This form of inter-collegiate rivalry has been greatly stimulated by a medal and testimonial of $85 given to the winner of the annual University Contest by the Chicago alumni and by similar prizes to the winners of the inter-collegiate contests and debates.
Interest in the drama on the part of the students was of comparatively slow development, though in recent years it has come to be one of the most conspicuous "student activities." While a "Shakespeare Club" existed as early as 1860, the stage did not hold a particularly high place in public regard in the University's earlier years, and good plays were seldom seen in Ann Arbor. The celebrated actress, Mrs. Scott Siddons, gave several recitals in the seventies, while a performance of _Hamlet_, given in 1879 by Lawrence Barrett, was received with the highest praise. His visit gave an impetus to dramatic affairs and led to the organization of a Barrett Club which gave a performance of _Dollars and Cents_ in 1880--the first recorded amateur dramatic performance in the University. But it was not until two years later that the University's dramatic history may be said to have begun with the two Commencement plays, the _Adelphi_ of Terence, given in Latin under the direction of Professor Charles M. Gayley, '74, and Racine's _Les Plaideurs_, in French, under Assistant Professor Paul R. de Pont of the Department of French.
From that time on interest in college dramatics steadily increased. Professor de Pont, whose interest in student life never flagged, took a leading part in the presentation of several plays, and one opera, Gilbert and Sullivan's _Iolanthe_ (1883), by companies of students and faculty members. Largely through his efforts a University Dramatic Club was organized in 1885 and gave such plays as _A Scrap of Paper_ (1885) and _The Memoirs of the Devil_ (1888), which "caused the student body to sit up and take notice." Plays of this lighter character were all that were attempted until 1890, when another Latin play, Plautus' _Menaechmi_, was given so successfully under the direction of Professor J.H. Drake, '85, that it was later presented in Chicago. This was the last effort in classical drama until twenty-six years later, when the _Menaechmi_ was repeated with great success in Hill Auditorium on March 30, 1916. This was followed in 1917 by Euripides' _Iphigenia Among the Taurians_, given by the students in Greek, for which special music in the ancient Greek modes was written by Dr. A.A. Stanley.