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Chowan Players Envelop Audience
With Intimacy of ‘Our Town' Life
Smoke Signals, Wednesday, April 2, 1980 — Page 5
By DEAN LOWMAN
“Our Town,” a Pulitzer Prize win
ning stage play in three acts, is a
humorous attempt to show the eternal
aspects of man’s life through the
examination of the lives of members of
a small New Hampshire town.
The play allows the viewer to use his
imagination in visualizing the town as
only limited scenery is permitted by the
author, Thornton Wilder.
The audience is also asked to in
terpret pantomine and realize
seemingly impossible possibilities,
such as dead people conversing among
themselves and temporary rein
carnation.
However, the thrust of this comedy
lies in its attempt to teach the viewer to
live life to its fullest while realizing the
beauty of routine things such as going
to sleep and waking up.
Remember, there comes a time in
everyone’s life when his earthly ac
tivities cease and he must learn to
survive in the next world.
“Our Town” is produced and directed
by Mrs. Sandra Boyce; assistant
director Bruce Walbert; lighting by Jay
Hilton (head) and Warren Sexton;
properties by Lisa Rossboro fhead) and
Shawnette Steele; sound by Greg
Benton; costuming by Kim Mandra;
programs by Denise Reynolds and
Steve Whittemore; and house manager
Kim Mandra.
Also, ushers are Fran Morrison, Hope
Boyce, Darlene Keene, and l^dra
Brown; make-up is by Jamille Aceves
(head), Eddie Butler, and Lisa
Rossboro.
(Reviewed at the first dress
rehearsal March 24).
The
Stage Manager
Dr. Gibbs
Joe Crowell
Howie Newsome
Mrs. Gibbs
Mrs. Webb
George Gibbs
Rebecca Gibbs
Wally Webb
Emily Webb
Professor Willard
Mr. Webb
Simon Stimson
Mrs. Soames
Constable Warren
Si Crowell
P
Baseball Players
Sam Craig
Joe Stoddard
Extras
Cast
Dr. Ken Wolfskill
Aubrey Cuthrell
John Sullivan
Dan White
Penny Jones
Cathie Pickens
Joe Mayes
Carolina Stephenson
Hal Austin
Laura Askew
Bernard Ingram
Rhett Coates
Eddie Butler
Becky Brasie
Kevin Cole
Eddie Butler
IT WAS DEEP REMEMBER ? - - Mike Bosch pauses beside Lake Vann (top)
before launching another giant step, followed by o tumble in the thigh-
deep snow which closed the college for a day early in March. (Photos by
Susan Whalen)
Bill Gambrell
Hall Austin
John Sullivan
John Sullivan
Bill Gambrell
Sandra Brown
Hope Boyce
Louis Mangas
This understated comedy opens with
the stage manager (Dr. Ken Wolfskill)
calmly relating the essence of the town,
Grovers Corners, New Hampshire, to
the audience. He gives the viewers an
invisible tour down main street and
describes the general social makeup of
the community.
The stage manager then introduces
the viewers to the households of the^
Gibbs’ (Aubrey Cuthrell and Penny’
Jones) and the Webbs (Rhett Coates
and Cathie Pickens).
The audience is then effectively led
though an entire day in the lives of
these people. The children are shown
going to school while the mothers tend
to their everyday chores. A
geographical and anthropological
report by Professor Willard (Bernard
Ingram) is received as is a social
examination by Mr. Webb.
However, when the speakers become
a little long-winded, the stage manager
deftly steps in and tells them to cease.
Act Two focuses on a love affair
between George Gibbs (Joe Mayes), a
typical schoolboy who loves baseball,
and Emily Webb (Laura Askew), a shy
reserved young lady who suddenly
becomes concerned with her beauty.
The audience leams how the romance
evolved and grows further entrencehed
in the beauties of small-town life. This
act ends with a highly amusing, yet
soulful wedding scene accented by
asides by George, Emily, Mr. Webb,
Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Gibbs, Mrs. Soames
(Becky Brasie), and a sermon by the
stage manager turned parson.
The third act begins 13 years after the
wedding and occurs in the town
cemetery. Many of the familiar figures
of the town have passed away and
present their insights about life and
death to a puzzled crowd that cannot
comprehend speeches by the dead.
However, this act presents some of
the most moving scenes of the
jroduction as it implores the audience
to remember that “something is
eternal” and live each day to its fullest.
After all, only saints and poets ever
“really see how much there is to
living.”
The effectiveness of the production is
accentuated by the coziness of Daniel
Hall’s theatre. It helps the viewer
actually become one of the townsfolk
looking on an everyday ch^in Qf,ev^pi^^
in Grovers Corners,-f^iliginpsfjiiie.
However, weak lighting and the
inability of the audience to imagine
such tMngs as scenery dampened the
effectiveness of the performance.
Colleges
Rescind
Rock Bans
(CPS) — Administrators at two
universities have reversed earlier bans
on rock music acts on their campuses.
After working out a new system to
help protect the university’s Littlejohn
Coliseum from destructive fans,
Qemson Dean Walter Cox dropped the
anti-rock policy he had imposed after
fans at a December concert of the rock
group Kansas caused extensive
damage.
At the University of Arizona, the
student government persuaded ad
ministrators to change their minds
abbout allowing a government-
sponsored rock concert at Arizona
^dium in May.
In February administrators,
remembering how a 1977 Fleetwood
Mac concert at the stadium caused
neighborhood complaints and did $300
in damage to the field, had vetoed a
proposed May 3 Who concert.
But a petition drive produced 4195
signatures and a re-opening of the
debate. Most administration objections
were met in subsequent discussions.
Last week adminisfrators agreed to
allow the student government to hold a
May stadium concert, although no act
has been signed to take the Who’s
place as yet.
Some worries remain. “The will be
offered,” student government concerts
director Steve Kopelman says.
Kopelman adds the university will
hold the student government respon
sible for any damages to stadium
neighbors’ property, or to the stadium
turf. “They tell us this is the best sod
turf in the country, like a souffle.’”
Damage to the facility was also the
majorconcernatClemson. “I wascalled
down to the coliseuafter the Kansas
concert, Cox recalls, and there was
“Plumbing ripped off the walls, urine in
the comers, and vomit everywhere.”
He announced there’d be no more rock
concerts at Littlejohn until someone
came up with adequate ways of
monitoring the crowd and protecting
the coliseum.
Last week the administration an
nounced a nine-point program that
includes “peer patrols,” increased
personal searches at the door, and
more careful selection of acts that,
according according to Union Board
Director Buford Trent, “have less of
drug culture following.”
Roommates Cindy Miller (above) and Patrice Timmins shown in two views of their winning room.
Photo by Gary Vasser)
Jenkins Hall Wins Room Contest
Jenkins Hall captured top honors in
the Most Attractive Rooms competition
among Chowan’s residence halls.
The competition was sponsored by
the Dorm Council comprised of
residence hall officers. Mrs. Carla
Chamblee, Bennie Vann, and Roy
Winslow served as judges.
Professor J. P. Harris of the Housing
Committee said rooms were ]udged on
neatness, use of space, creativity and
originality, and color coordination with
100 points a perfect scoro.
Jenkins recieved the Winning Dorm
Award after !»s rooms entered in
competition received the highest
number of points. Belk was runnerup
with Parker, East and West trailing in
that order. Mixon did not enter the
competition.
In each dorm, one room was selected
as the Most Attractive Room. The
winners: Jenkins (Room 220) Cindy
Miller and Patrice Timmins; Belk (129)
Ann Purdy and Micky Weitzel; Parker
(304) Freddie Davis and Ross
Newcomb; East (106) Amos Jordan
and Gordon Tracy; West (306) Sao
Vang and Sam Kayea.
Harris said the competition was very
successful and thanked the judges.
Dorm Council, and especially the dorm
presidents for providing leadership in
planning the competition. The
presidents are Jeanne Kelly, Belk;
Bettie Jo Darden, Jenkins; James
Phillips, East; Steve Laney, West;
Robert Bailey, Parker; and Rory
Gibson, Mixon.
Eleven Students Represent College
At National Phi Theta Kappa Parley
By BARBARA PARKER
Eleven Phi Theta Kappans from
Chowan’s Iota Delta Chapter attended
the National PTK Convention in
Washington, D.C. held March 20-22.
Members attending were, Bennie B.
Bridgewater, David Bullock, Bert
Childress, Tim Elliot, Mickie Evans,
Debbie Gorse, delegate; Steve Jarman,
Dean Lowman, Ross Newcombe, Bar
bara Parker, Reporter; and Ed
Wooten, Sponsor. Chowan’s chapter
stayed at the Capitol Hilton Hotel where
the convention was conducted.
The theme of the convention was “A
Time For Truth: America’s Need For
Governmental Renaissance”.
Late Thursday afternoon, after
registration, dinner was held in the
Presidental Room. Following dinner,
Sen. Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas
addressed the more than 1,800 PTK
members from around the country. She
spoke on current political issues such as
draft of women. While Sen. Kassebaun
is in favor of drafting women, she
relayed to the audience her belief that
such measures would not be taken.
Afterwards, a PTK dance was held
and the candidates for the National
offices were introduced.
Later, the North Carolina Region
held an unscheduled meeting at 1 a.m.
in which the members discussed the
candidates running for offices. This
enabled the members of each chapter
to tell their delegate who to vote for.
Breakfast Friday morning was
served in the Congressional and Senate
rooms. Senator Mark 0. Hatfield of
Oregon spoke to the members. His
strong personality was immediately
revealed as he asked the waiters who
were clearing the tables to leave so they
would not interrupt his speech. He was
a very witty speaker and kept
everyone’s attention throughout his
entire speech.
Immediately following Sen. Hat
field’s speech, the audience was both
surprised and pleased to be addressed
by U.S. State Department spokesman
Hodding Carter. Carter commented
that he is not related to President
Jimmy Carter. He spoke briefly and
answered questions, suspecting that
they would be more intelligent than
those asked by reporters. He jokingly
implied that this statement was “off the
record”.
From 10 to 6, PTK members were
given free time to tour Washington on
their own. Chowan’s members toured
the Washington Monument, the Lincoln
Memorial, the Smithsonian Institution,
Arlington Cemetery, National Zoo, and
saw the White House and the Capitol
building.
Early that evening, the Ceremonial
Unit of the U.S. Navy Band entertained
the PTK members. Afterwards, the
candidates for National offices made
their campaign speeches.
Saturday the delegate from each
diapter voted for the 1980-1981 national
rfficers. During this session, non
delegate members toured the city on
their own.
That evening, members gathered
together in the Presidental Room for
the awards banquet. Speaking at the
banquet was General William C.
Westmoreland, U.S. Army, retired. He
spoke of his concern for America’s
future and related his many military
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and civilian experiences which he felt
pertain to today’s political problems.
He discussed in det^ his viewpoint on
the Iranian situation as it relates to
Russia and the United States.
At the conclusion of Gen. West
moreland’s speech, he was given a
standing ovation. The next part of the
program was the announcement of the
PTK awards. After the awards were
announced, the installation of National
Officers took place.
The 1980-1981 national officers are:
vice presidents (by region), North East
— Carol Biggs, Dover, Del.; Southern
— Debbie Moseman, Brevard, West-
Northwest — Sara Drake, Washington;
North Central—Valerie Olson, Liberal,
Kans.; national president — Stuart
Thomas, Banner Elk, N.C.
Chowan’s chapter left Sunday around
12:30 p.m. and returned to Mur
freesboro at 3:30.
Next year’s PTK National Con
vention will be held in Houston, Texas.
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instructors in a private
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Instructors needed
especially in Swimming
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