Perhaps the
state’s best
theater group
The New Theatre may well be Oregon’s finest
experimental theater group.
And their latest offering—“Jacques Brel is
Alive and Well and Living in Paris’’—-doesn’t fall
short of such superlatives.
“Brel” is one of the most polished productions
performed by one of the most talented casts to
grace any of Oregon’s stages in a long time.
The play isn’t really a play—it’s a presen
tation of 23 songs written by Brel.
There may be no plot and no characters—
beyond man 1, man 2, woman 1 and woman 2—but
each of the songs is a complete dramatic
production in itself. The emotions of each of Brel’s
23 songs are handled quite well and captured
almost perfectly by the four member cast.
Whether sung in singles, duets, trios or quartets,
each song becomes a unique, moving experience,
different than the other 22 yet combining to give
you an indication of how Brel felt about the world
around him.
Sabine Jerstad, J a nine Morgan, Martin
Brother and Richard Storm are each multi
talented individuals. Each can sing quite well
and—more importantly for this play—each can
add dramatic meaning to the songs they perform.
Brel’s views of life vary from his very serious,
anti-war commentary songs to his somewhat
satirical, black humor looks at life Hie two men
V
have the most outstanding parts in the first act—
Storm’s “Statue” and Brother’s “Amsterdam”
are each equally dramatic and quite good.
During the first act, the songs alternate
between the serious and the jokingly serious.
But act two begins with a real bang. The first
three numbers of that act may be the most
dramatic of the play. If not, they combine for what
is surely the most dramatic segment of the play.
The first, “Bulls,” has Storm as the
bullfighter drawing an allegory between
bullfighting and war. As he swishes his cape and
points his sword skyward the number concludes
with: “Did not the bulls dream of some hell—
Where men and worn-out matadors still bum—Or
perhaps with their last breaths?—Would not they
pardon us their deaths?—Knowing what we did at
Carthage—Ole! Waterloo—Ole! . . . Hiroshima—
Ole! Saigon!”
me act s beginning is followed by Morgan s
“The Old Folks,” about the elderly and “that old
silver clock that waits for us all.”
And then Jerstad’s “Marieke,” a moving,
emotional Flemmish ballad that she sings equally
well in English and Flemmish as she alternates
languages. Her rich, full voice is at its best here
in what may amount to the high point of the show,
coming as it does at the conclusion of the most
dramatic portion.
You may be familiar with “Marieke” from
Judy Collin’s “Whales and Nightingales” album—
which also includes Brel’s “Sons Of” (which is in
act one). Jerstad’s version is better than that on
the record. That says a lot.
Much of the credit for this outstanding bit of
theater must go to director Judy Massee, who has
evidently polished two completely unique casts in
putting together two different but outstanding
interpretations of the same play.
Also to be mentioned are the musicians—
pianist Seth Wittner, percussionist Chris Tyle and
flutist Suzy Fox. The music is consistently good
throughout, although Fox’s flute provides the real
highlight.
If you get a chance to see this play in Portland
by all means go. It is an outstanding bit of drama,
a complex presentation of emotions through song
that should not be missed. It may be a while before
you’ll see anything this good in Eugene.
“Brel” is performed at 8:30 p.m. in the Cen
tennary-Wilbur Methodist Church (dark spot on
map) Friday and Saturday nights.
To be assured of a seat, phone ahead (223-2256
or 244-6839) and reserve your seats. Tickets are
$3.25 for adults and $2 for students.
If you don’t make it to Portland before April 1,
you may not be completely out of luck. The sets
have been made to be portable and the cast is
willing to take the show on the road anywhere in
Oregon or Washington.
It might be worth your while to consider
sponsoring “Brel” in Eugene. If you can get an
auditorium, it should be full for this one.
Art Bushnell
f
Wittkow Presents
the Film
f
THE FREAKS
AT THE WOODMEN OF THE
WORLD (WOW) HALL
nth & Lincoln Fri March 2
Showings: 6:30, 8:30 &
10:30 pm
Admission $1.00
Help us
help.
So no
one’s
left out
in the
cold.
+
the
good
neighbor.
JNVlZO
GUCHFS
UGETSU ;vv" ®
^ 180P
THE BRIDGE
THURSDAY, MARCH 1
A dramatic story told trom the Germans'
point of view and based on events which
accompanied the end of WW II. This film
relates the story of a group of children
drafted into the German Army during the
closing months of the war. A very moving
anti-war film. Also, a short,
VARIATIONS ON A THEME
177 Lawrence. 7:00 and 9:15 P.M.
\
Sponsored by NUC Admission $1
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C**Z99IJ
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k. gordon scott thinks mazzi’s
is the greatest little italian
restaurant outside new york.
A true connoisseur knows the joys of
a fast car, a good wine and an ex
cellent restaurant. Like many
others in this area he spends at least
one night a week at Mazzi’s. Gordon
says “I’ve found that the finest
cooks in the world have tables in
New York and I think I was shocked
at first that a restaurant so
authentic and so concerned with its
product was here in Eugene. It’s on
a par with any I’ve visited in New
York and better than anything on
this coast.”
THE AUTHENTIC ITALIAN
RESTAURANT - K. Gordon Scott
thinks Mazzi’s is the greatest Italian
restaurant outside New York and we
appreciate his comments. Thank
you Gordon.
$zz.
39?»S.