Page 81 - TheGoldBug1972-73

The Gold Bug Page 5 'Cabaret" involves campus and community He is no Otto Preminger, so the Iormidabihty of and the community, taking the theatre out of the Cabaret appears astounding. He seems ivory tower, in which it often seems to be enclosed. wish there h.ad been a part for everyone," he said, withdrawn at first impression, "We tend up here to ignore the rest of the world," but room, lime, and the play itself precluded it. his words thoughtfully. Yet Ed he feels, "yet we have so much to learn from each However, Ed stresses that he still needs set, Hogan's cached exuberance be,oorr>esobvious as he other." He continues that his experiences in Jan costume, and publicity people to help with the '- production. term (in which each part of the theatre practicum And what of Cabaret itself? "1929 Germany is for travelled with its segment to different locations in me an interesting period to work with," Ed ex- Carroll County in a kind of "bring the theatre to the' plains. He studied the art of George Grosz for a people" movement) were so beneficial to the group background of the time, and read up on the history. and to himself that he didn't want to see it ended "There was a depression in Germany, too, then. there. "I'd like to continue this closer relationship The 20's there were more decadent, more with the townspeople," he says, and the enthusiasm exaggerated than here: the people were either which greeted his proposal is certainly plenty of asleep, mesmerized, or vomiting in the streets of fuel for such endeavors. Teachers, students, Germany." Ed tells how they desperately needed first made the decision to direct a townspeople -- all were willing to get involved. something to hold on to -- someone to tell them his Honors project, Ed took little time Before an official announcement, Ed and Dr. Cabaret. He felt he had to take into Tribby (who is the advisor for the project) felt the everything would work out all right. Hitler was at the right place at the right time. He offered the the talents with which he would be need to get a crew together to reinforce the-plans German people hope when they were so despairing, that were available for per- which were already forming. He asked Judy and they supported him in his rise to power. Ed his own personal needs and skills. Galloway, a dance teacher here at Western feels the movie was "an extravaganza for Liza -lavina had verv little experience with the musical Maryland, to choreograph the production, Nita Minnelli to prove herself," though a very well done he needed the exposure in order Corney, a junior voice major, to be the vocal one. Moreover, it deviated a great deal from the in theatre, perhaps starting on the arranger, and the problems of converting a zs-piece play (based on the book by Joe Masteroff with level. Explaining that besides the orchestra into a a-piece stage band were presented in Alice over January term, and his to Sue Horner, a senior music major. Steve Judd lyrics and music by Red Ebb and John Ka~der), of La Mancha, hewas new to the field of was asked to draw up plans for the set, and when mostly in period errors ("Hollywoodisms," says EdL In the cabarets, the upper echelon of society . When he announced his decision to everyone enthusiastically agreed, Ed was formally could not be found, but rather there were common to the Drama department, it was ready to begin. laborers, the flotsam of the lower classes. Ed plans "People just don't think of me as a It is amazing how one production can turn things I guess." upside-down overnight. Nearly 50 people attended to present Understage (where Cabaret will be to go with Cabaret touched off an tryouts; unfortunately, the play includes parts for performed) as a German cabaret, en- of decisions which Ed surmounted only 20. Ed admits that the decisions were ex- ~~~~;~~~~ i~~~~~~m~~~h:~~i~t~ee ~i~h~a~l~~: first was the fact that he wanted to tremely hard, yet he was astounded at the en- Ed thinks he's prepared to make a success of it. that would involve both the college thusiasm and the diversity of those who tried.out. "I "I'd like to put into reality what I've read and " he says. blocking, he has a . He has scheduled Cabaret in April, so rehearsals have already begun. efforts to unite the community and the campus in one endeavor have controls the weather given more impetus to the breaking down of walls which for so long have alienated the college. He genuinely deserves the support of this campus in his project, for it is not often such enthusiasm can be elicited from so many people. Pastor, Larry Wild conveyed a staid character with Sally Bowles will be played by Deb Barnes, Don a touch of hypocrisy. He, too, mastered the comedic Ehman will play Cliff Bradshaw, and Kurt Herwig delivery, and the scenes between he and the Cap- will portray the M.C. tain were truly something to watch. Cabaret will be presented April 6, 7, 8,13,14, and the 1870's, the play concerns the battle 15th. a Captain (Tom Yingling) and his wife The age of the daughter is never strictly deter- Buck) over who is-to control the future of mined in the play, but Patti Taylor played it as an By a series of manipulations on the extremely young character, giving. it a unique, captain is gradually driven insane, wife in control. Along the way, almost Shirley Temple quality. Rather than a stereotyped, demure creature, Miss Taylor in- vested it with a sort of poutiness that was both comments on the battle of the refreshing and imaginative. Equally satisfying was ms sta~err,emson sexist myths, role-playing Barb Rich's interpretation of Margaret, the Cap- are as valid today as in his tain's aged nurse. Her gentleness in the final scene relevance, Max Dixon, the clearly conveyed the relationship between the little or none with the 1870's insane man and his sole friend. and characterization. The set, Van Hart, was also faithful to the The only somewhat disappointing performances model. were the wife and the doctor (Tom Blair. While both actors have amply proven themselves on other a masterful performance by Tom occasions, they seemed rather flat in this the cast displayed a remarkable ease presentation. In contrast to the rest of the cast, the Strindberg roles. Yingling's in- performances _were too unilateral. Captain included a wide range of culminating in a truly moving That a production of this caliber does not come Captain realizes he is insane. often to college theatre was evident in the of some of the more subtle cooperative factor of the weather during the three l.mi("l>,eeI1eS~.,; both capable and effective, and nights of the play's run. The play called for of the other characters was skillfully em- blustery, windy weather, and, as if giving a favorable review, the wind complied. A fitting tribute.