Westminster College - Argo Yearbook (New Wilmington, PA)

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The last event of this year ' s Celebrity Se- ries was a concert by musician John Brown- ing. The April performance of this interna- tionally acclaimed pianist made audiences apreclate the talent of this man. It was easy to see that Browning deserved his reputation. The Westminster Theatre Department put on three productions this year. The fall play, in November, was Ted Tally ' s powerful dra- ma Terra Nova. The tragic story chronicles the Scott expedition to the Antartic in the winter of 1912. The play, directed by Dr. Earl Lammel, was favorably received by the audi- ence. The seven actors included Gary Clark as Scott. Dr. David Guthrie, the sceneo- grapher, did an excellent job on the scenery as Beeghly stage became the South Pole. In March, the Theatre Department pro- duced Beth Henley ' s Pulitzer prize winning play. Crimes of the Heart. The serio-come- dy, set in Hazelburst, Mississippi, played to good crowds. The action concerned the re- union of three sisters when one is jailed on murder charges. The production was sound, though perhaps not as engaging as possible. There were six actors with Beth Grinager, Elizabeth Lampe and Joan Thompson play- ing the sisters. Dr. Lammel directed and Dr. Guthrie developed the elaborate props. f f «1 28 Cultural Minimagazine

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In January, Gordon Fox Kreplin, a classi- cal guitarist, performed as a bonus for sea- son ticket patrons. His congenial manner and rapport with the audience made for an enjoyable evening. Kreplin also gave a trib- ute to Martin Luther King in celebration of King ' s national holiday. The Celebrity Series included a second musical in this season ' s agenda. Brigadoon offered viewers a couple hours of sheer fan- tasy. By the end of the two-act play, the little Scottish town seemed to be a natural part of reality. The romantic tale was developed through such beloved songs as Heather on the Hill, Almost Like Being in Love, and I ' ll Go Home with Bonnie Jean. The Vienna Choir Boys provided their own enchantment for the audience. The most tickets sold for any event this season were for this twenty-four member choir composed of boys aged ten to thirteen. The choir de- lighted listeners with a program of songs ranging from Ave Maria to Der Apoth- eker, Haydn ' s one-act operetta, to Willie Nelson ' s On the Road Again. Cultural Minimagazine 27

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The second spring production, in May, was The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. The Victorian farce recounted the problems which arise when two men im- personate the same man, Ernest, to impress two women. The tale of mixed identities and foul-ups was well received. The nine actors featured Chris Blewett, Tracy Pettibon, Deb Port, and Thad Smith. Eileen Hendrickson was the director and Dr. Guthrie was the scenographer. The Mermaids provided their own kind of entertainment in March. The well-attended show, entitled A Night on Broadway, was comprised of eleven numbers with music from Broadway shows. The ten Mermaids, including Linda Winters, a 1981 graduate of Westminster, performed to songs such as Cabaret and Mame. The finale was One from A Chorus Line. Two girls from the community were also featured in one number. The Mermaids reprised part of the show in May for Parent ' s Day. Another facet of campus talent was dis- played by Dance Theatre in April. The sev- enth annual performance was given by the twenty-two students and directed by Mrs. Christine Cobb. The show, An Evening of Dance, included numbers entitled Persua- sion and Blind Abstractions. Audiences also saw dancers from Slippery Rock in one number, Audobon. All in all. Dance The- atre provided another special night of dance. This year, Westminster did have a lot to offer in the areas of culture and entertain- ment. The wide variety of events provided a selection for everybody. We were all en- riched by the experience. Cultural Minimagazlne