Fort Hays State University - Reveille Yearbook (Hays, KS)

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Operas 1- The physician Spineiloccio (Tim Counts, Hays junior) consoles Buoso ' s nephew Gherardo (Vern Fryberger, Hays graduate student) and his wife Nella (Sue Martin. Hays senior) in Gianni ’ Z Despite the household ' s turmoil, love flowers between Lauretta (Julinne Roberts. Quinter soph- omore) and Rinuccio (David Lundry. Topeka jun- ior). 3. Buoso’s family is dismayed to find they are not included in the will of Buoso 4, Once Gianni Schieei (Brad Robinson, Colorado Springs senior) has deceived the authorities into believing he was the dying Buoso, he had to reckon with Buoso ' s cousin Zita (Kathy Overly. Hays graduate stu- dent). his daughter-in-law Ciesca {Theresa Wicker, Hays graduate student) and Nella (Sue Martin).

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if £ ' ' a uncle Vanya Middle age — a period of life posing serious questions about personal iden- tity — provided a plot for both Uncle Vanya and Equus. but the manner in which each handled that crisis was uni- que, Both productions had basically the same theme and mood. Dr. Lloyd Frerer. assistant professor of communi- cations and director of both dramas said. ‘Uncle Vanya ' offered a classic, realistic approach and ‘Equus was modern and almost surrealistic. While “Uncle Vanya” (Nov. 16-19) was judged as an entry in the American College Theatre Festival. Equus (Mar. 1-4) focused media attention on FHS when a planned nude scene was can- celled midway through rehearsals.

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Opera, an aspect of theater that was often elusive to western Kansans, was not so to patrons of FHS theater. The Department of Music presented two one-act comic operas in Felten- Start Theater for three nights. Pergo- lesi’s “La Serva Padrona and Puccin- ni’s, “Gianni Schicci were sung in Eng- lish, directed by Patrick Goeser. associ- ate professor of music, and accompa- nied by members of the Civic Sym- phony. ‘‘Other schools spend months in preparation for opera,” Goeser said, “but our six rehearsals with the orches- tra proved successful. Two students were responsible for roles in both productions. Theresa Wicker. Hays graduate student, per- formed in both La Serva and “Gianni. while Brad Robinson, Colo- rado Springs senior, handled both lead roles. i had to take extra care of my voice for several weeks,” Robinson said. That meant no drinking, socializing or exposure to bad weather. Wicker was particularly pleased with the Thursday and Saturday evening performances. “Comic operas are a lit- tle harder to perform because of the precision of the timing, she said. The crowd reaction was slow, but picked up considerably in ‘Gianni.’ Along with Robinson and Wicker, 13 other students had acting roles. Nine musicians were in La Serva’s string orchestra and 15 others accompanied “Gianni with flutes, reeds, horns and percussion.