Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1982)
Theater review Theater wages a ‘Lovely War’ THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING! Men’s Basketball Oregon versus Soviet National Team Tonight Wednesday, November 3 7:30 p.m. Tickets Available at Mac Court Ticket Office Student Season $25.00 Individual Game $3.00 General Admission $4.50 Reserved Seats $9.00 for more information 686“446 1 Double Tee in association with the EMU Cultural Forum presents .*•» • *» 4* *v *• •*.* • * **• *».*»• •* '». »• * • • • 4 • • •» 4 ’ » «*,*»• 4%' *» 4» * » 4**» 4*/*» 4*, • • • »4* * • 4» * • a %• *44** • , 4» *4 ;V; • •• Ot ^Vooso «oV)^eV «*? $97$ & $£75 Tuesday, Nov. 9* 8nm By Jonathan Siegle With all the examples we’ve had by now, one would think mankind would have learned that going to war is just not a nice thing to do on a Sunday afternoon Of all man's wars, however, The Great War, 'the war to end all wars,’ may have been the worst It was ugly It was ugly because it was so foolishly begun It was ugly because a 19th century mentality was made to confront 20th century technology It was ugly because its generals fought a war of attri tion, laying waste to all their resources, but especially oeople Were it not for the entrance of the fresh blood of the Americans, both sides might very well have collapsed in their trenches No winner, just losers It began almost as a lark, a family feud between cousin George in England and cousin Wilhelm in Germany who became involved after Austria promised only a “bright, brisk little war'' against Serbia Through the University Theatre's production of "Oh What A Lovely War," by Joan Littlewood and Charles Chilton, we are reminded that war sucks The play documents the course of World War I by following the popular songs of the times, with images and news items from the front mingled in It doesn't have to make a statement; the truth does it well enough The show is a cabaret revue and begins as the war itself began, bright and gay As the war turns grim, the gaiety fades From “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’’ to “When This Lousy War is Over," the music follows closely the course of the war Air battles, gas attacks and trench warfare are all depicted The play is held together by the cabaret host as it cuts from scene to song and back again Dan Conroy is the master of ceremonies, and he is superb Conroy's timing is impeccable He has a sense for British dance hall humor, how to play an audience, how to be in a scene and how not to be And perhaps best of all, he has a wonderful singing voice Conroy is assisted by Carol Burger as Miss Bertha V Nation She too can sing And dance Together they portray an air battle which manages both grand humor and pathos The remainder of the roles are traded around among the cast members, a mad parade of nations, soldiers, officers, nurses, civilians. Linda Chace stands out from the throng Her voice is pure, her delivery understated Chris Dolman, who plays a variety of British officers, likewise stands out The young cast is spirited They work well together. But there are two clunkers. The majority of the cast are women It is understood that finding enough males for such roles is difficult. However, relying on the audience to accept so many feminine faces as British soldiers in the trenches is stretching credibility too far The other problem is one of pitch. Too many of the songs are simply too high for some voices. It would not be too dif ficult to transpose down. These are really small matters. "Oh What A Lovely War" is a fine production Director John Rindo has captured both the flavor of a British dance hall and the futility of battle jP|| Continued from Page 3B angry Hoffman fries to prove his acting ability by auditioning as a woman He lands a part in a soap opera and finally achieves fame — as a woman Teri Garr and Jessica Lange join Hoffman in this comic look at the world of daytime soaps The Toy presents an intere sting experiment in chemistry between comic actors Richard Pryor and Jackie Gleason Directed by Richard Donner (Superman), "The Toy" has Gleason playing a rich Southern tycoon who "buys" a flat-broke journalist (Pryor) as a plaything for his spoiled son. Pryor finds — like everyone else — that he has his price as he submits to being “The Toy." Hal Ashby's ninth film in a decade is Lookin' To Get Out, a character study of two streetwise New Yorkers getting ready for a chancy Las Vegas gamble Jon Voight stars as an incorrigible charmer who runs up a large tab with the local loan sharks. In a risky attempt to raise the needed money, Voight escapes to Vegas to “win big." Open 9:30 - 6 Mon. thru Sat. 446 E. 13th St. 4 blocks W. of campus Next to Bijou Theater 342-8339 Great cards for ALL occasions and moods! Sample: “A subtle suggestion” card f~-1 * "i 'V Happy Anniversary of the last time you wrote That's at Logos Bookstore, close to campus. •Buy ooe card, get secood card o( equal or lesser value for H price with this ad. •One ad per customer - Expires 11 /B/82
