The print., May 13, 1981, Page 5, Image 5

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Manchester book makes
superb summer reading
By R. W. Greene
Of The Print
The idea of taking a
1,300-page history book along
to the riVer this summer may
seem on a par for fun with
weeding the lawn, but William
Manchester’s “The Glory and
the Dream” makes short work
of such apprehension.
In the first place, the book
reads more like a novel than a
history book. Manchester has
taken a 40-year slice of
America, between the years of
1932-1972, and turned it into
a tale of addictive fascination.
He describes in detail the
political heights (and depths) of
America, of course, but his per­
sonal portraits and sketches of
middle class life of any period
are equally, if not more, ar­
ticulate and moving.
There was Huey Long, for
instance, Governor of Loui­
Staff photo by Ramona Isackson
Felix Ungar (Dana Haynes) shows family pictures to
British “Coo-coo” Pigeon sisters Cecily and Gwendolyn
(Verlenda Proulx and Amy DeVour).
siana in the ’30s, a fascistic
racist of compelling propor­
tions, a man who makes Jerry
Falwell look like Abby Hoff­
Play seeks merit of distinction
Crowded in a smoky
Manhattan apartment, five
would-be poker players bicker
over the stifling summer heat,
stale food and a turtle-paced
dealer.
Oscar: If I win tonight, I’ll
buy a broom.
Roy: That’s not what you
need, what you need is a wife.
Oscar: How can I afford a
wife, when I can’t afford a
broom? fl
Roy: Then don’t play poker.
Oscar: Then don’t co.me to
my house and eat potato chips!
Oscar and Roy scramble for
a sack of potato chips, the sack
is ripped open and the entire
contents is showered over the
stage and its actors.
“The Odd Couple” is a fre­
quently staged production , but
Destined for failure from the
director Jenny Mahali feels the first moment, Oscar and Felix
play has taken a different angle attempt being the “Odd Cou­
than most productions. Stated ple.” Oscar is driven crazy by
Mahali, “I feel that this produc­ Felix’s “1 am Mister Clean”
tion doesn’t dwell on the obsession. The pair argues
stereotypes of the series and over
Oscar’s
sloppy
the original stage play. I housekeeping, or rather lack of
directed the actors in such a it, Felix’s picking up and gravy
way that each actor followed that won’t “come with the
the character lines set by Neil meat.”
Simon, but held his or her own
Director Mahali is quite ex­
merits of distinction.”
cited about the play, explained
Cast members include; Mahali, “Because of the group
Felix—-J. Dana Haynes, of seasoned actors I was work­
Speed—Douglas Rhodes, ing with, I was able to ask a
Murray—Joe
Schneck, good deal of the actors in areas
Roy — Lin Morris, Vin- of characterization and line
nie—Randy Evans, Oscar delivery. I think we have a very
Madison—James Nicodemus, good comedy on our hands.”
Gwendolyn Pigeon—Amy
The play opens Thursday
DeVour,,
Cecily and runs Friday and Saturday
Pigeon—Verlenda Proulx.
at 8 p.m. and concludes Sun­
Dancing prop changes by Tina day with a matinee at 2:30
p.m.
Riggs and Mike Clanton.
De Wolfe to teach aviation film class
Space, the second to final taught summer term by Fred
frontier. Not outer space, or DeWolfe.
What this summer’s film
the space between your ears,
but the atmospheric space. series will include is a mixed
Man has almost always desired bag of documentaries and
to conquer the air. The Wright Hollywood prototypes such as
Brothers performed the task “12 O’clock High” and “The
first, but the true hero of Flight of the Phoenix,” which
modem aviation has been con­ makes television appearances
sidered by many to be Charles often.
DeWolfe will open the class
Lindberg, especialy after he
flew the mighty Atlantic Ocean with an early documentary
which focuses on the history of
in his single engine craft..
Those dreams and realities naval aviation in the two world
of air travel are the subject of wars titled, “Hooks Down-
the next Humanities film series, Wheels Down,” and will end
“Film & Books: The airplane the course with Robert
and adventure,” which will be •(“Twilights Last Gleaming” and
“The Longest Yard”) Aldrich’s
stirring “The Flight of the
Phoenix.”
The film class includes:
June 22—“Hooks Down-
Wheels Down,” “The Red
Baron”
June 29—“The Thunderbolt,”
“The Memphis Belle”
July 6—“12 O’Clock High”
July 13—“Thirty Seconds
Over Tokyo”
July 20— “Bridges of Toko Ri”
July 27—“Fighting Lady”
Aug. 3—“The Spirit of St.
Louis”
Aug. 10— “The Flight of the
Phoenix”
man, but whom many saw as a
redneck par excellence:
“At a Long Island party, he
drank too much, sauntered in­
to the restroom and ordered a
tall young man standing at the
urinal to ‘step aside for the
Kingfish of Louisiana.’ When
the youth wouldn’t, Huey, un­
conventional as always, at­
tempted to direct the trajectory
of his stream between the
other’s legs. He missed and left
the party with a black eye.”
There is more to a country
than drunk and/or unconven­
tional politicians, and Man­
chester is also an excellent por­
trayer of mood. Technological
changes since the thirties are
secondhand acknowledgement
for most of us. But Manchester
is terrific at bringing it home:
“There were no power
mowers, clothes dryers, electric
blankets, nylons, frozen foods,
filter cigarettes, ball-point pens,
Scotch tape, tape recorders...”
This is about half the list. But
filter cigarettes?
Politically, Manchester does
a good job of being objective,
although he does reserve his
most revereht tones fdr
Franklin Roosevelt, understan­
dable, since he worked on
FDR’s campaigns. It’s far from
a whitewash, however, for
Manchester indicts Roosevelt
with unsurping congressional
authority in the early forties in
his efforts to help out England
in the early days of WWII, acts
which Manchester contends led
indirectly to Lyndon Johnson’s
illegal and fraudulent Gulf of
Tonkin Resolution ot 1^04. it
seems that JFK was not the first
president to have a mistress
while in office.
w
Not to dwell too much on the
sexual (ha!), the book’s por­
trayal of the attitudes prevalent
when the Kinsey Report came
out makes for delicious or hor­
rific reading, whichever you
prefer.. “One. Kinsey in­
vestigator found 1,000 wives
who were virgins and had no
idea why their marriages were
childless (Their husbands were
equally preplexed).”
*
An old Chinese proverb has
it that “Comparisons are
odious.” In the case of “The
Glory and the Dream,” It’s one
adage proven wrong.
arts briefs
The second in a two-part Focus on Women Seminar, “Choos­
ing Your Path: Options, Identity and Direction,” will be con­
ducted by College instructor Alison Johnson Thursday from 7-10
p.m. in Room CC 117. A $2 fee is required. For more informa­
tion, call Community Services at ext. 209.
“Cat Ballou,” starring Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin, will play at
noon in the Fireside Lounge on Friday. No charge to see the
Academy Award-winning comedy. >■
Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr.Strangelove” will be presented for the
“Great Directors” film series Monday, May 18. The Peter
Sellers/GeorgeC. Scott classic is to be projected in CC 117 at
6:30 p.m. Admission is free.
The Music Department presents Jazz Night on Wednesday,
May 20. All that jazz starts at 8 p.m. in the Community Center
Lounge and $1 admission is charged. For information, contact
the Music Department at ext. 434.
“Assisting Families with Chronic Mental Illness” is the subject of
the May 19 Focus on Women seminar composed and conducted
by the College Nursing Chairperson Carolyn Taylor. The seminar
begins at 7:00 p.m and runs until 10 p.m. in Room CC 117. The
fee is $2. For information, contact Community Services at ext.
209.
The Warner Pacific College Band and Wind Ensemble, under
the direction of Ronald Dieker and David Hamlin will present
works by such composers as Jerry (“Star Trek”) Goldsmith,
Gustav Holst and William Hill, Sunday at 3 p.m. in
Warner Pacific’s McGuire Auditorium. The concert is free to the
public. A free-will offering will be taken to underwrite future band
activities.
The ’50s hit musical, “Bye Bye, Birdie,” is running every Thurs­
day through Saturday until' June 13, on the Portland Civic
Theater Mainstage. Curtain rises at 8:30 p.m. Stephen Son-
dheims’s “Company” opened May 7 at the Lake Oswego Com­
munity Theater and will run each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
through June 13. For tickets and information, call 635-3901.
Page 5
Wednesday, May 13, 1981
centimeters
Colors by Munsell Color Services Lab