4
Friday, December 3, 1976
University Daily Kansan
Arts & Leisure
Spell cast over audience by 'Hansel and Gretel'
By TIM PURCELL
A childlike mood of enchantment was the spell cast over the William Iage Memorial Theatre Wednesday night by the poet, Mabel Kate, who wrote *Alleghet Hummerdink*, *Hangt and Halet*.
Humperdinck's sister,
Adelehidte Wette, had the idea of
presenting the Grimm brother's
fairy tale as a play and asked
her brother to compose incidental music for it. It is in this spirit that "Hansel and Gretel" is performed in the Inge.
Director Elizabeth Green,
Palm Beach, Fla., graduate
student, intends to present
operas as the theater—a laudable
approach to the application of
the opera is best realized in the
intimate Inge.
However, despite Wette's intention to produce a children's play with music, Humperdinck's score exceeded the confines of the home production and became an opera.
"Hansel and Gretel," viewed as opera, is lettered by the Inge because the theater can't accommodate an orchestral accompaniment. A loyal disciple Wagner guides him with Schonwerk's powerful influence in his lush Romantic orchestra.
The orchestra's absence is the greatest weakness of this instrument, and it is used as accompaniment in the two preludes) and a flute are its only instruments. The vast number of orchestral palette are lost.
In the forest scene an offstage flute cluckes. The very fact that even the piano score calls for this shows the heavy reliance on instrumental color for effect in the opera.
The flute calls that intoned
friendship to Hansel and Gretel in the woods are to become foreboding. The audience is unconvincing with the piano.
Nevertheless, pianist Nancy Engelken, Goff senior, accompanies competently. He also taught Karen Bales, Lawrence graduate student, assists on the second piano in the preludes, and the coordination between the two will be clear because of their eye contact.
Evidently William Gillinsky didn't think so. The Lawrence graduate student played the father, who has not only an expository part but also one that's conversational with his wife. Very little interaction between him and his wife is seen. Gillinsky is accustomed to mainstage opera and he uses it on the face front position and severely melodramatic facial expressions often necessary for that type of opera.
His overly dramatic facial expressions are especially out of place and character in the tiny Inge. If there is anyone who should use such theatrics effectively it would be the witch.
Gretel. Her cackles, however,
don't follow the score, whose
laughter is definitely pitched
and rhythmic. Ginberg's is
neither. But her approach is
sensitive to the dramatic
realism and intensity.
The intensity of the second scene relies upon the mother, Jane Becker, Lawrence junior, who maintains the intensity through the scene in her anger at the children.
Hansel is played by Sarah Johannsen, Austin, Minn., junior, who has a believable boyish exuberance and arrogance. In the forest scene, Johannsen sometimes seems more concerned with blocking than with pitch and even though they were never lost in the scene, the pitcher was sometimes mislaid.
When Gretel teaches Hansel to dance, Johannens never lost the bumpitous, clumsy character of a boy. As Gretel, Nancy Atkins, Lawrence graduate student, seemed to revel in her role as a girl b it too mockingly, but only a bit better. As she became more at ease, she successfully reflected the wide-eyed wonderment of childhood.
The opera's most beautiful moment is the Children's Prayer, sung by Johannsen and Atkins. Hansel and Gretel soon are song to sleep by the tender eyes of the children in Malin, Plainville senior, whose light voice adapted soothingly to the role.
A dream pantomime, traditionally used in the opera, has 14 angels descend in a balletic processional to protect Hansel and Grett against the evils of the forest. This was dropped and two dancers are used instead.
The dancers, Victoria Stevens, Pacific Pall, Calif., senior, and Willie Lenoir, Kansas City, Kan., special student, are hardy believable musicians rarely integrated with the musical themes of prayer and promise.
Sean Murphy, Topela junior,
is the dewairy who awks' Hansel and Gretel. Murphy, like Malin, has a difficult role because she has only a few minutes onstage to sing before she disappears. Murphy obeyed wanted to murder her; her stage movement was a bit too grand for a dewairy.
The fantasy in the opera is achieved mostly through lighting. In excellent contrast to the mixture of colors in the first act are the fantastic greens and reds, with the sunny day and the witch's house. But some of the cues were late. At one point, Hansel sings, "It's getting dark already here." No change in light had occurred before this and when the lights did become dimmer, it was far
Out of the sparse set of abstract trees appear 13 gingerbread children, who join Hansel and Gretel after the witch is burned at the end of the opera.
One problem in casting children is to make them realize they're on stage and waving to their parents. Children are out of character. But these children all from Lawrence, looked as if they were truly involved. The children are brought on stage with their eyes closed. Only the teacher can spell. The children never peeked, and they supplemented a touching finale.
Fran Ginsberg, Dallas senior, changes into the witch for Hansel and Gretel.
staff photo by GEORGE MILLENER
Ten Best the worst idea
Bv CHUCK SACK
As the year draws to a close,
we are flooded with the Ten Best
Best Local Stories and the Ten Best
Household Hints—and usually some smart aleck gets
about talking about the Ten Best Films.
Despite the many advances our civilization has made, modern science has yet to discover a cure for the Ten Best List, that table of opinion that tallies the past year and twenty-five years missed on or just spent the last six month trying to forget.
ALL THE big film critics, from Andrew Sarris to Rex Reed (except for Penelope Gilliate, who probably agreed to let Pauline Kael take over the fall-winter shift in the New York office of their own list) make charts of their favorites, so there are many variations on this time-honored practice.
Some people choose to do a
Worst list West. This year, that effort would be far too taxing, especially if the choices had to be ranked in order. Assuming you didn't have the films, you'd have to decide whether you disliked the way
Some people choose to do a Ten Worst list. This year, that effort would be far too taxing.
"Tunnel Vision" was terrible more than you disliked the way "The Omen" was terrible. Besides, it's embarrassing to admit you've actually seen all those bad movies.
I CONSIDERED making a list and explaining my decisions to give myself the opportunity to review some films released in Lawrence between semesters. But a list consisting mainly of
my views on "The Missouri Breaks" and "Family Plot" no longer seems current.
Since these lists are for posterity (if you think that posterity will ever stop to reading them), it would be worth want to commit myself to a Ten Best List for 1976 when there are a month's new releases waiting in the wings. After all, I might want to add "A Star Is Born" to my collection of worst Ten, and it won't open until Dec. 25.
Although it would be great to get a jump on the big-name competition, a Ten Best Films from Dec. 3, 1975 to Dec. 3, 1976 is not as likely to succeed, too, though it is probably as relevant as any other list.
I HAVE A friend who solves the problem by rattling off titles without a moment's hesitation. "This year's 10 best films were 'Obsession,' 'Edvard Munch,' 'The Man Who Fell to Earth,' and 'The Killer Elite.'" he told me.
He said he was in a hurry, and rushed off, promising to name the others the next time I saw him. "You're a friend," he told a mutual friend that six of
"But you named only six movies," I complained.
I don't want to commit myself to a Ten Best List for 1976 when a month's new films will be released.
un best ten were "Robin and
un best ten were "The Tenant," "Grey
Garden," "Marathon Man",
"Boymars and Meny," and
"Boymars."
THIS IS a great technique. It makes one appear very confident, if not knowledgeable, and as long as one doesn't use the same technique twice, it is safe. Unfortunately, since most papers don't like
uner Ten Best Lists in two installments of five, it doesn't work well in print.
Some criticizes favor the dodge of giving special awards along the lines of: Most Originality in the Credits, awarded to the script and continuity director of the movie, not the neitherers nor the nonerrors. This gives one on the opportunity to show off a knowledge of obscure information. Of course, thinking of 10 obscure awards isn't easy, and by number eight you're reduced to giving away the awards, as the norevers were a taupe in 'The Man Who Would Be King,' and John Wayne didn't really get killed in 'The Shootist.'
ANOTHER VARIATION is to use well-known facts and make the category itself obscure, but it would also be Advertising, which would be awarded to Dino De Laurentis, who spent $3 million to remake *King Kong*' and then built his own kingdom. It is only one King Kong'! Most of
Hunting game is only half the fun
Have you ever had small game, Wilbur? No, Wilbur, not a two-person checkers match, but small game, out of the wild-like pheasants, quail or rabbits.
First you have to bag your prey and this is the time of year to do it because all three leopards can be caught quail and cottontail rabbits—are in open season. All you antnithing and antgun folks will have to head to MacDonald's to bag a game is to shoot it.
Tributes stir memory
By JOHN THARP Staff Writer
They are all native to Kansas and are all hunted to be cooked and eaten because they can be delicious.
THE BOOK is logically divided into chapters that chronicle the early years of the group, Beatlemania, their
FOR THE real Beadle enthusiast who knows musical notation and semantics, The
Richard Dilello's The Longest Cocktail Party, on the other hand, is a poorly written book about life at the Beatles' Apple headquarters from 1968 to 1971. It gives insights into the Beatles everyday lives at a global level and second fiddle to business conflicts and individual differences. A more thorough account of the Beatles' break-up, the 1960s and McCabe's Apple to the Core.
Staff Writer
By PAUL ADDISON
The Beatles—an illustrated record is a glossy 1.9-sized paperback that chronicles the rise of the foursofme from their early days to their greatest. Every record made by them as a group and as individuals is reviewed thoroughly by New Musical Editors Roy Carr and Tony Tyler. These are complemented by some 200 photos and selected quotations from the music their image and characters.
The Battles—illustrated record by Roy Carr and Tony Tyler, Harmony Books, $.95; The Music of the Beatles by Wilfrid Mellers, Schrimer Books, $.95; The Longest Cocktail party by Richard D'Illo, Playboy books. $1.95.
The Beatles may be no more, but if publishers and record companies have their way, their memory will never die.
The result is a tasteful coffee table presentation that stirs memories and provides a record of the Beatle's activities.
studio years and their solo efforts. This is not, as so many fan books tend to be, an overly eulogistic account but a well organized subjective interpretation, which details the strengths and weaknesses of each band member.
THE BEATLES were said to have scorned critics like Mellers who found hidden meanings and complex intuitions in the Beatles, Mellers succeeds, however, in effectively synthesizing the underlying trends in the Beatles' songs and shows that they are worth a detailed study by professional music critics.
AFTER SHOTHOUT your bird or critter, you must field clean it. Make sure to prevent meat spoilage. As soon as possible, you should wash out your game with water and then soak it for about an hour in salt
Music of the Beatles by Wilfrid Mellers presents a detailed subjective interpretation of Beatle music and analyzes its songs. He also books a book for the casual reader but an academic offering, putting particular stress on the interwoven recurrent themes found in the lyrics and music. His albums include McCartney frequently wrote parody songs in their later years that subtly mocked the listener and the music itself. The songs were often goddish clay feet but simply men who composed meaningful songs for their own generation.
The tradition is perpetuated by frustrated editors who feel obliged to put the year in perspective.
these awards end up going to producers.
WELL, THERE's no way around making a list. I'll have to get out my notes from the last twelve months and pore over my reviews, only to rediscover that the key line of dialogue I quoted from "Buffalo Bill and the Wild West" in the company's release issue, among other highlights. My deadline is the last Friday of the semester, when I'll dutifully turn in my own Ten Best List.
My theory is that the tradition is perpetuated by frustrated editors who feel obligated to put the past year in perspective. (Was the media-manufacturer really a bigger story than the police investigation of the Phi Gamma Delta streakers?)
Is that next Friday?
After soaking, drain and freeze the game, labeling the packages with name and date killed. When selecting meat for cooking, use the oldest date first.
Prepare a stock, using 2 quarts water, 1 quart dry red wine, 3 fresh tomatoes, 1 cup lemon juice, 1 tablespoon flakes), 2 chopped onions, 2 bay leaves, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon thyme and 1 tablepoon water, and let cook to room temperature until reduced about one third.
A general rule in cooking is that small game can almost always be substituted in recipes calling for chicken. I'm sharing recipes like the bone-in game recipes, which I've learned over the years of cooking game.
WHEN RABBITS come out of the cartons or the fields and into the skillets the eating is easy. You call it "What's up, onion!" is easy and delicious. Cut a rabbit into pieces, as you would butcher a chicken, and shake the pieces in a paper sack half four, hour, salt, pepper, parsley flakes and poultry seasoning.
STRAIN THE stock and add two 8 oz. cups of mushrooms and 3/4 cup of red wine. Simmer 25 minutes, then add one-fourth another 10 minutes. Arrange the meat pieces on a bed of cooked wild or domestic rice. Pour the stock over this, in a 3-quart bowl with 1/2 cup degree oven 45 to 55 minutes. Serve with a hearty red wine.
Place the rabbit in a pot or pan, cover generously with sliced onions, and pour 1 cup of cream into the bowl of onionies. Then bake at 300 degrees until tender—one hour or more—or simmer on the stove top over low heat for the duration of your taste. Serve with fresh carrots.
BAKING QUAIL is easy and fast, and a quickie, nonalcoholic recipe is bowline and rice. P put 2 cups uncooked wild or domestic rice in an oblong pan and add 1 can of mushroom soup and 1 can of cream of tartar. Pour the mixture over the stir. Place 4 to 6 quail legs and breasts on top of this and spread with 1 package of Lipton brand dry onion mix soup. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 300 degrees for one and 4 hours, or until meat is tender. Cut into small pieces light beer, such as Coors or Olmma, tastes good with this.
WHEN SEVERAL hunting buddies get together for a game feed, pheasant in game sauce is always popular. It is also a nice holiday dinner. Take 5 or 6 pheasants, and roast them in an oven for about an hour in a covered pan. Bacon strips placed upon the birds will help keep the fowl moist. Remove the meat from the bones, keeping it in the largest pieces possible.
Eating game is a pleasant switch from domestic meats, and the "gamey" taste often associated with it is usually exaggerated. When treated right in the field and prepared right at home, wild game will tame your appetite.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Published at the University of Kansas daily August 26, 2014. Subscriptions to *The KU Bulletin* June and July are exchanged Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, August 6th. Subscriptions by mail may be a semester or $18 per year outside the county. Student subscriptions are a year outside the county. Student subscriptions are a semester.
Editor
Debbie Curren
W
The
"The the the the the mem who with infa clar office orga
Santangang Academy Journal Editorial Editor Yuan Jianhong Journal Editorial Editor
Campus Editor Stewart Braden Bull Snellen Assistant Campus Editors Dave Hare Chuck Alexander Staff Photographers George Miller, Sports Editor Steve Schenteld Entertainment Editor Alice Gay Entertainment Editor Elizabeth Leech Assistant Entertainment Editor Elizabeth Leech Assistant Mary Ann Daughtery, John Fulner, Greg Hack Cozy Chairs Greg Hack, Lynda Smith Make-up Editors Sheldin Brayer Chuck Alkana Devon Dobson, Joy Hemis
Business Manages Terry Hanson
Assistant Business Manager Carole Roosterkoutter
Advertising Manager Junction Clements
Classified Manager Sarah McAnhoy
Classified Manager Surab McAnhoy
National Advertising Manager Timothy O'Shea
News Advisor Publisher Business Advisor
Bob Giles David Dary Mel Adams