spotlight Donovan sings, roof rises
By MIKE SHEARER
Arts & Reviews Editor
"A natural high is the best high in the world," assured the soft voice of Donovan.
High, high above the auditorium hung the roof that young Donovan promised could be lifted. And the roof did rise, gently.
Donovan's melodic voice and gentle humor simply could not be held in such a small space as Kansas City Municipal Auditorium.
Starting a little slow, 23-year-old Donovan quickly warmed to the occasion as he sung his old songs and some new songs with his uncompromisingly flute-like voice. His rapport with the audience, both in his singing and in his conversation, was as beautiful as the pile of flowers lying around him, presents from adoring fans.
Donovan is a relatively new idol, comparable in popularity to Peter, Paul and Mary of a few years ago. Like Peter, Paul and Mary, Donovan is a folk singer.
He differs somewhat though While Mary Travers insisted that their songs were not protest
songs, but rather positive statements, it was always easy to identify the negatives at the other end of their beautiful affirmations.
With Donovan, it is not so easy. The beauty which he sings about is not the opposite of an injustice but is rather an entity, an ultimate truth so true that it is the opposite of nothing.
Oct. 7
1969 KANSAN 5
Peace, for instance, need not be an alternative for war. The peace Donovan's songs preach is much more demanding of our sensibilities. His peace is alone. Spiritual. Enriching.
His songs, often taken from obscure folklore which would not fascinate the average person, are wondrous chants to the past, or cheerful callings to the future.
One thing Donovan could teach us if we were able to learn is the ability to find beauty where we might find something more distasteful.
Mentioning a Billy Graham crusade. Donovan heard a cynical snicker from us—the all-knowing, left-leaning audience. We thought he would laugh at the revival spirit of such a crusade. But he didn't.
Oscar Wilde said we are all lying in the gutter, but some of us have our eyes on the stars.
he found in it: the sound of 4,000 voices in Billy's choir. He said he thought it was a beautiful and valuable type of communion—this singing together.
So he had his audience in KC try it, and we were inhibited. But we warmed to this type of revival spirit and we had learned something from Donovan.
Donovan, singer and simple philosopher, has his eyes aimed just there—at the stars.
Auditions open for film parts
The auditions are open to all students in the university. There are parts available for both males and females, previous experience is not necessary.
Auditions for the Senior Film will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in room 101, Kansas Union.
Audition materials will be provided, but prepared readings will be accepted.
People interested in working on the film should leave their names at the audition.
This year's film is being directed by R. L. Bailey and Jay Cooper, who are writing an original script about situations confronting a lot of seniors.
It is a dramatic film following a story-line as opposed to the previous senior films which were composites of skits, montages, and interviews, Bailey said.
The film is a project sponsored by the Senior Class, with the film committee headed by Sharon Harr, and includes R. L. Bailey, Jay Cooper, Carol Leek, Boley Andrews, Tom Vrabac and Ellen Holtsberg.
BOOKS
WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT, CHARLEY BROWN?, by Jeffrey H. Loria (Crest, 60 cents)—Butting into the claim, one somehow feels, of Robert Short, the chap who has written two perceptive analyses of theological aspects of the comic strip Peanuts, Jeffrey H. Loria herein interprets the comic from psychological and behavioral standpoints. That sounds stuffy; he interprets the comic, then, from the human—or canine
—condition. With numerous examples for illustrative purposes. Whatever it's doing, scholarly or otherwise, it is worth a look.
BLACK CHAMPION, by Finis Farr (Gold Medal, 75 cents)—In some awareness of the publicity accorded the Broadway play, "The Great White Hope," which is about the legendary heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, Gold Medal has brought out this 1964 biography by a man who is an able storyteller. Johnson was the first Negro boxing champion, and the term "great white hope" came from the hopes entertained by many that a white man could come along to take away the title from the black man. The story is a fascinating one and it deserves readers.