Page 6 University Daily Kansan, March 8, 1981
Pinter play enigmatic but rewarding
By PAUL STEPHEN LIM Contributing Reviewer
"Old Times" by Harold Pinter. Presented by the Seem-ToBe Players, directed by Judy Anthony Wright, set by Judy Anthony Wright, lights and sound by Jim Powers, costumes and make-up by Eleanor Patton. Final performance at 8 onstage at the Lawrence Arts Center.
Playright Harold Pinter revealed in an interview some years ago that he often rode the buses in London with a pocket recorder concealed somewhere on his person because he found conversations he overheard infinitely more interesting and intriguing than any he could conceive invent. He has been known to have taped conversations verbatim in his plays.
Given such "sources" for his plays, it is therefore not unusual for one to spend a couple of hours with the characters in Pinter's plays and still not know exactly who they are, why they say what they say and do what they do, whether their concerns and anxieties are real or imagined and, whatever anything, is resolved after the "talk," with all the accompanying pauses and silences is over.
This is not to say that Pinter's plays are not carefully crafted to convey "meaning." That we do not always immediately understand his plays is not his fault, but ours. Thanks to playwrights like Neil Simon and Alan Ayckbourn, who feed one-liners instead of extended ideas, we simply are not accustomed anymore to doing much thinking in the theatre.
"Old Times" is about as oblique as anything Pinter has ever evealed, and the playwright will have plenty of plenty to use in plenty.
we might interpret the play—in a variety of wavs, as a matter of fact, and all quite viable.
On the surface, the plot is quite simple. A married couple living an a converted farmhouse near London is visited by the wife's best friend, a woman whom she used to room with but has not seen for twenty years her terminus, they sing old songs, they jabber, they jab. Before very long, the husband breaks down and weeps, and the play is over.
Although it is not likely that we can fully comprehend a play like "Old Times" with just one viewing, still we do not leave the theater dissatisfied. Such is the playwright's skill. He makes us buy a copy of the script to peruse and work out the puzzle for ourselves.
I have now seen "Old Times" three times—including the original London production—and I am happy to report that the current production at the Lawrence Arts Center by Ric Averill's Seem-To-Be Players continues to illuminate the
Seeing this production, under the very able direction of Judy Anthony Wright, it suddenly occurred to me that the two women in the play were not two, but one. They are two aspects of the same self—one younger, the other older; the former, the id; the latter, the super-ego.
It all makes perfect sense, especially with Heather Laird playing the wife and Jean Averill playing the "friend." These two women not only look alike, but their rapport on stage is such that the husband is truly the "odd man out." Since he finds himself married to a woman no longer recognizes and loves, he has true cause for weening.
What clues are there in the script to suggest
that the two women are one and the same? To cite only a few—the "friend" is never seen arriving or leaving (when the play begins, even though she has not yet arrived, she is seen lurking in the background of the living room) and on the first night of her visit, after having been away for 20 years, she already knows all about the neighbors.
I could present more evidence, but ultimately it does not make much difference how one interprets this play. Even if there were no "meaning," watching Laird, Averill and Rusty Laushman at work is a joy. These three are among the finer actors to come out of KU's theatre department, and with each production they continue to surprise and delight.
Judy Anthony Wright must have had fun directing them. Now, if only she can get Pinter to come to Lawrence with her tape recorder. What students do in this class is students are surely just as—if not more—puzzling.
Weekend
FRIDAY
FOOLS FACE will perform at 9 p.m. at the Lawrence Opera House, 642 Massachusetts St. Doors open at 8 p.m.
THE ROCK CHALK REVUE, titled "The Last Laugh," will be presented at a p.m. in Hoeh Auditionium. Tickets are $3.75 and are available online at www.rockchalkrevue.com. Kell's Records and Nray Drug stores.
THE SUA FILM "Kramer vs. Kramer" will be shown at 7 and 9 p.m. in Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Tickets are $1.50.
THE SUA FILM "The Harder They Come"
will be shown at midnight in Woodruff
Auditorium in the Union. Tickets are $2.
SATURDAY
FOOLS FACE will perform at 9 p.m. at the Lawrence Opera House. Doors open at 8 p.m.
THE ROCK CHALK REVUE, titled "The Last Laugh," will be presented at 1:30 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $2 for the matinee and $4.50 for the evening performance.
THE SUA FILM "The Marriage of Maria Braun" will be shown at 2 p.m. in woodwright Auditorium in the Union. Tickets are $1.50.
THE LYNCH AND MBCBE DUO will convene at 9 p.m. in the cellar of the Opera House.
THE ROCK GROUP KANSAS will perform at 8 p.m. in Allen Field House. Tickets are on sale at the SUA Box Office and Kief's Records. Tickets are $5.50 and $5.50.
On Campus
TODAY
MASTER CLASSES with Leon Fleisher, pianist, will be 5 p.m. in the Residency Hall in Marlhay Hill.
THE BIOLOGY CLUB will meet at 4 p.m. in the Sunflower Room of the Kansas Union.
KU CONCERT CHORALE will perform at 8 p.m. in Swarthout Recital Hall.
THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY will sponsor a workshop with Martha Driepe on "Native American Family Life" from 9 a.m. until noon, Call 884-4173 for reservations.
THE JAYHAWK INVITATIONAL JAZZ
Concert will be present in m.a. in Mupain Hall.
Concerts will be present in m.a. in Mupain Hall.
SUNDAY
THE KANASKS RENAISSANCE CONSORY will perform at 2 p.m. in Swarthout Reception Hall.
THE UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SPRING CONCERT will be at 3:30 p.m. in the University Theatre in Murphy. In the evening, members of Austria will be the guest conductor.
meet at 1 p.m. in 207 Robinson. Beginners are welcome.
MONDAY
A MASTER'S RECITAL with Martin Murray
plans will be at 8 p.m. in Swarthout Recital
II.
THE RENAISSANCE DANCE CLASS will
THE RELIGIOUS STUDIES MINI-
CONFERENCE will host Anson D. Shupr. Jr.
on "Religious Cults and the Religious Anti-Cultists"
at 10:30 a.m. in 103 Smith Hall.
TGIF at THE HAWK
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL GROUP 172
8:00 p.m. in the International Room of
the Union.
Foreign & Domestic Parts
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VARSITY DOWNTOWN TELEPHONE 843-1065
Registration:
February 23-March 24
Register in the Interfraternity
Council Office or call 864-3559.
Booths will be set up in Oliver,
Templin and JRP on
March 10, 7-9 p.m.
There will be a $10 registration fee.
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SNA FILMS
(1979)
The Harder They Come
Friday, Mar. 6
Kramer vs. Kramer
When Meryl Streep break out of her stifling marriage, ad exec Dustin Hoffman is left to raise their son, as the grown-up heir begins his career, beginning a custody灯 night. Robert Benton's film avoids polemics and creations of three people, brilliantly acted by Hoffman, Streep and young Justin Henry, with fine support from Jane Alexander as she navigates the high stakes of Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director; an extraordinary film. Plus: John G. Lucas (1098) *Color*; 3:30, 7:00, 9:30
The reggae movie, Jimmy Cliff is a young singer smugging marijuana to support himself; he kills a cop and becomes an entertainer. He plays a chart. A vibrant, ambient performance by Cliff and the excellent reggae soundtrack make this an unique, unique work. Hear Harrell Rusi Nurse man McLanen's "Serenade" (1099 min). Color: 120/Midnight
Saturday, Mar. 7
Kramer vs. Kramer
3:30, 7:00, 9:30
The Harder They Come
12:00 Midnight
Sunday, Mar. 8
The Marriage of
Maria Braun
Perhaps the best film of Rainer Fassbinder, the prolific German director of Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven and Mary's Marriage, is Kirsten, who, while waiting for her long-lost soldier husband, decides to become upward mobile in post-war German society. Her story is Germany's story. It is a woman's story. The authorating, and Maria herself is stunning, "The Marriage of Maria Braun reminds us of the still immense possibilities of our world." In Canby, The New York Times (120)印尼
Unless otherwise noted, all film will be furnished by the Kansas Union Weekday films are $100; Friday, Saturday, Popular and Sunday films are $150. Midnight film is $200. Monday through Saturday films are $300. Kansas Union, 4th level, Information 864-5477, no smoking or refresher admissions.