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THE VOICE OF WILKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
VOI.UMK 8. NO. 3
WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
NOVEMBER 30, 1977
Play Opens To Controversy
Billed as “the most powerful
theatrical experience” anyone can
ever have. The College Theater’s
Fall Production of Marat Sade
played for one tense and highly
speculative week in November
(the 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19) to an
audience consisting of both
apprehensive as well as praising
W. C. C. students, faculty, and
citizens of the community. Marat
Sade, a play within a play
concerning the reenactment of a
political assassination performed
by the inmates of a French
Asylum in the early 1800’s, has
been viewed as a strong dramatic
achievement and perhaps the
masterpiece of dramatic pro
duction given by the College
Theatre. It has also been called
tense and confusing, to explicit in
its depiction of sex and violence,
and meaningless in it’s attempt to
communicate because of bold
sexual scenes and graphic mono
logues of violence.
Whatever it was, Marat Sade
was not your typical Community
College Production. While almost
everyone agrees that it was
powerful, there were decidedly
different and controversial view
points in the public’s reception of
this “once in a lifetime exper
ience.”
Just how did these reactions
go? Here are a few examples of
what was experienced.
“Given the goals of educational
theatre, I have never seen a finer
job. Mayes should get a special
commendation.” Says Bill Mof-
fet, Central Studies Division, and
so go similiar comments by
Dianne Wagner, English In
structor, Pat Greene, the wife of
John Greene who played Marquis
De Sade, and Jackie Sumter,
Public Relations Director at
w. c. c.
Jackie Sumter further noted,
“The sexual inferences and the
simulated violence in Marat Sade
were not as explicit, or even as
perverted as one can see on
television or in movies which are
rated PG.”
But for some people a play,
unlike television or movies, comes
across more personal and has a
stronger impact because the
players are very much alive and
three dimensional. Pete Mann,
English Instructor said, “The
general copulation scene and
certain violent overtones pre
sented in the play made me
uncomfortable.” Anyone there
would have noticed several people
flinching and edging in their seats
during scenes of this nature. Here
arises another interesting point-
what the actors wanted the public
to feel.
Jack Smith, the actor who
played Marat, made this obser
vation, “I think Marat Sade is a
conversational production-with
much resemblance towards to
day’s society. I think the so called
immorality is essential to the plot
and promotion of the show.”
John Greene, the actor who
played Marquis De Sade, follows
the same line, “The play would
have been ineffective if it hadn’t
posed questions about immorality
and values without giving any
answers.” So, in sum, the cast
believed that making the audience
uncomfortable was a direct aim of
Marat Sade and that controversy
was a desired effect.
Many people believed that by
being made uncomfortable the
play failed to communicate
anything except confusion and a
negative philosophy that sex and
violence in excess or perversion, if
not being alright, should be
accepted into existence simply
because it is a reality. One
statement was made, “Who is to
say what is normal or real...we all
have extensions in an idyosyn-
cratic mind that some of us are
afraid to look at.” The counter
feeling to this statement, “We
have to assert ourselves to
determine what is real and normal
to decide man’c morality.”
Finally, an interesting parallel
to the message presented by The
Emperor’s New Clothes has
paralleled many people’s reaction
to Marat Sade. While many
people felt that certain scenes
were definitely vulgar and non
communicating, those who were
made uncomfortable will be
considered less intelligent and
unappreciative of culture, if they
don’t get along with praise.
In any event, the week of Marat
Sade is over and while it has been
a solid topic of controversial
conversation and interpretation,
almost everyone agrees that the
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work and performance were a
result of a strong effort by Bud
Mayes and Company.
Wouldn’t it have been a great
disappointment if the play had
been accepted by all as just
another dramatic production.
New Class President
Student Elections: Results
Voting was slow in the recent
student elections at W. C. C. The
election for freshman class
officers and SGA Vice-President
were held in the Commons on
October 12, but due to a close
margin the presidential election
was rescheduled for October 19.
The polls opened at 8:00 a. m. in
the Commons and remained open
throughout the day.
Gregory Lee Cannon was
elected to the office of Freshman
President. His opponents were
Robin Parker and Brian Markle.
In the race for Freshman Class
Vice-President, Brenda McGrady
was victorious over her op
ponents. It is rumored she is to be
dropped as Vice-President due to
her failure to attend any SGA
meetings.
Donna Cardwell was chosen to
hold the office of Freshman Class
Secretary. Debbie Love was
chosen by the voters to serve as
Freshman Treasurer.
In the senatorial run-off, all
five candidates were unopposed
and therefore their selection was
automatic. The new Freshman
Senators are Ronnie Jarvis, David
Maine, Rodney Johnson, Sandy
Diane Parker and Bertha Mc
Clure.
A vacancy in the SGA
Vice-Presidency was created when
Karen Holbrook resigned as SGA
President in August. Rose Marie
Jarvis, the then Vice-President of
the SGA, was promoted to
President of the student body.
Two candidates entered the race
for SGA Vice-President. In a
bitterly fought campaign, David
Gilley was victorious over his
opponent, Ervin “Shorty” Wal
ler. Shorty Waller, after his
defeat, made the complaint that
Ms. Jarvis, SGA President-elect,
was indirectly responsible for his
defeat in the past election. Mr.
Waller, in his own words, charged
Ms. Jarvis with “bad conduct,”
i.e., (1) of “showing up late the
morning of class elections,” (2)
misplacing the candidates’ pic
tures, and (3) of not providing
adequate publicity for the run
offs.
Carolyn Goodman, an election
official, and SGA President, Rose
Marie Jarvis, expressed concern
over the low voter turn-out and
the need to create interest in SGA
activities. President Jarvis indi
cated that the SGA will be facing
some rather difficult issues in the
coming months, including the
possible comeback of the W.C.C.
yearbook. She went on to say that
she “looks forward to working
with the new officers in carrying
out the duties of their respective
offices.”
BY LINDA STONE
Gregory Lee Cannon, an
18-year-old Davidson County
native, was elected President of
the Freshman class on October 19,
after defeating Brian Markle and
Robin Parker in the runoffs.
Gregg is from Lexington,
N. C., where he graduated from
East Davidson High School in
1977. He is presently attending
W. C. C. in the Food and
Environmental Science Curri
culum. He lives in the college
apartments. Before moving to
Lexington, he lived in many exotic
places including Puerto Rico,
California, Texas, and West
Germany.
If Gregg is not playing fooze
ball in the recreation area, he is
usually in his red Bronco, talking
on his C. B. radio, (his handle is
the Trail Duster), sipping on
daiquri with rum, and letting Blue
Oyster send penetrating vibes
through his sexy body. His
favorite past-time is playing chess
(usually alone, he hates to lose).
When asked about his plans for
the future he replied “All I want
to do is be a gear-jamming,
coffee-drinking, truck-driving
fool.” When asked again at a
later date for his future plans he
very evasively replied “I want to
build my Bronco and drive in the
Open Class Prostockers Mudd-
sling.” I feel sure that Gregg will
succeed in whatever he decides to
do in the future.
Servomation: Out To Lunch
A good boss is a guy who takes
a little more than his share of the
blame and a little less than his
share of the credit.
Smile a bit . . . And increase
your face value.
BY TIM BLEVINS
Eating lunch at Wilkes Com
munity College is an epicurian’s
delight. The commodious fa
cilities allow me to eat, drink, and
be merry for tomorrow I may die.
The food there is not bad, it’s
awful. It is the only dining
facility, in the world, where the
roaches have gone on strike. The
dietary selection allows an
excellent opportunity for self
emaciation. Such nutritional
foods as doughnuts. Baby Ruths
and Beechnut gum are readily
available at outrageous prices. A
wide variety of liquid refresh
ments is also to be found waiting
at my fingertips. The artifically
flavored orange pulp and the
carmel colored soda water are my
favorites. All I have to do is
deposit a few pounds of coins.
press a button, and I receive a cup
and my favorite drink, but not
always in that order. Many
marvelous machines are conven
iently placed for my amusement.
One can magically turn a dollar
bill into three quarters. The
epitome of mechanical wizardry is
to be found in the W. C. C. dining
area. It has a revolving stage with
a myriad of sliding doors, and for
the paultry fee of fifty cents I can
play Let’s Make a Deal, with a
surprise behind every door.
Sometimes I feel like I’m playing
cullinary roulette. The biology
department has even been ob
served using the machine to
collect specimens for their culture
dishes. Still, after all this, I can
gather my repast and relax admist
the early American vending
machine decor. For who knows
what tomorrow may bring?