University of Delaware - Blue Hen Yearbook (Newark, DE)

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The University Theatre opened the 1981-82 season with Thornton Wilder's classic American drama, Our Town. Taking place at the turn of the century, the play depicted everyday life in Grover Corners, a small New Hampshire town. Unlike most plays, which are simply presented with the actors on stage, Our Town was presented in a some- fg rechl on $ Mc4;, , gw aw what three-fold manner, with the action taking place on not only the stage. Scenes were set in the front section of seats, and other actors were scattered throughout the the- atre, interacting with the narrator of the play. This method of presenta- tion was highly effective and great- ly enhanced the production of Our Town. i 3 Hie FEdy si'ks;;zn-;;.- i S S - e o .: T L e X F. o o : A -l , :J:' il e R R R R 13

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12 Harrington Theatre Arts Com- pany presented Leonard Gershe's Butterflies are Free in the Fall of '81. The play concentrated on the main character's ability to accept and overcome his disability. Don Baker was a blind songwriter who has moved away from an overbear- ing mother to face life on his own. Into his life enters Jill Tanner, a 19-year-old budding actress who is afraid of committments as a result of past experiences with men. Her excuse is that someone always gets hurt. Her friendship with Baker al- lows them both to learn, grow, and experience each other as well as themselves. Both characters were performed skillfully. Baker was seen as a sensi- tive person with both strengths and weaknesses, while Tanner appeared as an experienced individual with innocence in her pocket when it came to dealing with a blind per- son. Don's mother, Mrs. Baker, was well portrayed as a domineering mother who turns into a sensitive and understanding person. The in- complex setting and standard dia- logue also contributed to the play's SuCcess. The University Theatre's second production of 1981-82, Brecht on Brecht, was characteristic of the fine reputation of a Delaware show. The play traced the life of German poet and playwright Bertolt Brecht. As the play progressed, the action followed Brecht's early life, his struggle to write in a Hitler-domi- nated Germany, his exile to Amer- ica in 1933, and his subsequent re- turn to Berlin, where he died in 1956. The play was presented by an eight member company which per- formed monologues and sketches taken from Brecht's well-known works, most notably, The Three Penny Opera. The stage was set to resemble an abandoned warehouse. In addition, the different acts of the play were illustrated with over 300 slides of Brecht and the people involved in his life.

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14 Kim Parent and Lisa Johnson, two University of Delaware gradu- ates, made beautiful music together in Bacchus. Throughout the even- ing the duo's selections ranged from folk, rock, blues, reggae, to Motown. Parent and Johnson's fa- vorite song Dog and Butterfly originally by Heart easily became the crowd's favorite. The Young women enjoyed the same tastes in music, that of Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt and Neil Young. During the show, they combined well known songs with their own origi- nal compositions. Parent and John.- son complimented one another with range and harmony, and were a hit with the Bacchus crowd. Par- ent, a psychology major and John- son, an English major set an exam- ple for all Delaware students. - Brondywine Sgond e