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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1983)
•ImP1 HAIRCUTTING TO PLEASE YOU • Donna Stewart • Sue Paris • Linda Vicenzi • Christy Reutin HAIR FAIRE 1410 Orchard *342-2165 The Suds Factory Wine Tasting (and Drinking) The Suds Factory wants to help you taste the affordable wines of the world so we are beginning a series of Wine Tastings on Wednesday evenings from 7 pm-10 pm. Every Wednesday evening through Feb.9 four wines will be offered for tasting FREE, and available by the glass for a modest fee. Ladies will be given the first glass of their choice FREE. Start your wines of the world exploration this Wednesday at the Suds Factory. 1-5 and 30th (across from LCC) 747-5131 Ggb Sh?lis At the campus (Formerly Burton’s) Now Serving 7 am - 10 pm WEEKNIGHTS 7 am - Midnight WEEKENDS Happy Hour from 4 - 6 Mon. - Sat. Drafts S96.00 A MONTH EXTRA INCOME E*.w.v ‘Gambit’ explores social issues Strong acting overcomes obstacle of unclear play BytongtanS*!. The current University Theater produc tion of “Royal Gambit” exemplifies what’s best about a university theater. The play itself certainly has Its pro blems. At times it is vague and confusing. But it serves as the vehicle for some very talented people to perform a very profes sional show. Although considered historical, “Royal Gambit” is largely symbolic, and in the end allegorical. German playwright Herman Gressieker liberally manipulates the rela tionships between Henry VIII and his six wives to illustrate his thesis that modem political and ethical decay can be traced to Charlotte Eve London, who plays wife number six, Kate Parr, is brash and blowsy as the widow who nursemaids Henry in his final years. She banters with the old king and is unafraid of his now toothless bite. Melissa Meyer is sweet and gentle as Jane Seymour, the wife who gave Henry his only son. Tina Richey is equally simple and pretty as Kathryn Howard, the young wife Henry takes in his later years and beheads because of her frivolous past. Katha Feffer is stunning as the German princess Anna of Cloves, Henry’s least regarded wife, who may be perhaps his most interesting. She alone escapes marriage unharmed and strikes a good bargain as well. 16th century liberalism. Henry, who “uses his con science as a calculating machine,” changes politics as easily as he changes beds. His behavior fulfills the modern dictum that govern Trisha Todd portrays the fiery and sen Theatre Review “Royal Gambit” ouua Mime Duieyn. ner per formance Is solid, but she may tend to posture a bit, which gives her acting a studied quality. The sian of a well-directed ments nave no mends, only interests. “Royal Gambit” is powerful drama, however, not because of the profound simplicity of its theme, but because of the strength of its characterizations. Each wife is clearly drawn to illustrate a side of Henry’s “modem man.” Director David Wheeler has assembled a marvelous cast, placed them on a plain and effective set and paced his production to move without lagging. It’s a thoroughly en joyable and ultimately moving evening of theater. Steve Springston is Henry. He’s big and jovial, corrupt and nasty. He looks the part. Neither director nor playwright gives Henry much opportunity to grow, yet Springston manages to be consistent and at the same time give the appearance of evolving. Springston shares the stage with the six women who play his wives. Each Is wonderfully cast. Teri Thomas is marvelous as Henry’s first wife Catherine of Aragon, who is pre sent throughout the play. She Is a tall, com manding woman, who still possesses an almost housewlfey quality. Her face is at once evidence of her strong emotions and yet a mask. It Is she alone who truly understands Henry. play is when the seams don’t show. David Wheeler has done a credible job in directing his talented cast in the dreadful Arena Theater, with its poor sight lines and awful accoustics. His hand is evident everywhere, yet never shows. The dominant feature of the set is a large back-lit red cross that Henry stands under often in his role as "defender of the faith" — it works. It may be true that in order to under stand "Royal Gambit" one must know a bit about the history of Henry and his wives, but it’s not necessary. Gressieker only uses history as a tool to comment on modem society. In fact, at the end he has the wives return In modem dress to divide Henry’s legacy, and thus cement the connection bet ween the 16th and the 20th centuries. Henry VIII introduced the modern age we see crumbling about us, weighted down by archaic notions of nationalism, and carry ing destruction In the megaton range as we “destroy mankind In the name of civiliza tion.” Man’s current condition, said Catherine of Aragon, is "superior to the highest and wallowing In the depths." It Is Kate Parr who sums up Gressieker's theme. The next age, she says, “must be different, or there will never be another one for the creatures of this earth." Fall courses vary from ‘prime’ hours Beginning in fail 1983, students will be able to select classes for a wider variety of times. Courses currently are com pacted Into ••prime" time hours — between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., according to Registrar Wanda Johnson. In a memo to all faculty, deans and department heads, Johnson says scheduling the bulk of classes during prime time leads to "an inability of students to register for a com plete study load and reduced classroom utilization.” Starting in the fall, all courses offered four or more times will have to schedule KINKO’S GIFT IDEAS Choose from our fine selection of • Coffee & Teas • Coffee Grinders • Espresso Pots • Imported Candy • Colorful Mugs Open 7 Days 860 E. 13th one section in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the late afternoon or even ing (after 3:30 p.m.). The new policy also “urges" departments and schools to rotate single section courses into late afternoon and even ing slots over a period of years and requests “particular atten tion be given to expanding the time patterns for lower division courses.” The policy changes comes from recommendations con tained In the Strategic Plan proposed by the chancellor’s office, according to Provost Richard Hill, and should result in increasing student enrollment. “The changes will be signifi cant since we are asking that a substantial number of classes be made available to students outside of the schedule pat terns that have been typical in the past,” said Hill in a memo to faculty, deans and depart ment heads. Time to recycle this paper
