Attracting people to work on a production and keep it going once it has started pose additional problems for many of the Houses. General disorganization and the suspicion that other people consider House drama second-rate contribute to any incipient malaise.

But exploring an interest in drama (especially the directing and producing aspects) is often easier through the Houses than through the Loeb. The Executive Board of the Harvard Dramatic Club chooses what is to be presented in the Loeb Ex as well as on the main stage and has the reputation of being clannish when making decisions. Also, the extravagant technical resources and conveniences of the Loeb tend to overpower students and-or their productions.

House drama, on the other hand, is more relaxed and thus for many, more enjoyable. Though faculty interest varies greatly from House to House, personalized help is often offered by tutors. "The minute I showed the slightest interest in directing something. I was grabbed and encouraged," said Bill Martin '72 of Kirkland House.

Another advantage of drama in the Houses is that it is "more independent and challenging"; imagination and innovation must be substituted for facilities and money.

"Now the Houses are doing a lot of experimenting and new plays," commented Paul Harrison '72. "If people are interested in seeing things which are not so elaborate, but generally of better quality, they should go to the Houses."

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There are more plays being launched this fall than in most recent years. House drama may have to compete with the Loeb (and to be fair, it must be mentioned that quite a bit of cooperation between the Houses and the Loeb goes on as well--the sets of people working in each intersect and the Loeb loans costumes and props on occasion), yet almost every House is managing to produce something. What follows is a cursory catalogue of what's coming up and what's going on:

Adams House--A contingent of the Adams House Drama Society believes that amateur theatre shouldn't try to be pre-professional and shouldn't be worried about entertaining and box office receipts, but about saying something. Charging for admission is antithetical to these ideas.

The first show in Adams House this fall will be the satirical fantasy Day of Absence by Douglas Turner Ward. It is being done by Black CAST (Black Community and Student Theatre) and will be free on the weekend of November 18-20.

The first and second weekends in December bring another experiment in theatre at Adams House, tentatively entitled Coming and Going. Based on Beckett's Come and Go. Pinter's Landscape, Brown's The Brig and excerpts from the trial of the Chicago 8, the production will evolve through what the initiator calls "communal collage." It is intended very much as a group experience in theatre and will also be free.

Currier House--On this end of Garden Street there is some talk of performing scenes of works in progress--primarily for the benefit of actors and playwrights. The drama society also hopes to do Sam Shepherd's Melodrama play sometime this fall, but is having trouble getting it off the ground.

Dudley House--Lehman Hall is the main asset of the Dudley House Drama Society and so far this year they are just co-sponsoring productions which need a place to perform. Last week the Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel Society staged a reading of Ten Best Martyrs of the Year; and You're a Good Man Charlie Brown may move to Lehman Hall after its run at the Loeb Ex.

Dunster House--Erich Segal founded the Dunster House Drama Society in the fifties. Ever since then, Dunster House has been a center for "drama-types", who have managed to stay quite healthy, and have put on at least one production per term since 1967. This fall's project, the original comical satire "Nixon" by House member Al Franken '73, will open December 2.

Eliot House--Master Alan Heimert '49 is notoriously keen on culture, and this fall the New Harvard Players are working in conjunction with the Eliot House Drama Society on an adaptation of five of Shakespeare's comedies. The director, Larry Bergreen '72, feels that plot is over-emphasized in drama, so he has put together excerpt containing certain themes, characterizations and songs for a unique view of the comedies. Billy Bauman '72 composed original music for the production. It will play in Eliot House December 1-4, and 9-12.

Kirkland House--Bill Martin '72 thinks that interest in drama has waned at Kirkland House in recent years, but he will nevertheless direct The Taming of the Shrew there. After playing at Kirkland House December 2-4, the production is moving to the Loeb Ex.