!4ondr. February 11. 1374
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Festoret Editor
To be successful, every play requires the loving attention of the entire playmaking
group from the playwright to the set painter.
Yet, if there are any two artists who are the driving, creative force behond Shaw
the first Carolina Playmaker production of the spring semester, they are playwright
Anne Comrnire and director Tony Giordano.
After observing a staged reading of her play last summer at the' Eugene O'Neill
Memorial Theatre Center in Waterford, Conn., Comrnire has come to UNC to see
Shay in full production. Professional freelance director Giordano is here at her
request.
"It feels very good to be here, Giordano said. "There's free time to experience
and explore. The cast is very disciplined and extraordinarily cooperative. In
professional theatre, he added, the cast has far less time to work so hard on a
production.
The playwright is also enjoying the relaxed, atmosphere at UNC.
"I find it very easy to rewrite down here," Comrnire said. "But it's extremely
difficult for the full-time students to get all the new changes. Most of the changes
are nitpicking ones, although, Act II, Scene II, the dramatic confrontation portion
of the play, has been reordered.
"I find it very difficult to write the dramatic," she said. "1 have a tendency, like
most comics, to go too far with tragedy. If I really wrote what I thought, it would be
the weepiest play in history.
A native of Wyandotte, Mich., Comrnire attended Eastern Michigan University
and following graduation taught "Ancient history, American history, English,
journalism and six hours of hall duty a day" in a Michigan high school.
She then took a job with a Detroit publishing firm for which she later wrote
approximately 1,000 biographical sketches for her book, Something About the
Author, cited by the American Library Association as one of the outstanding
reference books of 1971.
In 1967, Comrnire applied for a job with Meadowbrook Theatre, a professional
repertoire group located at Oakland University, Mich. "They asked me if I could
"I specifically set out to write a play that would
be a total challenge for an actress. I'm very
pleased about what might happen opening
night- Playwright Anne Comrnire
sew. I laughed insanely and said absolutely not.
She got the job as wardrobe mistress at S90 a week. "The lady said it was so
refreshing to hire someone who didn't claim she could do everything, Comrnire
The following year, she worked with famous lighting designer Jean Rosenthal in
New York. But,, as she says, "lithing design was not my idea of heaven. So, she
decided to come out into the open and end her "cute game as a closet writer.
"My fear of the big-time lessened when I walked into New York." It's just one
more step, she said, like going from high school to college.
Then, in 1969-70, Comrnire wrote her first drama. "1 decided I quit my job, eat
tomato soup and write my first play." The following year she wrote two one-acts,
entitled Matinee Ladies.
Comrnire began writing Shay in the fall of 1971. It is the story of a mature,
introverted woman who has done everything society asked her to do grow up,
marry, raise a family and has done it well. The dramatic conflict arises when her
children try to change hen.' - ------ - - ------
Shay is a challenging role, Comrnire said.""! specificallyet out to writea play that
would be a total challenge for art actressrBeveYly"CBehtTey) is"meettrig'the challenge
beautifully. I'm very pleased about what might happen opening night."
Giordana also had nothing but praise for professional actress Bentley. "She's
carrying a fantastic part. And she's doing a phenomenal job on a very difficult role.
It's the kind of role you only cast stars for or make stars from."
' - ., - -
Playwright Anne Comrnire
it
l ! 3 i
SUff fo by Cory lbrato
Director Tony Giordano
And Giordano should know: he's been in the theatre business since prep school,
where he directed and acted in student productions.
After graduating with an M. A. in drama from Catholic University of America in
Washington, D.C., Giordano toured across the country with a repertoire troupe. "It
was crazy," he said about the experience. "When it was all through we hated each
other. But it was fun to travel, learn to.be an adult and attempt to be a professional.
We even thought we were good."
He then taught English and drama at a Long Island high school for five and a half
years before taking a job as artistic director at the Islip Art Theatre for the State
' University of New York at Suffolk.
He is also resident director of four playhouses in eastern United States and has
been nominated by the New Jersey Drama Critics Association for Best Director for
his work on Funny Girl, which played this summer at the Paper Mill Playhouse in
New Jersey.
Unfortunately, the award ceremony is Tuesday, the opening night of Shay.
"I haven't decided if I'm going yet or not," Giordano said. "I'm vain enough to
want to be there to win it, and I guess I better get used to it if 1 lose. It's nice to get
feedback occasionally."
Comrnire agreed. "I'd sometimes even appreciate a Good Housekeeping Seal of
Approval," she said.
Comrnire was happy to see her play read at the Eugeme O'Neill Memorial
Theatre Center this summer. She views writing as a selfish occupation unless the
writer lets others see his work. "For the first time in four years," she said, "1 felt like I
had given something back."
Comrnire and Giordano are looking forward to seeing the Chapel Hill audience's
reaction to the play. The world premier of Shay at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the
Playmakers' Theatre is kind of a test for Comrnire. She hopes to see whether or not
Shay is as universal as other artists have said it is.
But Shay has a future after its conclusin at UNC. ACT (American Conservatory
Theatre) in San Francisco will stage the play in April starring Sada Thompson, who
won a Tony Award for Best Broadway Actress of 1972.
Furthermore, New Zealand and Australia recently purchased the two-year
option rights for the play which will be produced in the Twelfth Night Theatre in
Brisbane, Australia.
Would she like to see Shay reach Broadway?
"That's what we'd all like," she said with a grin.
. .Wanted
12-14 Students to Work
at Academic Book Fair
Wed & Thur From 11-8 $2Hr
Call:
MARTIN FREED 933-5066
Cinoma
"Fa itastic RnL" CarcT.na Thsitra.
t'jsjjnl Hcent, cxtraorcSnary film tbout a plsmt
hft U:."piitlan hurrans era kt?t c pU.
Grsa cf most brKIUnt places cf animation
end on cf the most tmfy mts'cil pleats of
citric f.cllcn ever rmd. Hot to t missed.
Dubbed unfertunQiery. 1:24, 2:55, 43, 5:53,
720 & 8. $2. nds Thursday. Lata how.
rridiy and Saturday, The Four Clowns."
Sunday, "1-3 PUIns Drifter." All shows at
11:15. $1.53.
"1D31 Danish DcHjMs." Varsity Theatre.
Drtatiul tk!n flick with stupid fcke sex
scenes. Definitely not even one delight 2:55,
4:53, 6:45 & 8:40. $2. Ends Tuesday. Late
show: "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever."
Friday and Saturday at 11:15. $1.50.
"ftepolecn and Cams nth a." Ptaza I. Poor
Disney feature. 3,5, 7 & 9. $2. Ends Thursday.
The Paper Chase." Plaza II. Highly
satisfying film that Is truly outstanding when it
examines a student-teacher relationship.
Good performances, and a brilliant, truly
great one from John Houseman. 2:45, 4:55,
75 & 8:15. $2. Ends Thursday.
"Sleeper." Plaza III. Woody Alien's latest
comedy, set 2SO years in the future. Very
funny, and though it lacks some of the
delirious brilliance of "Sex," It Is his
smoothest, best-paced film. 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 &
9:33. $2. Ends Thursday.
Chapel Hill Film Friends: "People on
Sunday." (Germany, 1 923) A study cf a day in
the life of ordinary people, directed by Robert
Slodmak. Shown with The Goat," a Ouster
Keat on short Friday at 9:30. Saturday at 1 1 :30
In Carroll Hall. Admission $1.50.
Alternative Cinema: "Sambizanga," a
simple eloquent and ultimately quite forceful
film set against the background of
Portuguese colonialism. Made in Africa and
directed by a black woman Sarah Msldoror.
Friday at 7. Saturday et 2, 4:33, 7 & 9:30 in
Carroll Hsll. $1.50.
Free Flicks: Friday, "Carmen Jones." Oscar
Hammersteln's version of the Bizt opera. Not
very well filmed. Saturday, "Suddenly, Last
Summer." Delightfully overripe Tennessee
Williams with great bravura acting by
everyone. A lot of fun. Sunday, "State cf
Sitge." Costa Gavrss' political thriller with
scenes worthy cf Elsenstein. Perhaps last
year's best film. All films at 6:30 ft 9 In the
Great Hail.
"When the People Awake, Chile
1 8721973." Sponsored by Bread & Roses.
Today at 7:30 In 11 Murphey. Thursday at 11
a.m. in Carroll Hall. Admission free but
donations requested.
Three Chaplin shorts, "Beyond the
Screen," The Fireman" end "The Rink."
Wednesday at 7:33. Chapel Hill Public
Library.
"Modern Times," the first In a series of
Chaplin films sponsored by Chapel Hill Film
Friends. Chaplin is the definition of film
poetry end this film Is perhaps his best
Absolutely not to be missed. Funny and
extraordinarily endearing. Sunday at 2, 4:30, 7
& 9:30 in Carroll Hall. UNC students $1.
Concerts
Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings.
Friday tt 8 p.m. la Dcrtcn Arena, Rs'i;h.
Htstrve set t tickets, $5 and S3, cvtllsLJa at all
area Paccrd Cxrs.
&ex!s end CrcfL Can city et 8 p.m. in
Czmtrcn Indoor Stzdlum, Duke. Ttcixts on
s&ie st the Record Czr for $4.53 end $5.53.
John Cion, Drill sh pianist, will appear
with the Uorth CzroT.na Symphony en Friday
at 8:15 p.m. In Lttm&rlx! HsX Admission free
to UMC studar.ts.
A special Tuesday Evening Series will
feature seven student artists In a Scholarship
Eeneflt Concert. Tuesday st 8 p.m. In Hilt Hail.
The artists Include Judy Fisher and Jane
LCra'ii, piano; Philip Teachey, oboe;
llarsret Proctor, vislln; James Cain, English
horn; James Croom, tenon and Hei:nda
Wilkinson, soprano. Admission $2 for
students, $3 for .adults.
Experiment! music program featuring a
talk by Dr. ShiancUi Tuan cn compositional
uses cf a computer as a sound source for 22th
century music Thursday at 8:15 p.m. in the
East Duke Music Room, Duke University.
Special Events
International Week 1974. Today through
Mondsy, Feb. 18. Speakers Include: Paul
Cotton, New Zealand consul general In New
York, will discuss "New Zealand's
Environmental Problems Politics," at 4
p.m. Tuesday In room 335 of the School of
Public Health, fvtiaden Sole, director of the
Yugoslav Information Center In New York,
will speak on "Changing Relations between
the USSR and East Europe In the Era of
Detente." Thursday at 7:30 in Hamilton Hail.
A variety show, "Give Them a Hand," with
13 performances by foreign students, wiil be
held Saturday at 8 p.m. in Memorial Hail.
Admission 50 cents.
International dinners wiil be held
throughout the week at 6:33 p.m. In the
following times and places:
French dinner, today In the Lutheran
Church.
Latin American dinner, Tuesday at the
Ntwman Center.
Indian dinner, Friday at the Chapel of the
Cross.
German dinner. Sunday at Craige
dormitory.
Chinese dinner, Monday, Feb. 18 at
University Methodist Church.
Admission for each dinner is $2.53. Ail
tickets may be purchased at the Union desk,
Carr dormitory, or at Ledbetter-Picksrd on
Franklin Street.
PICTURE C0C:i C? LCVE
Available only at
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105 N. Columbia St.
ID).
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5 LHLJW
A tMerent show every night Produced by Hi Brown
who did "Inner Sanctum" "Thin Han" and many
others. E. G. Marshall is the host. Check local radio
litrmcrc for fiirift mhsrs. station III V011T area.
taataBasssBsMsasaaBaBBaasBssasssSBa
& ut
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Suite C Student Union
933-5407
12:00-5:00 Mon.-Fri.
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help.