Boston College - Sub Turri Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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Friar Lawrence Consoles Romeo The Dramatic Society In December, the regular dramatic season of ' 47 - ' 48 opened with a production that emphasized the sock of the traditional sock and buskin . A story of a musician-pugilist, GOLDEN BOY moved with smashing speed, stimulating drama, and disturbing pathos to fittingly inaugurate a successful season. Playing the title role excellently, Donald Cerulli was hard-put to outdo the fine characteriza- tions of William Sipsey, Richard Favreau and Elliot Silverstein, who sparkled in supporting roles. The play, admittedly the best by the brilliant, erratic Clifford Odets, a leftist playwright flung to fame in the mid-thirties, proved a suitable vehicle for the rejuvenated Dramatic Society. John L. Bonn, S. J. Father Director, artfully interspersed the seasoned players with the neophytes and presented to the public a finished production that merited and received the plaudits of students and critics alike. A Shakespearean opus is traditional in the Boston College Dramatic Society repertoire each year. This year, tried, true and well-loved ROMEO AND JULIET highlighted the mid-winter schedule of collegiate events. The beautifully tragic struggle be- tween the Montagues and Capulets, the fatal, frantic love of the protagonists moved across the boards of the new college auditorium as they have for the past Officers of the Dramatic Society three centuries across other more famous boards, thrilling, exciting, pulsing as always. Sean Madigan played the swashbuckling swordsman-turned-lover, Romeo, to the hilt of his glittering sword and to the enchantment of Juliet and audience alike. The sup- porting cast as a whole was superb and it would be unfair and space-devouring to try to enumerate their splendid performances here. At this writing, the final production of the Society is as yet undetermined. Prospectively it is to be either a classical Greek play or a combined en- deavour with the musical clubs in the presentation

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The Stylus The 1947-1948 Stylus was almost an entirely different publication from those of previous years. With a new moderator in Father Leonard, a new Editor in John Spellman, a renovated Staff, and a flashy new cover, the Stylus began a new epoch in its long and distinguished history. The first issue, which appeared in November, was generally regarded as an improvement over any endeavors since the War. The new editorial policy was well expressed in the following words, The Stylus is your college literary publication. It is being written, managed, and published by you. If you be- lieve that the Stylus can be improved, see us, write us, let us know. It is your magazine, and is not controlled by any one group or clique. There has been notable variety in the Stylus articles this year. The November issue included two personal sketches, one on Samuel Jewall, the Puritan Jurist, and the other, the famous American writer, Joseph Dever, a Boston College graduate, and one- time Editor of the Stylus, whose first novel, No Lasting Home, has been but recently published. An interesting portion of this season ' s Stylus has been these masterpieces of satire by Jim O ' Brien which have appeared in almost every issue. His contribution, A Stupid Plan for Feeding Europe which appeared in the December number caused a great deal of comment because of its caustic delivery. The poetry of Bob Tracy deserves mention because of its high quality. New England Reverie , appear- ing in the December Stylus, shows Mr. Tracy at his best. The March issue had much worthwhile reading matter, with several excellent poems by Bernard Driscoll. Joseph MacMahon ' s The Handle on the Cup of Happiness is remarkable for its clever phrase- ology and humorous description. Bouquets are also in order for expert cartoonist Tom O ' Connor, John Brennan, Bob Costello, Paul Vergahes, who is the Managing Editor, and illustrator Ed Tedesco. Under the imaginative eye of Editor John Spellman the layout of the Stylus has become a model of compactness and balance. Almost every field of literary endeavor has been included in the current issues and more will be forthcoming in the future. As one reviewer put it, the Stylus has traveled a long way on the path towards its former great heights of pre-war days, when, under the leadership of Joe Dever, it attained nation-wide recognition. The present editorial policy of the Stylus is excellent and it demonstrates the foresightedness of its editor. We expect great things from the Stylus in the future.

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L ■ MRsT ■SWfct L i W r A Scene from Old Wang of a musical-comedy. However there have been other highlights in the Club ' s activities that may not pass unnoticed. In the early fall, the Society cooperated in a play commemorating the founding of St. Mary ' s parish by the Jesuits. Here, for the first time, save for the summer productions, the stage of the new audi- torium was used. An innovation of last year ' s Society was continued when female roles were enacted by women who flocked from many sources to participate in the Society ' s activities. The B. C. School of Nurs- ing, Regis and Emmanuel Colleges and the National Thespian Club all were represented in the club ' s try- outs and productions. The final noteworthy achieve- ment of the Society was a roadtrip with several stands in Connecticut and New York, concluding in Tarrytown, N. Y. This occurred in April and the play was a tale of spiritual conflict entitled Gheon Old Wang starring John Stokes, President of the Society, in the title role of old Wang. The contributions of the graduating class were chiefly apparent in the business, production and executive fields. Business Manager was William Melville. Paul Waters was the efficient Theater Manager, numbering among his hard-working assist- ants Angelo Loscocco and Thomas McCall. Doing a professional stint of lighting all productions, Fred MacDonald turned night into day according to the fleeting requirements of the lighting script. Joe McMahon acted as the Society ' s Secretary-Treasurer. The Dramatic Society season was an outstanding success in its own right but it also served to pour additional riches into the treasure pile of tradition which future Boston College thespians will inherit with justified pride and with hopeful purpose of emulation. Something unique was added this year when the Dramatic Society officially became co-ed, with the inclusion of young Thespians from the Nursing School. For many years members of the Regis and Emmanuel dramatic clubs have appeared in Boston College theatre productions, but 1947 was the first year in which girls were made official members. A new era has arrived in Boston College dramatic circles! May next year bring more outstanding pro- ductions and along with them, the fame and recogni- tion that so justly has been enjoyed by Boston College dramatic presentations in the past! A Moment of Comedy from Romeo and Juliet