PLAYS: Contemporary Theatre
By GENELLE RICHARDS
Arts & Reviews Editor
A fine example of the modern theatre can be found in "The Homecoming" by Harold Pinter. Deep drama mixed with some comic moments is typical of the play like many found in the theatre of the absurd.
The total production is excellent including the acting, directing and sets.
All of the characters give exciting performances so it is difficult to single out just one actor.
Even so the best performance is turned in by Gerald Radkin as Max. His character is a delight to watch and makes one sit up and take notice of this truly outstanding actor.
Another very good performance is given by Roy Sorrels as Lenny. Several good moments can be found in his lines with Ruth. He fully develops his character and gives a fine example of an actor who can play several roles and play them well.
Earl Trussell as Sam and Ruth Forman as Ruth are also good in their performances. The key to these two performers, and to the others as well, is believability.
Both of their characters are so real that one actually feels there is a chauffer and mother of three on the stage instead of a senior and sophomore in college.
Trussell gives a thorough, realistic performance of the brother who receives constant static from Max and in the end can not take what the family does to Ruth and what she does to them.
Miss Forman builds from her entrance in scene two to a forceful character who enters the life of four men creating important changes in the previously quiet life of the household residents.
Her performance is excellent forcing the audience to except and believe what she is putting before them. She is mysterious and causes much of the deepness in the play through the effects she has on these men.
Also aiding in the overall production by giving good performances are Robert Findlay as Teddy and Van Button as Joey. They both, like the other characters develop their role into something which is complete with no part of the character left untouched.
All of the performers are very good and each has obviously given his character a great real of attention and thought. They all act to each other making the production an ensemble with everyone reacting to each other and not merely reciting their lines.
The direction of James Hawes is excellent like the performances. He has taken an exciting, superb play, accurately casted it and made the final production one which can very deservedly take its place among other good productions of the season.
The play is one which is entertaining and quite good. But for some theatre-goers contemporary theatre may not be appealing.
Barbra aids the retarded
NEW YORK (UPI)—Barbra Streisand is Honorary Chairman of the National 1970 Membership Drive for the National Association for Retarded Children, a voluntary non-profit organization representing 215,000 parents, friends, professionals and youth devoted to the care of the mentally retarded.
Feb. 5
1970 KANSAN 5
"Miss Streisand will help us bring to the attention of the public the great need for more members to help the 6 million mentally retarded persons in the country," said Francis White, president of the Association.
BOOKS
A LITTLE TREASURY OF MODERN POETRY, edited by Oscar Williams (Scribner's, $4.75)
—A handy hardback volume, in paperback size, that ought to appeal to many students of literature. The book represents a new revision, brought out again because, in the view of the publisher, the poetry occupies a new place in the world. True, and some newer ones are here, though not the ones you may find in the underground press, even though Ferlinghette, Ginsberg, LeRoi Jones and many
others are represented The book begins with Emily Dickinson, and from there to some of the angry ones is quite a jump.
...
NEW WRITING IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA, edited by George Theiner (Penguin, $1.65)—An anthology that contains examples of poetry and short stories, some newly translated. Most of these will not be known to American readers, who need to become acquainted with Czech literature as they have become acquainted with the brilliant Czech cinema
POLITICAL LEADERS OF LATIN AMERICA, by Richard Bourne (Pelican, $1.65)—A series of political biographies that look closely at important leaders. Those considered are Che Guevara, Argentinian revolutionary who died in Bolivia; Eduardo Frei, president of Chile; Alfredo Stroessner, dictator of Paraguay; Juscelino Kubitschek, president of Brazil; Carlos Lacerda, Brazilian, and Evita Peron, wife of Juan Peron of Argentina.
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