The 1920s
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The introduction of women into the Roister Doisters was a battle not easily won. However, the group knew that it would be almost impossible to put up anything but farces if men continued to play all the women’s roles. So just as American women won the vote in 1920, the status quo similarly began to change in Amherst. That year, some of the male students pointed out to their new advisor, Frank Rand (namesake of UMass’ Rand Theater), that there were three women in the senior class and three female roles in the play they wished to perform. After “grave deliberation”, they finally all agreed to allow women to be involved “just this once”, but not as to set any sort of precedent. But this did set a precedent. Starting with that 1920 production of “The Witching Hour”, female actors became a staple of RD productions. |
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