rlayMakers Repertory Company Sets
Scenes From American Life To Arts
For guest director Bill Gile, who is
beet known for his work in musical
theater and operettas, the
PlayMakers Repertory Company
production of “Scenes from
African Life” presents a very dif
ferent kind of challenge. Instead of a
big-ecale production with a large cast
and elaborate sets and costumes^ the
1970 play by A.R. Gurney, Jr., re
quires flexible staging and multipur
poee props, relying heavily on the au
dience’s imagination. Its cast of eight
actors perform 122 speaking roles in
Tfce play will be presented by
PlayMakers March 13-31.
A hilarious and often touching
work, Gurney’s satire presents a
quiddy changing kaleidoscope of
situations that explore the attitudes
of qpperclass Americans over eight
decades, from 1930 to 1999. The
PlayMakers cast comprises company
members Carol Anderson, Aaron
Carlos, Dede Corvinus, Pilar Her
rera, Aaron Knight, Charles Mclver,
Susanna Rinehart and Jeffrey West.
Onstage pianist Barney Pilgrim will
be providing music throughout the
Play.
Gile, a New York resident, hai
directed dozen* of operettas, Musical
theater productions and plays. Hit
direction of the 1975 Broadwaj
musical “Very Good Eddie” earned
him a Tony Award nomination; the
play’s subsequent run in London’!
West End received a nomination ai
the best play of the season. He else
has directed "The Merry Widow,”
produced by Beverly Sills, for the
New York City Opera and IS produc
tions of the Goodspeed Opera House
in New York.
Gile’s script of the opera “The
Vagabond King,” co-authored with
Howard Ashman, has been perform
ed by the Houston Grand Opera, the
San Francisco Opera and the Pitt
sburgh Civic Light Opera, and ha*
become the recognized version of this
1925 work.
Gile describes “Scenes from
American Life” as “a collage of snap
shots of moments that haunt you for
the rest of your life. But Gurney
presents these situations comedical
ly, and it’s a very funny play,” he ad
ded.
“On one level, the play is about the
shallowness of upper middle-class
values,” Gile continued. “It’s
because of the false premises of these
people—their prejudice, miserliness,
the lack of fairness they show to peo
ple of lower classes—that their world
is falling apart.
“On a personal level, the play is
about the continuing conflict between
parents and children through many
generations,” he noted. “Every
generation has endless parental con
flict, and that’s key to many of the
situations in this play.”
The structure of the play makes it
an exciting project for actors, Gile
said. “Each actor plays so many
roles—about 15—and each piece is so
-potent,” he explained. “The entire
character must be established in one
line or phrase. Some of the scenes are
only 30 seconds long.”
Performances of “Scenes from
American life” will begin with
previews on Wednesday, March 13
and Friday, March 15. Opening night
is Saturday, March 16. Perfor
mances continue through March 31 at
8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays
and 2 p.m. Sundays.
For ticket information, call the box
office at (919) 962-PLAY.
National Association Of Women Meet
To Discuss Black History Month
The Raleigh branch of the National
Aasociation of University Women met
Feb. 15 at the Tarboro Road Com
munity Center with President Lois
Caudle in charge.
Chaplain Elizabeth Jordan led the
devotion which emphasized the
eaaence of Black History Month. Ms.
Mary Goode read the litany, followed
by prayer by Ms. Jordan. An inspira
tional reading about the importance
of keeping abreast of African
American history was given by Ms.
Telza Perry. The devotion ended with
the singing of “We Are Climbing
Jacob’s Ladder” and "Swing Low,
Sweet Chariot."
The Raleigh Branch welcomed two
incoming members following the in
duction ceremony conducted by Ms.
Gaybella Harris, first vice president.
The inductees, who are retired
educators and active community
workers, are Ms. Vivian Bobbitt Mit
chell of Wendell and Ms. Omeba
Davis Walker of Raleigh.
Other participants In the ceremony
were Ms. Lois Caudle, Ms. Mildred
Qoodson, Ms. Della Clemons, Ms.
Ella Party, and Ms. Susie Daughtry.
Ms. Harris appointed Ms. Elizabeth
Jordan as a mentor for Ms. Vivian
Mitchell and Ms. Ruby Fain as a
motor for Ms. Omeba Walker.
The meeting continued as the
minutes were read by Ms. Mildred
Qoodson, correspondence was given
by Ms. Mildred Richardson, the
treasurer's report was given by Ms.
Minnie Lacewell, and amenities
report by Ms. Merlyn Lytle. They
were discussed and approved.
Community activities reported in
cluded the following: Ms. Gaybella
Harris and Ms. Mildred Richardson
sponsored a car, representing the
Raleigh Branch, and participated in
the Martin Luther King parade In,
Zebulon. Ms. Telze Perry, Ms.
I
Arcelia Jeffreys, Ms. Estella Curry,
Ms. Winnie Lacewell and Ms. Doris
Holloway conferred with Ms. Delores
Re vis, principal of Wake Central Op
tional School, and are beginning
volunteer work at the school.
Members are looking forward to
the Founders’ Day celebration to be
held March IS in the Shaw University
Student Union Building.
Following the business session, Ms.
Lois Caudle introduced Will Oates,
representing the Will Oates and
Associates Insurance Agency of
Laurinburg. He discussed the various
types of Insurance offered today and
the importance of selecting adequate
insurance for one’s Individual needs.
He also gave details of the special in
surance offered by the Will Oatee In
surance Co.
The hoepitality period followed
with the following persons serving as
hostesses and preparing the
refreshments: Ms. Elisabeth Jordan,
Ms. Thelma Haartley, Ms. Lois Cau
dle, Ms. Effle Lucas, and Ms. Winnie
Lacewell. Ms. Estella Curry donated
the door prise which was won by Ms.
Mary Goods.
Members present were Ms. Mabel
Casey, Ms. Lois Caudle, Ms. Della
Clemons, Ms. Estella Curry, Ms.
Susie Daughtry, Ms. Lillian Downing,
Ms. Ruby Dunston, Ms. Ruby Fain,
Ms. May Goode, Ms. Mildred Good
son, Ms. Gaybella Harris, Ms. Doris
Holloway, Ms. Elizabeth Jordan, Ms.
Winnie Lacewell, Ms. Merlyn Lytle,
Ms. Ella Perry, Ms. Telza Perry, Ms.
Mildred Richardson, Ms. Mary
Stewart, Ms. Virginia Swayze, Ms.
rhelma Thomas, Ms. Erma Tyson
and Ms. Annie Ellerbe, branch
reporter.
* * *
Thomas Edison almost
couldn’t hear one of his
most famous inventions.
He was nearly deaf when
he created the
phonograph.
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