The people say...
Revue controversy swirls
This year's production of Rock Chalk is the fourth such presentation that I have seen, having previously seen the 1994 - 1966 Reuves. In this span of time I have not seen a performance which was as professionally done and as delightful as this years winning skit. It is for that reason that both articles in Tuesday's paper offended me although I have no personal interests involved.
A little inquiring quickly shows that the arguments presented Tuesday were based on something other than facts.
- The AKL's had permission to construct their sets well in advance of Rock Chalk as did the Petas who also used 3 dimensional sets.
It is interesting that the choreography was the same as the "ones used in their (AKL) skit two years ago with the Alpha Phi's," because all the choreography was done by a transfer student who had never seen a Rock Chalk show before.
The Best Actress award went to Cindy Earp because she simply did an outstanding job. It is also of interest to note that the award itself reads "Outstanding Female Performance," not best actress and Miss Earp certainly qualified.
- One of the timers was a AKL but there were three timers, one of which was a Chi Omega who would have certainly noticed any attempted false reporting.
- The Alpha Chi's made over 30 of the 40 costumes used. The only ones which they did not make were the ones which were entirely unfeasable, i.e., the elephant costume, the bear costume, etc.
Take-offs appear throughout any skit as was seen in the Delta Chi adaptation of President Johnson and "Dogpatch" and the Chi Omega's usage of Alice in Wonderland. I suggest that before Miss Petering again claims that the AKL's plagiarized "Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd." she too, had better recheck the validity of such an accusation,
perhaps after her emotional involvement wears off.
Of course, it is my personal opinion, but I feel the finest performance of the Revue went entirely unrewarded when Wes Payne, the AKL male lead didn't receive the "Outstanding Male Performance" award.
The whole thing reminds me of all the criticism the Yankees underwent in their hey-days, when to play against them was almost an automatic loss. People knocked, ridiculed, and envied them and yet there was really no contesting that they were superior to the other teams. Since the final results were all personal opinions of the judges this matter can never be settled as easily as a baseball game, but it does seem to me that the individuals involved should quit feeling sorry for themselves and recognize the AKL-AXO skit as the sparkling, entertaining, well produced show that it was.
Steve Abrams Prairie Village junior
To the Editor:
Since the Producer of the Rock Chalk Revue, Will Price, is out of town. I would like to add a little light to the discussion of Rock Chalk Revue awards which began with some heat in Tuesday's Kansan.
The awards were made on the basis of the opinions of eighteen judges, six each on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. All were asked to rate the skins on "overall effect" with special attention to "humor." and to "give a first and second place" for the "outstanding script," the "outstanding male performer," and the "outstanding female performer." The terms I have quoted in this paragraph are from the ballots which were in the judges' hands.
ONE ELEMENT COMMON to both letters in Tuesday's paper was their unhappiness over who was considered the Best Actress because she sang more than she acted. Nowhere in the Revue Directories Guide, on the judges' ballots nor in the UDK report on the awards is the term "Best Actress" used but rather "outstanding female performer" and "outstanding female performance" were all that appeared.
The judges include some members of the faculty of the University of Kansas, a number of experienced theatre people from Kansas City, Topeka, Newton and Wichita, and, for the first time
some KU students. The judges were selected for their competence and integrity.
I have seen seven Rock Chalk Revues. Never has there been a time when all the judges agreed in their ratings of the skits. The Revue has always engendered strong feelings in many students and various allegations have been hurled at it. The KU-Y is eager to make the conditions of the judging known to the readers of the UDK. I have not tried to answer or comment upon all the points included in the letters by Betsy Petering and Name Withheld by request. Perhaps Will Price will do so when he gets back to Lawrence.
Tom Moore.
Executive Secretary
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- Only four of the costumes for the AKL skit were rented. None of the major characters wore rented costumes.
- The choreographer for the winning skit was a transfer student who had never seen a Revue before, nor had she seen the facilities at Hoch Auditorium.
- To the Editor:
- The Alpha Kappa Lambda sets were three-dimensional. And so were the Sigma Phi Epsilon-Chi Omega's toadstool and tree.
- I had the opportunity and honor of working with the production staff of Rock Chalk '67. That someone who will not even identify himself should infer that the Revue was "fixed" is not only irritating, but wholly untrue. Therefore, I shall answer every argument presented by the anonymous writer:
- According to judging standards, the skis are timed with three stop watches and must go over on all three to be penalized. On one night, all four skits went over on all three stop watches.
- The microphones were controlled by a single B & G man who had sole authority over their use.
- The "Best Actress" trophy is, in actuality, presented to the "Best Female Performer." Performing includes both singing and acting.
- It is entirely out of order for anyone to call Rock Chalk "fixed," especially someone not courageous enough to sign his (or her) name. It sounds suspiciously like a case of "sour grapes" on the part of a losing team.
- Only two music majors and one theater major are members of Alpha Kapna Lambda.
Obviously signed,
Renetta Engles
Ottawa freshman
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2
Daily Kansan editorial page Wednesday, March 8, 1967
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