Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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entertaini i Fine pe By BARRY J. GLENN Entertainment Editor USC Theatre's production of "Vanities" is an excellent play demonstrating how the innocence and vitality of youth can turn into the uselessness of adulthood. Although the play is comprised of only three characters, the actresses who portray them offer insight and allow the audience to study their moods and see how their lives are changing. Lindsay Alexandre, MiLena Herring and Beth Meadows give their respective characters initial carefree attitudes which, by adulthood turn into vanity. The first scene is set in a high school gymnasium in 1963. Our three heroines are cheerleaders practicing for the big game and scheming how to rig the football queen contest so they will comprise the entire court. Their only concern at this point is to remain popular. High school is nothing more than a popularity contest and they all want college to be the same way. In this first scene the audience is able to pick up the characters' personalities. Joanne (Beth Meadows) is a kind of birdbrain who has been going with the same boy for four years. She cares only about one day getting married and having children. Mary (MiLena Herring) is the frp<> cnirit r?f iKo "?? ? ? J-i: ..v?< ui uic giuup, uaung a different boy every day. She is looking for freedom but just does not know where to find it. Kathy (Lindsay Alexandre) Jra5 ll^k Theatre of Deaf to perform The National Theatre of the I ' mbarking on its 20th nationwide t( fall. The company will present "Th< 1 Musketeers" at Columbia's T< * I Auditorium at ft p.m., Wednesday I :'2. The performance is sponsoi I ' nltura! Series. I Kstablished by federal grant ^ -itional Theatre of the Deaf is went rforman< portrays a more serious, organized person. She is head cheerleader and has bounciness and vitality, but inside is genuinely worried about what she will do with her life. Meanwhile she is trying to remain an "organized" person. The commendable performances of these actresses extend into the second and third scenes. Eiyen though they are growing up and changing somewhat, the basic traits remain. The second scene is set in 1968 and shows the girls in college rapidly approaching graduation. True to fhfiir parlipr fnrm Tnanna is engaged, Mary is planning a trip to Europe to look for her freedom and Kathy is confused about life after college. Their feelings are voiced aloud as they wonder what they will do if they ever become unpopular. The three vow to stick together. In this scene, however, a strain in the girls' relationship can be detected. JoAnne and Mary try to persuade Kathy to let herself go. Mary criticizes Joanne and is rather sarcastic in her attitude. The strain is not noticeable" unless ~..a: 1?I? -1 ?? '? me auuicucc iuuK5 cioseiy ai me girls' attitudes toward each other. In the final scene, the girls are women now and it is 1974. The basic personalities remain ? JoAnne is married with three children, Mary has "freed" herself by taking on a wild snobbish personality, but Kathy is still unsure about her life. This third scene is a treat, for the audience gets to see to some fine performances. An uneasiness .merit company of Ann ors, who have perfected f movement, visual peech, song and music. 1 The company was found nd has to its credit 19 na! )eaf is ".roadway runs, ten trours mr this ,nfj Australia, three films ; Three ational and internationa >wship earances. March The National Theatre ed by 'osigned for all audiences. roalo a new and vibran s, the utilizing visual language, a per- .poken language. P/)C /1M A/* '-<8$& * :iVik*5^HjRflte&..r- *' SB|i;: ;S'!^K |?p?;: ^K< li ^ aK>>- :; ':,. . :^--X'A^^j^yxA W^yMap^ K|< :x:;.::^ wKg ^ >-^^B Cast of 'Vanities'' pervades the air at this reunion and finally explodes into ugly remarks and insinuations. The performances by Meadows, Herring and Alexandre are commendable because they cast their characters into a basic mold and then branch out. Actions change but the personalities basically remain the same. Meadows as the spacy Joanne steals most of the funny lines of the show and maintains her spaciness throughout. Herring takes on a ^ A IfjSHB SI Maid and the Thiei V*ggfflg| March 21 at 8 p.m. \ B?lPil?S campus. jB&BK3G The opera works ' Gray with the U 0^B ducted by Gordon "The Old Mai( grotesque comedy was originally coi BHB| radio and received NBC broadcast stage production - wEBBH Philadelphia Oper wl The cast consist: jk BBH Valerie Kadow, K BHBflj Linda Schypers as 1H Gonce: jrica's deaf ac- Cftfollflft C their techniques language, wit, B ed ten years aco ^ tional tours, two J of Europe, Asia I 5 and numerous ' il television ap- ( of the Deaf is f Its purpose is to Township t theatre form, combined with V nee Vai innonce of youth becomes useless different accent in the final scene and portrays her snobbish character well. Alexandre gives the character of Kathy a certain kind of wisdom about life which the omers ao not realize ? that the vanity present here concerns their lives. Their plans for life have settled down into a abyss of nothingness. Director James Patterson uses an unusual technique in the play. The actresses change into new costume* for each scene, not in a a Worksho] ofi Workshop will Dresent the m _ iviV/iiklMdl tti production, "The Old centers ? f," March 19 at 4 p.m. and spinster, in Fraser Hall on the USC servant While hop is directed by Donald Pinkerto SC Orchestra being con- to stay o Goodwin. the heeo oo a and the Thief" is a liquor st in fourteen scenes, that Bob doe ticeived as an opera for thickens I its world premiere as an April 22, 1939. The first Scenic i was given by the Poage, i a Company in 1941. Carter a s of Miss Todd, played by Tickets i Molly Lahr as Laetitia, Festival ? Miss Pinkerton and Hal is $1.00 ft rt Calendar. ollsoum I _ . IA a - - - - tarry rriilte and Love Ui irk Clapton-John ffiarti lohn Denver?march 2( Nay Ion Jennings?April Dhio Players?April 9 Herbie fflann and Billy *1 Green-Slave?fflarcl Jackson Browne?April ? ritioQ9 vwwu Wkmm Richard Vogel-THE GAMECOCK inpss nf Q<1iililiAn<1 MMUIWIIWU side room but in the middle of the stage before the audience. Involved in these changes is a removal of clothing which sometimes gets down to the bare essentials. While this process tends to distract the audience it does serve a purpose. During the changes between acts the audience is able to see the characters' personalities change. Whereas in the first changing scene they continually sway to the music being played, in the last scene the See VANITIES, page 21 P fers 'Thief' ti in the role of Bob. The opera around Miss Todd, a middle-aged who lives alone< with her young Laetitia. entertaining her friend, Miss n, a beggar comes by and is invited vernight. Laetitia falls in love with ar, and the other two women rob a ore to give money to the beggar, s not love Laetitia, and the plot design is executed by Melissa with technical direction by Chris nd liehtina u.. -- - _0 D ukoigH uy v>nns Male. ire on sale at the Columbia Music Office at 1527 Senate St. Admission sr adults and 50 cents for students. ^limited--march 24 jn-inarch 25 > 16 Taylor--Apf|| 28 119 21