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MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015
PAGE 5
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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arts & features
HOROSCOPES
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Today is an 8
Infuse your work with love and spontaneous fun. Include secret touches. Use the best ingredients you can find. Win over critics with your attention to detail.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Today is a 6
Discover an unexpected gift at home. Someone is thrilled to help you celebrate. Communications don't go far ... keep it to a family gathering. Walk together. There's no need to say much.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Today is a 7
Good news sparks a buying streak. Planning benefits more than action. Discuss love and other mysteries. Ignore gossip. Communication breakdowns resolve from a compassionate view.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Today is an 8
Unexpected money comes in.
Finish the paperwork. Replenish reserves and pay bills.
Start making travel plans.
Keep to a small bag. Use your new skills.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Today is an 8
Others admire your good attitude. You're especially confident today and tomorrow.
Unexpected beauty rains down.
Extra income sets you flush.
Costs could be higher, too ...
weigh the benefits. As always,
your friend stands by you.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Today is a 6
Discover deep beauty in silence. Find exquisite peace in music. You're especially intuitive and sensitive today.
Depend on your teammates.
Experience pays. Your friends make an important connection.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 7 Unexpected benefits arrive for your community. It's OK to upgrade equipment. Share the largess generously. Word doesn't travel far today, or gets garbled in transmission.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 7 A professional risk could pay off big. Take on a leadership role. It's OK if you don't know how. Listen and learn through your heart. Don't believe everything you hear.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today is a 7
Discover an unexpected treasure along the road. Consider a breakdown as a challenge.
Stop to savor what you've found and avoid travel delays.
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Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 6 Consider a friend's suggestion carefully. Be willing to learn a new method to minimize financial risks. An increase in account balances is possible.
Aquarius (Jan. 26-14, Oct.
Today is a 7
A new opportunity tempts.
Don't say much until you're
sure. Collaboration could lead
to an increase in income.
Exercise restraint with the urge
to impulsively spend money.
Accept an unusual gift.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today is an 8
Postpone a financial discussion.
Pay attention to providing excellent service. Passion moves mountains. Devise a pfan. Stay cool. The people you care about think you're brilliant. Reixa in the comfort of your own home.
'Merely Players' centers on feminism
@_Kate_Miller_
At the end of "Merely Players," protagonist Phebe addresses the audience:
KATE MILLER
@ Kate Miller
"Women, I hope you liked this show. Men, I don't care if you liked this show. If you don't know what you are, keep looking."
Although the statement comes at the end of the show, the feminist themes of the production are obvious to audiences from the very beginning as should be the case in an all-female-produced play.
"Merely Players," the newest production by the Jayhawk initiative for Student Theatre, opened last night at the William Inge Memorial Theatre in Murphy Hall. The play, based on an early 17th-century classic, modernizes a tale of romance and self-discovery through progressive themes and casting.
"This is not a play written for men," said Gywnn, a senior from Olathe. "This is not a play written for a male's gaze. I hope that man can still enjoy it and find something in it, because I
This continuation of Shakespeare's "As You Like It" follows shepherd-girl Phebe and her struggle to discover who she is. After falling in love with Rosalind, a woman dressed in drag in Shakespeare's original story, student playwright Katherine Gywnn's Phebe must come to terms with her feelings for Rosalind as well as her place in a maledominated world.
In the spirit of that message, the playwright, director and cast of "Merely Players" are all females. Lynn Debeck, a doctoral student from Vienna, Va., directs the play. Actors Emily Schwerdtfeger, Brianna Woods and Caroline Collett, a junior from Marion, play both female and male characters, adding a feminine dynamic to a story originally performed by only men.
"It ensures that it comes from a female perspective," said Schwerdtfeger, a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio. "No matter what character is being played, what lines are being said, it's been thought about by a team of women."
think it's a beautiful human narrative, but this is a play that really centers around women."
"I think we've all worked really hard to make a safe place," said Woods, a sophomore from Overland Park. "It's basically like a big workshop and collaboration between the five of us. We all have similar viewpoints, so that makes it easy for us to construct the show that we want."
For Woods, the collaboration between such a group of "smart and capable" women has only strengthened the show.
In addition to female empowerment in a male-dominated world, the play deals with the topic of sexuality and gender identification as characters Phebe and Rosalind struggle to clarify their feelings for each other. Although this
relationship is present in Shakespeare's original story, "Merely Players" emphasizes the confusion and difficulty in a way not possible in Shakespeare's time.
"Identifying with gender and sexuality is still a big issue [today]," Schwerdtfeger said. "I think people aren't comfortable with those who don't identify as heterosexual or the gender they were born into. I think this deals with these issues in a way that helps people understand why people are confused about their sexuality or confused about their gender."
Although the themes originate in Shakespeare's time, the play has a modern twist. Starting out with the original epilogue from "As You Like It," the language of the play quickly shifts from poetic prose to modern dialogue. Combined with the emphasis on modern ideas and issues, Gywnn said she hopes her new storytelling will draw in viewers from all backgrounds.
"Whether you're interested in questions about gender and sexuality, in seeing a play that really renders queer women in a complex way, in seeing a show that talks about what it's like to be caught in a cycle of abuse, or whether you're just really interested in seeing a great show, I hope you would consider coming out to see this play," she said.
"Merely Players" runs at 7:30 p.m. today and Tuesday at the William Inge Memorial Theatre in Murphy Hall. The show is free, and donations are appreciated.
Brianna Woods as Rosalind and Emily Schwerdtfepper as Phebe rehearse for the opening show of "Merely Players," which is at 7.30 tonight at the William Inge Memorial Theatre in Murphy Hall. The all-female cast members play male and female roles in this student production.
COURTNEY VARNEY/KANSAN
Yogathon to host renowned yogic scholar
KELLY CORDINGLEY
@kellycordingley
When the thoughts of finals become a nagging, everpresent stressor, graduate students Krishna Ghimire from Nepal and Prasad Shripathi from India suggest meditation and yoga. A free workshop tonight will allow students to learn from leading yogic scholar, Dinesh Kashikar, about how to calm the body and mind.
"This is a way to get rid of stress because energy in your body and in your mind, they get mixed up," Ghimire said. "Your energy will transfer throughout your body as you want and require. In this one class, we teach you to do this on your own to make yourself better."
This event is hosted by The Art of Living Club at KU, a chapter of the global non-profit educational and humanitarian foundation.
The Art of Living. The yoga and meditation workshop will be in the Union Parlors Room from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Ghimire and Shripathi are both members of the club and strong believers in the powerful effects of yoga and meditation.
"It makes a world 'oil difference," Shripathi said. "I started doing yoga through The Art of Living and it changed my mind. It synchronizes your body and mind. The main reason for stress in our lives is our mind thinks something and our body wants something else. If you want to synchronize, you have to practice yoga."
After learning Kashikar would be in the Kansas City area for a separate event, the club reached out to him and requested he come to the University. He's taught in countries around the world since he became a teacher in 2004.
"There's a lot of stress with exams and projects, so doing yoga and meditation brings it all together. This class will be very helpful."
PRASAD SHRIPATHI Graduate student from India
Initially, Ghimire booked a smaller room in the Union. But after posting the event on Facebook and hearing from other students, he realized they'd need more room. He said meditation and yoga are great ways to recharge during
"The guy conducting this is an expert, and I believe he has something to provide to students," Ghimire said. "Last year, I conducted the course, and many people liked it. So, based on that experience, people will really like this."
the day.
"If I'm stressed during the day, instead of sleeping, I'll meditate for 20 minutes." Ghimire said. "Then I'm ready to go for another five or six hours for that night class or whatnot."
Shripathi has done yoga for four years and said he saw multiple aspects of his life turn around when he implemented it into his life.
"My work got improved, my timing, productivity and relationships," he said. "There's a lot of stress with exams and projects, so doing yoga and meditation brings it all together. This class will be very helpful."
This workshop will teach students how to cope with their stresses and center themselves in a way Shripathi said is used by people worldwide.
"Yoga is more than a body movement," he said. "You need to know the meaning,
you have to have faith in it. Many people in the world practice yoga and have realize dthe positive benefits of yoga."
According to Mayo Clinic, some of the benefits of yoga include: stress reduction, improved fitness and management of chronic conditions. The site elaborates, saying, " [a] number of studies have shown that yoga can help reduce stress and anxiety. It can also enhance your mood and overall sense of well-being."
Shripathi said students who participate will reap a plethora of benefits by joining in a network of millions of people who practice yoga and meditation.
"We feel if we can involve students and do this workshop, hopefully people will do more yoga, and benefits of yoga can be shared by everyone," he said.
Edited by Yu Kyung Lee
QUICK QUESTION
Jane Asbury, a retired art professor at the University, and a former student of hers Francie Costello, a 1977 alumna, had just reunited for the first time... in a movie theater bathroom of all places. The two, among about five other patrons had just seen "Woman in Gold" and made a pit stop in the restroom before heading out. The Kansan spoke with the two women about why they each felt so passionate about art.
Kansan: What was your favorite part about teaching art/being an art student?
"Once when one of my jewelry instructors was giving a demonstration, I just felt like this is where I belong."
FRANCIE COSTELLO 1977 alumna
"Working with students... helping them realize their dreams. If I'm to make it short, for each person it was something entirely different."
JANE ASBURY
Retired art professor