KANSAN REVIEWS
FILMS: Creeping weirdoism
By MIKE SHEARER Arts & Reviews Editor
You may never have met anyone both as charming and also as annoying as Pookie Adams. You may never
You may never again.
Pookie is fighting an uphill battle against weirdos, and the girl knows she's bound to lose because she's outnumbered. Because the weirdos are everywhere.
Pookie is given to us by Liza Minnelli in "The Sterile Cuckoo," who will easily win an Academy Award nomination and maybe even an oscar for her performance. Liza couldn't possibly have given a more refreshing performance; she couldn't have given the part much more depth.
She is helped with the script by leading man Wendell Burton, but the movie still belongs to Liza.
Pookie has many obsessions, all stemming from a miserable childhood with a very lonely father. She has an obsession with death; she has an obsession against weirdos; and she has an obsession with a young man.
The young man might have turned out to need Pookie's constant attention and constant intensity to cure her of her fetishes. But Pookie knows that there is no one anywhere who will be able to give her the satisfaction she needs. Pookie is a tragic figure.
But probably better than the depiction of Pookie's tragic nature is the depiction of her comic facade, which for the first half of the movie keeps the audience roaring. It is shortly after the It-Happened-One-Nightish bedroom scene (Pookie jumps into the bed nude, dons her glasses and tells her boy, "Hit it, Valentino!") that Pookie begins to realize the elusiveness of this love, and then she struggles violently to keep it
Pookie's character has baffled reviewers. One critic representing a minority opinion, hated Pookie. Most reviewers thought that Pookie was simply unlovable with all her quirks.
The truth is, folks, there are, just as Pookie understood, too many weirdos. Weirdos are people who can't devote every single second to experiencing themselves honestly, to ignoring societal pressures and to fighting desperately the distorted fraternalism which kills people.
Liza presents Pookie as the complex character she is, and she simultaneously wets appetites for more of her talents.
Though she has proven that she can handle a dramatic role, she should use her wonderful voice in a musical soon. She has a lot in reserve.
But even if Liza never gave us another performance, which will not be the case with another film in the offing, she has given us Pookie and, consequently, given us the drive to fight creeping weirdism.
BOOKS
IDANRE AND OTHER POEMS, by Wole Soyinka (Hill & Wang, $1.75)—A collection of poetry by one of the best-known writers of Africa, a man who also has had two plays produced off Broadway. Soyinka is a Nigerian, former director of the drama school at Ibadon University in his country, and he is now in jail in Nigeria for allegedly supporting the Biafran movement.
Nov. 13
1969 KANSAN 5
GREAT TELEVISION PLAYS, edited by William I. Laufman (Dell, 75 cents)—A collection that has some historic importance, bringing together some of the plays from television's golden age. The memorable titles are "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, "The Big Deal" by Paddy Chayefsky, "Requium for a Heavyweight" by Rod Serling, "Twelve Angry Men" by Reginald Rose, "The Final War of Olly Winter" by Ronald Ribman, and "Lee at Gettysburg" by Alvin Sapinsley. Such a book could serve as a text in dramatic writing for television.
Similar to "Summertree" in that it classifies as an anti-establishment, anti-war play, "The Hostage" by Brendan Behan opens tonight and runs through Nov. 22.
By GENELLE RICHARDS Kansan Staff Writer
Presented on the stage of the Experimental Theatre, "The Hostage" is a "different sort—a bawdy comedy with lots of fun, songs and dances," said director Roy Sorrels, assistant instructor of speech and drama.
Hostage: bawdy comedy with message
The playwright first involves the audience and then sneaks up on them with a serious message. Thus it can be called a comedy with tragic relief, said Sorrels.
The story concerns a young English soldier being kept hostage in the house. He is caught in the middle of political beliefs and prejudices.
"I think it has something very important to say to us now and it is interesting that it opens the day before the moratorium begins," he said.
"This is similar to Vietnam where the men are caught in the problems made for them by other people, the older generation, Sorrels said.
spotlight— Don't miss Miss Gish
By MIKE SHEARER Arts & Reviews Editor
Miss Gish appears at 8 p.m. tonight in the Kansas Union Ballroom. She will lecture and show films of an era of movie-making which gave birth to most of what we call visual media today.
Anyone interested in America's only original art — the cinema, anyone interested in American History, anyone interested in people. EVERYONE should see and meet Lillian Gish, America's first movie star.
Richard D. MacCann, professor of Radio-TV-Film, said Miss Gish not only starred in D.W. Griffith's earliest films, but she also "helped with costumes, stories, title-writing and once even directed a picture for him."
The play begins on an unusual note with Teresa played by Shannon Hackett, Winnetka, Ill. sophomore, cleaning the stage , which is the brothel, preparing for the play to begin.
Wood slabs nailed together to form various angular shapes create an unusual backdrop representing the walls of the house.
Originally "Rosencrantz and Guilderstern Are Dead" was scheduled for presentation but rights could not be obtained because of the upcoming film production of the play.
"I'm glad now that I decided to do this play," said Sorrels.
One of the actors in the play comes from England as an exchange student for a year. Arriving in July, this is the first time in the United States for Tim Caley, graduate student in American history.
"My priorities are social rather than academic at the present time, which is reprehensible but enjoyable." Caley said.
Mat. DAILY 2:30
Eve. 7:15 - 9:20
"I, A Lover"
TWO LATE NIGHTS ONLY
SEE A
HUNGER THAT COULDN'T
BE SATISFIED.
Friday & Saturday Night Only
Shows: Fri. & Sat.
at 11:45
NOW! 7:15 - 9:25
Mat. Sat. - Sun. 2:30
Buzzi and Associates, Inc. Insurance Agency
Lloyd Buzzi
"For the Professional Approach to Your Insurance Needs"
- Doug Powell
Tony Croman
- Dick Ringstrom
- Mike Reeves
- Ralph Light
- Arden Gray
Bob Joyce
Ray Terrell
Bob Taylor
Let us help you with:
Life Insurance Computer Programs Health Insurance Group Insurance
Disability Insurance Mortgage Insurance Tax Sheltered Programs
Buzzi and Associates
Gary Garrett
Bill Hill
2323 Ridge Court VI 2-7771
Ric Marshall
Lee Sells