Page 6
University Daily Kansan, April 5, 1980
Entertainment
'Pirates of Penzance' cast gives sharp performance
By LADONNA LONGSTREET Staff Reperter
Staff Reporter
Thrusted swords, aimed pistols and extended embraces generated waves of applause from viewers watching the Vassar Playhouse Touring Company perform "The Pirates of Penzance" Thursday night in the Vo-Tech school in Olathe.
During the more than 100 years since W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan first presented the operetta to the world, it may never have been performed as it was by Vassars' 10 actors.
The touring troupe will perform the musical again at the Osage City Opera House, 6th and Main streets, Osage City, Anril 7-9.
Director Rick Rottschaefer's version contained some role variations, which did not substantially detract from the play. But they did add more wackiness to Gilbert and Sullivan's satire.
THE MAIN VARIATION involved the character, Ruth, who in the original script was simply a nursemaid who indentured her charge, Frederic, to a pirate instead of a pilot and became a pirate maid.
a prize made. This role was greatly expanded so that Ruth, played by Lori Bryant, also pretended to be one of four maids who attracted the attention of Frederic. It is not clear whether Bryant was playing a totally new character or if the character Ruth was impersonating someone else.
superiorizing someone else.
Toward the end of the operetta Ruth also donned a policeman's hat and helped arrest the pirates. By this time her character's outline was smudged badly.
Despite the confusion generated from Ruth assuming the part of one of the maids, Bryant did an excellent job in performing two roles at once. Her singing was distinct and not strained, and her acting expressive.
ANOTHER ODDITY, which enlivened an already hilarious plot, was having the same actors play both the police and pirate choruses. During a battle between the two groups, Rottschafer detoured the problem of a direct confrontation with quick shuffles and clothing changes.
Each time one of the combatants was knocked out of sight during the fight he jumped back into the conflict 15 seconds later as a different character. At least three men were always on stage.
on stage. The sleight of hand, though obvious, was not distracting.
The sleight of hand, though notable. The roles of Majerius and Stanley, played by Nick George's King, played by Rötschafer, were well done Both George's and Rötschafer's singing was understandable and their acting convincing.
Rottschafer's costume made him the most realistic pirate. He was the only member of the pirate band who was immediately recognizable as a buccaneer. His counterparts' costumes were too pale and subdued to be impressive.
FREDERIC. PLAYED by Paula Soule, had the youthful countenance and naive demanded for the role. Some of the soles were too high for Soule, though, who strained to reach the notes.
the notes.
Laure Ronnebaum, who played Mabel, sang many pieces without any sign of difficulty. If any of the players forgot their lines it was not apparent.
Alogether, with a small cast, Vassar Playhouse presented an entertaining and enjoyable performance.
In this operetta Gilbert and Sullivan satirized man's willingness to subject sensibility to fulfilling his duty. The composers, in effect, also stated that the honesty of pirates and respectable people were much the same.
and respectfully. The operetta ended with the pirates, who were actually noblemen gone wrong, being restored to their positions in the government and taking the pirate mails as their wives.
Danny Biehler/KANSAN
Ruth, a nursemaid, and her charge, Frederic, sing and join in a drink of sherry with a group of pirates in the Vassar Players production of Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta "The Pirates of Penzance." The group performed the show last week, in Olathe and will repeat the performance this weekend at the Osage City Opera House.
"The Sage of Emporia" recalls highlights of journalist's life
By LAUREN PETERSON
Staff Reporter
His name is written inconspicuously in metal above the stone entrance of Flint Hall, often ignored except when journalists come to the University of Kansas each February for a day to honor the legendary man.
He was William Allen White — a journalist, a politician and a burglarian.
The KU theatre department will pay tribute to White at 8 p.m tomorrow in Murphy Hall in its production of "The Sage of Emporia," a one-man show starring Jack Wright, professor of speech and drama, as William Allen White.
"HE REALLY HAD that ability to understand all people and that's what made him so influential in Washington. People really thought of him as representing Washington in the MidWest."
"He was the kind of man who could talk to the gas station attendant down the street or to the person at the local coffee shop," Wright said, "and then turn around the next day and be off to Washington to talk to Herbert Hoover about something
Ronald Willis, KU professor of speech and drama and director of the play, said the proceeds from tomorrow's performance would help pay for performing the play in Washington, D.C., at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on April 17 at the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution.
The production will be a part of the Smithsonian's "Portrait in Motion" series.
"Buried Child," another KU production which Wright directs, will also be performed in Washington on April 15 and 16.
16. Wright said the idea to take "The Sage of Emporia" to Washington came about because "Buried Child" would be performing there.
and has toured throughout Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. Willis said
WHITE, WHO attended KU but never finished his degree,
was the owner and editor of the Emporia Gazette from 1895
until his death in 1944.
"The State of Emporia" was first performed at KU in 1981
Wright said that the play opens with White, portrayed as an old man, just waking from a map in his den chair in Emporia,
"He awakens slowly to discover that he has left an audience Wright said. "It takes him a few moments to figure out where
he is and what's going on.
White explains why he is writing his autobiography at that time in his life, Wright said, and from there he begins to reminisce about his past.
The basic structure of the play, written by Henry Haskell, a longtime newsman with the Kansas City Star and close friend of White's son Bill, is based upon White's reexamination of his life. Wright said.
"Theodore Roosevelt and others really changed his way of looking at things.
"You get a sense of how these political philosophies affected him and also how his relationships developed through the years. Many of his closest friends were presidents."
"HE RECALLS key people in his life who were instrumental in shaping his political and editorial philosophy," he said.
years, marty of his cross.
White also reads his famous editorial "What's the Matter With Kansas," Wright said, which he wrote while a 28-year-old editor in 1896.
In this famous editorial, White, a young conservative Republican, wrote against the Populism movement that was taking place in Kansas in the 1890s.
Wills said that one of the greatest things about directing "The Sage of Emporia" was that he had been able to spend time looking through White's personal books and scrapbooks in his home in Emporia.
"THE HEAS REALLY a very complex individual." Wright said. "But he was fascinating to study and to try to capture his spirit, which is what we really do in the play. We're interested in these characters of the man."
Pre-Nursing Students
One Nursing advisor will be available for advising on April 5,7 13*,14,19,20,21,26 and $ 2 7^{*} $ in the College Advising Office,106 Strong Hall.
*means 9-12 only
VALENTINO'S FAMILY BUFFET NIGHT
Sunday thru Wednesday Nights 5-7 PIZZA, PASTA & SALAD BAR
All you can eat! First create your salad from our fabulous Salad Bar, then select your pizza from the great assortment. Finally top it off with Baked Lasagne or Spaghetti with a variety of fabulous sauces as only Val's can make.
THIS WEEK'S SPECIALTY PIZZA— CHEESEBURGER
THIS WEEK'S SPECIALTY SAUCE WHITE MUSHROOM
Dining Room • Take Out • Delivery • Game Room
$1.00 off Evening Buffet Sun. thru Wed, or 50% off
Luncheon Buffet 7 days a week. One coupon per
customer, offer expires 4/17/83 at Valentino's.
$1.00 or 50¢ VALUE
COUPON
749-4244
$1.00 off Evening Buffet Sun. thru Wed. or 50* off
$1.00 or 50* VALUE
$1.00 off Evening Buffet Sun, thru Wed, or 50% off Luncheon Buffet 7 days a week. One coupon per customer, offer expires 4/17/83 at Valentino's.
COUPON SPECIAL
--union bookstores
The handheld computer that can handle the Space Shuttle.
In an emergency, the HP-41 handheld computer can help land the Space Shuttle. Without the help of Mission Control. You may find that it can save your life on any given business day, too. So come in today and get the feel of it the same way NASA did. Over the counter.
HEWLETT PACKARD
REC. SALE
HP-41C 195.00 169.95
HP-41CV 275.00 229.95
Sale ends May 20, 1983
ALSO: Free software from Howlett Jackard with
License #001-003-83
kansas
Details at:
main union burge union
OUTSTANDING JUNIORS
Omicron Delta Kappa
National Senior Honorary Society are available in 231 Strong Hall Applications and official transcripts are due by April 8, 1983
TUESDAY-FRIDAY
All contributions donated to Cystic Fibrosis
Call General*s Quarters for details 841-1320
6.