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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 1960)
look Homeward Angel' Characters good but play lacking Ity FKKD (JKAFTM Kmcrald Entertainment Editor A rich, beautiful and moving j>lay has been fashioned from the pages of Thomas Wolfe’H distin guished autobiographical novel, "Look Homeward, Angcd,” and aomchow> Eugene* Very Little Theatre has managed not to breathe any life Into Kotti Krings’ glowing dramatization. "LOOK HO.MEWAJtD, AN <»EL” i« drama that ranks with Arthur Miller's "Death of a Sales man." Under an almost senti mental guise of nostalgia, vio lence, tenderness, hatred, humor, and love, the play so expertly of fers conflict and reality that in stead of simply telling a story of the hopes and desires of a group of people, It becomes a gi gantic emotional adventure. In spite of several masterful performances, the VLT has turne<i what could have been a very re warding evening for those with enough courage to face some of the ugly and wonderful facts of life into just another play. Miss Fringe’ splendid artistic creation was not intended for those desir ing escapist entertainment. Yet the tragic beauty that lies in its many and varied situations, ranging from scenes of wild hu mar to emotions of selfless love and deep grief, some to the audi ence through an almost melodra matic interpretation. William Austin, as Eugene, etches an unforgettable portrait of the lamblike yet bitterly coura geous youngest member of t h e Gant family. Nina Newman is magnificent as the selfish, cal culating mother who uses her husband and children as stepping stone for what she considers will bring her happiness and security. Bob Stankavleh, who performs his role with great insight and technique and who emerges as the play's most believable char acter, is splendid as the consump tive son. Literary criticism talk set Tuesday W. J. Handy, English profes sor at the University of Texas, will gave an address on literary criticism Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Student Union. The address, "Toward a Formalist Criticism of Fiction,” is open to the public. Handy is an associate profes sor of English and director of the program in criticism at the University of Texas. This is the first in a series of lectures sponsored in connec tion with the National Defense Education program in contem porary literature. Contemporaries (Continued fium bane 2) beginning of the school year was that no one would be allwoed in the Commons wearing jeans. This rule, however, does not seem to be taking effect. On any given day, in any given meal, one can find many of the men on campus who are wearing jeans and awentshirts, eating in the Commons. If this type of a rule does not pertain to the men, why can't the women go to meals wearing "neat grubbies”? The makers of the rules should get together and see that these reg ulations set forth are either fol lowed or disbanded. PATRONIZE YOUR • ADVERTISERS • LOOK HOMEWARD ANGEL, a comedy-drama by Ketti Prings, based on the novel by Thorn** WoJfe. Directed by Oftilie Turnbull 8yebolt; scenery by Ey ler Brown; lighting by Howard Ramey; costumes by Julia Hebert; sound by Rog er Houglum; production stage manager, Berry Thaaton. At the Eugene Very Lit tle Theatre. Eugene Ben Mr a. Bert Hugh Helen Eliza Gant Will Pcntland Jake Clatt Mn. Clatt Flotry Mangle Miw Brown Mr. Parrel Laura Jamea _ W. O. Gant Dr. Maguire Tarkington Madame Elizabeth Luke William Austin Bob Stankavich Dena Salmon Charles Coleman Cyra Hinze Nina Newman Eugene Salmon Ivan Smalley Mabel McLain Ruth Piacher Helen Jones George Northern Laurie Pischer Rudy Pfieffer Dwight Newman Ethan Newman Cerda Brown . Don Nutting Rudy Pfieffcr who wrenches much humor from the role of the gravestone-cutting, shrew-ridden, hard-drinking father and Cyra Hinze as the daughter contribute superior work. THE PI.AY concerns Eugene Gant, a young writer growing up among insensitive townsfolk, in cluding his mother's family, who are too busy hoarding, sleeping, and feeding to recognize or under stand his genius. Although the words are spoken and the strug gles dramatized, the notion of an emotional awakening was not l realized by Wednesday night’s audience. In such as the deathbed scene, when, through pettiness, confu sion, rancor, fury and horror, the Oant family draws together "in a superb communion of love and valiance,” obvious technical er rors and unimaginative drama tic reactions detour the audience’s attention away from the core of j the play. THE DRAMA relies almost en tirely on emotional effects rather than a well-developed story line. Yet, because of the over-modulat ed background music, the expres sionless lighting and the handling of extremely emotional—in plac i es nostalgic - sentiment, the i play’s emotional appeal is de stroyed. What interest in the Gant family the audience man ages to salvage through the tech | nical mistakes wanders further due to extreme pauses between , scenes. Perhaps all this will be corrected during the run of the show. While perhaps Wolfe's finest novel and Miss Frings’ best play, "Look Homeward, Angel" is, un fortunately, not the quantity pro duction of which the Very Little Theatre is capable. Summer projects interviewer here Justier Frost, representing the American Friends Service Com mittee, will be in the YWCA lounge in Gerlinger all day Mon day to talk with anyone inter ested in participating in summer projects sponsored by the AFSC, the YMCA, the YWCA, or the Ecumenical Voluntary Movement. Included in these projects are ; r workcampa in the United States, overseas, and in Mexico; intern ships in mental hospitals, and community service agencies, citi zenship and industrial seminars; and the USSR student exchange. Use Emerald Classified Ads— Phone DI 2-1411, Ext. 618. SHISLER'S FOOD MARKET OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK—9 A.M. to 11 P.M. BEVERAGES • MIXERS • ICE CUBES MAGAZINES • MEATS • FRESH PRODUCE 13th at High Street Dl 4-1342 For information about LIVING INSURANCE FROM EQUITABLE Call your University Life Insurance Representative BOB DECKER Dl 5-8556 — Dl 4-7685 Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S. FIND THE ANSWER, JIM-AND BRING IT BACK” When Jim Boardman took his B.S. in Elec trical Engineering at Colorado State, there was one idea uppermost in his mind. He wanted a job in which he could work his way into man agement via the engineering route. As he puts it, "I didn’t want to stick with straight engi neering all my life.” After talking to eight other organizations Jim joined The Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company. He soon got the kind of action he was looking for. His first assignment: How best to improve widely scattered rural telephone service all over Colorado—a sticky engineering challenge. He was given a free hand to work out his own pro cedures. His boss simply said, “Find the answer, Jim—and bring it back.” Six months later, Jim turned in his recom mendations. His plan was accepted. Next stop: Colorado Springs. Here Jim worked out a plan to expand telephone facilities for this burgeoning community. This plan, too, is now in operation. Today, at 24, Jim has an important role in planning where, how much, and what kind of telephone service is needed in the Denver area. Here’s how Jim puts it: “We get tough assign ments—but we also have the freedom to take hold and do a job. 1 think the future here is unlimited. If a man wants to do it—it’s there to be done.” , If you're a guy who can “Find the answer— and bring it back”—you’ll want to get with a com pany where you have the chance. Visit your Place ment Office for literature and additional information. Our number one aim is to hare in all management jobs the most vital, intelli gent, positive and imaginative men we can possibly find.” Frederick R. Rappel, President American Telephone & Telegraph Co. BELL TELEPHONE COMPANIES
