Page 37 - mcdanielfreepress2004-05

OCTOBER28, 2004- Page 9 FEATURES Once in a lifetime experience JOn Golden Pond' daughter, Chelsea (Linda JON TETER becomes the main element, The play was not with- aspiring theatre students and STAFF WRITER Powell), whom they have not without giving away the end- out its humor either. Touch- helped answer any questions seen in almost eight years. Meeting award-winning To the Thayers' added ing. After the long summer, ing' moments were dangled drifting in the minds of the actors and playwrights is al- surprise, Chelsea brings her Norman and Ethel then say a in front of you and then group. most certainly a "once in a ~fe- new boyfriend, BOI Ray (Pe- fond farewell to their snatched away with a quick "A phenomenal perfor- time" experience. Chatting ter Francis James), and his "Golden Pond." return to humor. mance by the amazing and leg- with them about their careers thirteen-year-old son, Billy The play is laced with After the play, the endary James Earl Jones," said and feelings is an occasion ~ven Ray Jr. (Alexander Mitchell) sarcastic humor and great group of students and fac- freshman Dane Weber. more rare. Near the middle of the sum- punch lines, especially from ulry were treated to a meet- "It was funny, great to see, Students from McDaniel mer, Ethel asks Norman if the character of Norman. His ing with the playwright in great to watch. And it was College, however, were given they could let Billy stay with very dry sense of humor al- the Eisenhower Theatre's good to see the actors after the this opportunity on October 13. them for a month while lows for many humorous greenroom. While talking play and get their thoughts," Under the guidance of Profes- scenes between him and his with Mr. Thompson, a few said freshman Benedikt Niesen. sor Ira Domser and Dr. Charles Ernest Thompson, how- Neal, students from The Hill ever, was not done with went to the Kennedy Center for McDaniel yet. the Performing Arts in Wash- Thursday morning, Mr. ington, DC to see "On Gol.den Thompson drove to Pond," starring the Illustrious Westminster to speak to the James Earl Jones, most noted as Theatre Appreciation and Act- the voice of Darth Vader in Star ing: The Creative Process Wars and ofMufasa in Disney's classes. The Lion King, and theatre sen- Thompson offered a first sation Leslie Uggams. hand look at the theatre profes- • Ernest Thompson, whose sion and the work it involves. father was a professor of Edu- His knowledge of the "ins cation here at McDaniel, when and outs" of both theater and it was still Western Maryland, screen genres gave the students wrote the play. The C;olle~e a wide variety of insight. Th- president, Dr. Joan Develin ompson has worked with the COley,also attended the great Fondas, Katharine Hepburn, evening of theatre. and Julie Andrews and even "On Golden Pond" fo- stared in his own shows. cuses on the lives of Norman The entire experience was and Ethel Thayer Games Earl an amazing one; a once in a life- Jones and LeslieUggams). The time chance to chat with some story begins with Norman, a McDaniel students, President Joan Devclin Coley, Professor !ra Dornser and Dr. Charles Neal visit the Kennedy Center of the biggest stars in theatre. retired English professor fro.m where they met playwrrte and McDaniel alum Ernest Thompson and the star of his play James Earl Jones "I think the off campus the University ofPennsylvaru~, Chelsea and Bill have some wife. Jones and Uggams visits to the cultural centers in and his wife traveling to their time to themselves. bring these characters to life. "surprise" guests showed up our community are a valuable Summer retreat in Maine for Norman agrees but is Their portrayal of the older in the form of James Earl experience. This one was their forty-eighth summer. . not too fond of the boy. couple makes the audience Jones, Leslie Uggams. and unique for the fact that we ac~ Norman will celebrate his During that month, we Peter Francis James. tually met the actors," Ira 80th birthday, which he thinks see the relationship build be- feel a connection to the Peter Francis James of- Domser said about the DC trip. "grandparents." will be the last celebration at the tween Norman and Billy. "The acting of Jones fered this humorous advice "I thought 'On Golden retreat. When Chelsea returns, she and Uggams was so under- about his co-star Uggams Pond' was not only an amazing Norman and Ethel en- has another surprise for her "To be Leslie Uggams you experience but also a touching gage in hilarious conversations parents. As the ,play winds stated that you thought you have to work your ass off one. And J really appreciate were in their living room, en- and stories of life together. down, the relationship be- joying coffee," sophomore and have balls THIS big," us- being able to experience it," Later in the summer, they have tween father and daughter Katie Chambers said. ing a wide arm gesture. The said freshman Alex DeJaim. a surprise visit from their stars gave terrific' advice to IfCRIBS STACEY SHAFFER STAFF WRITER JGitly and cozy' Dorm more like an aparhnent d t freshman year is the first.opportunity for living alone. For many For most college studden s,room is not what they expected. The small room can look and feel of them, life in a crampe arm like a~~'t is not the case, however, for Kelly Hawthorn~ and Morgan Busch.. . . k I like a dorm room and more like an apartment. There ISa small refng- Thelr.room 100 s ess I ter for each of them, and a medium-sized TV set complete with a era tOT, a microwave, a compu # DVD player. . h t be seen when entering is the happy birthday sign that is pasted over the w~h:of~s~~~~~gt~eaai~:nditioning unit, and the half-eaten sheet cake, which is a remnant of Kelly's 19th birthday:, Se:~g~~'red bean bag chairs and a large dark rug with spirals. The com- an the floo~~e d a rer~hite with black flowers on them, and they are co~ered with stuffed ~%~~I~:~~~~~orati~e black and white pillows. Draped over the beds are a strmg of small bright I' h ki the room look festive all year. Ig t\~a ~:8s and shelves are covered wit~ posters a~d photos of girlfriends, boyfri.ends, ~nd famil members along with pictures of then accomphshmen~s. Busch, 18, from Baltimore ISa y d Hawthorne, now 19, from New Jersey plays, field hockey cheer~~de~o:e away from home," Hawthorne explai~~: gettmg a box of snacks from her stash in the s [above her closet. "It's gtrly and cozy. I love It. . . . p~cwthorne explains that she and her roommate spent a lot?f hme.decoratmg and gettmg things to match. Consider~ng all the'time and effort they spent getting their room ready, they may have a hard time leaving It when the semester ends.