‘Dizzy’ starts well, but...
“Benjamin Dizzy”
Pocket Playhouse
April 24
The "world premiere" production of Terence
Jones Benjamin Dizzy" came on strong, but didn’t
quite finish the race in front. The elements of
directing, acting, costuming, and scenery were
impeccable in production, but the foundation for
these elements, the script, left something to be
desired.
"Dizzy's" story line is quite simple: it recounts
the life of Benjamin Disraeli, the nineteenth century
British Prime Minister Yet his life was anything
but simple. His father wanted him to be a quiet
lawyer, while he wanted power and fame During his
life he was a novelist, a poet, and one of the most
influential men of his time. Controversy was Dis
raeli's lifestyle, and a calm existence was non-exis
tent for him.
The first act of "Dizzy" is compelling. Disraeli
wants power in the Parliament, and attends all of the
required social functions and dinners, but is checked
at each point by his enemies Dizzy 's personal life is
also revealed. An "adored being," his mistress, and
the true companion of his life, his wife Mary Ann, are
introduced Disraeli’s outlet for his frustrations was
his writing, and Jones develops this side, showing
Dizzy's wit and intelligence through the first act.
Jones' creation fails in the second act. Disraeli
attains the pinnacle of power, he becomes Prime
Minister and then Jones seems to lose interest in
him The remainder of Disraeli’s greatness, his life
and his final achievements are recounted in the span
of a half of an hour Disraeli's triumphal entry into the
office of Prime Minister, his diplomatic expertise in
creating Queen Victoria as Empress of India, and the
success he enjoyed in the handling of Bismark are
dealt with, but with so little detail or humor that the
audience is left wondering if they might have missed
some of the show during the intermission Neither
the most ingenious of directors nor the most gifted of
actors could compensate for this flaw in the script
Stephen Yarian, as director and actor, does create
a wonderful show from the script provided. It is quite
evident that Yarian is capable of directing and
performing in the same production. In both capaci
ties, he makes good use of four peripheral actors/
characters (Molli Fleming, D. Patrick Lawler, Sarah
Lucht, and Mark Schwahn) in broadening the scope
of the play and the depth of Disraeli's character.
Yarian also makes good use of the props and
costumes provided to produce his character revela
tions.
The University Theatre technical staff lives up to
their normal high standards, and the elements of
lighting, scenery, and costumes add greatly to the
enjoyability of the production. The costume designs
were particularly good. Kristina Shaughnessy creat
ed costumes accurate for the period, yet in
dividualized to explore the changes in Disraeli's
social positions.
Aside from the definite structural problems
within the script, the University's production of
"Benjamin Dizzy” is excellent. When you do see it,
brush up on your late nineteenth century English
history or you could get lost in Dizzy's monologues.
by c. alien rylander
Rare books at
Museum of Art
An exhibition of library memor
abilia ranging from Babylonian
clay tablets to a Renaissance en
cyclopedia is currently being fea
tured at the University Museum of
Art
The exhibition, lasting through
May 2, highlights the joint cele
bration of the centennial of the
University Library and the 75th
anniversary of the Eugene Public
Library The show is funded in
part by the Oregon Committee tor
the Humanities
The exhibit displays objects
from the library's rare book col
lection, including books, manu
scripts, illustrations, maps and
photographs in more than a
dozen categories
The “European Manuscripts"
display includes one of the li
brary's oldest books, an 11th
century manuscript hand-written
on calf skin
Babylonian clay tablets in the
exhibit of "Middle Eastern Manu
scripts” are the library’s oldest
items dating as early as 1900 B.C.
The display of "Early Printed
Books'' features the most visually
appealing piece, a Renaissance
encyclopedia containing illustra
tions and fine printing.
The "Oregon Imprint" display
of Oregon publications printed
before 1871 features some of the
library's rarest items These pub
lications provide a vivid insight
into frontier life
Another notable item from
Oregon, the transcript of Ken Ke
sey’s novel “One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest, " is included in the
"Modern Literary Typescripts”
section Also included in this sec
tion is an original Agatha Christie
mystery novel typescript
april 28, 1982
The exhibit of "Print
ed Books" features
an unusual leather
book with chains and
iron fittings, which
reflects the medie
val practice of
chaining books to
shelves or desks
because of the
books' great value
A collection of
"Books of Hours,"
containing prayers
and scripture, includes a richly
illustrated book with a picture of
the book's owner kneeling before
the Virgin and Child
"Orientalia," a collection of
items from East Asia, features a
Burmese text written on palm
leaves and a Chinese scroll writ
ten on cloth
The display of "Illustrations''
features the original drawings by
Hardie Gramatky for the
children's book, "Little Toot.”
The "Photography" category
displays an important collection of
photographs depicting people
from Pacific Northwest Indian
tribes
Among the other library items
are displays of sheet music, calli
graphy, fine printing, geography
and travel books, diaries and
maps, and herbals or botanical
books
A catalogue on the library ex
hibit containing approximately 32
pages of background information
and illustrations is available. Cost
is $3, or $3 50 by mail
The museum is open from noon
to 5 p.m. daily except Mondays
and holidays. Free guided tours
are given Sundays beginning at 2
p.m. in the main foyer. For addi
tional information; ca!! 686-3027
by kitty mithen
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Mtrfik
dance • music • films • food • poetry
APRIL 28:
The film ‘‘Loose Pages Bound”
Forum Room at 3:30
Amerasia Book Sale in EMU lobby"
FOR a schedule of events, contact the
ASIAN AMERICAN STUDENT UNION
RM. 12, EMU 686 - 4342
Sponsored by (be ASIAN AMERICAN STUDENT UNON U. ol O.
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