University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, August 20, 1975
3
Couple stages kids' plays
By LYNN PEARSON
Kansas Staff Reporter
When Ric Averil writes and produces a play, his wife, Jeanne, directs it. When Ric writes the musical score for a song, Jeanne often writes the lyrics. They both act, do commentation, and perform in the Arts Center's Theater for the Lawrence Arts Center at 9th and Vermont streets.
Until January, Jerry, Jeanne and several friends ran the Meade Hall, a players theater, above the Jenkins Music Store on Massachusetts Street. They also were part of the Kaw Lake Valley School and operated the Kaw Valley School of Arts and Crafts, which disbanded in 1874.
"IHAD ALWAYS had this idea of starting a cultural arts center in Lawrence," said Ric. "But I had originally planned to go to graduate school at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, then come back to Lawrence."
Some artist friends, Bernie Baker and Sandy Dale, were eager to get the cultural center started in 1973, so Riac abandoned the graduate school idea and got started planning the Kaw Valley School of Arts and Crafts, which eventually offered a six-week course in almost every aspect of drama, arts, crafts and other creative skills.
In the summer and fall of 1973, the school was doing well, with about 70 students enrolled in each of the three sessions offered. But Baker left Lawrence and Ric said some of the energy went out of the project. The rest stayed in private lessons numbered students wanting private lessons remained steady but didn't bring in enough money to sustain the cadre of artisans.
"OUR IDEA WITH THE Meade Hall was that it would be easy to do children's theater and that it would bring in money." Ric said. "We've found that children's theater is much harder to do, but is more fun and more challenging than adult theater."
Ric wrote many of the plays that were produced at the Meade Hall. Perhaps the most well-known character that he's created is Nyfrm the Sprite. He created 20 years ago, but last two years. There are conflicting stories about the creation of the character.
Jeanne said that when she and Ric began to do children's theater they couldn't find plays that weren't trite. And there was no children's drama with female heroes.
"You just can't find a children's play that isn't filled with sexism." Jeanne said.
RIC HAS A DIFFERENT version. He said that one day when he was teaching at Loren School he was having difficulty coming up with a story for the kids. He said he felt like someone was watching him all day.
"Then out of flashing red, gold and blue lights came a Walt Disney sorceress," he continued. "I couldn't understand what she was saying, but she cast a spell on me so that I could understand hurl language and we began to communicate easily.
"THE SOLD ME THAT life on the planet Synton was dying and that Bim Bane the Scholar had written down the history of them. They didn't want the stove to be lost."
The sorceress left Ric a pile of scroops that detailed the life of the heroe Nyrm and he simply translates each scroll into play-form once a month.
So far Ric has translated the first two years of Nymf's life. She spent her first year rescuing her father from Marihek the evil sorcerer. She's triumphed over Crynall and she had escaped seven deserts. She barely escaped beheading and all other manner of horrors.
IN THE FALL, Nyfrm will have her second confrontation with Marishek. She has to get back to her native land that Marishek lives in womples that Marishek is coming back.
Children and parents can keep current with the Nyrfm's adventures by going to the Children's Theatre every Saturday afternoon at the Lawrence Arts Center.
In addition to children's theater productions, Ric, Jeanne and their associate Jeff Dearinger have put together productions of "Deuvinger," an old west melodrama; the Mummy, a mummy in attire ("Fairy Tales"; and a series of Christmas vignettes. These productions were all done at the Meade Hall.
Although the Meade Hall no longer exists
as a place, it still exists as a corporation. The group does specials, especially vaudeville numbers, for conventions, theatrical and organizations throughout Kansas.
BOTH JEANNE AND RIC are slowly working toward master's degrees in theater at the University. Ric has had one year of graduate work in electronic music as well. Jeanne works for the Lawrence Arts Center as bassist as director of the Children's Theatre.
Rie's major occupation this summer has been playing the rock organ music that accompanies Dale Easton's "The Apple Valley Farm." Playing weekly at the Apple Valley Farm.
Since the Averill's son, Willie, was born a race ago, Rie has had to adjust his regular wear.
"I usually do my best work in the early mornings," Ric said. "But now the best time is Wille's nap time or whenever I can squeeze in a few hours' work."
This summer Ric has been staying home with Wille while Jeanne works at the arts.
"IT USUALLY TAKES ME about three hours to write a 20-minute play," Ric said. "That compes to about seven pages of script."
Jeanne said that once the script is written, the actors give it form and substance. He compiles his scripts in book form, but is trying to rewrite them as they were performed.
The Averilis are planning to take the month of August off to rethink, regroup and make changes in their children's theater productions.
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