Thursday, Oct. 17, 1985
Thursday Features
University Daily Kansan
7
Fascination develops into play
'Chambers' more than play on words
By Theresa Scott Of the Kansan staff
Chambers - bedrooms in a house; parts of a heart; a play by Paul Stephen Lim.
The world premiere of "Chambers: A Recreation in Four Parts," written by Paul Stephen Kim, a KU graduate and lecturer of Lawman's Oct. 24 at the Lawrence Community College, 15th and New Hampshire streets.
Lim, 41, a native of the Philippines, said an intrigue of words and a personal irritation he had with society inspired him to produce the play.
"I am intrigued by words," Lim said, "and I was intrigued by chambers. The different parts of the heart are chambers and chambers are bedrooms, so there are bedrooms of the heart."
"I was upset, and I continue to be upset, about how older artists are treated in society," Lim said. "Society is into the flavor of the limestone syndrome. Artists are given accolades and are taken into gods. Then they are discharged."
Lim said that many lauded artists, such as Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Norman Mailer and Edward Albee, were forgotten by society.
"The egalitarian society feels guilty about raising artists to the status of gods and goddesses," Lim said, "so they point out that the artists have feet of clay."
The irritation also played a part in producing the play.
'I am intrigued by words and I was intrigued by chambers. The different parts of the heart are chambers and chambers are bedrooms, so there are bedrooms of the heart.'
-- Paul Stephen Lim playwright
Lim said that this irritated him because old Filipino artists were treated as if they were national treasures.
Lim said he left the Philippines in 1963 when he thought his homeland was moving further away from American colonial traditions and the English language was deteriorating there.
He said he came to the United States because of Filippino historical ties and his desire to write in English.
Lim began studying at the University of Kansas in January 1969 and earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1970 and a master's degree in English. He now teaches fiction writing and more lower-level English classes.
Although Lim said he liked living in Lawrence because of diversions in the town, he said these diversions were not overwhelming. He said he went to New York City two or three times a year to replenish his reservoir of knowledge and to catch up
on what was going on. Then, he said, he returns to Lawrence to sort it all out.
Lim uses his new-found knowledge to write plays, short stories and poetry. He said play writing was his favorite.
"Play writing gives you instant gratification," he said. "The crowd reaction is the instant payoff or instant rejection.
"With a story or a novel, you never know who the reader is and they rarely write to tell you whether they liked or disliked it."
Lim has had five plays published "Consponsors: A Recreation in Two Acts" was performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in 1976. Two of his plays have been performed off Broadway in New York — "Woeman: A Play in Two Acts" in 1982 and "Flesh, Flash and Frank Harris: A Recreation in Two Acts" in 1983 and 1984.
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Liam said he would be watching audience reaction to the play very carefully.
"It's never been done," he said. "It's quite exciting to find out what will happen once an audience is put in front of it."
Lam said he thought production of the play was in good shape because the actors knew their lines and their characters.
"I will sift the feedback," he said.
"You can't accept everything people say. I'll have to choose and reject and see if I want to incorporate anything more into the play."
Iam said he didn't know yet whether he would like "Chambers" after it was performed
However, Lim said he thought there were some disadvantages to writing plays instead of books.
ephemeral. It's not solid — you can't touch it, kick it or smell it like a book. You can't throw it across the room. Plays exist in your memory."
The play will open Oct. 24 at the Lawrence Community Theatre and will be performed Oct. 25 and 26 and Nov. 1, 2 and 3. The play is in two acts and lasts about two hours.
"Those in the theater are all a little crazy," Lim said. "There is so much work put into something so
"I have a lot of plays cooking in my head," he said. "I just have them on the back burner for the moment."
Lim said he planned on writing more plays in the future.
"It's kind of a fun weekend, the trees are really pretty," said Eileen Gifford. Overland Park University and Baker University for two years.
The event will be held this Saturday and Sunday in Baldwin City, about 19 miles southeast of Lawrence.
C. R. Witley, Ivan Boyd, and Charles Doudna created the festival in 1957. It now draws nearly 20,000 visitors to its historical attractions, parade, carnival, entertainment and displays.
By Abbie Jones Special to the Kansan
Castle Museum, which was the first building built for Baker University, and Parmenter Hall, which received a $100 donation from Abraham Lincoln for its construction and another $100 from Gerald Ford for its renovation in 1970.
"It's a lot of fun for the students too. It's definitely the biggest deal for the town."
Most Baker University fraternities and sororites and many Baldwin City residents will have booths where they will sell food, crafts and jewelry along the main street.
It's the annual Maple Leaf Festival. It was started 28 years ago by two Baker University professors and a businessman who could do more for those who visited the campus so scattered autumn maple leaves.
"The maple trees are the prettiest I think I've ever seen. It's worth your trip to Baldwin to see it," she said.
Thousands of people will soon invade the scenic little town of Baldwin City to see the sights and celebrate autumn — all in the spirit of the maple leaf.
Tours around the area will feature about 59 historic sites, said Loren Litteer, vice chairman of the festival.
"Natural beauty is the central theme now. The history is just an added attraction," he said.
Katharine Kelley, 76, a longtime Baldwin City resident, has never missed a festival. She said the town has never looked better or drawn as many exhibitors.
This weekend's activities include a seven-mile run beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday and airplane rides from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Some sights will include the Old
Maples to draw visitors
Baldwin City's post office, which sits on the Santa Fe Trail, also will be featured, Littee said.
"The musical "Paint Your Wagon" will be performed at 7:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Rice Auditorium at Baker University. This musical will replace the traditional Maple Leaf Festival production of "Battle of the Blackjack."
Visitors can participate in a square dance from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday in the Baker University gymnasium, and the parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday. Also on display will be quilts and a collection of rare Bibles.
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