Scripps College - La Semeuse Yearbook (Claremont, CA)

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HPRIDE AND PREIUDICEH THE DRAMA HE fall of 193 I found the college launched upon its fifth year of existence with every Eicility at hand for a suc- cessful career. Only in the Held of drama was there E-:lt a lack, for the loss of Glenn Hughes two years ago and the re- cent withdrawal from the faculty of Mrs. Roger Palmer, in- strurftress of the spoken word and pantomime, left us with no organized department of Dramatic Arts. The outlook at the beginning of the year was, to say the least, hardly encouragingg and had it not heen for the keen interest and untiring efforts of Dr. Stephenson and the ambition and enthusiasm of M. Cail- let, it is douhtfill whether the drama would have Played a very important part in our cultural life. Under the able leadership of M. Caillet the combined efforts of the language, art and Physical education departments. to- gether with the assistance of the music department of Pomona College resulted in a striking production of Moliere's famous comedy Le Bourgeois Gentillaomme. Clinging to the original traditions in which the play was written, the production was I4

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LECTURES E attend convocation each Friday morning with an attitude of defying any speaker to interest or to en- tertain us. But many excellent speakers have been obtained, including among others William T. Foster, noted economist, Count d' l-larnancourt, and Chester Rowell. Some of the most eluciclating talks given in convocation this year were those by our own faculty members, Dr. Stephenson, Mr. Appleton, Dr. Alexander and President Iaqua. Besides the convocational series, there have been lectures given in the evenings throughout the year. Outstanding among these were Dr. Dunn's series of lectures on Three Eminent Victor- ians, and, for those students of architecture, Mrs. M. L. Fuller, who spoke on landscape architecture. g ART TIIMULATING our interest in the realm of art, there have been a number of exhibits of various artists' work this year in Balch Hall. Loaned by Mrs. I-1. A. Everett of Pasadena, a collection of excellent paintings has been a source of much enjoyment to us. The modern trends in art have been brought to Scripps in the work of Iohn Cage and Don Sample, former Pomona students. The exhibit by Miss Phyllis Shields showed a refteshing atti- tude toward the modern trend. Mr. Padelimrd instigated a picture library this year, fiom which pictures may be rented by the students Har a paltry sum per semester. These are pictures chosen ftom Holbein prints, wood block etchings, and other reproductions. 13

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unique in the seventeenth century French Hlrniture for the sets, and in its presentation of the ballets accompanied by Lulli's musical score with instruments of the period. Claremont Col- leges students in the language department took part in the per- formance, and credit is due to individuals of the community as well as to our neighboring college. Howard Stone, Mollie Clyde, Ieannie McPl1errin, Eleanor Edwards and Elsie Alden Bakewell gave outstanding performances. Le Bourgeois Gentil- loomme was an inspiring beginning for our dramatic year. ' With the opening of the second term plans were being laid for another producftion to be given early in the spring, and the Siddons Club, a dramatic organization, looked forward to a par- ticipation in the event. Because of the widespread interest in dramatics it was deemed wise not to confine acftivities to any in- dividual group but to allow the drama to enter into the cultural life of the whole student body. In this interest the college was Fortunate in obtaining the services of Mrs. Conrad Seiler, a well-known figure in the cinema capitol. Being an acftress of no small repute and a woman of infinite charm, her sojourn at Scripps was an exceedingly pleasurable and profitable one, es- pecially fior those who had the privilege of working with her. The production in this instance was Mrs. lVlackaye's adapta- tion of Iane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. Leads were taken by Anne Hopkins, Katherine Barr, Doris Drake, Eleanor Edwards and Ianet Wliite. The whole presentation reflected the charm of the Elmous story. These two produetions mark the highlights of our dramatic' year, but unknown to the outer world other interesting achieve- ments have been reached. Although unable to present a formal production, the Siddons Club has sponsored for its own mem- bers the infbrmal reading of plays that are not only of merit in themselves but that afford an opportunity for characfter study, hoping thus to enrich its own talent and progress. 15