DRAMATIC CLUB HAS HIT THE BULL'S EYE--BUNKER

The following pre-review of "The Taming of the Shrew" was written especially for the Crimson by Ralph Bunker '10, formerly instructor in Voice Technique and Public Speaking at Harvard, and now playing the part of Winkle in "Pickwick" at the Majestic Theatre in Boston. While at Harvard Mr. Bunker acted in the Dramatic Club, the Hasty Pudding Club, and the Pi Eta Club productions.

The Harvard Dramatic Club has hit the bull's eye again, with one of the cleverest travesties I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing.

Some seasons ago, the country was flooded with productions of Shakespeare in modern dress: played seriously, with the text of the Bard untouched. The result of most of them was scathing criticism by Shakespearian scholars.

The Harvard Dramatic Club, in its annual spring production, has forestalled any such rigorous comment, however, by first telling its audience that it is presenting a musical version of "The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare: thus frankly admitting that travesty, and nothing else, is to be expected.

The director, Edward Massey, has handled his subject with masterly strokes. The plot of the Shakespearian comedy is kept, with most of the characters, and some of the lines; but Mr. Massey has very artfully interpolated musical numbers, with an agile dancing chorus, to the accompaniment of a jazz band; and has interspersed the whole with modern witty dialogue. The result is an entertainment that is extremely amusing.

It is played, of course, in modern dress, with twentieth century settings, full of life and color, executed with skill.

The players romp through their lines and musical numbers with abandon, and in some instances give remarkably good performances.

There is one juvenile in particular who would be eagerly sought after were he to decide on a stage career because of his poise and fine singing voice of delightful lyric quality.

Very deft indeed are some of Mr. Massey's pieces of stage business:--

Petruchio made up as a cowboy, with leather chaps and cerise shift, sporting a long cattle whip, starts his tactics of taming the shrewish Katherina, by twining the whip about the shoulders of the screaming flapper, as he sings:

"I can't get over a girl like you

Loving a boy live me."

Again, in the wedding scene--the finale of the first act--the band blares forth:

"You're In The Army Now."

There are dances of high order, executed by principals and chorus, staged by William S. Wilson, which added greatly to the entertainment.

In other words, I LIKED THE SHOW IMMENSELY