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University Daily Kansan
KU Presents 'Long Day's' Journey into Night'
David Froman plays the part of James Tyrone in drunken stupper.
'Long Day' Long, Excellent Play
By ZAHID IQBAL Kansan Reviewer
A restive audience sat through four agonizing hours of Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night," which opened at the University Theatre yesterday, and went away applauding an unusually well done play.
The agonizing part of it was the stripping bare of each of the four main characters comprising the Tyrone family, within the claustrophobic confines of their living room. The fire was left later-in-time instead and feeling compass for each of the prothetists.
There is no main protagonist in this autobiographical play by O'Neill, nor is there any definite character; the themes, a play-wright's resentment against the vicissitudes of fortune that we can assume to have plagued us, are the same. A psychological analysis, perhaps.
There is James Tyrone, an actor who has long since taken his last curtain call, a character quite frankly patterned after O'Neill's family. Mary Tyrone, his wife, long ago an innocent, original novice in a convent, later swept off her feet by James Tyrone, whom she met from addiction to drugs, to which her life with James Tyrone has driven her.
To add to this Freudian rigimone of somewhat neurotic characters there are the two brothers, Jamie and Edmund. Jamie is much more selfish than Edmund; he follow, not too successful, in his father's
Edmund is the consumptive journalist, the frail baby of the family, upon whom is pending a possible sentence of premature tubercular death. This is probably O'Neill
The entire family is bound by an intense love-hate relationship, which simmers through the first part of the play, comes to a boil as the audience begins to see each other face-to-face, tease, and explodes in the long, final scenes, when no-boards-barred dialogues take over.
himself, for in this role he hits out at his father, his mother and his brother till the audience hates them, and then all three have gone to hell. But still there is nothing to do but forgive them.
O'Neill plays with his audience as a cat with a mouse, making revelations stop just short of being revealed, sparking off mysteries outstretched by Mary with the sound of her tiltage and with suddenly breaking the total tension with a sardonic touch of humor.
He has all the family members jumping on each other as the poison of words swirls around the Tyrone home. Unkind, biting accusations are made and withdrawn.
"Mary, for God's sake forget the past," shouts Tyrone.
"But the past is the present, and the future, too," cries a hysterical Mary.
The audience watches as Mary initially fights the temptation to go back to drugs, sucumbens, and then goes about guiltily, feeling that each glance and each word directed toward her is one of suspicion. Finally she confesses.
Each of the Tyreon family have long monologues in which they tell them. It is like being a psychoanalyst taking care of four patients on four couches at the same time. The overall effect of the play is quite overpowering, and it is to the credit of the
There are in reality five members of the cast, the fifth being a servant (girl), Cathleen, who makes brief appearances followed by one long exposure to the audience in which she completely captivates it. Lytna Froman, as Cathleen, is an unusual talent.
rector, Ronald Willis, that this production is able to achieve such an effect.
The role of James Tyrone is played by Howard Renensland Jr., who is quite adequate in his role. He throws himself into it with more effect as the play progresses.
Mary Jay Clough, as his wife Mary, conveys much of character she is supposed to portray, wearing alternately a mask of red and green. She does not mention from everything. She dissolves into tears as convincingly as she laushes out tears from her family and is then immediately contribe.
The set is imaginatively constructed and is very real. The costumes show much effort and a regard for authenticity. Makeup and lighting can be faulted slightly, lighting for the model is often poorly done in first act and for being a shade too bright or not putting in quite professional.
But the real acting comes from the two brothers, Jamie and Edmund, played by David Fronan and Eric Anderson—theirs is a truly superior performance. Fronan manages to dominate the stage quite effortlessly. Edmund's role might have been better, but he could play might bother some people, but if no one can fault the talent onstage,
Mary Tyrone has gone through a lot in life, but she retains the facial texture of a woman who was born with a cleft.
thing but the white hair of an aged beauty. Her husband's hair changes color in the second part of the play, an unintentional trick of lighting, no doubt.
Aside from these very minor flaws, there is nothing the most severe critic might find wrong with this production. It may be long-drawn out, but that's the way it was written. It's not a typical O'Neill play. But it's a classic play that has provided, in this and another play ('Mistle on the Mishogeton'), to reach out and touch the people who made Eugene O'Neil.
For this alone, this University of Kansas theatre production is worth seeing.
Dean Is Adviser To Venezuelans
George Waggoner, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Kansas, is serving as a consultant for a special council of the Association of Venezuelan Rectors while he is on sabbatical leave.
As a consultant to Venezuelan universities, he is involved in formulating a national plan for higher education in Venezuela.
Waggoner and several Latin America doctors who were involved in the militias of the Zapatistas in Latin America.
The council is reforming the Latin American system of higher education from the European form to that in the United States.
Weekend Scene
KU Annual Water Show, Dixon, 'Long Day's Journey' Play Here
MUSIC
WILLIE DIXON and THE CHICAGO BLUES ALL-StAR BDON: Dixon, a master of the blues, will be appearing from 7:30 to midnight tonight and Saturday. At the Red Baron. Advance tickets are $3.00 and $3.50 at the door.
THEATER
LONG DAYS JOURNEY INTO NIGHT:
Eugene O'Neill's poignant self-confession will be presented by the University Theatre on March 9, 11, 15, and 16 in the University Theatre. Curtain time is 7:15 p.m. There will be a screening at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. (See review.)
ART
KANSAS DESIGNER-GRAFTSMAN
EXHIBITION: On display through Tuesday
through May 18 at Chelsea Piers.
NEW WORKS BY TOM KLAVERKAMP:
On display 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. through March 25 in the Lower Exhibition Gallery of the KU Museum of Art.
UNDER THE BIG TOP: The KU Synchro Team will present its annual water show at 8 tonight in Robinson Natatorium. Admission is 50 cents.
MOVIES
THE PERCEPTIVE EYE: An exhibition of four Kansas photographer's work beginning Friday at the Anchor Savings, 900 Ohio St.
KUOK MARATHON AT OLIVER HALL:
Beginning at 9 a.m. today through midnight
Sunday, KUOK is holding a 63 hour radio
marathon at Oliver Hall.$1,000 in prizes will
be awarded and there will be free beer
at Saturday night.
INVESTIGATION OF A CITIZEN: Shows
Washington Staging Of 'Tango' Doubtful
That KU production was chosen 11th out of the 35 regional plays recommended for the Washington honor is good news. But the bad news is that only the top 10 winners get and KU will remain on standby in case some production does not make it to Washington.
The University of Kansas production of "Tango," by Zvone Seldebaur, probably will not go to Washington, D.C., for final presentation in the American College Theatre Festival, according to William F. Roberts, professor of theatre and director of "Tango."
"We don't want to evil on any of the plays going, he said. It is still an honor to be chosen 11th out of the 300 plays entered in competition."
Kuhike said he did not know what possibility there was that some play would happen.
KU Band Director Appointed Chairman
The festival will be April 23 to May 6.
Foster will work directly with Chuck Howard Jr., vice president in charge of program production for ABC Sports Inc. He will work in charge of halftime productions.
Foster will act as a major spokesman for college marching bands.
Robert E. Foster, director of bands at the University of Kansas, has been appointed chairman of the marching band committee of the College Band Director's National Conference. The conference is the national conference of college and university band directors.
Foster has served on the marching band committee for nine years.
at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in
wooldruff Auditorium.
1 AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN
GANG AND THE POWER AND THE
GLORY: A double feature at 7:30 tonight at
the United Ministries. Admission is $1.50.
DELIVERANCE: 7:30 and 9:40 p.m. at the Granada.
LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT: 7:40 and
15:15 p.m. at Hairclest 13
RULING CLASS: Shows at 7:10 and 9:50
p.m. at Hikrest 2.
CABARET: Shows at 7:35 and 9:50 p.m.
at Hillcrest 3.
SAVE THE TIGER: 7 and 9 p.m. at
Varsity Theater.
In atonement for crimes committed against over 25,000 innocent children in Kansas . . .
Daily Latin Mass
Through Lent Hunt
Mon-Fri. 7:45 a.m.
St. Lawrence Chapel,
1910 Stratford Rd.
... Rachael in Ruma bewailing her children for they were not
Matt, 2:18
Make Daily Weekly Week-end Rates
Pinto $8.00
plus 8 mile $45.00
plus 8 mile $5.33
plus 8 mile
Pinto Wagon $9.00
plus 9 mile $50.00
plus 9c mile $6.00
plus 9c mile
Maverick-
Torino $9.00
plus 9c mile $50.00
plus 9c mile $6.00
plus 9c mile
Galaxie $10.00
plus 10c mile $40.00
plus 10c mile $8.00
plus 10c mile
WITH TWAYOU GET EUROPE FOR ALMOST NOTHING NEXT TO NOTHING AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
ABOUT $50.
This spring recess TWA has great, inexpensive city packages in London, Paris, Rome, Athens and Amsterdam. For example, for $50 plus airfare you get 7 days in London, including a room with private bath, (based
on double occupancy) Continental breakfast, taxes and service charges. Plus 4 theatre tickets, admission to 6 discotheques, sightseeing, and more. Go before March 31 when prices go up.
$4.30 A NIGHT.
Only TWA gives you Stutelpass*.* It's a coupon booklet that gets you a room and Continental breakfast in a guesthouse or student hotel in any of 52 cities for only
$4.30 a night, no reservations needed. Plus tickets good for meals and concerts and lots of things.
FREE.
When you land in London, Paris, Rome,
Madrid, Amsterdam or Frankfurt, just turn
in your boarding pass at the TWA city ticket
office within 24 hours of your arrival and
you'll get a brochure full of discounts up to
LONDON.
Free admission to any ten Greyhound Racing Tracks Free admission and drink at La Valbonne, one of London's most terrific clubs Free breakfast at your choice of 10 Quality Inns Free pint of Watnet's Red Barrel in your choice of over 40 London pubs
50% off, as well as absolutely free things. Here, for example, are some of the absolutely free things in London and Paris. (Deals for the other cities will be available starting March 15.)
PARIS.
Free 2 hours of motorcycle rental
Free latest-fad gift from
Aux Escelles de Saint Denis
Free silk tote bag from La Gaminerie
Free drink at Hippopotamus
For more information see your Campus Rep or call TWA.
WITHTWAITPAYSTOBEYOUNG.
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