Newspapers / St. Andrews University Student … / May 1, 1969, edition 1 / Page 3
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THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1969 THE LANCE PAGE THREE luJfnitiTR.' A Most Powerful Prince 0O Oc« ^‘HAMLET”. Written by william Shakespeare. Adapted for the texture of the mid twentieth century by Arthur Mc Donald. Produced by the High land Players. Directed by Ar thur McDonald. Cast; Francisco Jed Howell Bernardo Mike Quinn Horatio Louie Goodson Marcellus Gray Clark The Ghost Bob Lilly Claudius. . . .Barry Marshall Voltlmand Mac Damron Laertes. . . .Winston Hensley Polonlus. . . .Waverly Land Hamlet. . . .Dennis Richards Gertrude Mary Key Ophelia. . .Mary B. Higgins Ladies of the Court. Gail Crad dock, Carol Fetter, Kathy Pooley Reynaldo Don Campbell Rosencrantz. . . .RlckErisman Gulldenstern. . .Jeff Alheim Player King. . . .Pete Peery Player Queen. . . .Kathy Koch Player Luclanus. . .Pat Ruffin Player Musician. .Craig Sim mons Fortlnbras Bob Lilly Captain Doug Colby Gentleman Doug Raynor First Gravedigger. . . .John Ogletree Second Gravedigger. . . .Jack Liggett Priest George Shaffer Osric Traywick Newton Scenic design by Dub Narra- more. Assistant to the direc tor: Sally Carlson. Lighting de signed by Joe Mitchell; exe cuted by Lynn Cansler, Ron Wil- kerson, Julia Wilson. Costum ing: Sally Syphrlt. Music by Lydia Johnson. Properties: Pat Pledger. Makeup by Phyllis Dieth. Rehearsal Assistant: Sharon White. Stage Manager: Kaye Comer. House Manager: Sarah Bell. Poster design by Lynn Cansler. Fencing advisor: Dr. Leslie Bullock.Playing nightly in the Liberal Arts Auditorium through Saturday, In a lifetime, this critic has attended exactly twenty-f 1 v e plays -- including shows by national touring companies, professional stock troupes, high-school amateurs, the Highland Players, and one Broadway company. I firmly believe with all sincerity, and without pretending to force truth from an exaggeration, that the twenty-fifth play on the list is far and away the best, the most brilliant, the most stunningpre- sentation of the whole lot. The twenty-fifth is Arthur Mc Donald’s adaptation of "Ham let”. There is no exaggeration at all here, nor any attempt at flattering the Players for the sake of being pleasant. They have truly outdone themselves, and at the same time have out done plenty of others. In fact, the only factor preventing the production from being called professional Is that nobody is getting paid for the priceless work. It is largely this superb act ing that has caused the show to cease being an a'glng script of three-hundr'ed-slxty-odd years and to suddenly be re born as a throbblngly alive performance. And heading the acting company is a young man who Introduced himself incon spicuously by singing “Faster Than Sound”, etc., seven months ago; rose to costar as the cynical Cliff in “Look Back in Anger”; and now Is declaring: “I’ll catch the con science of a king” In a way that catches the conscience of an audience, never lets go, and will be remembered for a long time to come. The young man’s name, if you haven’t already heard, is Dennis Richards; Mr. Richards does not play Hamlet, but be comes Hamlet convincingly well. He opens the Prince’s soul to the viewer and suddenly the play is no longer a simple study of a man but an expo sition through that man of the workings of the mind, the value of life, and the meaning of death. The power of the presentation is that, while the lines explore the emotions, the company’s acting Is pulling the audience into the play, demanding in volvement, wrapping around a nerve and pulling relentlessly. This is total theater -- without a single actor leaving the stage to climb among the spectators. Dub Narramore is respon sible for the production design Idea, an entirely black set con sisting of a collection of ir regularly shaped forms, both on the ground and in suspension, using a plastic fringe serving as a secondary curtain. The color scheme allows only black and emerald green in the cos tuming -- credit on the gar ments to Sally Syphrlt — with the one variation being the colorfully dressed group of traveling actors. But It is Mr. McDonald who deserves the praise for giving “Hamlet” a new lease on life, through what the playbill calls his adaptation “for the texture of the mid-twentieth century.” He has wisely specified no time period in his setting, so the action displayed is as young and new as each viewer’s mind wishes to make it. Somehow, his characters not only speak, but also live, think and react. And suddenly we’re back to the topic of actors. All very well, for there Is much to be commended in that area. There is, first of all, Mary B. Higgins, who, as Ophe lia, turns in one of the finest performances that this campus stage is ever likely to wit ness. She is arresting on her first entrance and throughout the first act; but it is in the second act, after Hamlet has sharply withdrawn his love for her and then killed her father by mistake, when she loses her reason, that she proves her self an outstandingly capable actress. The unfortunate fact is that she Is a senior, that now that we have seen the calibre of her talent she will no longer be around to channel it in the Players’ direction. The performances by sup porting actors are also out standing. Perhaps the most pro minent Is Louie Goodson, very strong and very frightened as he makes his debut in the role of Hamlet’s close associate Ho ratio. One of the most strik ing character changes is found in Ophelia’s brother Laertes, portrayed by Winston Hensley, another newcomer; Laertes is initially an easygoing, fraternal fellow, but as the plot pro gresses he takes on an air of weariness which gives way to outspoken bitterness at the news of the murder of his father by Hamlet. As Hamlet’s uncle, the rul ing King Claudius of Denmark, Barry Marshall is a most de spicable viper. His portrait of a demonic sovereign Is surpris ingly complete for his somewhat limited appearances. Comic re- llfe is achieved skillfully at the hands of Waverly Land, playing Polonlus, and Tray wick Newton, as the effeminate Osric. And the list of fine performers goes on and on, including virtually the entire cast. Considering every facet of the production, this reviewer has but a single reservation. The music, or noise, or whatever, which is employed during the brief lulls between scenes, is generally effective to some ex- THE PHELGMISH COLLECTION will appear next Thursday night at the poetry readings. The group will perform their re cently created “Sylvertre and Doris at the Movies”. From top to bottom: Todd Davis, Chuck White, John Lawson, and Ames Arnold. Festival (Continued from Page 1) tic. Those who attend will hear such manifestos as “Erection”, “Wolf at the Door”, both vo cals, and “Captain Marlbeau” an Instrumental featurlngLarry Hammond on the organ. Davis created the words for the music, which was scored by Lawson and arranged by White. That night there will be a reception following the readings for the student art show. It features sculpture, pen and ink drawings and painting. Saturday and Sunday are the dates set for the presentation of three twentieth century plays, directed and acted by students. “Aria de Capa” written by Edna St. Vincent Millay, is directed by Kathy Pooley. The cast includes Carol Fetter, Joe Mitchell, Pat Ruffin, Ron Wilkerson and Evan Davis. Sally Syphrlt is directing a one act by the English play wright, Harold Pinter, entitled “A Slight Ache”. Doug Colby and Phyllis Delth handle the acting chores, assisted by one back-up actor. Dudley, formerly David Wag ner, will direct “The Dairy of Adam and Eve,” aplaybased on the writings of Mark Twain. Pianist Philip Clarke will round out the festival with an evening of contemporary music. His wife will accompany on the violin and they will feature the music of Bartok, Schoenberg and Prokofieff. With the Clarkes’ finale, so goes the Contemporary Arts Festival for 1969, a combina tion of student and faculty crea tivity; and the work of pro fessional writers, musicians, and directors. This collection of events can prove fulfilling and exciting, even for the Laurlnburg and St. Andrews busy. ONE HOUR MARTINIZING The Most In Dry Cleaning And Laundry Service WANTED Slick Tires For Retreading BEFORE YOU LEAVE LAURINBURG TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FINEST QUALITY RECAPPING SERVICE. Haney's riRE SERVICE One Day Service B.E Goodrich / Picl( up & Delivery South Main Street Laurinburg, N. C. See: Ches Haney or Jerry Fowler tent, but some is carried much too far and tends to become obnoxious. One particular sound, a rhythm tapped out on a triangle, used during the per formance of the traveling ac tors, Is all but maddening when it stops. But this one problem is hardly enough to mar the brilliance of the entire pro duction. There are still, inevitably, some who will stoutly claim that this column is a gross exeg- geration of the good points of the current show. Again I as sure all that this Isfarfromthe case — I defy, In fact, those doubters to attend a per formance and, considering the evidence carefully, not change their minds. So here we are at the end of another year, both for the newspaper and for the High land Players. Artistically, it has lieen an excellent season tor the Players, and presumably It has been a profitable one. This critic, in keeping with a tra dition he began last year, again presents his selections of “bests” from the past four plays — pointing out that no one but himself made these choices, and therefore no one else Is to blame. It might be added that some of these selections were far from easy to make; to wit, the choice of actor and supporting actor each presented several possibilities, each excellent, and It was no easy task de ciding between them. And In the category of actresses, the two selected were both so perfect (and In such completely un like roles) that I eventually gave up trying to choose one or the other, and listed them both. Without further introduction, here is this critic’s list for the past year’s achievements: Board of Visitors To Pay Weekend Visit Dr. Donald J. Hart, presi dent-elect of St. Andrews, and Wallace B. Edgerton, deputy chairman of the National En dowment for the •Humanities, will be guest speakers here this weekend at the third annual meeting of the college’s Board of Visitors. Dr. Hart, who will take office July 1, will address the group at a Friday night banquet at the Country Club of North Caro lina. Mr. Edgerton will speak at a luncheon Saturday at the Stu dent Center. He assumed his present post In 1966. He ser- Best PlAy (criterion is quality of production, rather than the book of the play): “HAMLET”, directed by Arthur McDonald. Best Actor, primary role: DENNIS RICHARDS in “Ham let”. Best Actress, primary role: MARY B. HIGGINS in “Ham let”, and SUSAN MOWREY in “High Spirits’ . Best Actor, featured or sup porting: LOUIE GOODSON In “Hamlet”. Best Actress, featured or supporting: DA\TO TAYLOR In “Look Back In Anger”. Best P reduction Design: JEFF ALHEIM for “Arms and the Man’ . Most Promising Debuts: CYNTHIA SWEET in “Look Back in Anger”, BILL JOHNS in “Arms and the Man’ , and WINSTON HENSLEY in “Ham let”. And that’s it for the season. Here’s to another successful' one next year, with congratu lations to all Involved with mak ing the past year memorable. ved as administrative assistant to Senator Harrison A. Williams from 1959 until 1963 when he established a private consulting service for associations and communities seeking policy guidance on federal programs in community development and education. John F. Watllngton, president of Wachovia Bank and Trust Co. and vice chairman of the Visi tors, will preside over the pro gram Saturday morning at the Liberal Arts building which will include general sessions and three Interest-group discus sions on student life, the Basic Science program, and the pro gram for physically handi capped students. Included in entertainment for the wives of Visitors will be a coffee hour at the home of Mrs. Halbert Jones whose husband is vice-chairman of the Board of Trustees. Wives also will examine the role of the thea trical costumer through the showing of costumes used In various productions by the Highland Players. The BoardofVlsltorslsmade leaders, primarily from North Carolina, enlisted to aid In the development of understanding and support for St. Andrews. Satisfaction Begins at McNAIR’S David’s Floral HOME OF: FLOWER POWER Thank You For Your Patronage This Past School Year. We Appreciate It, And Will Be Looking Forward In Serving You Again This Fall DAVID CAULK, Owner DAVID DOLGE, SA Representative Phpne 276-6544 Cronly St. IS MAN THE ANIMAL... 11 WOMAN THE TENDER M^ An Adventure into Unexplored Lands of Love’ I I STARRING Ruth GASSMANN Felix FRANCHY. color I „ I M AMERICAN international picture IK I restricted ONLY YOU CAN JUDGE IF YOUR CHILDREN ARE MATURE I and INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO VIEW THIS REVEALING FILM. I 1 lifIND z X CO o Dr. ROLAND CAMMERER presents I I i Persons under 16 not admitted unless pi||IC||TC accompanied by parent or adult guardian. | HIlLIIIU il L « Dif^ECTEO 0V Micro photography 0y I ERICH F. BENDER and Dr. ROLAND CAMMERER ERICH F. BENDER Dr. ERWIN BURCIK All Seats $1.25 Phone 276-2244 GIBSON Shows Week Days at 3-B-7-9 Shows Saturday and Sunday at V 3-5-7-9
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May 1, 1969, edition 1
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