KWSAN REVIEWS
PLAYS: 'Brodie' in her prime
By GENELLE RICHARDS Arts & Reviews Editor
"The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" by Jay Allen bursts on the stage to the sound of a bell and the lights of 1931, to entertain its audience to the fullest degree.
Jack Brooking, director, takes several great talents not unknown to KU audiences and casts them very suitably. Then the performers take their characters and develop each of them into a distinct person.
Judy Levitt as Jean Brodie gives an outstanding and complete performance. Her portrayal of the unconventional school teacher is convincing, highlighting the days of Miss Brodie's prime.
Although Mrs. Levitt gives an excellent performance, the show is practically stolen from her by four of "her girls."
Christine Brandt as the intelligent Sandy, Rebecca Balding as the pretty Jenny, Kathryn Reed as the happy, funny Monica and Valda Aviks as the alone-in-the-world Mary MacGregor all give fantastic, realistic performances.
Each girl is believable in age and manner showing characteristics of youth and maturity. One watches as the girls grow from 10 to 13 and then finally 16. During this time they change from giddy little girls writing letters about Miss Brodie and "her lovers" to young ladies facing the problems of maturity.
In showing this transition they each give excellent performances with their characters all completely individual and well developed.
John Green as Teddy Lloyd, an "Old flame" and Cheryl Burnet as Miss MacKay, the headmistress give very mature performances and are therefore most believable. Green, who has appeared in many plays at KU, gives one of his best performances outdoing them all, except possibly for "Summertree."
Excellent sets designed by James Hawes greatly add to the overall effect of the play. "Jean Brodie" is one of the finest examples of the use of stage area that has been seen in University Theatre. This is shown in the use of the revolving stage and the orchestra pit holding classroom seats.
Much credit is due to Brooking for a most enjoyable and superbly done production. With every play he directs one expects something extra special and gets it. "The Country Wife," in addition to this play, show that he has a fantastic imagination and much talent.
The play is full of good qualities which make it one that many are sure to enjoy. Therefore, everyone should see "Jean Brodie" in her prime.
CONCERTS:
More than satisfactory
By MONROE DODD Assistant Editorial Editor
The KU Symphony Orchestra is considered one of the best university orchestras in the Midwest and, except for some trouble with the violins, it did nothing to belie the notion at its concert Sunday afternoon.
Franz Schubert's "Symphony No. 7 in C Major" filled the first half of the program. It seemed a bit overlong, but that is not, of course, the orchestra's fault. The "Seventh" is one of Schubert's most difficult symphonies, especially for the violins. Throughout, the violins were rather poorly synchronized with the rest of the orchestra and the horns also had some difficulty with their attacks. However both sections improved as the concert progressed.
The woodwinds and especially the oboes performed the Schubert excellently. Their playing was the highlight of the afternoon
"Fantasy on Japanese Woodprints" by Alan Hovhaness featured George Boberg, assistant professor of percussion, in a virtuoso xylophone performance. Boberg's command of the instrument was well demonstrated in the dissonant piece. "Fantasy" employs some interesting improvisational sections in which the orchestra is given the pitches, but not the tempo. The sections may be played as fast or as slow as the individual performer desires, creating a mysterious quality which brings Oriental sounds to the western-style orchestra without making them seem to be purely for innovation's sake.
Igor Stravinsky's "Suite from 'The Firebird' " ended the program and was, the most exciting work of the afternoon. "The Firebird" was compressed by Stravinsky into a suite from parts of his original score to Michael Fokine's ballet.
Again, the woodwinds' performance was excellent, as were the trumpet solos. The horn solo at the beginning of the finale was precise and well-played.
The dynamics, in a constant state of flux in many parts of "The Firebird," were handled magnificently by the orchestra. Only at points in the "Infernal Dance" did the ensemble falter, when the brass played apart somewhat.
But the works selected by conductor George Lawner would have challenged many good professional symphonies. And the KU symphony's better-than-satisfactory performance of them Sunday was a definite indication of its ability.
The audience received the orchestra well, yet the crowd could have been larger. Students and faculty should give better support to an organization such as the KU Symphony, which well deserves it.
Mar. 16
1970 KANSAN 5
LIGHT SHOW, MOVIES AND BANDS—This program includes; Pig Newton and the Wizard, and Hiram Glutz and the Four Kaws-novskies.
Monday
On campus this week
PROKOFIEV QUARTET — (Chamber Music Series)—This quartet from Russia includes two violins, one viola and a cello. The program consists of: "Op. No. 1" by Haydn, "No. 8 in C Minor" by Shostakovitch and "No. 2 in A Minor" by Brahms.
"MYSTERIES OF THE DEEP"
and "PROWLERS OF THE
EVERGLADES" (Films of Fact)
BOOKS
THE STRUGGLE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST, by Walter Laqueur. Macmillan, $7.95. The Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East, already more than 40 years old, should give pause to those who feel the world's problems are fundamentally simple ones.
Making the Middle East situation even worse is the fact that the Arab countries have two assets eagerly coverted by both the United States and the Soviet Union: warm water ports on the Mediterranean, and oil,
Russia has been seeking a foothold in the Mediterranean since the days of the czars. The military failure of the Arab nations in 1947 and 1956, combined with the support of most Western nations for Israel, gave the Russians their first major opportunity.
The dangers of this gamble became clear in 1967, when the United States balanced on the edge of war with the Soviet Union after the Israeli attack on the U.S.S. Liberty, an electronic "spy" ship hovering off the Sinai Peninsula in order to listen to Israeli and Arab military conversations.
Walter Laqueur's book explains by Russian presence in the Middle East should be a cause for concern, without implying it is a cause for exaggerated alarm. An appendix of relevant documents makes the book especially useful.
HOW TO STUDY, by Harry Maddox (Premier, 75 cents)—A guide for the student, offering shortcuts—in the writer's view—to better grades. This probably should be read long before the student gets to the university.
and Fiction)—Two documentaries about animal life.
WILLIAM MASSELOS (KU Concert Course)—Performing on the piano, his program consists of: "First Piano Sonata" by Charles Ives, "Davidsbundlertanz" by Schumann and "Sonata in B Minor" by Liszt.
Tuesday
ROY SIEBER (Humanities Lecture Series)—Sieber is an art history scholar and chairman of the department of art at Indiana University. He will speak on "African Art: History and Context."
MARX BROTHERS DOUBLE BILL (Special Films)—"The Cocoanuts"—Insanity at a Florida hotel. Their first picture; 1929. "Monkey Business" — The four brothers are stowaways on a ship (1931).
Wednesday
"THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE" (Theatre production)— See review this page.
GERRE HANCOCK—Hancock appears in the spring semester guest organist series and will perform the works of: Couperin, Sweelinck, Bach, Reger and Kennan.
TWO AMERICAN DIRECTORS (Classical Series)—"Dawn Patrol"
—War action directed by Howard Hawks (1930). "Edge of the City"
—Realistic drama of racial conflict, directed by Martin Ritt and starring John Cassevettes and Sidney Poilier (1957). Each film shown once.
Thursday
DOUBLE BILL (KU Film Society)—"Son of the Shiek"—Rudolph Valentino in his most famous role (1926). "The White Shiek"—One of Fellini's first
films. A gentle comedy starring Alberto Sordi (1952).
SEX AND THE OLD UNDERGROUND (Special Films)—An attractive program of six pioneering underground epics, including Kenneth Anger's "Scorpio Rising" and Robert Nelson's "Oh, Dem Watermelons."
NANCY TOWNSEND—Singing soprano, Miss Townsend will give her senior recital.
"THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE" (threatre production)
—See review this page.
Peter Sellers &
Ringo Starr in
"The Magic Christian"
TECHNICOLOR*
Released by COMMONWEALTH UNITED
Matinee 2:30 Daily
Eve. 7:15 - 9:15
Varsity
THEATRE ... Telephone V1-1665
PANDO COMPANY in association with RAYBERT PRODUCTIONS presents
"A LYRIC, TRAGIC SONG OF THE ROAD! AN HISTORIC MOVIE!"
easy RideR
restricted
PETER FONDA • DENNIS HOPPER
JACK NICHOLSON • COLOR • Released by COLUMBIA PICTURES
Granada
THEATRE...Telephone 91-3-5780
NOW!
Adults 1.50
Eve. 7:15 - 9:15
Box Office Opens 5:00
University of Kansas Theatre
presents
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
by Jay Allen
Adopted from the novel by Muriel Spark
MARCH 13,14,18,19,20 For Tickets Call UN 4-3982 Current registration card admits to $1.40 seat
University Theatre --- Murphy Hall