‘Towards Zero 9 rates towards perfect ten
By D. Dietrich
Of The Print
When Theater Director Jack Shields said the
students at Clackamas Community College
would benefit from the instruction of a guest
director for the winter term play, he was
understating the fact. Proof of this arrived in
the form of a thoroughly enjoyable and
refreshing, not to mention professional produc
tion of Agatha Christie’s “Toward Zero.”
which opened to a close to full house Thursday
night in the McLoughlin Theater.
Whether the majority of praise should be
aimed at Merril Lynn Taylor, who is the guest
director and pride of the theater department
this term, or the complimentary pie should be
sliced more evenly, in any case the end result is
a splendid evening of suspense, drama, comedy
and satire.
The set-up for the murder-mystery plot is as
typical as “the butler did it.” A group of peo
ple are gathered at the central figure’s house, in
this case the manor of Lady Tressilian. Lady
Tressilian is old and rather crotchety but more
in the vein of speaking her mind than with any Superintendent Battle (Roy Osborne) and sidekick
intentional malice. Patricia Lawrence gave a Inspector Leach (Joe Schenck) discuss possible
splendid performance as Tressilian and manag suspects in the murder of Lady Tressilian.
ed to make her more than just a one-sided
caretaker who naturally has no life of her own
necessity to the plot.
to speak of.
Assembled at Tressilian’s home at Gull’s
Tensions fill the air from the beginning of the
Point in Salt Creek, Cornwall are Mathew
first act as loves lost and found are brought into
Treves, a friend of Tressilian’s, Thomas Royde
the picture. Dona Miller as the sophisticated
and Neville Strange, two slightly middle-aged
Audrey is the center of affections from both
men who both spent childhood summers at the
Neville (who wants her back) and Thomas (who
Tressilian manor when Mr. Tressilian was still
wishes he’d had the guts to ask her to marry
alive and who also share a history of jealousies
him before Neville had). Naturally Kay has lit
and hate, Kay Strange, who is Neville’s wife, as
tle appreciation for Audrey’s finer upbringing,
well as Audrey Strange, who is Neville’s ex-
especially when compared to her own, plus the
wife. Popping in and out of the manor is the
fact that her husband constantly dotes on
handsomely debonair Ted Latimer, who is a
Audrey’s every whim. Audrey couldn’t care less
close (he’d prefer closer) friend of the current
about Neville’s infatuation and is enamored by
Mrs. Strange. A fixed household character is
Thomas (getting this down?).
Mary Aldin, Tressillian’s faithfully devoted
Pauling hosts
alumni artwork
A collection of,artwork by
former Clackamas Communi
ty College student, Jeff Silvia,
is currently on display in the
Pauling Center gallery area
and will remain until March
23.
Originally
from
Massachusettes, Silvia has
studied fine arts in Belgium at
Academi van Krust and travel
ed through Europe studying
art and culture. He earned an
associate of arts degree at
Clackamas in 1982 and will
graduate with a bachelor of
fine arts from the University
of Oregon this spring.
The collection of Silvia’s
works on display include pain
tings, both oil and water color,
bronze, ceramic and wood
sculptures, marionettes, dry
point, aqua tint, and etchings.
An open house will be held
for Silvia’s showing on March
16 from 4-6 p.m.
Swiftly moving along to the brutal murder of
Lady Tressilian by means of a golf iron, there
seems to be no apparent motive. Unlike the un
told number of mysteries where everyone, in
cluding sweet old ladies, have a reason to club
someone to death, this macabre murder ap
pears senseless.
To solve the mystery, enter Superintendent
Battle and his faithfull sidekick Inspector
Leach. Battle is not a stereotype of the bumbl
ing police chief but rather a slow-paced, occa
sionally patronizing seeker-of-justice. Roy
Osborne gives a colorful character to Battle,
filled with idiosyncrasies and mannerisms.
Christie wrote only two novels with Battle in
the investigation, which seems a shame because
it is refreshing not to have the loud-mouthed
fool as a constant agitation.
“Towards Zero” is one of Christie’s lesser-
known and performed plays, but certainly not
by any fault of the story. Although the play is
complete with all the structural characteristics,
there are surprising twists which challenge even
the most proficient mystery solvers in the au
dience. The cast is uniformly excellent
throughout the the play, with only a little ¡stiff
ties in the role of Neville by Clark Casperson,
but such observation could be interpreted as
part of the prudish character. Top honors must
go to Joshua-Robbin Collins in the hysterical
and applause-capturing style of Latimer. Neil
Hass as Royde and Jim Nicodemus as Treves
give very believable and stabilizing perfor
mances as compared to more varied yet never
weak acting by Marlyce Sherrie Baird as Kay
and Linda Kuntz as the endearing Mary.
“Towards Zero” will run March 15 and 16 at
8 p.m. with a performance at 2:30 on Sunday,
March 17. The company will then take the pro
duction to the Coaster Theater at Cannon
Beach for shows on March 28, 29, and 30 at 8
p.m. General admission is $3, $2 for students
and senior citizens with reservations are admit
ted free.
Scholarships
SCHOLARSHIPS
WITH
DEADLINES OF MARCH 31,
APRIL 1,2 or 5
avvailable for Indians in Health
Care programs. The dollar amount
is unspecified.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST SEC-
TION/American Water Works
Assoc. One $500 scholarship for
students interested in the Public
Water Supply field.
OREGON CITY BUSINESS And
Professional Women’s Club. One
full-tuition scholarship for two
terms of the 1984-85 academic year
(Winter 85 and Spring 85). Second
year Females Apply Now.
ALBERT
E.
JONES
Memorial/Fire Science. Two full
tuition scholarships for the
1985-86 academic year for students
majoring in Fire Science.
SCHOLARSHIPS
WITH
DEADLINES OF APRIL 12 and
15:
OREGON ASSOC. OF PUBLIC
Accountants. 10 awards valued at
$500 to $1000 are made each year
for students majoring in Accoun
ting.
HOWARD P. STEPHENSON In
ternship - Oregon Columbia
Chapter/International Assoc, of
Business Communicators. One
$750 award plus summer employ
ment in a publications office for a
Journalism or Communications
student.
EASTERN OREGON STATE
College Presidential Merit Award.
A tuition waiver for attendance at
EOSC only. Valued at $250-$500.
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF The
Blind/Floyd Qualls Memorial. 16
scholarships valued at $1000 to
$2500 for students who are Legally
Blind.
INDIAN HEALTH CARE Im
provement. Several programs are
UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND-
Multnomah School of Engineer
ing. Several awards of $1,750 are
made each year to transfering
Engineering students.
YMCA
OF
COLUMBIA-
Willamette. $250 to $1000 is
available each year for students
showing YMCA affiliation.
Page 5
............ centiintitors
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50.87
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