DRAM.BAC.
A suggestion has been put forward, with the support of the British Drama League and others, for the establishment at our universities of a "Faculty of the Theatre and Dramatic Degree." Heartily applauding the proposal, we append a typical examination paper for the final school:—
(1) Sketch briefly the progress of amateur acting in this country, from the impersonation of a Danish minstrel by Alfred the Great, to the Victory Varieties Matinée arranged by Lady Eve Tatlery.
(2) Arrange, in order of probability, the first fifty authors of Shakspeare.
(3) "The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing-fields of Eton." Estimate the rival claims of the Windsor Strollers.
(4) Indicate your make-up for Romulus, Henry the Eighth, Abraham Lincoln.
(5) What is a point, and how made? A "straight" line lies evenly between any good points; give instances.
(6) Under what dramatic conditions can a part be greater than the whole? Cite the authority of any two actor-managers for this theory.
(7) Explain, with diagrams, (a) The Eternal Triangle; (b) Squaring the Upper Circle.
(8) Illustrate the axiom that the length of a run varies with the breadth of the dialogue.
(9) What proportion of the music-hall comedians of Great Britain is supplied by (a) Lancashire; (b) Scotland?
(10) Which European drama requires most doors for its honeymoon farces?
(11) "What Manchester thinks to-day England will think next Sunday evening." Analyse this statement in its bearing upon the play-producing societies.
(12) "Let who will make a nation's laws so that I make its songs." Discuss the ethical and sociological significance of this with regard to (a) "Where do flies go in the winter-time?" (b) "I do like-an egg with my tea."
In the vivâ-voce portion of the examination, candidates for Honours will be required to satisfy the examiners (to the point of actual tears) by their recital of selected passages from prepared books. They may offer any two of the following: "Buckingham's Farewell;" "The Signalman's Daughter;" "The Death of Little Nell" (with voices).
For candidates not seeking Honours a passable imitation of Mr. George Robey will entitle to one group.
A.E.