University of Nebraska Omaha - Tomahawk / Gateway Yearbook (Omaha, NE)

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moss was in reality a conglomeration of chicken wire, muslin, rubber hosing, wood, carpet patches and several layers of paint. The lighting, combined with other scenic elements, created a fantasy world far removed from daily reality. The stage itself was extended out into about the fourth row of audience seats. This additional 16 feet made it possible for the forest set to remain hidden by a multi-colored scrim until the third scene. At this point, the major action shifted from Athens (located on the apron of the stage) to the fairy-inhabited glen (located behind the muslin curtain). Costuming began at the start of the fall semester and continued up until the actual play performance. All of the out- fits, with the exception of the player's, were created by the crew giving attention to Elizabethan, Athenian and fantasy garb. Particularly difficult with a Shake- spearean production is the level of com- prehension. Apparently, voice inflection and articulation presented little problem to the veteran UNO actors. Their final product was easily understood and heard throughout the performance. UNO speech and drama instructor Fred Vesper directed the production re- ferred to by many as one of the uni- versity's best. Says Vesper of his handling of the production, One has to treat Shakespeare as an ordinary mortal. Keeping this thought in mind. Vesper, together with the actors and stage crew, obviously proceeded to re-create an im- mortal work as best as was mortally possible. ■ Thisbe (Steve Wheeldon) whispers to her lover Pyramus (Dick Johnson) through the chinic in the Wall (Bob Chenoweth) while other players observe.

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Oberon, King of the Fairies (Jacl Eggert), argues with Titania the Fairy Queen (Madeleine Fallon). In this scene, staging, costumes and lighting draw the audience into a supernatural fairy world. I; Theseus and Hippolyta, played by David Carson In the epilogue, Rita Paskowitz as Puck addresses Peter Quince, portrayed by sophonDore James and Alison Strain, gaze contentedly at the moon. the audience with wonderment and disbelief. Fitzpatrick, introduces the play within the play. 28

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Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. William Gaines Director of Black Studies Melvin Wade Dean of College of Arts and Sciences Dr. John Blackwell Regents' Commission AWAITING ANOTHER ROAR LIKE A lion that roars twice, the Regents' Commission on the Urban University was front page news at its inception in June and again in Sep- I tember, when its report was made public. The report itself has lain like a lamb until recently, when a steering committee was formed for its imple- mentation. The interval between the release of the report and the formulation of the steering committee has allowed time for some of the key participants on the commission to reflect on the report's significance and answer some of the criticism directed at the report. The purpose of the Regents' Com- mission was to examine the role of UNO as an urban university in the decade of the 1970s. The commission was made up of more than 140 Nebraska residents under the chairmanship of Willis Strauss, president of Northern Natural Gas, and the consultation of Dr. Kenneth Roose, vice-president of the American Council of Education. Their examination resulted in 20 recommendations which are designed to guide the university through the 70s. From the beginning there was op- position to the commission's objective. There were those who hesitated to open the university's doors to such thorough public scrutiny. The very suggestion that the university's mission needed reviewing was a concern to many. But Dr. George Heather, dean of the College of Business Administration feels, Any institution in a position where change can be rapid and extreme needs to take a periodic look at itself. The report has pointed a direction for the university to provide and create services for the community, which it might not otherwise have thought of. iVIany who agreed with the commis- sion's objective questioned the validity of having the 140-plus persons from all parts and professions of Nebraska doing the scrutinizing. To them, if the university was to be looked at, it should be looked at by the university community. UNO students, faculty and administrators were adequately represented on the commis- sion, but it was also composed of city government officials, state legislators, re- gents, representatives of business, agri- culture and commerce, as well as Omaha minority group representatives. Dr. William Gaines, dean of Academic Affairs, believes, The composition of the commission was very healthy. The in- clusion of persons outside the university gave the report a tremendous perspective. It didn't include just Omaha, but people all over the state, and this is important because the university is here to serve the entire state. The commission's member- ship afforded an opportunity for input from all professional climates and seemingly had a good balance. State-wide participation on the com- mission and the heavy news media cover- age at the outset led to speculation that the true function of the Regents' Com- mission was one of public relations. Dr. John Blackwell, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, dismisses public re- lations as one of the main objectives of the commission. He insists, The Regents' Commission was not put on as a publicity stunt. One of the by-products of the commission was good public relations, but this wasn't considered a major func- tion of the commission. Probably the greatest criticism was 30