Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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Th ; f £S xn interview indomitability in the f ,ceofadvers„y, ||f| IC S. giving the campus Proving that theatre can be one of the most topical of the performing arts, I the Mainstage season included two Athol Fugard plays. Fugard is considered one of theatre ' s foremost contemporary play- wrights and reveals a remarkable talent for depicting South Africa ' s issues and concerns. Directed by Cliff Thompson, A Lesson From Aloes was the first of the Fugard plays presented November 29 through December 1st. A Lesson From Aloes portrayed the struggle for human dignity of a liberal Afrikaner, his wife and their dinner guest. As the play unfolds, the characters are faced with the alternatives of exile, madness and loneli- ness. The aloe plant is used as a metaphor for showing man ' s indomitabilty in the face of adversity. Bob Klyce played Piet, a liberal South African who hides behind his plants. Mary Tarochione portrayed his wife, Gladys, who is feeling the pressure of survival. Kenneth Knaff played Piet ' s friend Steve, a warm man with a hearty laugh but terrible angers that reveal themselves during his last visit with Piet. By Red $. liaawced At dinner, Kenneth Knaff, Robert Klyce and Mary Tariochione learn the Lesson of the Aloe. Photo by Theater Dept. In a light moment from the play, Steve (Kenneth Knaff) shares his view on the aloe with friend Piet (Bob Klyce). Photo by Theatre Dept. The second Fugard play traced the growth of a South Afrikaner and showed the cast and audience The Dichotomy Of Collision. (Melvin McCoy) finds delight as Willie (Martin A. Wakefield) is assaulted with a wash towel by Hally (Jeff Seabaugh). Photo by Theater Dept. Master Harold . . . And The Boys was the second Athol Fugard play pre- sented in the Mainstage season. Directed by Robin Cannon, the story of emotional turmoil of a young South Afrikaner moving from innocent childhood to poisonous bigotry. Set in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the play starred Jeff Seabaugh as Hally, a pre- cocious young white man who laughs, argues and dreams with his two best friends Sam and Willie. Sam was played by Melvin McCoy, and Martin A. Wakefield portrayed Willie. Sam and Willie are Hally ' s closest friends and truest family. In the small Port Elizabeth cafe Hally struggles with his emotions and desires in the hope of finding a world without col- lision. Sam and Willie must endure his outrages as well as the pressures brought on by their racial differences. I got the part and then I went home and read the whole play again, said Wakefield, I didn ' t realize how powerful it was until then. And then a lady came backstage on opening night with tears in her eyes and she told me how much she liked the performance. That ' s when I knew it was good. By Rod $. Maawocd Profile 29

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As the fortune teller, Missy Hester casts for a prediction from the beyond. Photo by Theater Dept. Although the production was enormous, costumes large in variety and a cast of 36, the season theatrical opener Nct Herely Endured Cut Prevailed. The Mainstage season opened with Thornton Wilder ' s masterpiece satire, The Skin Of Our Teeth. The satire was directed by Joanna Helming and featured an all-MSU student cast. The three act comedy followed a family through several ages of time and several disasters. I like what the play says, said Helming, It says, as William Faulkner said, ' I believe that man will not merely endure; he will prevail. ' The play starred Jim West as Mr. Antrobus, who invents the wheel and the alphabet and Suzye Lomenick as Sabina, a maid who personified temptation. The cast also included Teresa Harrison as Mrs. Antrobus, Crystal Robbins and Jeff Seabaugh as the Antrobus children, Gladys and Henry. Jim West, who is enjoying his eleventh season with Memphis State theatre, said, Doing a Wilder piece is great. Wilder was a gentle, optimistic American, and it is a pleasure to work with that kind of material. Though these three qualities seem to be contradictory, in Wilder they are mutually reinforcing. The production was enormous. Costume designer Douglas Koertge was responsible for the 65 different outfits necessary for the large cast of about 36 people. Set designer Jan Chambers gave the set a story book look with large, collapsible sets. The massive undertak- ing was presented as a cohesive, professional theatre piece - a wonderful opening for any season. Suzye Lomenick finds shelter from the end of the world. Photo by Theater Dept. Cv reel S. HaCHtccJ 2$

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The MSU Theater Department explored the concepts of freedom of choice, and freedom of expression in true Steven Welsh (back) tries to convince Marc Kadetz of critical error in justification of his point. Photo Theater Dept. Revolutionary L ■ ' I I M M K I f I ompleting the Studio Season of the Hlkn B I C Theatre department was David jVHs I ! | L fe 1 — - 1 Mamet ' s electrifying and disturbing play, American Buffalo. Directed by James West, American Buffalo tells of three losers in a junk shop who are planning to purloin a collection of rare coins. Marc Kadetz appeared as Donny, the brains of the group. Stephen Welsh por- trayed Bobby, a kid totally dependent on Donny. Dennis West completed the trio as Teach, a tough talking thug who horns in on the heist. West said that he chose the play because ... I think it ' s important. The play deals with the perversion of the Ameican revo- lutionary spirit. People tend to forget this country was founded by revolutionaries. West said that important concepts examined in American Buffalo are freedom of individual, freedom of expression, freedom of choice and liberty. We ' re looking out for American interests. We are American ' s first. Whatever happened to human being ' s first? That ' s one of the reasons why I like American Buffalo. It asks tough questions. It doesn ' t ask them directly. It doesn ' t mention politics. By Red Stafford liaswocd Jim West comes to terms with Marc Kadetz ' s point in the scene ' s climax. Photo by Theater Dept. Anna Sanborn puts a sleeper on opponent Diedre Hade. Photo by Theater Dept. With an unusual blend of comedy, music and wrestling, the Theater Department went Anna Sanborn dives off the middle rope with a flying body-press for Kevin Freland. Photo by Theater Dept. The MSU Theatre Studio Season opened with a heavy weight — Trafford Tanzi. This curious blend of music, comedy, drama and wrestling played before sell-out audiences November 4 through the 9th. Directed by Oliver Hinson, Claire Luckham ' s play was masterfully staged in an wrestling arena, where the depth of human relationships was played out in a series of vignettes utilizing a remarkably real wrestling matches. The undercurrents Body Slamming of Trafford Tanzi ' s family tension and bitterness emerged out of the various motifs of acrobatics, songs and dialogue. Anna Louise Sanborn played the cute and gutsy Trafford Tanzi. Pamela Cathey and Terry Scott portrayed Tanzi ' s parents. Kevin Snelgrove played Tanzi ' s husband Dean Rebel. Diedre Hade was Platinum Sue, Tanzi ' s best friend. Victor Brown appeared as the referee. Hinson said she found the unusual play while in England. My mother said that I should really read this play. ..when I did, it just really hit me. I thought that it could draw in people to the theatre that might not usually go. To help with the wrestling choreography of Trafford Tanzi, Hinson enlisted the help of wrestling coach John Stewart. Stewart is a MSU business major who is planning a career in wrestling. By Red Stafford fiaawecd 3C