THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
Sunday, October, 16, 1949
PAGE 4
Reporter Reviews Progress,
History of University Theatre
by Kent
The University
Axtell.
Theatre is one
of the oldest and best-known
traditions of the University of
Nebraska.
If anyone delves "way back"
into the 80 year history of Hus
kerhmd, he will discover this for
himself.
It all began in the early part
of the century with the pioneer
ing of Miss H. Alice Howell, the
director of the dramatics depart
ment. In 1908, Mortar Board
Howell started a new organiza
tion. It's name was the Univer
sity Dramatic Club. Primary
purpo.M?, according to news clip
pings, "to bring a series of plays
before Nebraska students." This
was the embryo of our present
day theatre.
Deciding that the university
needed a more extensive drama
organization, Miss Howell devel
oped the University Players in
1915. Their first play was given
Nov. 3, 1915 and its name was
"Ghosts." by Ibsen. A news arti
cle of the day stated. "A small
but appreciative audience at
tended." This was the first suc
cessful attempt at a permanent
organization.
In 1920. the new body tried its
hand at Shakespearean drama.
"Twelfth Night" a surprising
success, was a triumph for direc
tor Howell who said nothing
would top Shakespeare.
Popular Play
One of the most popular plays
ever given on the Temple stage
was, said Miss Howell, "Believe
Me, Xanlippe." The play was the
outcome of a brainstorm by a
former University student, Fred
Ballard. The production was so
successful on Nov. 19, 1915, that
it was given 21 more times by the
Players.
A scrapbook of the Theatre's
caprices of that day, complete with
photographs, revealed comedy in
the old clothing styles. Predomi
nant among the male thespians
were high cravats, tight-fitting
trousers, and uncomfortable col
lars. Loose-fitting gowns and over
sized straws were characteristic of
the women.
"Winter Tale"
In 1921, came one of the drama
students' greatest successes, "Win
ter Tale." An interesting letter
prejudiced against competing
movies said, "May I felicitate
(congratulate) you and the Play
ers on that superlative product
of the "Winter's Tale." Especially
now that the motion picture has
completed the debauch of our
show houses, one is still proud
to know that his University can
still rise to the best in Anglo
Saxon drama."
With the spring of 1928, came
another enthusiastic addition.
Upon the "greens" of the campus,
was constructed the Little Green
Theater. Such action continued
the Players season for five weeks.
Growing: Pains
Growing pains became evident
in 1926 when a new system, the
Temple Stock Company, was or
ganized, under control of the Fine
Arts department. In an old ad,
this move was justified because
"the University Players recognize
the just popularity of vaudeville
and moving pictures, yet they feel
that there are many people in Lin
coln who would also enjoy the
legitimate drama."
However many actors were pro
fessionals. This was not repre
sentative of University talent and
the desire for a new Theatre build
ing is nearly 20 years old. A
1930 clipping staled, "The players
have always been handicapped by
inadequate stage space but despite
this have managed to design stage
settings realistically. It is a dream
of the group to some day have a
theater of their own."
One of the largest "casts" in
the history of the Theatre was in
1928 when the University Players
did "Porgy" by DuBose HaywardJ.
In all, 50 persons took part in
the show, including 30 colored
singers of Lincoln.
Fencing- Practice
Records have it that fencing
practice for the 1933 production,
"Romeo and Juliett" took several
casualties. Among those was Herb
Yenne, one of the leading actors
who got stabbed by a too-sharp
foil. He was only slightly hurt,
however, and recovered to later
become author of "3 Suns West"
which was given by the Theatre.
Favoring dramatic students was
a system discarded in 1939 for
the present method of inviting all
sophomore students, eligible for
extra-curricular activities, to try
out for the plays.
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RECOMMEND CHESTERFIELD
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