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Children's Theatre Makes State Tour
Eight cast members, a backstage crew, and a director have been touring Salina, Topeka and Kansas City, Mo., the past two weeks to show the children of the University Children's Theatre the latest play.
The play, "Johnny Moonbeam and the Silver Arrow," was performed at KU about a month ago and has had considerable success on the tour, according to Jed Davis, associate professor of Speech and Drama and director of the Children's Theatre.
Tuesday, March 30, 1965 University Daily Kansan
He said the children were very attentive throughout the performance, although they were excited about the fighting in the play.
"Their reaction was rather surprising," Davis said, "I did not know how they would take the play—I had never done anything like this play before—and I was surprised they could absorb the conflict in the play."
The play represents an Indian boy, who, in order to be initiated into the tribe, has to pass three stern tests: he has to steal fire, water and corn from their respective gods. He succeeds in doing this, but returns the power back to them so that the whole of mankind can profit of these gifts.
Burt Eikleberry, Lawrence graduate, who plays the part of the narrator, agreed the show had been a success. The cast gave two performances in both Salina and Topeka, and five in Kansas City. He mentioned that in the Kansas City Music Hall the audience had reached about 2,000 several times.
Prof. Davis mentioned the theatres were not completely filled each time, and he ascribed this to the title of the play, which is not as attractive as, for instance, "Peter Pan."
About playing before these audiences, Eikleberry said. "Each audience is different. Each time we gave the show, it was a different show." For instance, in Kansas City one audience clapped after each of Johnny Moonbeam's fights with the gods. One crowd yelled.
Before one performance in Kansas City, a teacher had given an introduction to the play. She had said the play was about Indians. When Eikleberry opened the play by entering in his backwoodsman outfit, one little girl on the front row indignantly cried out, "But that's not an Indian."
At the same show, Steve Grossman, Glencoe, Ill., freshman, playing the part of Johnny Moonbeam, lost his wig in the middle of his fight with the Fire god. In another show, his tomahawk fell off the stage, but it was retrieved by a little boy in the front.
Eikleberry also mentioned that in one of the Kansas City papers the show had been advertised as "Johnny Moonbeam and the Silver Spoon." Curtain time was given as 10 instead of 1:30 in the afternoon. It did not hurt attendance that afternoon, though.
The cast will go to Wichita this weekend to give their last performances of the show.
Students of life and affairs in Russia and eastern Europe will meet at KU April 9-10 for the 1965 Midwest Slavic Conference.
Slavic Conference Scheduled in April
Two conference lectures, 16 papers and several panel discussions will form the two-day program.
Lecturers will be Prof. Maximilan Braun of Goettingem University, Germany, on "Dostoevsky: Artist or Philosopher," and Prof. Richard Lowenthal, Free University of Berlin, on "State Relations and Party Relations in the Sino-Soviet Dispute." The two lectures will be open to the public at 8 p.m., Friday, April 9, in the Forum Room of the Kansas Union.
Professor Lowenthal was an international journalist before concentrating on scholarly work. Since 1961 he has filled the chair of international relations at the Free University of Berlin, and is now on leave to serve with the Research Institute of Communist Affairs at Columbia University.
Dr. Herbert J. Ellison, chairman of the Slavic and Soviet Area Studies program at KU, is conference chairman.
Is God interested in or involved with individual people? Popular opinion says no, the Bible says yes. Which is right?
But that's not true!
or is it?
Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship encourages you to make your opinion an informed one—from both sides.
Bible exposition tonight at 7:00 in the Pine Room of the Union.
Modern Orient Becomes Panel Topic
Professor George Totten, associate professor of political science at the University of Rhode Island, and Professor Lucien Bianco, head of the department of economics and social science at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris are visiting
KU to conduct a panel discussion.
KU to conduct a panel discussion. The discussion on "Radicalism in Modern China and Japan" will be at 7:30 p.m. today in Dveche Auditorium. The panel is being sponsored by KU's East Asian Committee and Department of Political Science.
TIGERS FOR SALE
Yes, Stanley Pontiac-Cadillac now has the latest TIGERS from the jungles of Detroit. The new Wide-Track Tigers GTO, LeMans, and Tempest. These cars are every bit as exciting and beautiful as their African counterparts. We cordially invite you to come in and test drive a 1965 Pontiac-designated as Car of the Year by Motor Trend Magazine.
SEE US BEFORE YOU BUY
Stanley Pontiac-Cadillac
1040 Vermont
VI3-5200
UNIVERSITY EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE SERIES
presents JOHN DOS PASSOS'
MARCH 25,26,27
"U. S. A."
MARCH 30,31,APRIL 1,2,3
Tickets: $1.50 — .75 with KU ID
0112
JUICY FRESH & SOFT