Monday, April 14, 1980
University Daily Kansan
3
The play's the thing on the BBC
BY DAN TORCHIA Staff Renorter
It seems ironic that one of the most ambitious television projects ever undertaken by British Broadcasting Corporation, or work as conceived and worked out in 24 hours.
The very idea of producing all 37 of William Shakespeare's plays in six years would make most American television executives drag their feet for years.
But Cedric Mesina, producer of the BBC's Butcher's series, did not have any problem with the play. He was in Swarthout Ractual Hall Friday, said he was in Scotland in June 1986 producing a book and directing it.
"I thought it would be a marvelous place to do 'As You Like It.'" he said. "Afterwards I found myself saying, 'why don't we all of them?'"
Wait, the word after "You Like It." is "he."
The word after "Afterwards" is "I".
The word after "we all of them?" is "they". No, that's not right.
Let's re-read the first line:
"I thought it would be a marvelous place to do 'As You Like It.'" he said. "Afterwards I found myself saying, 'why don't we all of them?'"
The second line:
"We all of them?"
The third line:
They are the ones who made it.
The BRC BRAC accepted the idea the next day. Budgeted at $13.5 million, the project calls for six plays a year for the first five years, and seven during the sixth year.
Lecturing as part of the Mid-America Shakespearean Chauauqa, Messina said he always thought the idea was accepted.
"The Play of the Month series showed that there was an audience for that sort of thing." Messina said. "We felt the plays should be available to the world."
The Play of the Month was started in 1968 by Messina. Every fourth Sunday a play by such writers as Anton Chekhov and George Bernard Shaw was aired.
Though there was no problem in doing the series, Messina said there were questions as to how to present the plays.
HE DECIDED AGAINST modern interpretations, and set them in the period they were intended to be. The plays were shot in sequence whenever possible.
"There have been some cuts (in some scripts) in the interests of time," Messina writes, "with decided that two and a half hours, with 10 minutes of commotion, was about all anyone would stand."
A joint venture of the BBC and Time-Life Television, the series premiered in the United States on PBS last year. It will run through 1984.
American reaction has been kind, he said. A New York Times critic said there seemed to be an endless supply of acting talent in London presented in the plays.
Messina said that since Shakespeare's popularity throughout the world was so unique, perhaps the series would be available after its initial showing.
"Available is the important word here," "Available said." "Shapecare never expected his plays to be studied or read. They were to be performed. They were entertainment."
THE SNOBBERT surrounding people away from his works will be brought by the series, Messina said. A new era of Shakespeare could result from the millions of characters he wrote.
"We hope the showing of the plays on TV will induce people to go see Shakespeare in the theater." he said.
"Maybe something lasting will result from all of this."
MONDAY GLADNESS!!
ELEVATE YOUR LIFE-STYLE
Med Center lauds '81 budget; officials wait on library funds
By STEVE MAUN
Staff Reporter
David Waxman, executive vice chancellor of the College of Health Sciences, and Dr. John E. Foley, pleased with the University of Kansas Medical Center fiscal year 1981 budget approved by the Kansas Legislature, a new medical library was completed and new medical library was most important.
Action on funding for the library was delayed until the Legislature reconvenes for three days at the end of the month.
"We've got to have that library," Waxman said. "We're not getting everything in there, but we can get it in our library, it has been success and I can put up with anything else."
"This is an academic institution and you
have got to have this ability to do research.
We just have to have it to train our students."
The College of Health Sciences will have to continue to cope with a shortage of faculty for the School of Nursing.
The Legislature approved 12.3 additional nursing faculty positions, which is about six fewer than had been requested to graduate and graduate enrollments in the class.
"We just have to take care of it with the faculty we have," Waxman said. "The classes will be a little larger. That's all. We'll handle it."
Doris A. Getgley, dean of the School of Nursing, agreed that a different kind of student-faculty ratio would have to be used.
"We are grateful that we got as many as
The School of Nursing had difficulties with a shortage of faculty members earlier this year when some clinical training fell through. Students in care and intensive care had to be closed.
we did," she said. "We will be looking very carefully to see where we can use the positions."
"The faculty are the ones on whom I am going to call to do more," said, "so think they should have a say in what happens to certain courses."
Waxman said the Med Center also had received 12 new residencies, fewer than had been requested. He said all the new residents will work harder to make up the difference.
The Legislature approved an 8 percent increase in the total operating budget of the Med Center.
THE OHIO MONDAY, with guests: WILL FOXX PLAYERS
$7.00* 9:00 p.m.
*sorry, no advance tickets or reservations only first 280 admitted each night
Doors open at 7:30pm.
APRIL EVENTS
16. Homesick James
The Blues; Boogie, Shuffle Band
Used Parts
17. Arty Grass with Dalton Howard and his Go-Cats
18. 19. Used Parts
21. Riders in the Sky
737 NewHampshire Lawrence, Ks.
22 Pats Blue Riddim Band (Benefit or Howard Yukon)
23 Bryan Bowers with Ted Anderson
25 Tofu Teddy with Bath Scalel
26: Xanadu
30: the Grassroots
KANSAS UNION BOOKSTORES
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We are the only Bookstore to share its profits with KU students.