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University Daily Kansan, September 29, 1981
Spare Time
Boston puppeteer's creation no dummy
By DIANE MAKOVSKY
Staff Reporter
Ratso Philadelphia Louise was born in Philadelphia and openly admits that his ethnic pride
Sunday night at the Lawrence School of Ballet, Ratso, a rod puppet, performed with his creator, Giff Booth; a local dancer, Marsha Paludan; and vibranbistr. Grace Mackender.
The audience of about 50 people was charmed by Ratso's renditions of "Kansas City," "I Can't Give You Anything but Love," "As Time Goes By," and "Your Feet's Too Big," which described a complaint Ratso had about one of his former girlfriends.
"I do puppet shows for adults" pupteeter interview afternoon outside of Waco Hall
Booth, a 1978 KU graduate, is back in Lawrence for three months sculpting large puppets for a series of 10 theater pieces based on the works of Elegian, 10 elegies about the plight of man.
Friday, Booth said that as an artist, "You're making something. There is something you want to express.
"And you're expressing it honestly. That's all it takes."
Booth, who started his career in theater as a pantomimist, gave it up, he said, because he
"Actually, I lost interest in it," he said. "I also wanted to talk."
RATSO came to him in a dream, he said.
"I'm a painter, I'm a sculptor. My line is that I work in theater and right now I'm doing puppets," Ratoo said. Ratso and Booth's other puppets, some 10 feet tall, let him use all his
Ratsio is not trying to mimic braids, Booth said. "He really does pass those (racial)
Ratsos' voice is modeled after that of an employee who worked for Booth when he managed a restaurant in Boston, his home. The first time Ratsos saw him perform, the first time he saw him perform. Booth said.
AND THE $YEAR-OLD women in a lower income suburb of Boston also loved Ratio,
Ratso, when asked about his philosophy of life,
said "a minute . . . why worry. Just be happy."
Booth's philosophy on life?
"One thing I think, everyone wants to love and be loved," he said.
BOOTH WILL be in Lawrence until December, sculpting his puppets. He is planning to perform with Ratso, Mackender and Paludan again. No specific dates have been scheduled.
The performance was emceed by Ratsop, but it was a cohesive arrangement of music, dance and sound.
Paludan spends 50 percent of her time touring and teaching, she said, including a summer workshop in Vermont that she has taught for the past six years.
Ratspo rsep first and later introduced Booth, who, he said, was not a ventriloquist.
"And that just goes to prove that I'm no dummy," he said.
Quintet members set example by performing
By CYNTHIA HRENCHIB
Staff Reporter
Not many students can name a KU musical group composed entirely of faculty. Even fewer know that this group is scheduled to perform 50 concerts per year, yet will spend only 16 days participating weekly.
Traveling throughout the state, the Kansas Brass Quintet may perform before an entire community, or entertain a group of students from the fifth grade through high school.
The quintet returned late last Tuesday from a three-day tour to Logan County, in northwest Kansas, but everyone was seated in David Bushouse's office in Murphy Hall, ready to practice their usual three hours on Wednesday morning.
“It’s important to the students that we are active performers.” Bushue said. “It’s a good example. Students now have formed their own teams and organize it themselves and they buy the music.”
Roger Stoner, the quintet's leader, has played lead trumpet for nine years. The only remaining charter member, David Bushouse, plays horn and has been in the group 13 years.
Stephen Anderson, trombone, has been a
member for five years, and Scott Watson, tuba,
has been in the group for three years.
Tijuana Julian, instructor of music performance, recently became the group's newest addition. She plays the trumpet and is the first woman to join the Brass Quintet.
"I auditioned for the quintet last year," Julian said. "I've played for only a month with everybody, but so far, it has been a really positive experience."
"Because of my instrument," she said, "most of my colleagues always have been men, so this has been no big change. But the group has tried to help me and make me feel comfortable."
The group was organized in 1969, but according to Bushole, it really began to work three years
"We started to really try to find the funds and bookings," he said. "It took a decision from the senior members to be active, and then to find two new members that could be as active."
The quintet must set up its own concert arrangements. This includes not only finding someone who wants the group to play, but also contributing to the contribution of the Kansas Art Commission.
"The Commission will furnish half the funds for a concert," Bushue said. "But they have to make it happen."
other half. Sometimes the schools come up with the money, or the teachers have the funds to cover it.
Its audience always varying, the group has learned ways of controlling crowds.
"We try to demand respect," Bushouse said. "I don't play until the audience has quieted down."
"We talk between numbers, explaining the song, or telling them the meaning behind it," he said.
Watson, the tuba player, agreed. He added the quintet tried not only to play, but also to put on a
The Brass Quintet is now planning for its next performance, a faculty recital. Following this closely will be performances called Thursday Interludes, sponsored by the Lawrence Society for Chamber Music. In addition to teaching, this all will add to a busy schedule.
"I'm basically a ham," Watson said. "This is outlet for me, where I can get it all of my way."
He was happy with a situation of performing without the stress of a solo recital.
"There is more of a give-and-take in what we are doing," Watson said. "We not only play, we do."
Group makes productions of opening nights
'Our speakers are usually faculty members, someone from the theater department who can
First Nighters is an informal organization of theater fans who meet five times a year to attend the opening night of major University Theatre productions. They meet for a catered buffet in the Kansas Union, listen to a guest speaker and attend the play.
provide information and an inside look at that evening's play," said Janet Mody, co-chairman of the organization.
For some, attending a University theatre play can be a last minute idea or an alternative to movies, but one group in Lawrence makes it a carefully planned production.
"It's not a really young crowd," she said.
First Nights had 211 members last year, first between town people and university students, then all at the same time.
The group includes people in their 20's, and retired faculty members.
"We have one thing in common—an interest in theater," heebsed.
Season tickets for the University Theatre Series are $23.50 and each dinner is $8. Some of the members' benefits are a discount on their tickets and free transportation from the theater to the play. Faculty and retired faculty get tickets free and the dinner is optional, Mody said.
day they go on sale, and usually gets "front and center seats" . Moved up.
First Nighters will meet October 15 for the opening night of *Dracula*. Anyone interested in joining should contact Janet or Bill Mody before Friday at 841-5511.
The group buys its tickets in a block, the first
Boston puppeteer Giff Booth clowns with his sidekick Ratso Philadelphia Louise EARL RICHARDSON/Kansas Stall
on campus
TODAY
THE BIBLICAL SEMINAR will begin at 7 p.m.
in the FORMAL CHEMISTRY Ministry, Munich.
MORNING AND EVENING ROSH HASH-ANAH SERVICES, sponsored by Hilfill, will be at 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Lawrence Jewish Community Center, 917 Highland.
TAU SIGMA STUDENT DANCE CLUB will meet at 7 p.m. in Room 242 Robinson Center.
THE CAMPUS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
at 7:30
r-bm in Parkview for Kappa Gamma
THE LINGUISTICUS COLLOQUY, on "Causas
of the Apparitions," will begin at 8 p.m. in Room
202 F.R.A.M.
PHILOSOPHY LECTURE, by Norman Malcolm, Cornell University professor of philosophy, on "Consciousness: The Subjective in the International Room of the Union."
THE DEATH AND DYING SUPPORT
GROUP
St. Lawrence St.
Lawrence Catholic center, 181st Crescent Street
TOMORROW
will begin at 7:45 a.m. in the Ecumenical Christian Ministries Center.
THE CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER SESSION
STUDENTS CONCERNED WITH DISABILITIES will sponsor a lecture by Beatrice Wright, KU professor of psychology, and Jan McKown, top member, at 4 p.m. in the Pine Room of the Uoho.
THE UNIVERSITY FORUM will feature Gerald Garp, president of Haskell Indian Junior College, lecturing on "Haskell and KU," at 11:45 a.m. in the Ecumenical Christian Ministries Center.
THE NEW LIFE STUDENT FELLOWSHIP
study at 7 p.m. in the Forum
Room of the Room
THE DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS CLUB will meet at 7 p.m. in the Trail Room of the Union.
JAMES MOESER, dean of the School of Fine Arts and organist, will perform a faculty recital at 8 p.m. in the Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont St.
The University Daily Kansan welcomes announcements about events on campus or sponsored by campus organizations that are free and accessible. Students are encouraged to the Kansen newsroom, 11 Flint Hall.
PLAZA MUSEUMS
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Tuesday, Sept. 29 The Blue Max
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Wednesday, Sept. 30
Sunrise
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The Passion of Joan
of Arc
Two great silent films. Sunrise is a beautifully photographed, brilliantly told story of a farmer driven by another man, Brennan, Janey Gaynor, Margaret Livingston, directed by F.W. Murua (The Last Laugh), "Trumph of direction, Mr. Brode
1307 Mass. phone: 843-1151
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TEA ROOM
1307 Mary phone 842 1591
Tickets on sale at the Murphy Hall box office.
9137 areas reserved. For reservations call.
9137-826-4000.
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