Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1979)
Theater Though these young men each claim to be Earnest, only one of them can be. And right now, both are lying. Striking a bargain with Lady Bracknell (Jacqui McClure) are Algernon (Michael Cadigan) and Jack (Bill Geisslinger). The dapper duo seeks her consent for their respec tive engagements, in ORT’s production of Oscar Wilde’s “The Impor tance of Being Earnest." The Importance of Being Ear nest By Oscar Wilde Directed by Andrew Traister Oregon Repertory Theatre Jan. 25 through Feb. 4 You never speak anything but nonsense, Algy. ... No one ever does. What's in a name? By the stan dards of characters in Oscar Wildes satire The Importance of „ Being Earnest, almost everything depends on two men's claims to possessing that name. But neither of them actually is. named Earnest. At least, not knowingly, and their efforts to convince certain ladies of their al leged identities provides the framework for Wilde’s comment on 18th century polite society. The opening of Earnest. ORT’s first attempt to stage a period play, was a rewarding performance of what literature texts tag "high comedy.” But it’s not necessary to be a literature buff or a Wilde aficionado to enjoy this heady, mocking production. The plot revolves around two young couples, very Victorian in dress and very racy under their breath. Algernon’s invented in valid friend (Bundburg)and Jack’s bogus brother (Earnest) are ex cuses used to get away from home frequently. The women (Gwendolyn and Cecily) each fall in love with Jack and Algy when they meet them under the name Earnest, But only because they are named Earnest. Trivial? That’s what Wilde had in mind. But Cecily (Carolanne Young) is the marvelous frosting JANUARY SKI SCHOOL SPECIAL SKI PACKAGES! Whether you’re a student in a cross-country ski class or a beginner, or an experienced skier - you’ll appreciate the value of these January specials... Kartru Kick Waxless* X-C skis . Skilom boots . Skilom bindings. Aluminum poles. Mounting. 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Spoiled beyond words, she personifies the hopelessly romantic 18-year-old. “We’ve been en gaged since Feb. 14,” she tells a surprised Algernon, "even though we’d never met. It’s right here in my diary.” Jack (Bill Geisslinger) is stric ken with love for Gwendolyn. Be decked with strands of black mourning bands waving gaily from his fur top hat, he prepares the lie that Earnest is dead — only to have a glowing Cecily happily present a leering Algernon. Cadigan should play the Ches hire cat next. He does have a fien dishly polite grin. The most powerfully executed lines are belted forth from the red taffeta swathed depths of Lady Brackneil, Gwendolyn’s mother and Algernon’s aunt. She frosts youthful impetuousness with a gutsy roar and carries Wilde s un derlying message to the surface: “We live, I regret to say, in an age of surfaces.. ORT maximizes its intimate stage for this production. As in all great mysteries, the butlers de serve much credit for getting the job (of set changes) done with style and humor. As Lane, Phil Dietz maintains a freshly starched, military-perfect posture, looking almost as though he’d been fed through an old fashioned wringer washing machine and then drip-dried into position. See Earnest, if you can get seats. As ORT grows, it becomes more and more necessary to re serve tickets several days in ad vance. ORT presents it’s first Midnight Mafia Friday night following Earnest. Sam Shepard’s The Un seen Hand opens the series of avante garde experimental pro ductions. Where a pristine Vic torian setting, so painstakingly constructed and cared for by but lers stands for Earnest, a 1954 Rambler will materialize for what producing director David Lunney terms “a combination Wild Bunch, American Graffiti and Star Wars. By Melody Ward 1 Books Just Another Lousy Day In Paradise By Gene Dannen © 1978 Oz Publications, Inc. and Renegade Press $2.95 paperback Often what distinguishes a good book from a bad book is an arbitrary decision by a publisher. From there it’s either a rejection slip and ignominy or a published book, national distribution and reviews. What about those books the big publishers flunked? A small magazine publisher, Oz Publica tions, has picked up the tab fa one such book, Just Another Lousy Day in Paradise, a novel by Gene Dannen that didn’t make it in the big time. The book bills itself as "Buffalo, Hollywood, Indians, history, money, cars, television, football, war, sex, inflation, progress, the powers of darkness and a man known only as Dick...” It’s another date novel, this time it’s 1985. Football has been re placed by video replays. Some one decided it would be more wit?* »tf*n9*y mnwtm» Wmtoq* oy 0****an$ Just Another Lousy Day In Paradise A NOVEL BY GENf OANNEN economical to run replays of old football plays rather than pay players to keep doing them over again. The main character, Ken Stone, gets paid for the only human job left in football — the halftime inter view: “Pain is a part of profes (Continued on Page 7B) WIN A GRINDER A WEEK FOR A YEAR ENTER THE 1st ANNUAL KATR “CALIFORNIA SHOOT-OUT” Jan 27-28 Men & Women 16 and under It's a game of “HORSE” Men & Women played for fun and over 16 and over $1500 in total prizes Details and Entry Forms Available at: Giant Grinder Giant Grinder Giant Grinder KATR Bakery West Side 1677 Coburg Rd. 130 E. 13th Trackside 2165 W 11th 19th & Agate
