Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Page 4 THE PANTHER December 3, 1979 Joan Lewis Stars In Explosive Play BY ROZELL CLARK Panther Entertainment Editor “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, which opened Wednesday night at the Studio Theatre, Memorial Arts Center, held a two-fold challenge for Director Walter Dallas and its performers. Challenge one: Could four black performers take what has been generally accepted as a “white” production and make it acceptable to a mixed audience? Challenge two: Could direc tor Dallas take an abstract production like “Virginia Woolf’ and make it understan dable to a general audience. Yes to the first challenge, and maybe to the second. The production which of ficially opened the Proposition’s 1979 season, was not a white production. It was a people-personality endeavor. The problems that were faced by the main characters, “Martha” and “George” were universal ones. They were not isolated just to the white com munity. The performers presented their characters in such a way, that the audience seemed to forget that the actual characters were black, or that they weren’t white. “Virginia Woolf’ is a com plex play that deals with pretentious illusions and perverted values of two middle class couples, both involved in a small college. The underline meaning may have been hard to comprehend, but the Proposition’s production made it clearer than either the television version or the broadway one. The audience' was so close to’ the actual setting that they could actually see the deep lines in George’s face as Martha scolded him. They feel the life drained from Martha when she was forced to believe that really didn’t have a son. The closeness of the setting made the play more understan dable. “A chorus Line” the smash Broadway musical hit of the decade, returned to the stags 1 of the Fabulous Fox recently. It has been one of the many plays thathas graced the stages of Atlanta recently. Little Mr. and Ms. (dark College It was feared before the production that maybe Joan Lewis, head of Clark College drama Department was too old to play Martha, the daughter of a college president married to a “henpecked” husband. Frankly, there is not another acress in this city who could play a better Martha than Joan Lewis. The role was very deman ding. Martha, at times was mean as a lion, striking both verbally and physically at George and her two guests. Then again, she was a child, her daddy’s only daughter, George’s misunderstood wife, who really was “afraid of Virginia Woolf.” Willie Woods, (George) played opposite Ms. Lewis. Although there is no question about Woods’ superb acting ability, he had a problem with his diction in the opening night performance. Countless times he mispronounced or slurred words. Part of it might have been his character, but the rest was definitely Woods’ fault. Jonathan Peck, a recent graduate of Morehouse College, has developed into a strong actor. He had no problem presenting his Continued on page 12 I ittle Mr. and Miss Clark WRC Sponsors Pageant BY CHRISTINE WILLIAMS Panther Reporter The Little Mr. and Miss Clark Pageant sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) went over as a big success. The pageant took place in Davage Auditorium Friday night November lb. The theme for the pageant was “Our Greatest Love. Children”. Out of nine contestants the two winners of the pageant were five year old Nisan Maeelud, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. DihkrMaloud. and seven- year-old Arcnie Sharold Smith, son of Mrs. Virginia Smith. Other children participating were: Jennifer Ware, daughter of Mrs. Mary Agnes Ware, assistant Dean of Student Affairs; Alyssia Davis, daughter of Mrs. Oliva Davis of the 1 Social Science 1 departmemt; and Alphonso Heiward, seen of Phyllis Heeward. staff member eef Clark's dining hall. T he 1 winners were chosen bv the 1 children whe> raised the most meeney eluring October and Neevember feer the WRC annual budget were selected as the 1 win ne'rs. The 1 three winneu-s m-e'ivod $100 for first place 1 . $50 for second and $25 fen thirel. All of the children re'ceive'd small gifts freem WRC The program began with the introductiem of the 1 masters e>f ceremoniees, Miss Clark, Yedanda Cream and Murray Davis. Afterwards a dance 1 was performed by Feminene 1 Fine'se 1 , and them the 1 presen- tation eef (he 1 contestants. All musie-al selectmens were 1 performed by Anna Breewn. Other segments eef the 1 pagemnt we're 1 “Kids Say the 1 larnde-st Things,” a simple Question and answer session een the 1 edever remarks children make. Alsee, “Kids Do the Darnde'st Things,” which dis played humeereeus talent done by the 1 contestants. In the 1 conclusion eef the preegram all contestants teeeek part in the finale, which they all danced tee a popular tune by Micheal Jackson. The winners were crowned by Dean Win fred Harris. Continued on page 12 RESEARCH PAPERS 10,250 on File — All Academic Subjects Send $1.00 for your up-to-date, 306-page mail order catalog. ACADEMIC RESEARCH P.O. BOX 24873 LOS ANGELES, CA 90024 NAME ADDRESS CITY ___ .. ..... ■STATE HE.