THE DRAMATIC MOVEMENT

Whether the much-heralded "Dartmouth dramatic movement" has been an actual movement, or merely the personal influence of one undergraduate, die next few months will show. The announcement that Walter F. Wanger '15, who has been responsible for Dartmouth dramatics for something over two years, had resigned from college to accept a position as aide to Granville Barker, the English manager, put the fight for its existence squarely before the Dramatic Association.

What the undergraduate thinks of the dramatic renaissance may be gleaned from an editorial expression in TheBema:

"Within two years dramatics at Dartmouth have risen from less than mediocrity to the full dignity of an artistic, practical, and educational movement. The virility and stability of this movement are now put to trial. What will be the result ?

"Two years ago the college dramatics were on the same scale as those of the ordinary preparatory school. Talent lay dormant or was only expressed through the medium of a too-ambitious classic produced by a professional elocutionist with a "two by four" point of view. That talent was present even under those adverse conditions can not be doubted by any who have the pleasant memory of seeing Keough in DavidGarrick, or Wellman in The School forScandal. Yes, there was . talent, indeed, but the college conservatism could only be broken by a dominant, enthusiastic, capable personality. Such a personality came in the person of Walter Wanger, a practical dreamer, a fanatic with common sense."

The Dartmouth agrees in attributing dramatic successes up to the present time to the personal influence of the retiring director, but is unwilling that the movement should falter. It said, some in another connection:

Thus far the rise of Dartmouth in a remarkable theatre world has been exclusively a remarkable triumph for Walter F. anger, much as he has disclaimed the fact But the active test of his triumph will be its permanence. Only if the dramatics of the College can stand on their own legs has the apparent success been anything but a flash in the pan.

The Dartmouth has often wondered what would happen to the dramatic renaissance when the present director should have left College. The crisis has come rather sooner than that. There are still men eligible to stage plays, and others to act in them. These men must act!

The ineligibility of the director is bound to injure the Dramatic Association while it continues. The injury must not be allowed to become fatal."

Meanwhile, the Dramatic Association, through the president and the assistant director, has in rehearsal two plays for early production.