V0L2.N0.29 Miller’s 'The Cruicible’ Termed Poignant Drama By Harry Maussen Os all the shows that I have seen thus far at the Parkway Playhouse, I am sure that "The Crucible " by Arthur Miller is the best. I enjoyed "A Thurber Carni val, " and I loved "1776, " but this is the kind of American play that peels back the layers of history and reveals what is really underneath our surface. We haven't really changed all that much since which is the date of the happenings in the play. "The Crucible, " even though its settings are reminiscent of the late 17th Century, is applicable to us today. The story revolves around' one John Proctor, played superb ly by Greg Fraice (who was John Adams in "1776"), who has be fore the play begins, fallen in love with a serving girl his wife hired. When his wife(Pat Taylor) learns of the liason, she throws the girl (Jennifer - Daffron) out of the house. The village girls led by the serving girl, play at witchcraft, which is a hanging offense in Salem in 1692, and are discover ed. In order to save themselves, the girls and Tituba (Mary Leigh Best), their black serving womaq confess to having "trucked with the devil, " and thus can be sav ed. However, their innocent game becomes frightening when, driven by superstition, the entire town is caught up in "witch-hunt fever. " Spurred on by an un popular minister, portrayed by Michael Lilly (who is absolutely excellent) the town begins to hunt down and condemn even the righteous in the full belief that they are witches. The situation sounds much like the McCarthy trials or the Water gate Hearings. The performances range from the excellent to the pass able. Greg France, as Proctor, Pattie Taylor as Elizabeth, Jennifer Daffon (who might be urged to let a little more of the I Scene From Playhouse Production Os ‘The Crucible’ THE YANCEY JOURNAL strength of her character shine out earlier In the play), Michael Lilly as Rev. Parris, Don Treat as Hawthorne, and all the "little girls" of the town Su Gilden, Brenda Lunsford, Ann L ; on (who is a 19-year old playing a ten year old) are superb. These are some of the best performances I've seen at Parkway in many a year, and all of these people are genuine finds. There are performances which are good, and better than average. There are not many weak performances to mar this show. I would like to point out that in the weak performances it is diction the pronunciation of the words that is at the foundation of the performance. The characters of Giles Corey and Mary Warren are guilty of this offense, which is not worthy of hanging. Director Stan Dean has brought a great deal of fine dir ection to the performances. It is surely a difficult play to direct.* Its tone is hard to sustain, its many subplots har<s, to intergrate. Yet, Dean's direction seeUM. to be, for the audience, like watch- ing a primer.. .it appears very simple on the surface with all the important points underlined and brought forward for your .in spection. He is to be especially praised for the first scene in Parris' house and for the chilling Courtroom scene. Perhaps I just like the kind of play "The Crucible " is, and perhaps I Just like Parkway Play house, but I consider it one of the gems of our town--one of the most precious. And any Am erican who wants to know what goes on in his home town is cer tainly cheating himself out of one of the richest portions of his heritage when he thinks the theater is for "other people." "The Crucibld* is definitely for just us folks. The box office can be reached at 682- 6151, and the play will rim July 18- 21. The next attraction at Parkway Playhouse will be "Life With Father. " r ... ; ... s . 5. jv,} ■sis re 9m i ~—\ IHv' ‘ it* '. : nnw 1 JK R I PLm |v. jttgm pfMllra iggjggK |B d Bp /ill Chicken Barbecue Set For Craft 9 s Fair Saturday, August 4, will be a big day on the Town Square in Burnsville. On that date, the second of the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair, chicken barbecue will be Formers Reminded Os Compliance Commitments Yancey County farmers who have certified compliance with 1973 farm program requirements are reminded to continue to Delegation To 4-H Congress A delegation of five 4-H members will be representing , Yancey County at North Caro lina 4-H Congress in Raleigh, next week. •5 The Yancey County delega tes will be among some 1,200 4-H members, leaders and ext ension agents participating in the annual four-day program which will begin Monday, July 23 on the North Carolina State University campus. The program consists Os re creation, discussions, competi tion, election of state officers and a lot of fellowship. "North Carolina 4-H Con grejsi offers an excellent oppor tunity for personal growth and development, " comments Dr. Chester Black, state 4-H leader. "It is an event that 4-H'ers look forward to each year with great anticipation." During the week state winners will be determined in more than 30 demonstrations programs and various judging activities. Lisa Deyton, from the Green Mountain 4-H Club, who won a blue ribbon with her vocal solo and dance in the District 4-H Talent Show, has been invited to appear at the state 4-H Show. Members of the Yancey Co unty delegation attending Club Congress will be Peggy McQuade, Bee Log Clubj Debbie Miller, Pensacola Special Interest Group; Connie Wheeler, Special Interest Group; Jan Hensley, Pensacola Special Interest Group; and Lisa Deyton, Green Mountain Club. THURSDAY, JULY 19,1973 carry out their commitment for the remainder of the year. Wayne Ray, Chairman of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation (ASC) County Committee, says that 209 farm ers in Yancey County had certi fied compliance with this years farm program by the June 30th deadline. Certification amounts to a pledge by the farmer as to his program acreage, his acreage set aside from production, if any and that he has complied with all program provisions, Mr. Ray said. Mr. Ray pointed out that following certification certain farms are picked at random for a spot check program acreages. The accuracy of the certifica tion is determined by compar ing actual acreages with those certified by the producer. Mr. Ray warned that producers found out of compliance could lose all or part of their pro gram payment. Spot check will continue throughout the remainder of the year. Reports compiled from other areas indicate that some producers have failed to meet the minimum size and shape requirements of set-aside acreage, and are subject to 1 loss of payments, Mr. Ray said. Generally, a set- aside area which is less that an en tire field must be at least five acres in size, with a minimum (cont'd on page 2) Craft's Fair Edl on Coming The August 2nd edition of < i Yancey Journal will ' focus on the annual Mt. Mitch l Craft's Festival and Yancey Youth Jamboree to be Id in Burnsville August 2-4. Anyone wishing to submit p itographs, information, articles, or advertisements for ds edition must bring or send them to the Journal ofll e by 5«00 P.M. FViday, July 27. sold during the day to hundreds of people who will be V ln attendance to enjoy all the fun that will be a part the 17th annual Fair on the Town Square. ( j; Deal Transportation System i; ji Planned For Coonty Schools ! : Edgar Hunter, superinten - dent cf schools -ias announced that a dual bias transportation systen is being planned for the countr this year. Funds far this program were appropriated by the 1973 legis lature in order to eliminate the nece*ity for so many small cliilden having to leave home so esrly to get to school. This system will have some buses haqlng only high school studints while other buses will haqjonly elementary grade stu dent. This will make it possi ble .'or elementary schools to sea their students home at 3:<)t o'clock in the afternoon wijlout having to wait for buses to irive from the high school. ligh school students will be us< i to drive high school buses ag ,n this year, but the elemen tar (schools will find it necess arwin most cases to use adult dn its. Slice additional adult drivers will te needed in all elementary anyone interested should con ict their elementary school priz [pal as soon as possible. The rats >f pay will be $2.07 per hoiifrom state funds and $20.00 pezino nth from local funds. A spetal class to instruct bus driv ers -ill be set up around August 1 f those who do not have a bu Irivers license. although the county does no jwn enough buses at the pre se: time to make a dual system work ideally, it is felt that a modified system can begin now with a bus or two being added each year. (Although the state finances the transportation sys tem, it should be pointed out that the county must buy any new buses that are added. ) ★ ★ ★ School Tears Scheduled Preliminary plans are pro gressing on schedule for con struction of the new high school, according to word from the office of the superintendent of schools. Although actual construc tion will not begin until next spring, the architects have agreed that this building will not be built from the blue print of another school, but will be designed and constructed spe cifically to meet the needs of the people of Yancey County. In order for everyone possi ble to be able to offer ideas on the type structure we will have, bus tours to a number of schools in western North Carolina are being aiTanged for later this month. Visits will be made to schools listed by the State Planning Division as having outstanding facilities. Some small groups will also go to central and eastern North Caro lina for the same purpose. Every interested adult who can make one of the one-day trips on the activity bus should call the Board of Education office (682-6101) and reserve a seat. There will be no ex pense to the individual except his lunch. Husband And Wife Team Asset To Music Program By Carmela Woodruff Musicians Frank and Eva Ell contribute to the growing success of Music in trie Moun tains. The highly gifted Frank Ell serves in a dual role as music director and clarinetist. Eva, his talented and charming wife, is a cellist. Despite his youth, Mr. Ell has an imposing background, bringing a wealth of experience and deeply developed talent to the festival. Bom in Kalamazoo, Mich., he was deflected from his original preference, the trumpet, because his school, the Kalamazoo Conservatory, needed clarinetists. Accordingly, he changed instruments, to become eventually one of America's out- , standing clarinetists. Years of intensive study followed. Ell attributes some of the mastery of his technique , to his studies with Anthony Gig liotti, first clarinetist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Subse quently, Ell performed with the Interlochen Arts Woodwind Quintet in every major Ameri can city. For a time , he taught music. ’ Awarded a Fulbright scholar ship, he pursued his studies in Amsterdam, Holland. Follow ing a tour with the Netherlands Wood Ensemble, he achieved the enviable post of solo clari netist with the Rotterdam Sym phony Orchestra. For Eva Schafer, a minis ters daughter, the organ was a natural choice, but she soon found the cello to be her best medium. The future Mrs. Ell was bom in East German/, where she studied at the Univer sity in West Berlin. She perform ed both as a soloist and in en sembles with the Berlin Cham ber Music Orchestra and per formed in numerous concerts and festivals, occasionally in other European countries. She too engaged in teaching. Eva and Frank met while performing in the Rotterdam Symphony Orchestra. The next few years, their lives were para llel, traveling and performing in jk BapHMIS Cellist, Eva Ell im ' ' Director Frank Ell the larger European cities. Fol lowing their acclaim in Europe, they continued their careers in the United States, but first they were wed in Frank's home city four yea: ‘ ago. A heavy schedule ensued for the Ells. Eva was initially a member of the New Jersey Sym phony and the New York String Sextet. Frank is artist in resi dence at the University of Dela ware. The two Ells performed with the City Center Opera, the (cont'd on page 2) Memorial Established Friends of Rodney M. Styles have established a memorial through the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, in his name. Rodney loved the western North Carolina mountains and the opportunities which he had to come back to enjoy hunting and fishing. Employees of the shipyard where he was employed, speci fied that their donations be used for this type of memorial. The North Carolina Wildlife Commission has stated that any funds which they receive, will be used in or near Yancey Co.

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