PAGE SIX
THE BENNETT BANNER
FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1979
Look again: ‘String’ not just a comedy
by Hattie Purnell
“String,” a drama by Alice
Childress, was truly a spring pro
duction not to be forgotten. How
ever, it should be remembered not
because it evoked so much laugh
ter but because of what the writer
was trying to say.
The director’s notes which were
placed inside the program should
have given the audience some in
dication of what to expect. The
notes were placed there by the
director, Denise Troutman, for a
purpose, which the audience did
not seem to grasp. The notes read:
“Drama, we feel, is the noblest
means of discussing human na
ture; it is a ‘. . . just and lively
image of human nature represent
ing its passions and humor, and
the changes of fortune . . Drama
is a ‘slice of life’ artistically put
on a stage as if we were holding
a mirror up to nature for ‘all the
world’s a stage . . .’ and we are
merely players. Drama reflects
humankind’s inhibitions, emotions,
states of minds—even prejudices,
prejudices against looks, manner
isms, dress, and so on.
“Tonight’s performance proves
that humankind is full of preju
dices, prejudices which are some
times denigrating, sometimes un-
reconcilable, sometimes detrimen
tal, and quite often unnecessary.”
These notes were placed in the
program to set the stage for the
play and prepare the audience for
what it was about to witness. But
the majority of the audience
seemed to have come only to see
a friend or a neighbor perform
on the stage.
What the audience failed to un
derstand is that each performer
is not projecting characteristics of
herself, but she is portraying a
completely different person. The
audience should try to see the
performer this way.
Although the audience’s concept
of the production differed from
that of the performers, opening
night flowed very well with the
exception of a few technical prob
lems such as projection and body
movement.
Joan Walker, as “old Joe,”
poured out the tormented frustra
tions of the character. “Old Joe”
was ridiculed, humiliated and dis
criminated against, all because he
was “different.” The remaining
actresses, Terri Wade , as L. V.
Craig, Michelle Hawkins as May-
delle, Hattie Purnell as Mrs.
Rogers, Kathy Lewis as Mrs. Bev
erly, were all very convincing, and
portrayed their characters very
well on opening night.
But Saturday’s performance just
did not seem to have the continu
ity and vitality of opening night.
The pauses between lines which
should have been spontaneous
responses were obvious. The
drama appeared rehearsed and
very unrealistic.
Denise Troutman, director of
“String,” and of drama, felt as
though the audience could have
been more supportive simply by
getting into the play and the mes
sage it was trying to project. Cast
ing for the drama was also a
struggle, she said, because males
just did not seem to be interested
or dedicated enough to participate.
Therefore, the realization was a
little distorted when females as
sumed the roles of males. This
production was one that called for
quite a bit of work on the devel
opment of character. More re
hearsals might have helped to
smooth out a few of the rough
spots. But because of other press
ing matters, preparation time for
the production consisted of two
weeks. The technical staff carried
out their duties and worked very
well towards the preparation of
the play. Miss Troutman said.
“String” was truly a challenge
Seniors may never pass this way again
Photo by Terrence Marable
Seniors and their Little Sisters were excited as the hour of Senior Day ap
proached. Many felt that casual conversation could take some of the pressure
away before the “Big Event.”
Photo by Terrence Marable
Linda Addison and Beverly Anderson listen attentively as Seriior Day pro
gresses. They show a seriousness that reflects what every senior should be
thinking about—the future.
for the Bennett College Players
for the intensity of the emotions
which were to be projected had
to come from the soul.
Karen Lewis, a senior art major
from Washington, D. C. said, “I
truly enjoyed the play. It really
made me stop and take a look at
myself. I could actually empathize
with “Old Joe.”
“String,” an Alice Childress
production, was meant to give the
audience a chance to gaze at their
own actions as they often appear
in reality.
The play presented the sadness
of our society and showed how we
are conditioned so that people who
do not conform to the appearance
demanded by society are ridiculed
and often misjudged. However, a
person should be judged on his or
her merits and attitudes and not
by the clothes he or she wears
or by personal habits which affect
no one else. “String” was a pro
duction that many of us should
have taken more seriously, for it
was truly a reflection upon this
campus.
“Strina” entertained a full house who enjoyed the production by the Theatre Guild. In this scene, Mrs.
by Ka?hy Lewis cleans a picnic table off while “Old Joe,” Joan Walker, and Mrs. Rogers, Hattie Purnell, look on.
INTRAMURAL
ACTIVITIES
Bowling and Tennis, Apr. 3
Softball, Apr. 4
Women’s Recreation
Association Banquet, Apr. 27
Swimming results: 1st place
Reynolds Hall
Last Banner Meeting
Tues., April 10
6:30 p.m.
Banner Staff Room
All copy due
by April 18
ENGLISH COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
All juniors who did not pass the English Comprehensive
Exam when it was given in the fall and all juniors who
failed to take the examination in the fall are required to
take the examination at this time.
Place: Science Assembly
Time: 8-10 a.m.
Date: April 26
ANSWERS TO
GRAMMAR QUIZ
1. his. Everybody
2. his, one
3. her, Somebody
4. its, jury
5. she, woman
ATTENTION! ATTENTION!
Tutors are needed!! If you have above average skills
in Math, English, Social Science or Science, take a genuine
interest in your Bennett sisters, and have the ability to
relate, come to the Freshman Studies Building and obtain
an application from Ms. Jimmie Gravely.
Reasonable pay and reasonable hours!
Qualifications will be cleared and final acceptance will
be based on recommendations from department heads.
For information call ext. 131. Deadline is April 20, 1979.
Dance Company performs spring concert, tours
- . y-N A *10 J rr TTr/-vv»i-i
by Debbie Little
The Bennett College Dance
Company presented its spring
concert of dance March 17
and 18 at 8:15 p.m. in the
Goode gymnasium.
The program consisted of
eleven different performances
which were Sweet Me, Build
ing Sometimes Takes Destruc
tion, Bondage, Dawls, and
Elmer’s Dance, choreographed
by Joella Hendricks, physical
education instructor; 12th
Avenue Posture, choreograph
ed by Mondrell Jester; In
Praise of Terpsichore, choreo
graphed by Ruth Powell; Pink
Panther and Company, chor
eographed by Debbie Sim
mons ; The Grocery Caper,
choreographed by Vanessa
Richmond; The Almost-Chor-
eographed Dance, choreo
graphed by Veta Covert; and
Prism, choreographed by
Rene Wells.
The dancers included B.
Brown, V. Covert, J. Hen
dricks, V. Hayes, M. Jackson,
M. Jester, L. Kelly, M. Le
vant, K. Lewis, D. Little,
T. McCalla, E. Mitchell, D.
Perkins, L. Pittman, R. Pow
ell, C. Richmond, V. Rich
mond, D. Simmons, B. Town
send, V. Walker, R. Walls and
V. Williams.
The B.C.D.C. also repre
sented their spring concert
to the Delaware Valley stu
dents March 28 in the gymna
sium. On April 3 and 7 they
performed in High Point for
Black Arts Week and at the
Bennett Arts Festival. They
will also be touring different
high schools in the Greens
boro area. The dancers who
were selected for the spring
events were as follows:
Edwina Mitchell, Kathy
Lewis, Debbie Simmons, Bet
ty Brown, Josey Hudley, Mon
drell Jester, Debbie Perkins,
Ms. Powell, & Ms. Hendricks.
Photo by Terrence Marable
Bennett College Dance Company members (I to r) Lin Pittman, Renee Wells
and Edwina Mitchell perform “In Praise of Terpsichore" during the spring
concert.