HDC Celebrates Birthday Number 40 By Production of 'Survivors'

The Harvard Dramatic Club thought in advanced terms at its inception. Its first production, called "The Promised Land", a tragedy concerning the Zionist movement, was presented to University theatergoers 40 years ago.

Since then, the HDC has developed as a theatrical group, and such well known directors, actors, and writers as Gilbert Seldes '14, Robert Benchley '12, and Robert E. Sherwood '17 have been associated with it.

"The Promised Land" is indicative of the type of play the HDC has provided, namely, modern works by English and American authors. Among the plays produced by the Club. are included a musical version of "The Taming of the Shrew," a student written opus called "Close-up," for which Henry Fonda was imported for the lead, and the world premiere of Henry James' "Owen Wingrave."

Shaw Dissuades

As does any other long established organization, the HDC has its share of anecdotes. In the mid-thirties, the Club wanted to do George Bernard Shaw's "In Good King Charles' Day", and they wired the venerable GBS for permission, only to receive a telegram stating: "My dear young things--you may do it but you cannot." They didn't.

In 1934, the Club's annual show, "A Bride for the Unicorn" was nearly cancelled when then President Ada Comstock of Radcliffe refused to permit 'Cliffe undergraduates to act in the play because the parts "were unsuitable for young women to play."

Robert E. Miller '49, HDC prexy, receives letters applying for admission as candidates for Masters' or Doctors' degrees in drama. "I refer them to Yale," he says.

"This is the first time," says Miller, referring to the present play, "The Survivors", that a Club production will be presented for its entire run in the downtown district."