University Daily Kansan / Friday, April 28, 1989
Arts/Entertainment
11
Director says 'Master Harold' has subtle messages
Play looks at racism, relationships, parenting
by Christine Winner Kansan staff writer
Many of Athil Fugard's plays are censored and banned in his native South Africa. Rarely, a play is placed in that part of the world
For Paul Stephen Lim, directing Fugard's play 'Master Harold . . . and the boys' might be a pleasure, but it is also a necessity.
"Atol did his thing by writing it. Now it is our responsibility to perform it." Lim said.
The play opened last night at the Lawrence Community Theatre, 1501 New Hampshire St. The setting is 1950, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
"Master Harold" is Hally, a white South African teen-ager, and "the boys" are Willie and Sam, two black men who work in the Hally family's tea room. The three spend their days together when Hally gets out of school, practicing geography lessons and sharing philosophies. The play opened on Broadway in May 1982.
Sam practices ballroom dancing.
Lim said he found many subtleties in the play. One involves the character Hally, who catts a lot. The obvious reason, because he is a teenager.
May 1962 Lim said that the play had a universal message that was not just about racism but was also about father and son relationships and parenting.
Lim, a playwright and a lecturer in the English department, said he became more impressed with the nature of the play each time he read it.
"I in awe of it. There's not an ounce of fat in it. It lasts 90 minutes, and every word counts," he said.
Not so obvious. Linn said, was the idea that children also pick up values at the dinner table from their
I'm in awe of it. There's an ounce of fat in it. It lasts 90 minutes, and every word counts.'
Paul Stephen Lim
director
parents. In a similar fashion, Sam feeds Hally ideas about equality as he serves him food.
Another metaphor that recurs throughout the play is that of ballroom dancing, Lim said. Willie and Sam dream of one day winning a local ballroom-dancing competition.
"It's about human relations. Sam dreams of the best possible world, a world without collisions," he said. "I'm a teacher, and I want choices for the dialect of the play."
He said it could have been presented in stage English, American Southern dialect, contempo-ral or live or the South African dialect.
He decided on the African dialect because two of the lead actors had a good ear for the sounds of the dialect.
Lim said he was prepared to
pound the pavement to cast the play because black actors are a rarity in Lawrence.
David Goodman, a second-year transfer student from Los Angeles, was cast in a roundabout way. Lim was desperate to cast the character of Willie, Goodman said, and wrested Sweetser down by black accusers. He approached Goodman's roommate, who was not interested in the part.
The roommate told Lim to call Goodman because Goodman studied theater and film and might be interested. The ironic thing, Goodman said, was that Lim taught a script-writing course that Goodman was unable to get into earlier in the semester.
An agreement was reached. Goodman auditioned and was cast in the play, and Lim let him sit in during the class.
Robert Strain, Jr., who plays the character of Sam, said he auditioned for the part because of his love for the play, which he first read in high school. Strain is a doctoral student in communications studies. This is his first production since high school, he said.
Lawrence resident Kevin-Michael Stewart plays Hally. He said he enjoyed the range the character offered.
"I get to yell and scream and holler and also make people laugh," he said.
Stewart said that the comedic relief was important for his character.
"The comedy is necessary so that people won't hate him at the end of the play, so they realize that he's not a total racist," he said.
The play runs tonight, tomorrow,
and May 5 and 7 at 8 p.m., and Sunday
and May 7 at 2:30 p.m.
For ticket reservations call the theater office at 843-SHOW.
Sam, played by Robert L. Strain Jr., left, and Willie, portrayed by David Goodman, center, chat in the tea room with Hally, played by Kevin-Michael Stewart.
Lawrence band looks forward to Sunday's 'Day On the Hill'
by Christine Winner
Kansan staff writer
Tiger Marion and his band The Works sent in a tape to Student Union Activities Special Events several weeks ago.
from 1 to 3 p.m., I thought the same old bands would win. I figured there would be so much competition that we'd be overlooked," said Marion, Lawrence resident.
Taped on a four-track and recorded in his bedroom and bathroom, the tape won the Lawrence band a spot "On Day On the Hill." The free concert will be Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m. on Campanile Hill.
The guitar-oriented band will play 30 minutes of original music. Marion said that The Works usually played a lot of cover songs at gigs but would be performing all original music for the first time Sunday.
Levinson said the local bands would receive exposure but no money for their performances.
performning all original music for the first time Sunday,
Lawrence bands pathetic Excuse, The Mahoots and
The Moving Van Goghs from Manhattan will warm up
the crowd for the headliners.
The headliners — Love Tractor from Athens, Ga. and Too Much Joy, a New York band — are talented, have new albums out and fit SUA buddies for the day, said Sue Llevinson, director of SUA's Special Events.
said that 1,000 to 3,000 people were expected.
Members of the Special Events committee and three
'I thought the same old bands would win. I figured there would be so much competition that we'd be overlooked.'
Tiger Marion Lawrence resident
representatives from KJHK listened to 47 tapes of bands from Ottawa, Topeka, Manhattan, Kansas City and Lawrence.
Levinson said that the members kept the idea of variety in mind and hoped that the bands they picked would work well together. But she said they didn't have a specific format in mind and wanted to give everyone
a "we came out with a pretty good mix," she said. The last time SUA sponsored a similar event in 1986, a daylight concert called Jayhawk laid down the groundbreaking record that SUA不能没有 the money to finance such a concert.
not have the money to make them. Levinson said that people interested in working on the stage crew and 10 a.m. and 9 and 11 p.m. could contact the SUA office. Stage hands must be available to work both shifts and will be required.
Stockton's arts council to have film festival
avonnie to work both shifts and will be paid $20.
In case of rain, the concert will be canceled. Lewisson said
can win $100 plus an all expense par
trip to the Rocks County Free Fair in
mid-August in Stockton for placing
first in one of the seven categories
This year's theme is "The Wild West." Mail entries to the Stockton Area Council, 410 South Fifth, RD 67609 at gc. Aug. 1. The entry fee is $5.
Amateur can win $25 for placing first in one of six categories and an all expense-paid trip to the Rooks County Free Fair.
Best overall professional winner will receive $150 cash and best overall amateur will receive $50 cash.
Amateur and professional filmmakers can win a trip to "The Wild West" by entering the second annual High Plains Video/Film Festival, sponsored by the Stockton Area Arts Council.
TODAY
C A L E N D A R
The Kelley Hunt Band will perform at 9:30 p.m. at Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St. Stickets are $4 Call Liberty Hall for more information.
- "Master Harold, and the boys" will begin at 8 p.m. at the Lawrence Community Theatre 1501 New Hampshire St. Clare the theater for ticket
**Mary Jane Posegate, soprano from Kirkwood, Mo., and Troy Curtis, tenor from Elkart, will give a master's recital at 8 p.m. in Swarthout Recital
SATURDAY
■ Enrique Moreno, Guadalajara,
Mexico, senior, will present a student
composition at 8 p.m. in Swarthout
Recital Hall.
■ Volinist Eric Rosenthal will give free master classes at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. in Swarthout Recital Hall.
The Lawrence Chamber Players will give their spring concert at 3:30
"Master Harold    and the boys"
will begin at 8 p.m. at the Lawrence
Community Theatre. 1501 New Hampshire
shire call the theater for ticket
information.
Council Professionals, including college students majoring in film studies
SUNDAY
p. m. in Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St. Soprano Deny Myers will be a soloist, and the winners of the Youth Soil Competition also will perform Call Liberty Hall or the Lawrence Arts Center for tickets.
Student Union Activities Special Events and KJK present "Day on the Hill," a free concert beginning at 1 p.m. on Camille Hill.
*Melissa Neighbor, Shawnee Mission senior, will give a student recital on the piano at 3 p.m. in Swarthout Recital Hall.
"Master Harold and the boys"
"will be at 3:30 p.m. at the Lawrence Community Theatre, 1501 New Hampster, fill the theater for ticket information
Tobey, Hoffman, Swarthwolf Society
tobey artist, and pianist Rita Sloan
will give a free concert at 5:30 p.m. in
Swarthwolf Recital Hall.
■ Robert Andres, Zagreb, Yugoslavia,
graduate student, will give a doctoral recital on the piano at 8 p.m.
in Swarthout Recital Hall.
MONDAY
■ Amy Beal, Petaluma, Calif., junior, will give a student recital on the piano at 8 p.m. in Swarthout Recital Hall
University Band will give its final performance of the semester, a concert for residents of Presbyterian College and the mayor of mansion 1421 Kasid Drive.
Laura Ellis, graduate teaching assistant in organ, will give a doctoral recital on the organ at 8 p.m. at the congregational Church, P95, Yarmouth St.
TUESDAY
The KU Jazz Ensembles I; i and l will present "Ball Band Night" at 7:30 p.m. in Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts General admission is $8
■ Brenda Allen, Independence, Mo.
graduate student, will give a master's
recital on the cello at 8 p.m. in
Swarthout Recital Hall
THURSDAY
■ University Theatre presents "I'm not Rappaport," featuring Moses Gunn and William Kuhike, at 7:30 p.m. in Crafton-Preacher Theater. Tickets are $9 and for the public, $4.50 and $3.50 for KU students and $8 and $6 for senior citizens. Call Murphy Hall Box Office for more information.
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