'Jean Brodie' appears unconventional
By MARILYN McMULLEN
Kansan Sports Writer
"The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" is a play about a teacher whose methods are, to say the least unconventional. The play opens March 13 in University Theatre and runs March 14 and 18-20.
According to director Jack Brooking, professor of speech and drama, the play is a character study of Jean Brodie and depicts her effect on the lives of people around her. Jean Brodie, played by Judy Levitt, San Clemente, Calif., graduate student, considers herself to be in her prime, sexually and mentally. She views herself as an actress, and becomes
the leader of a personality cult
the leader of a personality cult.
The action takes place in Scotland and spans a period of seven years, from 1931 to 1938. Jean, who teaches in a private girls' school, attempts to mold "my girls" into the "creme de la creme" of society.
Her rejection of reality and search for happiness through illusion from the theme of the play. Her influence on her girls' lives is examined. It asks whether Jean Brodie was good for the girls, or whether her illusions were dangerous.
The play was adapted by Jay Allen from a novel by Muriel Spark. It appeared on Broadway during the 1967-68 season.
On campus this week
Monday
RALPH NADER—This famous author of "Unsafe at Any Speed" should present an interesting lecture that many won't want to miss.
MIHAILO MARKOVIC — The topic of the speech will be "Philosophy in Yugoslavia" by this professor of philosophy at the University of Belgrade.
UNIVERSITY STRING QUARTET—From the Faculty Recital Series will be performances by Howard Boyajian, violin; Karel Blaas, viola; Paul Todd, violin; and Rayomad Stuhl, cello, assisted by Charles Hoag, double bass; and Stephen Smith, piano.
"TUTAKHAMEN: THE IMMORTAL PARHOA" "WHY MAN CREATES SYMMTRY" (Films of Fact and Fiction)—For those who are seeking something different and exciting, maybe this is what you're looking for.
Tuesday
"The INNOCENTS" (Special Film Series)-This film was made in 1951 by Jack Clayton and is presented in the Evil Children Series. The short for the night is Shirley Temple in "Managed Money."
Wednesday
"RED DUST" (Classical Film Series)—An American film made in 1932, it was done by Victor Fleming.
Thursday
"EXTERMATING ANGEL"—From Mexico with English subtitles, this film also calls itself "Guess Who Can't Go Home From Dinner" following in the footsteps of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."
"VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED"
(Special Film Series)—Ending the
Evil Children Series, is this film
by Wolf Rilla made in Britain in
1960. Again Shirley Temple
entertains with "Pardon My Pups."
BOOKS
By United Press International
LA RAZA, THE MEXICAN AMERICANS, by Stan Steiner. Harper & Row, $8.95. The heroes of La Raza are the 9 million Mexican Americans in the southwest United States, the villians are the "Anglos" and their indifference to the poverty and alienation of the Spanish-speaking neighbors.
La Roza lists the grievances of the Mexican Americans in their own words, often despairing and hopeless. But now two leaders have appeared. They are Reis Lopez Tijerina, who headed the sometimes violent New Mexican movement for land reform and ended up in jail; and Cesar Chavez, who organized the grape workers union in California and became something of a Gandhi in the process.
Reis Tijerina is already being supplanted in New Mexico by his disciples who are forming their own cooperatives, educational programs and land-reform campaigns. Steiner says, but it was he who started the ball rolling. Gov. David Cargo of New Mexico is quoted as saying: "He
Mar. 9
1970 KANSAN 5
has driven a wedge into the political set-up of this state and maybe the Southwest."
Chavez is a different sort. In the spring of 1968 he observed "a Lenten fast for peace and nonviolence" lasting 25 days. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy visited him on the last day of the fast. And Martin Luther King called him a "living example of the Gandhian tradition with its great force for social progress and its healing spiritual powers."
"We chose it because it is new and it offers many rich roles for women," Brooking said.
Sets, designed by James Hawes,
professor of speech and drama,
are skeletal, merely suggesting
the school, museums and studios
Brooking has also directed "The Country Wife," "Gypsy," "Oliver." "Macbeth," and "School for Scandal."
The revolving stage is used to
in which action takes place. Brooking said skeletal sets were used because sets were not an essential factor in developing the character study, which is the essence of the production.
facilitate the many scene changes which occur during the three acts told in flashbacks.
What you will see when you see Luchino Visconti's"The Damned" is a motion picture that will be loved and hated...hailed and denounced...but never ignored.
Some people will say "The Damned" goes too far. We don't think so.
In Technicolor $ ^{\circ} $ From Warner Bros. Rated X
No One Under 18 Admitted Adults $1.50 7:00 - 9:40