University Daily Kansan
Friday, December 5,1975
5
EVIE RAPPORT
Entertainment Editor
Satirical play stars bumbling devil
Back-to-back productions by the University Theatre have presented two productions from 1986-2000, *Scarecrow*," written in the early 20th century and performed on the main stage in November, portrayed him as a wicked witch, so she schemes to punish the wicked and immoral.
"Jest, Irony, Satire and Deeper Significance," now playing in Inge Memorial Theatre, the smaller, experimental theater in Murphy Hall, shows us a devil who is cunning, arch but definitely bumbling.
The play, written about 1830 by the German playwright Christian Grabbe, was translated for this production by Kirkus Press. It was adapted for the macadep, rendition of a bitter and ugly condemnation of the period's life and culture. Kirk Condon, who also acts in the play, wrote it.
This devil's schemes do entrap the greedy, the vain, the immoral, the wicked. But in what is surely either one of the most elaborate metaphors or one of the driest jokes in the theatrical literature, he is ultimately entrapped himself.
Grabbe must have been a neurotic malcontent, who apparently drank himself up with alcohol.
play was written. His comments are not barbed; they are spurs hurled at the inexperienced by the writers and scientists are portrayed as trivial fools—shallow, pretentious and inadequate. Some of Grabbie's most stinging remarks are aimed at critics—especially those who write.
Did Grable think himself mistreated by the critics? Did he feel his work contained a brilliance that went unrecognized by the crawn tools who judged it? Perhaps. That may be one reason for the savagery of some of his comments.
But what matters more is that an observant and ingenious director has resurrected this molly bit of almost unknown writing and presented it freshly, demonstrating once more that the more things change, the more they remain the same.
Review
For Grabbe's observations about scholarly pretense, scientific drivel and literary inepness are as pertinent now as they were 145 years ago. He even manages a stab or two at feminists. Have we really come so little way since 1830?
Much of the sting has been removed from
these ravings by a clever and inventive production. The irony and satire remain strong in this play, but the abundance; I have my doubts about anything of much significance ever being present in the play. Grabba falls back on the audience, which makes her and redeems all—a cliche because it is true.
What saves this production from uncomfortable bitterness is the delightful acting and the imaginative, energetic staging.
The acting is well done, at times inspired with a zany charm. Some of the actors appear a little too entranced with their own cleverness, but for the most part they maintain a studied sincerity that heightens the completeness of their performances.
Most of the characters are stereotypes—but what marvelous roles the actors have created. Only rarely do any of them fall back on the typical, the expected or the usual.
Comment-
This freshness—even cheekiness—may be due in part to Cadigan's staging. Actors roll, tumble, leap and dance around the stage in an exhausting display of energy that bombards the audience with funny and expected pleasures.
Band trip up to everyone
It takes a lot of money to pay for food, lodging and expenses when traveling. And it takes much more money when the expenses are multiplied by 240 people who are traveling 1,000 miles. Indeed, it is a long, way to El Paso.
But the University of Kansas Marching Band plans to make just such a patch as this week's Bowel Ball football game, which will be played Dec. 26 in El Paso. The trip commitment has been made on behalf of support from the alumni and students.
Altogether, $30,000 is needed to meet the band's expenses for the trip, but $16,000 of that amount has already been pledged by the Student Senate, the University of Kansas Athletic Corporation and the band members themselves as supporters hope to raise the needed $14,000 within the next two weeks.
Arguments presumably can be made both for and against the trip, but there is little time now for discussion. Those people who support the band's trip should get behind the fundraising drive now. Edith Ellsworth Editors
Gary Teachian plenthe the devil with a leering busy-bodiness that convinces one why his grandmother wanted him out of hell during spring cleaning. Steven Silver, as an alcoholic schoolmaster, is wild-eyed determined. J.D. Sites poses and flits through his part as an incept poet; Kirk Harkness writes as a daring villain; and Peter Garrison is warmly convincing as one of the ugliest men in the world.
Apparently the remaining two performances—tonight and Saturday night—are sold out. But take your chances that more seats might be added to the house and the band will complete the final production of the fall semester. A shame that it runs only four nights.
Other good performances were done by Kirby Kemble, Brian Foster, Roberta Brown, James Stringer and Thomas Corporation. All are aided by the fine costumes by Mary Jane Sisk and the imaginative makeup designed by Eleanor Gilrov.
Oliver presents 4 one-act plays
The Oliver Hall Drama Guild is sponsored and directed by Oliver Hall residents.
The four plays, Neil Simon's comedies "The Arrangement" and "The Governess," Anton Chekhov's comedy "The Boor," and Sherwood Anderson's triumphant "The Eagle." will be seen at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Olver Hall living room.
REMEMBER WHEN . . .
... you were back at Grinder Switch High School?
... you were cruising along as a high school senior and you were told you couldn't come back for a fifth year?
... you rushed to the high school counselor's college catalog rack to find your kind of university?
... you got 1,476 mimeographed letters from every college west of the Mississippi?
... you came to the KU campus and couldn't find the Union . . . and then you couldn't find your car?
If you would like to ease the pain of transition from high school to the University for a 75 high school senior, then join the Student Senate's Statewide Activities Program.
If you would like to help, stop by or call the Student Senate office, 105-B Kansas Union (864-3710).
STATEWIDE ACTIVITIES
Statewide Activities is a friendly, home town approach to making prospective KU students more at ease with the University by helping them solve problems such as the ones listed above.
ACTIVITIES OF THE STATEWIDE ACTIVITIES PROGRAM
... Housing high school students when they come to the campus.
... Taking students on tours of the campus and talking to them about the university.
... Going back to your home town and talking to interested students.
... Going with people from the admissions office to Topeka, Wichita, Kansas City and other cities.
... Working on an informative brochure of student activities which incoming freshmen can become involved in and activities that the city of Lawrence has to offer.
... Talking with state legislators about the University and its needs.
The Department of Painting and Sculpture and SUA Present the
Fourth Annual Art Escapades Bohemian Ball
Dec.13 8:30-12:00 p.m Union Ballroom
Free Beer Music by Tide
Tickets *2.50 at SUA