New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-10
Monty. j. SHOW THIS YEAR
Faculty Frowns on Frivolous
Fashions of FroliC.
THINKS STUDIES SUFFER
Minstrel Show on Campus Will
Have to Replace Musical
Comedy.

There is bitterness at New York Uni
yersity. There will be no varsity show
this spring, owing to a stern edict Of the
faculty, which. though given weeks ago.
has only Just become known. The news
leaked out with the senior class announce
ment that II would present minstrel
show on the campus. at University Heights
The student body Is indignant. but power
less, for full authority Is vested In the
faculty committee on student organizations,
which took action against the show.
The Varsity Dramatic Club Of New York
University was formed IN 1907 to take over
the functions formerly exercised by the
senior class which gave vaudeville show
every year. In 1905 the seniors had waxed
ambitious. giving as their show full
fedged musical comedy, and had for the
first time gone off the campus for a stage
The production was in Carnegie Lyceum,
and the class had $500 TO put in It's treas
ury as result. The Varsity Dramatic
Club was formed the next year. and three
performances instead Of one were given,
the attraction being again musical
comedy by William lie Baron. '05. and
Deems Taylor. 'Os In 1905 and 1909 also
tieSe men WROTE the NoIuS anu iluSic VI
musical comedies that won good deal
of praise for the collegiate dramatists.
But the faculty has always frowned upon
the plays. In 1905 Arthur NJ. Howe. chair
man OF the senior show committee, was
disciplined because he permitted men in
eligible for participation in athletics to
appear In the show. Although Howe was
an honor man and explained, moreover
that he did not know that the rules cover
ing football also applied 10 dramatics, he
did not get his diploma with his class
mates in June, but had TO wait until the
autumn. Since that time regulations have
growner stricter each year.
The faculty explained 10 the Varsity
Dramtic Club this year that college stu
dents could not compete with Broadway
productions OF musical comedy. and init
mated that a single evening OF 'ehaste d.
version on the campus would be more con-
ducive to peace and good study. The club
replied that Columbia, Princeton and Penn
sylvania gave musical comedies with sue
cess. and that the idea was not to COM
pete with Broadway managers, but to
amuse the mothers. sister. sweethearts and
cousins Of the performers.
IL don't think the faculty is much of n
judge Of a musical show, any how" said a
member of the executive committee of the
Varsity Dramatic Club last night. 1--WE
never pretended to be able 70 equal Broad
Tay productions. though think our shows
have been good enough. Naturally. a lot
Of undergra duates can't rival trained act
ors."
other undergrad uates and some gradi-
ates were more forcibe in expressing their
Indignation yesterday. They pointed 10 the
fact that the 'O9 varsity show. 1.-The Echo "
ned been produced professionally with con-
siderable success. Bessie Mccoy played in
that piece at the Globe Theatre last au-
tumn, and has just closed long tour.
Prominent in the professional east was
Jack scannell '0s. who had played in
every varsity show since 1906.
"Our show was good enough for the pro-
fessional stage" said one collegian last
night. "Why isn't it good enough for the
faculty? ] tell you. 81 Chancellor Mac
Cracker hadn't resigned this thing would
never have gone through
Deems Taylor. 90 composer OF the var
sty shows from 1906 10 1909 said last
night he was sorry TO hear Of the faculty =
decision
81 helped Atkinson. who wrote most of
the music for last years show" he said
"and lie Baron and 7 intended To do all VIC
could 10 keep up the work we began. Orig
;nal writing IL what the college needs in
it's shows. and there was a good chance 10
develop some good librettists and compos-
ers. ! learned lot in writing shows for
the university, and it has been "a great help
| in writing for the professional stage
William lie Baron, '05. Mr.. Taylors col
| laborator shared his sentiments, and said
| he thought the faculty would not long con-
| tinue 10 bar the production Of musical COM
edies by the undergraduates