'Fantasticks' Shows Fighting 'n' Fussing
By Rose Ellen Osborne
Feudin', fussin' and fightin' leads to romance in the University Players' production of "The Fantasticks."
By Rose Ellen Osborne
The play, which opened Friday night in the Experimental Theatre, is an elementary lesson in human nature.
The lesson begins when two doting fathers decide they want their children Luisa and Matt to grow up and fall in love, so the fathers build a high wall between their backyards.
"To manipulate children, you merely say no," says the girl's father, portrayed by Tom Winston, Dallas, Tex., senior. The boy's father, Keith Jochim, Birmingham, Mich., senior, agrees with Winston.
"We like vegetables. They're dependable. The seed you plant is the plant you get," he says. The wall is built under pretense of a feud. The fathers forbid their children to see each other.
The excitement of clandestine meetings produces the desired effect, and the two soon fall in love. Then the fathers execute the next step in their plan — an abduction of the dreamy-eyed girl portrayed by Sylvia Anderson. Wilmette Ill., junior.
The girl lives in a dream-world of books and romance and believes she is a princess. Her favorite thing is a blue rhinestone necklace which she insists is made of real diamonds. Her most cherished daydream is the thought of being rescued by some handsome lover with a sword, "like in the 'Rape of the Sabine Women.'"
Matt, played by Tom Woodard,
Des Moines, Iowa, senior, is realistic
in all areas of thought except one—
the girl.
"After all, I've taken biology and been in a laboratory. I know how things are," he says. "But there is this girl."
When Matt's father announces he has chosen his son a wife, Matt protests that he will not "contract out to prolongate his race." Besides he has fallen in love with love.
The boy's father realizes that the time is ripe to arrange the abduction. He and Winston contact the bandit
El Gallio, portrayed by Roger Brown. Topeka graduate student, who insists the transaction is not an "abduction."
"The proper word is rape; it's short and business-like." Brown says. He proceeds to explain that the kind of rape depends on what you pay.
"You can have a rape with Indians, a rape in a canoe or a rape in the moonlight with a string quartet." Brown sings.
Use of that explosive word "rape" brings a touch of wickedness to the otherwise simple innocence of the play. The use of the word brought roars of laughter from the audience.
University Daily Kansan
Not that such a device was necessary. From the moment the black-garbed bandit sauntered onto the stage and began narrating the tale, the audience was caught up in the enthusiasm of the play.
Brown and Gene Masoner, Lenexa freshman who portrays a mute, are always on hand to tell the story. As the emphasis shifts from character to character, the pair conveniently fade into the background like a piece of scenery to complement the stage direction of Phil Harris, Lawrence graduate student.
To execute the "rape," El Gallo brings in a moth-eaten old Shake-pearean actor, Dwight Sutton, Wichita sophomore, and a hefty Indian, Paul Broderick, Overland Park freshman.
Woodard fights off the attackers with a sword that Brown hands him. With the lovers together, the fathers pay the bill for the "rape," and tear down the wall.
This proves to be the biggest mistake. It takes all the excitement out of the romance and the lovers quarrel and part. The boy goes off to see the world.
"A boy may go, the girl must stay," the bandit says, and proceeds to swindle Miss Anderson out of her favorite blue necklace.
But the story has a happy ending. The lovers each learn their lesson and are reunited, and the bandit explains that he only hurt them that they might learn.
May Restore Budget Cut
Raymond Nichols, vice chancellor of finance, said yesterday he as hopeful the $242,048 cut from KU's proposed budget will be restored.
Page 3
Nichols declined extended comment but said he is optimistic about the possibility of Gov. John Anderson putting back the amount subtracted by the state budget office.
Last year, $1.4 million was cut from the proposed budget but Gov. Anderson restored virtually the entire amount.
GOV. ANDERSON will review this year's budget cut and make his recommendations next Monday and Nichols said he would have more to say at that time.
After Gov. Anderson makes his modifications the budget goes to the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
The University asked for $21,-929,819 and $242,048 of this amount was cut. The major cut was $188,-000 in capital improvements. Other items eliminated were $144,619 for salary increases and $97,438 for other expenditures.
Tuesday, Jan. 15, 1963
Veith Will Discuss Satirical Poetry
David Veith, associate professor of English, will speak at the Humanities Forum at 8 p.m. today in the Oread Room of the Kansas Union. Prof. Veith will speak on "A Crux for Critics and Scholars; Rochester's Heroical Epistle' and 'Epistolary Essay.'" He will discuss the tradition in which these poems were written and the people they satirize.
New and Used Parts and Tires
Auto Wrecking and Junk
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Up in Smoke
BERLIN, N.H. — (UPI) — A long-awaited celebration went up in smoke yesterday.
The annual "Burning of the Green," a huge bonfire of about 600 Christmas trees, was called off when an unidentified teen-ager lighted the pile two hours before festivities were to begin.
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