Newspaper Page Text
One act plays presented by ti
Mercer students are In lor a treat
this quarter. For the first time, the fall
theatre productions will be directed,
designed, built, and acted only by
students. The reason for this is quite
simple: to allow students to extend
their knowledge of theatre produc
tion with actual experience. The three
one act plays are to be presented by
noted playwright. Edward Albee.
They are "The Zoo Story." ’'The
Sandbox." and "Counting the
Ways "
“Thu Sandbox" deals with death
through the dying and burial pf
Grandma (r lice Reynolds). Different
reactions ant ways ol accepting death
are shown tnrough the characters of
Mommie (Micki McKee). Daddy
(Farley Yotiman). and the young man
(Jim Kiss). The stages of love and
growing old through the eyes of HE
(David Haas) is the theme of
"Counting the Ways." which, along
with "The Sandbox" is under the
direction of Mercer graduate Jennie
Mayes. "The Zoo Story" is a play
about contact. Jerry (Scott Mann),
alienated, isolated young man in
New York City feels a need to break
through the barriers that separate
people, and he chooses Peter (Hunter
Godsey), a typical middle class
business man to help him break
through the barriers.
Designing the set for "The Zoo
Story" and "The Sandbox" is'senior
Micki McKee, while sophomore Russ
Mattocks sets the scene for "Count
ing the Ways." Scott Conner is
lighting designer for all three plays.
Creating the costumes for "The Zoo
Story" and "Counting the Ways" Is
Sandy Duncan, and Anna Joseph is
costume designer for "The Sand
Box." SDA instructor Marion Zielin
ski Is acting as technical director and
design advisor tor the productions.
Other technical staff includes:
Sherry Hodges-stage manager, Keith
Carney-props master. Becky Young-
sound design. David Haas-box office
manager. Jackie Whipple-house
manager. Leslie Gates-master electri
cian. Micki McKee-shop foreman,
and Russ Mattocks-shop assistant.
The plays will open on Friday.
October 28 and run through Novem
ber 7. All performances will be In the
Laboratory Theatre.
Moifie Review
The Tin Drum’ condemns the world’s values
Practice for "The Zoo Jtory" Hunter Godsey A Scott Mann
This Friday's movie is "The Tin movie is the grotesque, barbaric
Drum." It Is the story of Oskar. But environment in which Ihe boy Is
Oskar is no ordinary boy His voice raised. By the age of three. Oskar has
shatters glass. His drum becomes his already been confronted with vto-
closest companion. Bui his most lento, death, and alcoholism He
peculiar quality is the tact that, well becomes disgusted with the “adult
you see, Oskar simply doesn 't age. Oh world" that he vows never to grow up.
he grows up mentally-but he stays in He keeps his promise,
the body of a three year old Over the next seventeen years.
But the thrust of the movie is not Oskar (who remains in the body of a
the boy s strange (shall we say?) three year old) finds himself caught in
peculiarities. The impact o' the a family and society bent on
Costello: “Punch The Cat”
By John Young
Usually, when I see capitalized
bold-print words I expect emphasis to
be placed on them, even on lyric
sheets, but my expectations were
thwarteo. i really did hope the cover
was a joke, though, as it depicts a
misty-eyed Elvis garbed as a sailor
boy from the film "Ebb Tide."
Misty-eyed’ Elvis Costello? The man
who cut an abusive audience member
with a broken bottle In 1978?
Uh-huh. and boy. has he changed.
His lyrics are still witty and eccentric
even at their worst, and his voice is as
strong as ever. But I haven't heard
such clumsy songwrlting in I don't
know how long. It isn't the
performance that lacks conviction
here: the Attractions (and the various
sidemen) play as forcefully as ever.
It's the songs;ihe bridges, the written
notes themselves. The vocal breaks by
Aphrodisiak sound forced because the
composition sounds so unsure. To try
and add punch to this mess, producer
Clive linger adds Steve Nieves'
tinkling Abba-esque synthesizers and
the TKO Horns. who sound like they
were recorded ip a Volkswagon (the
only good horns "TKO (Boxing
Day)"
To be sure, some of "Punch the
Clock" works. "Everyday l Write the
Book" is a smooth ballad about
good-humored romantic obsession
that's effectively propped up by the
Attractions. "Love Went Mad" is
about surviving a nervous breakdown,
while “The World and Hiq Wife" is
about coping with incest and its
consequences. There are other songs
that are okay, but most ol them are
catchy in spite of themselves. "Charm
School" has a cute cop of the
"Summer of '<2" theme in its chorus,
but little else and the arrangements
even on the good songs sound like
mere mix 'n' match
Elvis’ vocals aren't what they used
to be, anyway. In 1978, he
compressed his angry snarl Into
pained croon on "This Year's
Model." In 1963. he’s working up
from a croon to a mere shout, which
doesn't sound as interesting. This
robs his lyrics ol their force and
meaning, since on paper they're
sharp'but often gnomic. And his
pbUtlcal song "Shipbuilding." about
the Falkland Island war. actually gets
stupid. He asks If the job of
shipbuilding and its benefits for the
working Joe is worth losing a son.
Being a product of the British working
. he ought to know the answer
do. But at least It doesn't
concern nuclear war: the lyrics'
specificity is welcome and Chet
Baker's trumpet solo is great. The
point isn't worth making, that’s all
One more thing: thanks be to Af
Hackle for taking over my column last
week.
WANTED
Students Interested In study
ing In Jordan. Israel, and
Egypt as part el Mercer's
Mid-East Studies Program
should mett le Room 202
Willingham at 10 o’clock on
Thursday. October 27.
FOR SALE
1978 Toyota CeUca ST
Groat Condition
Must Sell
Automatic. A/C, AM/FM
S2195.00
Contact Jim Lee 323 Shorter
742-9170
For pizza out it's
Pizza inn !
2436 Riverside Dr. 746-3502
self-destruction. As Ihe movie pro
gressed Oskar's world begins lo
crumble. And so does Oskar. He
learns only violence. hatred, and iusr.
The compassion in him is constantly
destroyed by forces beyond his
control. His family, his irlends. and
his society are all destroyed by failing
To realize the true chnotlc. barbaric
nature ol their wc:>d. Oskar bepomes
its victim, lea-t\n j to ueasthe world
Is.,
It all makes tor a very Intellectually
dynamic, sometimes confusing filpt.
Although individual scenes may seem
strange and sometimes perverse,
each one contributes to Ihe over-all
idea. Simply put. Ihe movie is
shocking. It makes a mockery ol what
we call a civilized society Although it
is set In Ihe early part ot this century,
its message istlear and Indisputable
It is a dramatic condemnation ol the
world and values man, has created.
And It shows us what happens to a
boy trapped In such a world. There
are no heroes in this movie, only
victims.
Because of Its explicit depiction ot a
tragic, decaying family and society,
the movie is recommended lor mature
audiences only
uiguy u iiui uiiccoy
pizza, loaded with
all your favorite
toppings.
CALL AND HAVE IT DELIVERED
PIPING HOT TO YOUR TABLE!
Ltaftod Delivery Area
Setufdey-Thundey. 5:09 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Friday. 5.99 p.m.-1 001 . m.
*3.00 OH A Large Pizza
*2.00 OH A Medium
Pizza
Ivs an, fk/ii «tdBXUOO«l| Mge w
1/WI O* I |MP» &■*
r94W<e>»«Mt cNw,-* ** t ,M a* an.
Pizza in nil
REMEMBER OUR DINING
ROOM SERVICE INCLUDING
NOON BUFFET 11 A.M.-2
.P.M. MON. & TUES. NIGHT
BUFFET-5 P.M.-9 P.M. .
Pizza inn
Students Interested in studying In Jerden. Israel and Egypt u par. ef
Mercer's Mk&ast Studies Program should meet In Room ?o?
Willingham at 1090 an Thursday. October 27.
THE TIN
DRUM
Oct. 21-7:00 * 8:00 p.m. 314 CSC