ACTS & PERFORMERS
Celtic Tradition in Story and Song
The Bandon Historical Society will offer a 15-minute illustrated lecture and an hour of stories and music
recreating a performance of an 11th century Celtic Court. The introductory slides, narrated by Rachel Foxman,
Research Associate at the Society, will offer a history of the Celtic people, mapping their migration from the
Danube River Valley outward to the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, Spain, the North Sea, end - eventually
Brittany and the British Isles. The audience will explore religious sites and Celtic symbolism, both ancient and
modern. Then Ms. Foxman will focus on the importance of Celtic storytellers, who kept alive a rich trove of
images and symbols dating back to their early tribal cultures; and musicians, who often served as advisors,
philosophers, and biographers for the nobility. As the slide show ends, Ms. Foxman will be Joined by folk
musician Charlie Anderson to take the audience back to a misty castle in Britain for an enchanted hour of story
and song in the classic Celtic mode.
Masks of the World
Taking part in the Chautauqua again this year will be the popular Theatre Mask Ensemble of Portland, which
has created a new program centering on the use of masks In various world cultures. A combination of slides,
lecture, and performance will be used In this program, which will pick up where last year's "Faces In Time"
left off. This year, Jerry Mouawad, Director of the Ensemble; Carol Uselman and Mark Opshlnsky will
demonstrate the ritualistic use of masks In the religious ceremonies of Africa's Mende Secret Society then turn
their attention to ancient Greece, where Greek comedy and Its masks served to purge society of its
psychological and social problems. Next, the group will Journey to the northwest coast of America and introduce
the traditions of the Kwaklutl Indians, whose mask dances depicted live manifestations of the Kwakiutl
ancestors. And finally, the Ensemble will explore the story of the European circus clown, the Indonesian mask
dance, and modern European mask theatre.
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The Fool: Social Critic and Healer
Moving Space, a Portland company, will acquaint audiences with the fool that cheeky fellow employed for
centuries by kings and playwrights to point out our human foibles. For this performance, clowns, Jesters, and
fools from around the world will be Introduced to us as members of a traveling medicine show. First, we will
meet a badln, a figure from sixteenth-century French theatre, who was a precursor of Shakespeare's wise fools.
From the badin we will learn about the wise fools and about the religious origins of drama. Next, a shaman will
appear to describe her role in primitive society as performer, sage and healer. And in the course of the show we
will become acquainted with the fool In Greek comedy; in Roman society, where half-wits were sometimes kept
as domestic pets; In eleventh-century society, whose Feast of Fools allowed participants for that day only - to
speak their minds without fear of retribution; and in the modern-day circus. Robin Lane, Barbara Bernstein,
Izetta Smith and Robin Chllstrom are the featured fools.
Myths of Grecian Women
This Chautauqua act will feature a favorite lecturer and performer from last year Peter Montgomery who
will be Joined in his new presentation by his wife, Virginia. The Montgomery arc known for their long
association with the Portland Civic Theater and their dramatic work In the public school system. Together they
will ask us to look at the part feminine values played In ancient Greek society. To illustrate these values which
still have Importance for us today the Montgomerys will perform selections from such plays as Antigone, The
Bocchae, Acestls, and Medea and from the Odyssey. Between these selections the audience will be treated to
pertinent and Impertinent banter on the nature of the feminine.
' Lecture portions of the program will be Illustrated with slides, while the performances will be given in
authentic costumes against a backdrop reminiscent of ancient Greece.
Genghis Khan. World Conqueror
Oregon Historical Society development officer Chet Orloff will present a slide show and lecture describing
the reign of terror produced by Genghis Khan and his million men on horseback. During the early thirteenth
century, Mongolia was hit by a drought that forced Mongol horsemen to move out of their domain in search of
new fields. Within three years these armies had forced the tribes and provinces of Western China and Mongolia
into submission. Then, driven by his successes, ambition, and an insatiable demand for food for his men and
their horses, the Great Khan marched his armies west through Afghanistan, Persia, and into southwest Russia.
And although he himself returned to China and a quiet death, his armies continued their advance all the way
to Hungary.
Mr. Orloff spent two years in Afghanistan a land Genghis Khan especially laid waste and studied, lived
in, and photographed many of the sites the Great Khan visited, crushed and fortified.
Hispanics in Oregon: Recent Immigrants?
Bringing us back to our own part of the world, Dr. Jose Gutierrez, Assistant Professor of Social Science at
Western Oregon State College, will present an illustrated tour of the Hispanic presence In the Northwest. The
slide show covers sixteenth-century Spanish explorations of the Oregon Coast; the Mexican-American War; the
Impact of the Mexican Revolution on Oregon; causes of immigration and migration to Oregon In this century;
and the current status of this ethnic group, the largest minority In our state. In addition, Dr. Gutierrez will
explore several topics of Current Interest; labor organizing, bilingual education, health care, cultural
celebrations, the farm worker program, demography and employment, and Coleglo Cesar Chavez. Before
Inviting the audience to Join him In a discussion, Dr. Gutierrez will also examine the Chicano, Mexican,
Spanish, Nahuatl, and Moorish contribution to the English language.