COLOSSEUM VIEW
The closing scene will take place in
Rome and an entirely new view of the
Colosseum viii be furnished. The cos
tuning viii be superior 10 that of any
previous college production. There will
be 80 speaking parts and 200 people
viii appear in the play.
The title role viii be assumed by
William Johnson; the role of Maxen-
tius VIII be handled by Michael H
Griffith. also well known for his his
trionic abilities. while in other parts
viii be seen Peter J. Dunno. Harry
Wilcox, Edmund S. Lowe. James r.
DAILY. Desmond Gallagher, Lawrence
A FernswOrth. Devereaux Peters, Will
liam O'Shaughnessy and George S.
Mayerle.
The first presentation Will be given
on the evening of Tuesday. May (, at
which time excursions viii be run from
San Francisco and way stations. May
viii be an eventful day at Santa
Clara, as on that day the House Of
Philhistorians viii celebrate its golden
Jubilee and unveil the memorial statue
Of its founder. Rev. Edmund Young.