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FIRST ROW: J. L. Baugher, A. Rue, J. Corkran, M. Studebaker, A. Lassahn; SECOND ROW: P. Henry, D. Clarke, T. Bush, D. Thrush, M. A. Smith, E. Justice; THIRD ROW: M. Spaulding, L. Holloway, T. Young, F. Brown, O. Cook, M. Gross, B. Slacum, A. Tenney, J. Andrews, J. Eckhardt; FOURTH ROW: L. Jackson, M. V. Webb, D. Armacost; FIFTH ROW: S. Rice, J. McKinley, J. Branford. THE COLLEGE PLAYERS The players take a deep breath, the stage and another group of College Players took manager makes a final tour of inspection, and their final bows behind these footlights. six weeks of work merges into one evening's As for the evolution of a College Player- entertainment .... It's no task at all, any these are the stages of his development ... College Player will tell you. The fun and Sophomores find themselves working relaxation that is found in dramatics is worth rhythms as sands on a shore, a gentle sum- every evening, every hour, every minute that mer rain, a country church-nothing impos- can be so spent. sible in the realm of imagination. They dance Every year adds new glory to their already the minuet and take lessons in falling, all for well-established fame, and 1943-44 is no ex- that grace and poise that will be so admired ception. Thanksgiving found the senior when they walk across the stage in Alumni actors on the moors of England, chilled by Hall, or in life. the winds that blew murder into the heart of Juniors have great fun making all sorts of one of the "Ladies in Retirement." The at- queer noises and calling them phonetics! A mosphere that hung heavy in Alumni Hall that make-up kit becomes part of their personal night will not soon be forgotten. property, and at will they are transformed The Christmas vesper service gave the into Indian, Chinese, Negro, grandma or sophomores, juniors, and seniors parts in an glamour girl. From now on the smell of impressive Catholic version of the Nativity. grease paint will carry with it the hoppiest The junior plays, on March 3rd, were of memories. lighter and better than ever. Uplifting Sadie, Juniors are full-fledged College Players, with its all-girl war-time cast, They're None of but seniors are the veterans, older and wiser, Them Perfect, with one man, and The Rogue more experienced amateurs, we shall say. in Bed, (what a man!), kept increasing the With this honor comes the annual trip to laughs until The Pot Boiler fairly took the roof Baltimore, a Wednesday matinee, and Lillian off, as only old-time melodramas can. Hellman's The Searching Wind. On the nights of January 21 and April 14 Even though Broadway lights may never the senior students culminated their three flash the name of a College Player, the per- will sonal growth in poise and self-assurance years' work with readings from top-ranking follow each teacher, doctor, lawyer, house- plays. The recitals were fresh and inspired, wife or business man. His will be a richer, confirming again the fact that Miss Esther fuller life because he will be alive to every Smith performs miracles with everything she new experience, alert, listening, unconsciously directs. playing an important role in the greatest of The Old Maid was the commencement play, all dramas. 77