Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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'Purlie': BY TERRY DUGAS Of The Gamecock Staff When commenting on a theatrical performance or a film, it is impossible to separate form from content because one plays upon the other. "Purlie," however, presents a problem in that the form of the play is very good, with the strengths far out numbering the weaknesses; yet the content disturbs some- and offends many. The content and form evoked two responses in me, although even 9 PALM ETI "Comple PHONE DOWNTOWN - ~ Young Junior and Contemporary Missy SPORTSWEAR Op.. Frid AMIs SportsV No Fancy Fixtt Just Supe Tired Of L( Let Us Help~ BLOUSES *120 LONS SLEEE BUTTON DOWN HOODED BLOU PRE-TEEN JEAI Plus Slacks, Ve Mon Frird Strengtf here, one played upon the other. The technical aspects of the pla) were impressive. The stage set ting, designed by Frank Mohler II, consisted of revolving sets, sliding flats and overhangs which enabled the stage to be transformed from a church to a shanty to a com missary before the eyes of the audience. The staging was so effective it evoked a spontaneous round of applause from the audience at its first usage. The form of the opening number helped it excell as the highpoint of the play. "Walk Him Up the PO HAIRSTYLING STL te Service for Men and Women JERRY HENDRIX -- 256-2445 I IN THE ARCADE MALL - SUI IammM 1120 SN PH. 256 lay 10 AM 1 ix N' Me roar Wa tres, No Carpeting, r Low,. Low >Oki'ng"Thrown Tog You "Put It All '7 UP TURTLE SWIA BEs $ 6 CARDI US $550 JEANI SCEmW sts, Hooded Jackets, SI -St 10OAM -7 PM ay 10 AM - 9PM is far outn Stairs" sets all the typical black stereotypes which have emerged over the years. Beginning as a funeral service for the scourge of the blacks, Cap'n Cotchipee, the scene quickly evolves into a spiritual revival, gospel-singing, religious frenzy, Temptations-style dance, and barn-burning that is, by far, the finest number done by University Theatre in my four years here The unquestioned star of the play emerged a few numbers later in the person of one of the most talented people ever to appear at 'DIO T#11 the oI RrgC lop ED* STATB.MA NUWV W .4170 _____ '111 9 PM itch rehouse No Wallpaper Prices!!! ether?" bge ther" ENECK $ TEES S@ANS $7 I - STAWHTLES kirts, Etc. .umber w( Drayton Hall, Brenda Pressley. She is blessed with a phenominal voice that captured the audience from the opening bars of her first number. Playing the part of Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins, Pressley also exuded the charm and innocence inherent in the name. Her delivery was perfect despite being burdened by inane dialogue. The quality of her performance shone far above the role in which she was cast. When considering the content of the play, my perception is clouded by my cultural heritage and acquired prejudices. Ossie Davis has written a musical to be as patently offensive to whites as the "Amos and Andy" shows are to blacks. He succeeded admirably. Purlie Victorious Judson is forgiven for all his dishonest and devious dealings simply because they are for a good cause. The ster?type of the cruel, utterly bi eted Southerner is personified a ridiculed in Old Cap'n Cot eipee. His son, Charlie Cotchipee, By CHUCK C and TERRY Of The Gamec< A wealth of entertainment residet social, and intellectual activities. What would a university be wit Week? Well, for USC, one out of t, begins in earnest at 7:30 p.m. tonil Gold, featuring Chubby Checker, Crystals, and Johnny Thunder . Cockfest is at 8 p.m. Friday in tt skits, Cloggers, a Bluegrass band, D the closest thing we have to a high sc Saturday begins with the rejuvin at Richland Street and will end at t p.m. a free concert will feature R Wolfman Jack, the overaged farc Special." The "Super Bowl" begins at 7:301 USC, 0-4. and Va. Tech, 0-4. Let's h( For those who still can laugh afti Darrow Igus, will perform in tt Thursday nights. Igus, a regular on the CBS series his impressions of Bill Cosby and FE free to USC students with ID. The brilliant Claude Kipnis Mime USC Monday through Wednesday fc strations, and a major performance Mime is one of the major new ini Claude Kipnis is generally recogni2 and one of the best in the world, passing his former teacher, Marcel works growing from such diverse mi Exhibition" or "The Sorcer's Appr4 attributes of clown and tragediar laughter to tears and back. The Columbia Music Festival oper full length production of Verdi's oi October 11 in Township Auditorium. Grand Opera Theatre utilizes several such as realistic stage action and peri The highlights of the downtown feature and the greatest animatec is an X-rated softcore maker, Rand seducing each other on the way to s convention of hardcore pornographi Gamecock Theater . "Fani is the greatest example of animatiori from a lyrical "Rite of Spring" to a c terrifying "Night on Bald Mountain. shouldn't be missed. It opens Fridan .aknesses is the hopelessly inept product of the New South, patiently following where his black mentor, Idella Landy, leads. All the black stereotypes created by whites are reversed. What emerges is a very funny satire ending as an obsessive tirade. The moralizing tone permiating the last twenty minutes of the play is what disturbs or offends people. The impression given is that the solution of the race problem lies with the benevolent attitudes of blacks overcoming inherently bigoted whites and leading. inept white liberals. Whether that is true or not, a white audience cannot accept such a statement. In the final minutes of the play, the ef fectiveness of the satire is destroyed. Satire is best when light, for an offended person will simply close his ears to the message presented. Much of the audience left with closed ears. "Purlie" plays through Friday night. ROMER DUGAS ck Staff on campus this week, in cultural, out its spirit or its Homecoming NO isn't bad. Homecoming Week ght at the Coliseum with Night of the Coasters, the Dovells, the e stadium. It includes fraternity ietzel, McGuire and the like. It's hool pep rally. ated Homecoming Parade at noun he intramural fields. There, at 1 uby Red's Warehouse Band and e who is the host of "Midnight >.m. Saturday at the stadium with >pe the game does not end in a tie. i tfie game, tne black comedian, ie Golden Spur Wednesday and "Roll Out," will destroy you with ward G. Robinson. Admission is Theatre will be in residence at r a series of workshops, demon erests on college campuses and ed as America's greatest mime perhaps equalling, perhaps sur darceau. The repiftory includes asical themes as "Pictures at an rntice." A mime shares all the i, bringing the audience from is Its thirty-eIxth season with the pera, "La Traviata," at 8 p.m. The production by the Goldovsky new concepts in its presentation, formance in English. films are an X-rated bisexual I film ever created. "Score" y Metzner, who has two couples mtlrisiIng every sexual mode and y. It will open Friday at the asa" and music ever made. It moves omic "Sorcer's Apprentice" to a 'It is a genuine experience and at Dutch Square.