Williams
Toy
Theatre:
a
unique
puppet
company
By Happie Thacker
Of The Print
For those students who think that puppets are
only for young children, the Williams Toy Theatre
has a surprise.
The Magic Egg, which will be presented in the
Fireside Lounge at noon on Feb. 10, is more than
just dancing around, according to Michael Sheafe,
the theatre's manager.
"It's a puppet play," Sheafe said. "It has a story
and a plot like live theatre with a script and beauti
ful costumes.
"It's not a baby show -- we do not encourage
babies or pre-school children."
The cast of The Magic Egg consists of approxi
mately 10 rod puppets, a doll with a rod extending
down from the bottom with all manipulative at
tachments handled from below, as opposed to mari
onettes that are manipulated from above.
These puppets are handled by two performers,
Robert Williams, founder of the company, and
Saundra Delletiglie, an actress who joined the com
pany in 1976.
Williams and Delletiglie do all the voices for the
characters as well as handle the live music accom
paniments.
"They use no taped material because it turns in
to television when it's canned," Sheafe said.
The Magic Egg is an international award-win
ning play in which the fun begins when the grand
father runs off with Baba Yoga the witch, barefoot.
Kikimora, the heroine of the piece, takes him
his socks and on the way meets amusing charac
ters from Russian folklore and myth, including the
graceful Queen of the Swans and the friendly, but
dangerous, Vodnik, guardian of the Magic Egg.
The Play, although derived from ancient myth
and folklore, has plenty to say to modern listeners
of any age, accprding to Williams.
"It's sophisticated and refined enough that col
lege students can appreciate the subtleties," Sheafe
said.
Puppetry, the most ancient and universal of
theatre arts, is enjoying a revival of popularity and
the Williams Toy Theatre explores and gives
life to the traditions of the art of puppet theatre
for modern audiences, Williams said.
Each puppet is a unique creation, sculpted of
traditional materials -- wood, papier mache and
cloth. They vary in size from one to three feet.
Williams, who came to Portland in 1968, was a
member of the American theatre company that per
formed repertory theatre from its Portland State
University base. He became an English professor at
PSU and after three years there, resigned to go into
puppetry full time.
With his wife, Jennifer, who is now in London,
they began the Williams Toy Theatre out of their
home in Portland.
The company has since moved to Seattle and
has toured extensively throughout the West.
Williams and Delletiglie are planning their first
national tour next fall and will undertake their first
international tour in the spring of 1979.
Sumus offers
workshops
regon City begins exchange
The Japanese New Year's Day
I be the occasion for a tea on
iCollege campus sponsored by
eOregon City-Tateshina Cultur-
Exchange Committee, Inc.
¡Oregon City is involved in a
teal exchange program with
pm and Tateshina, a city in
pan,is Oregon City's sister city.
¡Asister city is a city approxi-
Itlythe same size, economical
¡(ground, climate and tempera-
i,of its other sister.
On Jan. 22 from 2 to 5 p.m. in
Fireside Lounge at Clackamas
nmunity College coffee, tea
cookies will be served by wo-
«dressed in oriental attire,
tertainment will be supplied by
Mse musicians and dancers
who will be performing traditional
songs and dances. Japanese art
work will also be on display.
"During the three-day Japanese
New Year celebration it is cus
tomary for everyone to fast. The
women wear all new clothes and
have their hair done in different
styles. Children go unpunished dur
ing the three days because, ac
cording to superstition, if one
punishes a child during this time
they must punish them all year
long," said Anona Gaffey, chair
person of the tea.
The public is welcome to come
and watch the dancers, listen to the
music, and enjoy a cup of tea or
coffee, Gaffey said.
In Review
Green grass
By Valerie Whittemire
[Of The Print
Anyone who has ever read
l Erma Bom beck will go off
«1 her newest book—any new
«rivals will be grateful for
hiving made her acquaint-
we,
i Who's Erma Bombeck? The
«¡come relief to solemnity
' on the "Good Morning Am-
; *rica" show and often the
■ only worthwhile feature in
the daily news of over 140
Wspapers nationwide (and
6 overseas), Erma gets us
where it counts, again—in the
funnybone.
This book is a must for:
suburbanites,,
new drivers
proprietors of garage sales,
owners of assorted pets...in
short, anyone of us who goes
through life, half-dazed and
saying "Wha' Hoppened?"
It you need a more than
ever before" reason to belly-
laff, check out Erma Bom-
beck"s "The Grass is Always
Greener Over
the Septic
Tank."
She makes life
easier.
Photo by Brian Snook
Guy Carawan performed at the College Jan. 11 at lunch time.
Carswan played a variety of instruments including the dulcimer,
banjo, guitar and several flutes. Along with playing contemporary
rock music he played Appalachian mountain songs. Besides being a
singer he is also an author and folklorist.
Wy, January 18,1978
Members ot the Sumus The
atre Ensemble will be conducting
special workshops in acting during
the winter months. The classes
will be held in the Lake Oswego
Community Theatre
and the
YWCA Wilson Center for the Per
forming Arts in downtown Port
land.
Acting for High School stu
dents will be on Saturdays from
10 a.m. till noon beginning on
Jan. 21.
All the Acting I classes will be
in the Lake Oswego Community
Theatre.
Acting I for adults will be
held on Sundays from 3:30 to
5:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 22.
Senior Citizens Acting I will be
on Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m.
beginning Jan. 25.
The following classes will be
held at the Wilson Center for the
Performing Arts:
Scene Workshop from 5 to 7
on Mondays starting Feb. 13.
Technical Theatre—5 to 7 p.m.
Tuesdays starting Feb. 14.
Stage Makeup from 5 to 7 p.m.
on Thursdays starting Feb. 16.
Beginning Acting on Saturdays
from 10:15 a;m. to 12:15 p.m
starting Feb. 18.
Intermediate Acting will be on
' Saturdays also. The time will be
8:15 to 10:15 a.m.
starting
Feb. 18.
All classes will be eight weeks
long. For more information call
the YWCA at 223-6281.
Page5'
centimeters
Colors by Munsell Color Services Lab