Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / April 21, 1999, edition 1 / Page 12
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Meredith Herald April 21,1999 12 Campus Extras Who knew Dots could be so entertaining? Bl-TH HaU. News Editor Holly Hendricks certainly earned her Meredith Performs Outstanding Performance Award that she received Monday morn- ing- The Sunday in the Park with George audience certainly knows why. Hendricks, who was brilliant as leading lady Dot, however, was not a lone talent. All of the actors, particularly Peter Vitale as George, a.s well as director Cathy Rodgers, scenic designer Bill Rcxigcrs, costun>e designer Suzette Pare and musi cal director Nancy Whelan Rice should be commended for an outstanding prcxiuction of Steven Sondheim’s musical. James Lapine's book, on which the play is ba.sed, was inspired by father of post- impressionism Georges Seurat and his pointillism masteipiece “La Grande Jatte." The pointil lism movement Seurat pioneered is similar to impressionism. In the same way a television puts together many, matiy dots to make a picture, so the artists puts together many points of color to create figures. Tlirough the play, wc meet Seurat and watch how he interacts with the famous fig ures in his piece and how he wrestles with his art. “La Grande Jatte" was first ridiculed because it seemed such a bastardization of the impres sionist moventent that was so popular at the time. Soon though, the enigmatic figures relaxing on a Sunday afternoon on the island of Grande Jatte werc immortal ized in the art culture. The musical is as captivating and thought-provoking as the painting. I'he scer>ery displays what Seurat secs—the water, the trees, the sailboats. The scenery, which gives the audience an accurate idea the backdrop of Grande Jatte,” is actually magical in parts. At the end of act one, when figures take their places on the stage, the audiencc “sees” the original canvas. The characters were memo rable arul ertdcaring. Dot (she's a pointillistic figure, get it?) is Cicofge’s mKlel and sometimes lover She is his opposite: viscer al, practical, uneducated and in love with George. He is cool, intellectual and consumed by his ait. 'ITiey are crossed by tlieir own stars and destined not to be together. Hendricks and Vitale help us feel for their characters. After their duet “We Do Not Belong Together," there was a tangible heaviness in the air. The themes of transience and our human desire to order the unorderly were poignant and well presented. The first half of the play is set in 1884 when Seu rat created the painting. The .second half is set in 1984 at the premiere of Seurat’s grarxl- son’s artistic revisioning of the original complete with strobe light and metal. The audiencc watches how time changes things including the island. In 1984, cars take the place of trees. We also see the aging and rebirth of the characters. We sympathize with the aging moth er of Geoige in the first act and the aging and death of Geoige’s grandson's grandmother (George’s daughter) in ihe sec ond act. But (here is also rebirth. George fathers Dot’s child in the first act, and “La Grande Jatte” itself is reborn in the second act. What is most moving though, is George’s desire to control and have a perfect life. This is an impossible task. His imagination is his escape and his tool. He is able to transform the life in front of him. 'I\vo back-biting shop girls become lovely soft figures standing near the water. An embittered bum relaxes with his dog on the ^ore. Squabbling couples become a picture of con tentment. This is George’s power, and he cannot give this up, not evCT for Dot. Peter Vitale as George and Holly Hen dricks as Dot, far right, per form in Merdith’s pro duction of Sunday in the Park with George. Photo by STEvr Wilson Are you borrowing money to attend Meredith? College is expensive and you need to stretch your dollars. College Foundation (CFI) can save the average Meredith borrower $1600 compared to other lenders listed by your financial aid office on information for new borrowers. CFI offers the state’s most affordable Stafford Loans, but the financial aid office may refer you to another lender unless you ask for us. You have the right to choose! Tell the financial aid office you want to save money with CFI! Choose College Foundation as your lender and get the savings you deserve! wvm.cfi.org 919/821-4771 or 888/CFI-6400 Lender Code 807037
Meredith College Student Newspaper
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April 21, 1999, edition 1
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