Evening star., 1936-03-29
Students of Eastern High
T1,rOU Talents Behind Play

Dream" which was its choice in
1884.
Former Students Recalled.
Many of Eastern's former students
who have since won distinction for
themselves showed an interest in its
plays during their school days. Among
these we cite at random DR.. De Witt
c. Croissant, professor of English at
the George Washington University;
the Misses Ida and Grace Lind, both
of whom occupy administrative posi-.
tions in our public school system; Sen
ator Bennett Clark of Missouri,
Graham N. Lowdon of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, James Mad
ison, assistant rector Of st. Johns
Church at Lafayette Square; Ted
Tanley, who has played with Eva La
Galliene and broadcasts every We'd
nesday with the Northern Dramatic
Co.; Stanley Franck, who later pur-
sued his training with Oscar Seegal
and is himself a concert artist. and
Laura Barrett, who is with Walter
Hampden's company.
Watson Davis, director of science
service. and author of THE Story of
Copper" played the part of Sir Gala
had in the play, "A Knight of King
Arthur's Court" written by Miss Gun
ther when she was a member of East
ern's faculty.
The schools unverified tradition is
that when two blonde students were
required for the silent parts of pages
Charles Augustus Lindbergh, student
in the school when his father was
here in Congress, was assigned one of
these roles and appeared in the play.
However, neither Miss Gunther nor
Mr.. Davis have any recollections con-
cerning the matter and it has been
impossible to check the supposition by
locating one of the programs printed
for the occasion.
Wins Brown Cup.
Among the justly treasured awards
which Eastern's plays have won is the
Brown University Cup, presented to
the Washington high school which
should three times present the best
play.
The plays which won this high
honor for the school were directed by
Miss Ella Monk of the schools faculty,
assisted by Miss Olive Taylor, also of
its teaching staff. Miss Taylor, Incl
dentally. is the granddaughter of
Thomas Jefferson, whom we suspect
must have had some consciousness of
the dramatic value of the Declaration
of Independence when he penned its
now immortal lines.
In the order and year of their
prize winning sequence these plays
were Arms and the Man" given in
1926: Admirable Crichton," presented
in 1928, and The Man From Home"
played in 1880.
The Stars dramatic critic was chair
man of the judges who made the first
award of Brown University's silver cup
to Eastern. I quote from his review
in The Star at the time:
Everything that is said or done Is
under the direction of the play di-
rector. If he forgets ever so little he
has failed ever so much. He is the
one person who is not permitted to
explain why he doesn't do everything
he should do, and who. first and above
all others. is responsible for the dra-
matte failure or success of a produc-
tion. I haven't the pleasure of know
ing who directed Arms and the Man
but want to say, on my personal
responsibility, that he or she de-
served very large share in that silver
cup awarded the winning school, and,
if it be not treason. the first and
longest draught of whatever may be
put into it to celebrate the victory"
1t is the belief of Principal Charles
Hart and the faculty of Eastern that
its school plays are real focal points
in the life of the school, making for
its development along many lines.
Available to AL
Any pupil in the school, from the
freshman TO the senior class. is eligible
to participate in the schools try
outs, provided class room averages
and attendance are satisfactory. 1t
becomes the thing to do to try to
excel in ones class room as an incen-
tive to qualify for the Spring plays
staff.
The all-inclusiveneSs OF dramatic
endeavors at Eastern is indicated in
the large number of committees that