By BOB WEBB
Emily Dickinson, 19th century
recluse, nature lover and writer of
over 1,700 poems, only around
seven of which saw publication in
her lifetime, and those anonym
ously, will be brought to life this
month. Beginning Friday night,
George and Priscilla Lauris pres
ent their production of The Belle of
Amherst at Maude I. Kerns Art
Center.
Portlander William Luce wrote
this play after reading all the ac
counts he could find on Emily Dic
kinson, and because of her reclu
sive nature they are many and
often highly diverse in their opin
ions. It took him two years but,
according to many theater-goers
both in New York and here in
Eugene, the effort was very much
worth it.
This production of The Belle of
Amherst was first produced last
November under the auspices of
Melina Neal’s Entre Act Dinner
Theatre at the Valley River
Center.
“Melina took quite a gamble by
inviting us to perform there,” says
actress Priscilla Lauris, who stars
as Emily Dickinson. “It wasn’t the
usual musical or light Neil Simon
type comedy that she usually
does there. But we think it paid off
both financially and artistically.”
The main problem with doing
the show as dinner theater was
the $11 ticket price. Although ac
tually a very reasonable price for
an entire evening of food and the
ater, it was rather out of the range
of many theater-goers. “None of
our friends could afford it," says
producer-director George Lauris.
Nor could many students, but
this was only one of the reasons
for the move to Maude Kerns.
Aside from the lower price and lo
cation, thus making the produc
tion more accessible to more peo
ple, especially students, there
was one other high priority reason
for reviving the play.
“This is our livelihood,” says
George Lauris. Both Laurises quit
their teaching jobs at Lane Com
munity College two years ago be
cause, “We wanted to have more
control over our lives." Since then
they have done numerous com
mercials in Portland and a few in
dustrial films. George has also
participated in two films for the
general public, Sasquatch and
Buffalo Rider, the latter of which
he served as acting director. Now,
the husband-wife team is doing
The Belle of Amherst.
The one-woman show “is a play
every actress would like to try,”
according to Priscilla Lauris. “The
play reflects the great feeling of
joy in life that Dickinson had, also
her very positive, witty views on
living in nature. Dickinson was
very much ahead of her time in her
writing.” Every word spoken on
stage is from either Dickinson’s
letters or her poems.
The play concerns Dickinson’s
life from her early womanhood
until shortly before her death in
1886. But time is not a major con
cern of the play so author Luce
uses it rather freely, jumping back
and forth to different periods in
Dickinson’s life in order to give
weight to certain points and en
hance certain juxtapositions. Al
though other characters are in
volved in the show, they are all
seen through Emily Dickinson’s
eyes and are related to from her
point of view. The way the play is
set up is very similar to Mark
Twain Tonight or Give ‘Em Hell,
Harry.
The action of The Belle of
Amherst takes place in
Dickinson's bedroom and drawing
room. The tiny Maude Kerns
Lane Civic Center
hosts Scott-Heron
Perhaps best known for his
storyteller-like portrayal of the
traditions and history of the black
experience, Gil Scott-Heron is not
only a performer, but also a poet
and a novelist.
Scott-Heron brings his brand of
poetry to the Lane County Civic
Center tonight in two shows with
musician/composer Brian Jack
son and the Midnight Band. Open
ing the 7:30 and 10 p.m. shows
will be Eugene’s own Schwebke
Brothers Band.
Tickets are $6.50 and are avail
able at the EMU Main Desk, the
Sun Shop, Chrystalship and
Everybody’s Records. TDA spon
sors this production at the Center,
13th Avenue and Madison Street.
f.
Happy Hour 8-9 pm
Paul Masson wines
Miller on tap
Open 9 am -11 pm daily
11 am - 4 pm Sat.
Closed Sunday
1225 Alder
v Hidden reflections
of Dickinson emer
on Kerns stage;,
American poet Emily Dickinson comes to life at Maude Kerns art center beginning this Friday. The
one-person production is brought to the former church by Priscilla Lauris, as Emily, and her director
husband George Lauris.
stage will be divided up by gauzy
pieces of material hanging from
the ceiling. This, according to di
rector Lauris, will give things a
very light and soft appearance. It
should also enhance the quality of
going back and forth in time.
Actually, the intimacy of the
small acting area and limited seat
ing space will probably facilitate
the production in that it will tend to
draw the audience closer into
Emily Dickinson’s world.
Howard Raney, former techni
cal director here at the University
is designing the lighting for this
production.
"Actually, we originally con
ceived of doing the show here at
Maude Kerns," says director
Lauris. "This church (the art
center itself is a converted
church), dates from about the
same period as the play.’’
The Belle of Amherst plays Fri
days and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m.
and Sundays at 6:30 p.m. through
January 29. There will also be a
performance Thursday, January
26 at 8:30. The house and the
wine bar will open at 7:45,5:45 on
Sundays.
Tickets are $4 and, as the thea
ter will only seat around 100 peo
ple; it might be wise to purchase
tickets in advance from Backstage
Dancewear and Theatrical Sup
ply, 878 Pearl St. Tickets will also
be available at the door on per
formance nights. For reservations
call 686-2671.
HAIR ICIiAl_
Downstairs in the EMU 561 E. 13th Ave.
close to the recreation center Across from Max's
687-1347 485-4422
NATURAL HAIR DESIGNS FOR WOMEN & MEN!
$6.00
Dry cut designed for your hair and you, for those on a tight schedule.
$8.50
wet style designed for you and your hair for easy care and the
air-waved style. A completed style- to go anywhere.
$11.50
includes shampoo, rnoisterizing conditioner, blow dry and a hair cut
designed for you. A completed easy care style.
Remember: we carry the finest of professional hair care products for you to use.
GIL SCOTT-HERON
AND
BRIAN JACKSON
with The Midnight Band
And Special Guests,
THE SCHWEBKE BROTHERS BAND
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12
lane county civic center, 13th & Madison
TICKETS: $5.50 ADVANCE $6.50 DAY OF SHOW
SHOW TIMES: 730 & 1030
EMU Main Desk, Everybody's Records, Sun Shop, Chrystaiship