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Press Bate Collect By George Zuckerman PROGRAM NOTES ON "DARK TOWER": Equipped for quips with a couple of Annie Oakleys presented without ceremony by fireball Christophersen, you wandered through the Tuesday night drizzle to Drayton Hall . . . Just what your status was is somewhat dubious, but you remembered that editor Hendley had requested a "metropolitan review" of the play. This of course meant you had the precarious privilege of blasting the performance, the play, the director, or the loud mouthed dame in the 6th row. To sum up matters before trifling with the Players' opus, you go on record with the opinion that Christophersen and his dramatic group did a very competent job, taking in consideration the limita tions of the local talent and the sensitiveness of the script. Unlike "Captain Applejack", "Dark Tower" is a play redundant with Kaufmaniacal lines, lines which take weeks of rehearsal for even Broadway's best Barrymores. For witlut the proper delivery, the gag lines go over the heads of the audience like telegraph lines. It is your opinion that the University Players had a batting average of about .750 with the minced mirth of the play. All of which is pretty good in the collegiate dramatic league. * * * * * Biggest surprise of the evening occurred when Arnold Muir, the Russian from Rochester, appeared in the role originally intended for dictator Joseph Stalin. Muir came across with an excellent borscht accent. And Stalin, who was busy signing away ice cube concessions from the Finns, was not missed. No credit on the program was given to Muir who really was subbing for Albert Eggerton, playing the role of Damon Wells. An actor comparable to Howard and Lunt, Wells (in the play) is sup posed to disguise himself as Max Sarnoff (played by Muir) and murder the third rat in the play, the only one who wasn't caged and who wasn't so white. That vexing vermin was Stanley Vance-no relation to the Dodger hurler of the same name. You really don't know the reason for Eggerton's need of sub stitution in the Sarnoff episode. But you believe he was unable to make the conversion from the Southern drawl to the Russian dialect. If ever Eggerton has need to interpret the role in the future, you'd suggest that he go in training at Rivkin's delicatessen. With several doses of caviar, pickled herring, and pumpernickel bread, Eggerton would begin to sound off on vodka on the Volga like any of Stalin's compatriots. * * * * * Among the best portrayals were those turned in by two refugees from Walt Disney's studio, two white mice in a cage. This duo was responsible for all the scene stealing in the first act . . . the rats. In fact, their nonchalantics behind the wire bars were most inter esting to the audience, many of whom never took elementary bi ology. With the arrival of act two, scene two, the mice were for gotten, were relegated to oblivion by a pair of gambs belonging to Patsy Dowling, known off stagc as Lora Lee Green. Incidentally, Miss Green, though she was cast in a minor role, probably turned in the best individual performance. Anyway, it could be said that she is well able to stand on her own two feet. Another "Oomph" girl in the play was Daphne Martin, portrayed by Jane Loyal. She had a penthouse chassis and an acid accent, which are difficult to master, especially for a member of the saddle shoe society. Also effective in their minor roles were Mary Crow as Hattie, the plump maid from Albany; and Hennig Cohen as the bearded Dr. Kendall. * * * * * In the leading feminine role, that of Jessica Wells, was Jaqueline McCutchen. Her part was difficult, for most of the play she had to glide across the stage under a hypnotic spell. And she was effective until the final scene of the drama. Then she made her Thespianic faux pas by reciting, "Ben, Ben, Ben" like she were imitating a volley of pistol shots. Of course this might be blamed by some astute students on the fact that she is president of the Delta Delta Delta sorority-and used to the rapid repetition of words. Among the minor mistakes in the staging of the play was the placing of Albert Eggerton behind a chair in the rear of the set in act two. The result was that the audience on the left hand side of the auditorium thought the name of the play was "The In visible Man". .The most glaring errors occurred in the printing of the program. Names were misspelled. And the acts and sce-nes listed incorreetly. In fact the audience almost walked out before the end of the play because, according to the program, it was all over. ELITE CAFE EA,hc' "COLUMBIA'S MOST UNIQUE" Where Students Meet Made In Columbia and Eat 1736 MAIN STREET -- ALWAYS OPENFRS DAL TWIN LAKES --4( ANNOUNCES ). The Dance Pavilion Is Now Open Come Out And Dance BOWLING DANCING SKATING * Skating Instructor * Two Miles Out On Leesburg Rads -Faculty Ousts Fraterni (CONTINUED rolled as a student at the University designated. Any interpretation of this action quest to the Faculty Committee on tions. Due notice of this action is to be fraternity." A copy of this letter is going t with- the notice that each of you office on or before March 18, 1940. Vry truly yo W. F -Dark Tower (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) the difficult task of playing two roles -and also engaging in a couple of fistfights and committing a murder. All of this he did very nicely. Interesting minor roles were those played by Lora Lee Green and Jane Loyal, two young girls of the mod ern generation, one a stenographer and one a chorus girl. Ana the slinky villain was Bob Quinn--he whose amusement was white mice. -McCall Testifies (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) tacker was seized. The killing was accomplished by a 32 calibre re volver which was fired through the end of a handbag. Whenever Look You For This Shop Emblem COLUMBIA MERCHANTS A08OIATION WE CARRY A COMPLETE STOCK OF SHAZFFER'S - PARKER'S WATERMAN'S FOUNTAIN PENS ALSO A GOOD CRBAP PEN FOR SAs LEATREI MKNI& UA&IR $2.50 TO 5; LEATHER NOTE BOOKS 65o TO 68 The R. L. Bryan Co. 1440 MAIN STREET AXrmXo WNDRD ZN TM CLASSOOM For That EASTER CORSAGE CALL SLIGH'S FLORIST SHOP 1433 Main St. - Phone 7761 Bu ..photogre municipal a chief instruc American Al est people ir Her passent erfield is thi - " -e e -a Copyrlght190 ty\ FROM PAGE 1) of South Carolina between the dates will be furnished upon written re Fraternities and Student Organiza sent to the national officers of that o every member of your fraternitN must sign the above pledge in this urs, RANK TAYLOR, Jr. Director Student Activities. -Painting Crew (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) might as wpll go to a lab. 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