Monday, October 20, 1975
5
Play production delightful
By IAN KENNETH LOUDEN
Lawrence—Buffalo Bill's Wild West Battle of the Sexes premiered in the University Theatre Friday night in the form of "Annie Get Your Gun."
Backed by a strong Irving Berlin score, Annie Oakley, alias Rhonda Plymate, and Frank Butler, alias William Ginkgo, took 20 paces, turned and fired up some of the finest music ever heard on a University stage.
After the smoke cleared, there was one winner—the audience.
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The cast is small, about 30 people, and the plot is old. But when a play has a talent like Plymate, whose timing and deliverance is great, the audience learns they were new, and good songs sound better.
With an overpowering range and personality, Plymate just does what comes naturally and stole every scene she was in. She can be sneaky; she can't go wrong. She's brassy and smart.
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Plymate's Annie comes on the stage like an uninhibited, little Diana with a gun instead of a bow. Consistently boyish, yet pert and pretty, Annie gives the audience a fresh look away from the worries of women's lib.
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She gets her man with a gun—not with affirmative action. (Sorry girls.)
Plymate is well-backed by Gilmansky, who sounds especially good singing ballads, notably "The Girl That I Marry" and "My Defenses are Down." As improbable as it seems, Frank Butler falls for Annie. Gilmansky is believable through the entire
Review
transition from Annie's opponent to Annie's beau. And he stays consistently in character as the romantic, pragmatic, proud man, who doesn't have to admit Annie is a better
"Annie Get Your Gun" is a whimsical play. It's pure enjoyment, and one need not give much thought to how relevant to important it is. The actors are characters in the true sense of the word. Beth Leonard as Dolly Tate is a invole. kluvzy folle to Anne.
Tom Rea stands out as chief Sitting Bull. Al Lata does credit to Buffalo Bill, and William Keeler makes a good shyster out of his role as Charlie Davenport.
The whole cast is good, and Stage Director Joe Watson doesn't let the actors lose pace for a second. The blocking is good, though unoriginal. But considering the small production *so* the it is effective. *Same blind* are always the center of attention.
Bennett requests account of off-campus programs
Governor Robert F. Bennett has requested detailed information about University of Kansas off-campus educational programs by Nov. 1.
S. A. Meriwether's setting is great and practical. It consists of billboards and movable fixtures that can be quickly moved without distracting the audience from the actors. Charles Lewn's lighting and Chez Maha'n's fine costumes complement the set.
In a memorandum dated Oct. 9, Bennett requested information on the location of all off-campus programs, a comprehensive list of locations, and information about each course, the total cost at each location and information on any specific plans to expand programs or to create new ones. He said he wanted the information to be used in budget recommendations for fiscal 1977.
George Lawner's musical direction is good, but to be perfectly honest it can't go too far. "Acoustic songs including 'I'm a Bad, Bad Man,' 'Doin' What Comes Naturly.' 'You Can't Get a Man with a gun,' 'There's an Owner of the House' and 'I Got the Sam in the Morning.'"
Ron Calgaard, vice chancellor for academic affairs, said yesterday he had been involved in the project.
"The information the Governor will receive will probably be completed in 25 days."
He said the memo was unclear because no time periods were mentioned.
The Regents voted Friday to study the entire continuing education system.
Calgaard said he expected to have complete cost and revenue details by midweek. The Board of Regents already had course listing and locations, he said.
Calgaard said that the largest expansion had occurred in three areas: Leavenworth, Topeka and Johnson and Wyandotte counties.
"This fall we are offering 130 off-campus resident credit hours," Calgaard told SenEx members Friday. "A significant expansion of the off-campus credit program."
The Capital Complex Program in Topela offers seven courses, according to Marvin Harder, director. He said that the total enrollment was about 100. The staff includes Dr. Walter Menninger, who teaches a course on civil disorder, and Dr. Bill Roy, who teaches a course on public health policy, Harder said.
In Leavenworth, KU offers lower-division undergraduate courses to inmates at the U.S. federal penitentiary. Calgair said there will be an increase in the Leavenworth program would expand.
At the meeting, Calgaard also discussed the University of Mid-America (UMA), whose members are KU, Kansas State University, The University of Nebraska, the University of Missouri and Iowa State University.
Annie and Frank are a lot of fun in their duets, "Old Fashioned Wedding," and "Anything You Can Do," during which Annie overpowers Frank physically, vocally and romantically. But that's the way it's supposed to be.
Calgaard said that UMA had received $1.3 million from the National Institute of Education to develop programs to meet specific needs, such as short courses for nurses seeking recertification, and needs of educators as a source of funding public radio and television.
The dance numbers, with the exception of "Ceremonial Dance," the Indian number, are a bit disappointing. The choreography is hard to stodgy and the dance steps are simple. The structure is too symmetrical, and the viewer keeps hoping for something original to happen. The dancers are often in high spirits and enthusiasm that marked the success of the舞 numbers in this summer's production of "Oklahoma!"
However, the Indain dance is original and makes effective use of lighting to keep the atmosphere upbeat.
Other grants received by UMA include $800,000 from the Ford Foundation, $100,000 from the Exxon Foundation, and $150,000 from the Lily Foundation, Calgaard said.
A production with the potential of "Annie Get Your Gun" can seldom go wrong. When that potential is realized by a director and actors as in the KU production, it is a hit. The play is a combination of old-fashioned fun and never-dealing delight shining with professional polish. There are three more performances; they deserve to be sell outs.
Riding Instructions HUNT-SEAT-WESTERN-SADDLE-SEAT—POLO
University Horse & Training Center 2 miles west on Highway 40 Open everyday 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m
Boarding Facilities Indoor Arena Call 843-4646 Visitors Welcome
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Q NO.9
Offers Reward
In 1924 I attended my first farm protest meeting. World War I had ended and farm prices, along with land values had plunged downward, leaving many farmers in dire financial troubles. In the past fifty years I have attended many such farm meetings. Always are the farmers getting together to find some way to gain parity with the rest of America. Our Congress has long wrestled with this problem and it has been deluged with oodles of books and scads of articles on the farm problem.
Today many farmers are again facing financial ruin for the cattlemen have lost more than twenty billion dollars with no end of this economic bleeding in sight.
In order to promote economic studies I offer a hundred dollar reward to anyone who can give us the answer to the farm problem.
Fred Obermeier Paola, Kansas
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Goes to faculty or staff that have done a great deal of service for the University.
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Please call nominations into Student Senate office (864-3710). Awards will be given at Higher Education Banquet on November 16.
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