Newspaper Page Text
I
I*\» t t>
I hr Ki ll ..III' 111 r l.
\k KDNKSIJAV. Jl I.T 10,
Theatre Next l*resents
Drama “Slow Dance...”
"Slow Dance On The Killing
Ground, will lx- the second pres
entation of the Summer R<*[>erto-
ry 68 in the University's Depart
ment of Drama The play fea
tures an international east and
opens on July 11 to run through
July 17
Performances of the play will
lx* at H p m in the airconditioned
laboratory theatre.
The alienated young Negro in
the play is protrayed by Cedric
Scott, an outstanding Bahamian
actor. Like his fellow Caribbean
actors, Sidney Poitier and Harry
Helafonte. Scott has studxd pro
fessionally in New York where
he worked at the American
Academy of Dramatic Art
Neil Curnow, formerly an artist
in residence at the University
has spent the past several years
in the British Repertory Theatre
System where he has extensive
experience in acting and direct
ing Curnow left Drndon a year
ago to return to the University to
complete his MCA in Drama
Nancy Provda. currently a sen
ior at the University is the
American representative in the
cast of the play Nancy attended
the University of Miami prior to
coming to Athens and has acted
in plays ranging from “Oedipus
Rex to “The Caucasian Chalk
CIRCLE
I
The play is directed by Dr
Delmar Z. Solem. who has been
a Department of State specialist
in theatre assigned to the Carib
bean area for the past two years
Dr Solem has recently studied at
the University of Oslo in Norway
where he studied the NORWECI
AN Theatre
I
The play is a contemporary
and bitter American comedy.
'IIOMECOMISG'
(Continued From Page 11
The homecoming in the* "Homecoming ’ is the event of Teddy
and his wife, Ruth, arriving at Max house after an absence of
six years No one expected Teddv or had any idea he was mar
ried
Ruth, played by Ann Willcutt is left by herself in the living
room after Teddy retires There she meets Lenny who tells her
how a woman once propositioned him and he beat her up. The
scene ends with Ruth making a vague seductive pitch to Lenny.
The next morning everyone meets the returning son and his
bride. Max makes her feel right at home I haven’t seen you for
six years and you dare to shack up in my house with some slut."
Max says.
Ruth says nothing Teddy says they slept together legally, j
anil Joey and Sam try to make excuses for Max's behavior.
Showing who is still boss. Max punches Joey to the floor and hits
Sam with his cane.
Max calms down and accepts Ruth as Tedd's wife In a sar
castic gesture Max asks Teddy to kiss and ruddle with him. like
old times They don’t.
Teddv Decides to Leave
I-ater. still sensing the tension Teddy decides it is time to
leave. Ruth doesn't want to go but Teddy packs nonetheless
With her coat in his arm Teddy beckons Ruth depart, but
Lenny insists on dancing with his sister-in-law. They do a couple
of twirls then start kissing Teddy just stands there.
Max and Joey enter, amazed Then Joey starts dancing and
kissing Ruth. She asks for a drink and the scene changes.
Joey, in an undershirt, announced that he didn't go whole
hog" with Ruth Lenny thinks she might be a tease., but Teddy-
says no. its just love play
Teddy still wants to go - and with Ruth After all. she is the
mother of his three boys Max. Joey and Lenny have other plans
for Ruth They want her to remain and will support her out of
their incomes.
A Better Idea
Lenny has a better idea. He suggest setting Ruth up in a
flat where she could entertain part time and earn a living. The
rest of the time she would be at Max's house* After haggling
over accommodations. Ruth agrees
Though not meant as consolation. Max says he knows why
Teddy had not told of his wife earlier He tells Teddy he knows
what kind of a woman she* was Max should know, since his wife.
Jesse, was a "slut'' as he* called he*r and behaved quite similar
to Ruth.
Se> he wouldn't feel so left out. Lenny offered to give Teddy a
percentage if he would inform London bound travelers of Ruth’s
entertaining nature. This would be an international operation,
Max said
Sam had a heart attack, but not fatal. Telling of his virility
and how he could handle Ruth Max suffered a loss of strength,
but he still asked her for a kiss Teddv left for America.
Him can a play of this weight come off without leaving a bad
taste? The answer lies in its morbid absudrity.
Almost A Force
For example the idea of one bargaining in a serious wav
over the quarters of a prostitute-to-be. a married woman, is so
grave that it is funnv It is almost farce
More than in many plays. "The Homecoming ' required great
depth and perfection by tin- actors The perfonnen had a ecr-
tain degree of compassion which only years can bring This was
no play for amateurs who might leave their mark in shallowness.
P®cta| here wai important it the audience was allowed t.n>
much time to absorb and think about the action, it is likely that
the play would have bogged down. Matter of fact, just when you
were about to say. "Enough This drags," the tempo would pick
up. Here the calm sections in this dram<i allowed suspense to
build in what could be an otherwise non-suspenseful play.
The set was. to great relief, not overly immaginative. Too of
ten one is exposed to highly creative and symbolistic sets which
draw attention away from the performers W Joseph Stell creat
ed a highly believable set. It was a place where you would ex
pect Max to live It was so unobtrusive it made you feel at
home.
A Simple Theatre
Remember that this set was constructed in just a laboratory
theatre, a place whose facilities are rudimentary compared to
the vast Fine Arts Auditorium upstairs
This would explain the limits placed on the lighting effects
for "The Homecoming Undoubtedly, all of Rhett Bryson's skills
as a lighting designer were called upon to achieve the fine ef-
Athens Beautiful
"Keeping Athens clean'' is the main otojee- Henry McCormick, Arch Pearson, Sayne
live of these five sanitation department work- Fair. Chris Coulter, and Charles Gardner ent
ers. Their job is to rake and gather dead ploy a type of team spirit in their work
leaves and shrubs.
GRIFFITH'S DINING ROOM
Serves Home Cooked Meals Lunch and
Dinner Monday thru Friday
Meal Tickets - $24 for 24 meals
One meal - $1.10
Home Cooked Meals with the Flavor of the
South
390 W. Hancock
Across from the Confederate Inn
fects that he did.
Indeed, the set, lighting and Jean Marie Russell's costumes
all contributed to making you feel like you were sitting in an
easy chair at the edge of Max's living room.
This feeling made you think you were not just watching a
play, but you were seeing life happening now Could that be what
a play is all about.
Adding to audience involvement was the size of the room It
was small. People were close together and thev were also
close, physieially close, to the actors.
A Sense of Togetherness
This was a proximity somewhat similar to theatre in the
round. This closeness brings a sense of togetherness,
the audience feeling that those aren't just performers
coming” was the audience's dilemma too.
It's the little things that bring an audience close to the play.
Things like Sam nervously kneeding his hands as he talked to the
intimidating Max. Or Joey bouncing in and stretching his shoul
der blades, a move perhaps to inspire recognition for his yearn
ing to box.
But what is the right time? Why was it the right time
for Lenny to ask to hold Ruth's hand? Why was it the
right time for Teddy to address Max after not seeing
him for six years? And why was it right that Teddy
and Ruth stayed on the landing of the stairs instead of coming
directly down? Or were these things timed right? If they were,
why?
The Cast
Harold Pinter's “The Homecoming," July 5 through
10, presented by the University Theatre and Summer
Repertory: ‘68. Leighton M. Hallow, director; Susu
Hurt, assistant director; netting by IF. Joseph Stell;
lighting by Hhett llrynon; and contumen by Jean Mar
ie llassell.
Max David Shelton
Lenny Francis McDonald
Sam II alter Cray
J°*y James Hurl
I eddy Hhett Hrynon
It is a matter of judging actions so they will conform to the
reality of the dramatic moment within the scope of the play.
Judging the proper moment is not entirely guesswork, nor entire
ly intuition, nor entirely experience.
The Balance of Drama
In "The Homecoming." director Leighton M. Ballew used his
judgement of the balance of the dramatic moment to create a
play which would speak, and have a life, and not just be some
men on a platform saying words.
Production in the vein of Harold Pinter's "The Homecoming '
is not only hard to stage but hard to find.
It is gratifying that the University Theatre Summer Reperto
ry has put itself at such a level. Fears that the repertory would
be anything less than professional can no longer be harbored.
The next Summer Repertory production. William Hanley's
Slow Dance on the Killing Ground." July 12 trough 17. will
strive to continue the feeling of involvement "The Homecoming"
has started.
This is the last night to hear Teddy tell Ruth. "You'll like
my family. They're really warm people."
This is the last night to find out how warm.
BIG AFTER
SHIRT SHIFTS
s 3
were s 9
After 4th Sale
99
Large Assortment
BLOUSES
Values to
>8°“
Now
2
99
ALSO REDUCED
• Bathing Suits
• Raincoats j
• Dresses
We still have some cocktail Dresses
left.
Flossie s
fashions
157 College Ave.
Lost! your Sun^la^e*? have found five pair!
i ^MneM*t^flhc>belunK
CAROUSEL VILLAGE
APARTMENTS
*} "MMltMCO • UNfUtNUHIO
1548-11321
There wan a C.o-ed in
the nhouer with shampoo
in her eyes. She saw a girl
across the hall who was
expecting n lavalier the
night before. “I/ey, did \n
get it last night?" called
the girL exiting the show
er. "NO, / didn't. Why,
did you?" across the hall
replied frostily.
It was a few minutes
later that the co-ed dis
covered the girl she had
spoken to was not her
friend whit uns expecting
to be lavaliered.
• • •
A II niter in uniform from
the llickory-(J restaurant
was seen at the Hurger King
ordering a II hopper. The
family he was waiting on all
ordered bar-b-que; however
the little girl whined and
cried for a II hopper. Hather
than put up with the child,
he went across to the Hurger
King and ordered one.
* # •
Seen at a fraternity house
on MiUedge: Hoys in their
bathing suits in the backyard
enjoying the warm July sun
with the sprinkler system
going full force to refresh
them. „ , ,
(»irl talk overheard; “1
just love the wind if it just
wouldn't blow."
• * *
Professor during first
roll-call of the quarter:
"This may be the Inst time
you will hear your name un
til you receive your diploma.
For that matter^ it may be
the last time anyway."
* * •
Sign on co-ed's door
reads: “Never run away from
hemptation — without
leaving a forwarding ad
dress !"
• • •
"Thais my luck," a boy
was overheard to say. “/ pre
registered for this crip
course, Hasket II eat ing 101,
and I'm in there with .'17
Navajo Indians!"
IN A HURRY?
DON’T WORRY.
ONE HOUR CLEANING
SERVICE
Monday thru Saturday
up i» 4:00 l>.\1.
TWO HOUR LAUNDRY
SERVICE
>i unday thru Friday
up to 2:00 P.M.
Saturday
up to 10:00 A.M.
Sno-White Laundry
& Dry Cleaning Co.
At Any of Our Locations
W. Hancock—North Av«.—Five Points—Normal Town
Or Coll 543-9080 For Pick Up