CAMPUS AND AREA
University Daily Kansan, February 25, 1985
Page 6
'Miser' affords plenty of laughs
By RICK ZAPOROWSKI Staff Reporter
The University of Kansas Theatre's staging of "the Miser." Performances at 8 p.m. Feb. 28, March 1 and 2 in the Crafton-Prever Theatre in Murphy Hall. Tickets on sale at the Murphy Hall box office, half-paid for KU students.
Extract a complicated plot about love and money from a typical daytime drama. Add the slapstick and physical antics contained in a Marx Brothers movie. And blend in the snappy patter between Hawkeye and Frank Burns from an old ' M * A * S * H ' episode.
Display these qualities on stage using 15 versatile actors, and the result will be the University of Kansas Theatre's entertaining presentation of Moliere's classic comedy, "The Miser."
The play is an unpretentious comedy that distracts audiences from real-world problems and encourages laughter for some careless laughter.
THE SHOW'S director, Ronald A. Willis, combines 17th century fashion and social formalities with contemporary dialogue in his
adaptation of Moliere's script, which was written in the 1600s. Willis, KU director of theatre, modified the original script, yet preserved the farcical plot for which Moliere was well known.
The play follows the miserly exploits of Harapagen (Bryan Burke, Leawood senior). Harapagon arranges to marry the girlfriend of his lover of his son, Cleante (Timothy Hutchings, Shawnee junior).
REVIEW
Cleante doesn't know his father's intentions, Harpagon doesn't know Cleante's romantic interests, and the woman, Marianne, doesn't know Cleante and Harpagon are related.
HARPAGON ARRANGES for Cleante to marry a woman who would provide a hefty dowry, and Cleante plans a scheme to win Marianne's hand in marriage. Meanwhile, Harpagon her daughter tries to back out of the marriage her father has arranged, because she would rather marry the man she loves than the miserly gentleman Harpagon prefers.
The characters, of course, don't sit down and discuss the dilemma. Instead, they conceive and conspire
to get what they want, making the problems even worse.
The complicated plot is much easier to comprehend when it's carried on out stage than when it's explained in print. Each character is explained with unusual traits, making them easy to distinguish and enjoyable to watch.
Burke grabs the audience immediately with his convincing and laughable portrayal of the miser.
BURKE SHUFFLES around the stage, always checking the other characters to make sure they haven't taken his beloved money. His body never is fully upright, and his gestures undoubtedly belong to an old, greedy skinfint.
The comic elements of the play are heightened by the characters' animation. The cast clearly tries to entertain the audience with cartoonlike exchanges rather than dramatic interactions.
The simple set — an inclined, circular stage with a minimal amount of decoration in the background — forces the cast to keep the audience's attention with its physical and vocal movement. The stage itself is a presence, ranging from Hutchings' conically conceited struts to the giddy bouncing of Harpagon's confused servants.
TAKE A STUDY
BREAK AT
THE HAWK
Pitcher Refills
$1.50
Barrel Refills
$1.00
2-7 p.m., Mon.-Thurs.
It Could Only Happen at THE HAWK ● 1340 OHIO
Black Student Union Meeting
Mon., Feb. 18, 7 p.m.
Jayhawk Room of the Kansas Union
—paid for by student activity fee—
Everyone is invited to attend.
Excellence:
Achieve it This Year!!
This workshop will explore goal setting, steps for goal achievement and ways to end procrastination.
Tues., Feb. 26
7-8:30 p.m.
Regionalists Room,
Kansas Union
Sponsored by the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center. For more information, go to www.davidstockman.com/86-3205.
RESEARCH PAPER WRITING STUDY SKILLS WORKSHOP
Presented via videotape
Learn about *defining a topic*
* organizing your notes
* using the library
* managing your time
FREE! Tues., Feb 26, 7 to 9 p.m.
Downs Auditorium, 308 Dyche Hall
Presented by the Student Assistance Center.
Use Kansan Classified.
Half price for KU Students
RADIO
SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
BERLIN
POSITION OPENINGS
KU Residence Halls and Scholarship Halls 1985-86
ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING COORDINATORS must be graduate student for 1985-86 academic year
ASSISTANT RESIDENCE HALL DIRECTORS must be graduate or fifth year student for 1985-86 academic year
must have bachelor's degree and be enrolled for 1985-86 academic year
Job descriptions and applications available in 123 Strong Hall.
SCHOLARSHIP HALL DIRECTORS
All applicants should evidence above-average academic achievement, residential group-living experience, and availability for the entire 1985-86 academic year.
APPLICATION DEADLINE March 1, 1985
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER.
Bus is safe ride home for revelers
By BETH REITER Staff Reporter
A bus route from bars to residence halls provided a safe ride home for students who braved the rain to visit Saturday's KU-OU basketball game.
Two officials of the Association of University Residence Halls, which co-sponsored the service, differed on how many students took advantage of the service but both agreed the service should be continued during the football season.
Mark Unger, AURH vice president, said few residents used the buses that ran round trip from Lawrence bars to residence halls.
But James Jeffley, AURH president, said he saw many students using the route, although he didn't know how many.
"There were quite a few people from a number of the halls," Jeffley said. "I think it was a success."
AURH AND BAR owners sponsored the bus service from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday from the eight residence halls to area bars. The purpose of the service was to decrease drunken driving among celebrating students.
The buses provided transportation to and from Bull Winkle's, Johnny's Tavern, the West Coast Saloon, Cogburn's, the Mad Hatter, the Jayhawk Cafe, the Wagon Wheel Cafe, Louise's Bar, Louise's West and the Jazzhaus. The service cost each rider 25 cents.
Unger said he didn't know whether the route made money.
it, Unger said.
The total cost of the route was $600.
Unger said. The bars paid about half of that. The other $300 will come from AURH and from the money collected from the riders.
Dirk Kruger, AURH publicity chairman, said the purpose of the route was to promote responsible drinking and driving.
"It is a real good idea, but we didn't
lot of people using it," McClure said.
DON MCCLURE, OWNER of Louise's Bar, 1009 Massachusetts St., and Louise's West, 1307 W. Seventh St., said he didn't think the route was successful.
McClure said he thought the bus route should be continued, but that it should be paid for by the riders and by the bus company. The route should not only have to bar, but should service the campus and downtown Lawrence.
International Club Festival of Nations
The University of Kansas International Club invites everyone to the 33rd annual International Festival of Nations, Sat., March 2, 1985
- Exhibits 12-5 p.m., Big 8 and Jayhawk Rooms, Kansas Union.
* Display of artifacts and slide shows from several countries.
- Banquet 5:30 p.m. Kansas Union Cafeteria.
Cuisine from around the world. Adults:$5.00
Children:$3.00.
- Cultural Show. 7:30 p.m., Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union. Music and dances from different countries.
Tickets available at SUA office, KU International Club (B115 Kansas Union) and office of Foreign Student Services (112 Strong Hall and 425 McCollum Hall)
For information call: 864-4824
KU Students!
The Student Senate is now distributing a cartoon, caricature map of Kansas University and the Lawrence area. The poster size map is available to students FREE of charge. You may pick up your copy at the Student Senate Office, the UAB Offices, the Jayhawk Bookstore or Balfour's downtown.
—this ad paid for by student senate activity fee—
MASS. STREET DELI in
941 MASSACHUSETTS
The
Owner's Special Double Sausage Sandwich
...some like it hot.
Two hot Smoked Sausages—spit, grilled and placed on a French Hard Roll. Garnished with sautéed chopped green peppers, onions and mushrooms. Smothered with two thick slices of Jalapena cheese. Gently apply mayo and horseradish.
$3.95 Reg. $4.25
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