University Daily Kansan
Friday, Sept. 11, 1970
7
'Miracle Worker': Determined Compassion
By MELISSA BERG Kansan Reviewer
A squinting young woman hunches determinedly over a small desk, and scrawls a sudden thought: "Obedience is the gateway through which knowledge enters the mind of the child."
With this realization, Miss Annie Sullivan comes one step closer to approaching the mind of deaf, blind and mute Helen Keller in William Gibson's play, "The Miracle Worker," staged in University Theatre Sept. 4, 5 and 6.
A holdover production from the KU sumer theatre season, "The Miracle Worker" is a moving, emotional commentary on discipline and determination.
In the opening scene, Captain and Kate Keller decide after much family turmoil that their afflicted daughter Helen must receive all possible chances to become a normal child. They are quite surprised when the help they seek comes in the form of a 20 year old former blind girl, fiery Annie Sullivan.
Toughened by a childhood spent in an asylum, Annie quickly begins to instill discipline in Helen. The death of her brother in the asylum left Annie unable to love, and she remains emotionally detached from Helen and has no qualms about punishing her for her frequent temper tantrums. Vicious fighting erupts between the two throughout the play as Annie attempts to curtail Helen's persistent obstinacy.
In desperation she demands complete control of the child for
a two week trial period so that Helen may learn to depend on her.
It is during this trial period that Annie labors to teach Helen that everything has a name through continuous use of sign language and touch.
Boberg Fills Challenging Position As Acting Director of All KU Bands
Kansan Photo by MARILYN McMULLEN Boberg Rehearses Marching Band
Kansan Photo by MARILYN McMULLEN
By STEVE SHERMAN Kansan Staff Writer
When 125 crimson-and-blue-clad members of the KU Marching Band come racing down the steps of Memorial Stadium Saturday one man will be on pins and needles.
George Boberg, acting director of bands, will watch as his group performs a salute to the Big Eight that has taken him and his men more than 800 man hours to prepare.
Boberg was named acting director last spring when Kenneth Bloomquist resigned the post. He feels a great sense of challenge and opportunity at his first assignment as a college band director.
. . . averaging 800 man hours per performance
"When it was decided that it was too late in the year to accept applications for a new band director, I was asked to take the job as acting director for one year," he said.
"Although it was not a total surprise, everything was up in the air. My main direction up to that time was as a percussion instructor. I hadn't thought too much about becoming a college band director."
Before coming to KU in 1968, Boberg taught and played professionally in New York for ten years. Concert and chamber music were his main assignments during those years and they allowed him to work under some of the biggest and most demanding names in the world of conducting.
His plans for the year show that he doesn't intend to let any challenges slip by him as a band director.
As his first order of the year's business, he will lead the marching band in eight performances, six of them at home and one each at K-State and Missouri.
For each performance Boberg estimates that he must spend at
least 40 hours planning and organizing before the band can even begin to rehearse.
"Ideas come from a mixture of inspiration and necessity," he said, but the biggest problem is combining the music and movements with the idea."
Even before the marching season ends, Boberg will be organizing a three day tour which will take the symphonic band over much of Kansas in February.
On tour and in concert at home he hopes to emphasize contemporary music much more than it has been in the past.
"We hope to perform works by many of the people who are trying to do the new music," he said.
SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR
SEPTEMBER 11 & 12
Boberg graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. and completed his graduate work at Illinois University and the Manhattan School of Music.
GODFREY CAMBRIDGE
"BYE BYE BRAVERMAN"
ALAN KING
Woodruff Aud., 7 & 9:30 p.m. - 60c "Can Six People Make it to a Funeral in a VW?"
Student Union Activities
Rhonda Plymate, as Annie Sullivan, and Dede Clark, as Helen turn in excellent, convincing performances.
Dede Clark gives a consistent portrayal of the afflicted Helen. Although she plays a grueling part and suffers much physical abuse at the hands of Annie, she at no time strays from using the characteristic groping, awkward actions.
Mary Jay Clough as Kate Keller provides the proper mixture of reticence and gentle persuasion expected of Southern gentlewomen of the late 1800's.
However, Steve Gilham, as Captain Keller, does not offer as consistent a performance. His booming directives to Kate and Annie seem incongruous when accompanied by small gestures and unchanged facial expression.
GEORGE
SEGAL
HOPE AWARD
SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR
NOMINATIONS DUE Fri., Sept. 11 Dean of Men's or Alumni Association Office
SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR
SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR
ALL THE BEER YOU CAN DRINK
$1.50
Wed., Sept. 16 8-12
Pizza Hut 23
College Republicans
member $.50
new member $1.50
Organizational Meeting
Monday, Sept.14 7:30
Kansas Union
LEATHER CHUKKA BOOT
the great knockabout casual with easy-on-the-feet cushion crepe sole. Easy on the eye with desert sand shag uppers. Sizes $ 6 \frac{1}{2} $ to 12. $ 9.99