Pope Views Set Planned for Act One of "Mr. Paraclete" With Enthusiasm

The scene for the mysterious first act of the Dramatic Club's Russian comedy "Mr. Paraclete," shown in the above photograph, is the work of Murray Pease '26, who executed last year the scenes designed by Dos Passos for the club's production of "The Moon Is a Gong." The model stage-set, both designed and executed by Pease, will go on display in the hall at the Union on Monday morning.

"The set shows great promise," said Professor Arthur Pope '01; professor of Fine Arts, in a statement to a CRIMSON reporter yesterday. "I always look forward to the Dramatic Club productions, because, especially in recent years, they invariably have something of particular interest to offer in their scenic department as well as in other fields.

"The scenery in the Russian drama is particularly significant, "continued Professor Pope, "because it plays a more integral part in producing the atmosphere of the piece. The stage set does not, in the Russian theatre, represent merely a locality for the action of the play, nor a more background for the players; the attempt is always to produce, through the scene, an effect on the audience corresponding with the spirit of the piece.

"In past years the Dramatic Club has conformed admirably with the requirements of modern drama. The execution of Mr. Dos Passos scenes last year was exceedingly good. Perhaps the best work of this sort was done two years ago in 'The Life of Man.'

"There can be no doubt that work such as is done in the designing of Dramatic Club scenery is of substantial value. Men who worked in Professor Baker's 47 Workshop and in the Dramatic Club have often met immediate success in professional work in New York. Umschlager, who did the work in "The Life of Man," went to New York last year and did several sets for the Theatre Guild that have received widespread approbation. Robert Edmond Jones, a graduate of 1910, is a case in point.

"There are at present many students in the University who are anxious to have a course in stage designing included in the curriculum. Last spring a petition requesting such a course was submitted to the Fine Arts Department. Unfortunately, for lack of funds, this petition could not be granted."