The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 30, 1979, Page Page 7, Image 7
IJttleW,
By Karen Moody
Gamecock Staff Writer
The lights dimmed iust as I was fumblinc
desperatly for a pen. My hands grasped the
familiar round shape and I leaned back with
a sigh of relief, prepared to enjoy the play ?
and enjoy it I did.
The play was Workshop Theatre's new
production of the Louisa May Alcott classic,
r :**i? ti/?? ?
jlviiiitr rvuiritzri.
The opening scene introduces us to the
four March girls. First there is Meg,
patiently knitting away and dreaming
bashfully of a lovely home and a loving
husband.
Second, there is Beth, sitting quietly in her
corner striving to bring peace to her rambunctious
sisters. Then there's Amy, sitting
on the window-seat and busily sketching,
trying very hard to act grown-up and forget
that her nose was cruelly disfigured by
sister Jo when Jo dropped her, as a baby,
down the coal shuttle.
Lastly, there is Jo, always moving, full of
energy and desperately trying to cling to her
tom boy childhood.
The play moves on from this opening
scene, introducing the rest of the characters
very quickly. Unfortunately, for anyone who
has read the book Little Women, the play
alters the sequence of events. For example,
mention is made in the play of Laurie
shortly after Meg and Jo recieved an invitation
to the gardener's party. While in the
book, the March girls didn't even meet
Laurie until the gardener's party.
However, it is impossible to expect a play
to be able to follow explicitly a book of some
800 pages. The quickness with which we are
introHnrpH tn thu? rharartpr*; upfv; ?i? in
volved right away. One instantly wants to
learn more about these people, and this
desire is quickly granted.
All of the performers in this play are
excellent, however, as in most really good
plays, there are some outstanding actors.
Milena Herring as Jo is very good. From the
very first line, she captures the character of
Jo, and she keeps her. She has you believing
that she truly is Jo.
Shp is also a nrofpssional and I mean this
as the highest praise. Miss Herring made a
few mistakes at the beginning of the play,
but she kept going, and, when at one point
wmmmmmm
Wonder celebrates the 'sec
omen9fe
she remarked on one of her mistakes,
made the remark as Jo. Not once did
break character.
The bieeest surorise to mp nprsonallv
to find the name of Bill Mould, directc
the South Carolina College and a profe
of French here at the university, listen
the program as Professor Bhaer.
Mould was absolutely great as the
somewhat absentminded Gerr
, professor, who is deeply in love with Jo
afraid to show it. He has the character d
pai, complete wun an extremely convm
German accent and continental F
clicking. Mould as Professor Bhaer
really priceless, at times tender, sad,
wistful, and at others exurberantly ha]
but always warmly human.
The best actor, however, was
Holmes, Jr. as Laurie. Mr. Holmes
trayed Laurie as a young man in s
pants, as well as a young man proposin
his wife, with great believability. He
superb. The delivery of his lines was alv
different, yet always just right. He
Laurie as I'd always pictured him ? i
yet sensitive and always eager to help.
The character of Laurie has a great m
of the comedy lines in the play, and Hoi
delivers them right on time. Yet, he is ;
to act seriously as well. One of the
scenes in the play is Jo's rejection of La
as a husband.
Herring and Holmes compliment e
other's acting beautifully. Holmes mana
to capture Laurie's feelings of hurt
anger without falling into the trap
overacting, Herring plays off his respor
perfectly. She is understanding vet
willing to let Laurie have the luxer>
wallowing in self-pity.
There was one other scene that 1 fo
particularily good ? Beth's death sc<
The acting in this scene was convincing,
the lighting was what made it so effectiv<
f
As Beth talked about life and the surel
her approaching death, the lights got sc
and darker. Finally, only one light was
a C rv/\f oU/\tnrt D/\iU I tvi
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her face radiant as she spoke about God
her life. When she finally left the st;
going to her room to die, the lights nc
jj? P|B| There's a
contempora:
taking CHA1
a revelation
your favorit
K last few yea
8ot them far
3 Foreigner
sound, neith
Styx and Ka
riuueu uugu
^ar8a>n bins
filled with s
r?ck I've ev
*.Mr J version of th
Now, for r
megastars i
^8^ *or ^ie ^rst
Beatles cha
like(* them
around with
production I
the Eagles a
UII^ will/ iur\*
Wonder h
respected g
probably fc
power by no
out. But nc
career on ti
Journey Thr
:ret ' fe'
matures <
she
she
was
>r of
ssnr
i on
shy,
nan
but
own
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leel- M'
was EjgSfM
and
Jim nKwIa
was jfov
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ach
iges
and
of
ises
not
r ?f B|s|Spipltt
und
?ne.
but
Thf* n
1 v
y ? K
ly of quite regained their former bri
>fter was a beautiful scene, and very rr
left, Little Women is a thoroughly
lade play. Bette Herring directs her
and great skill. All of the acting was
age, the set was good, and the costi
;ver magnificent.
tevie Wonck
on 'Secret L
By Steve Prazak
Gamecock Staff Writer
wonderful thing happening to some o
ry music's popular artists: they an
SICES! If that doesn't seem to be much o
to you, take a look around and see wha
e bands and artists have been doing thes<
rs. The answer: the same old thing tha
nous in the first place.
will never change from their successful
er will the Atlanta Rhythm Section. Botl
insas know that if they drop their cliche
is progressive sounds, they'll be in th<
; in no time. ELO's first five albums wen
iome of the most inventive and tastefu
er heard. Now they're just a lame duel
eir former selves.
easons unbeknownst to me, some of thes<
ire wavering from their standard style:
time since the Beatles. Remember, th<
nged and developed constantly and w<
just fine. Fleetwood Mac are playinj
some different sounding tunes and nev
:echniques. Those laid back L A. types
ire also molding some new ideas. But th<
is the cake has got to be Stevie Wonder.
las been labelled everything from th
od of the music industry to a genius. H
iels that he has accumulated enougi
w to put out whatever he feels like puttin;
>w Stevie Wonder is putting his entir
10 linf* via n ni>w Hnuhlp alhnm paIIpH ,
ough the Secret Life of Plants.
I i IP V-SI
I a&^aB iiy ** m
?T *f v ^^^^gag0pK'
ast of Workshop's 'Little Women'
gnmess. n ine play will be held over
loving. formances will be at 7:30 on
enjoyable 7:30 on Dec. 8, and at 3 on I>
cast with evening curtain was cho<
very good, children could come to the pi
imes were urge anyone who enjoys good
Little Women, or likes both, to
;r takes char
ife of Plants'
Practically all vestiges of disco and s<
gone. In their place are instrumentals
lush that they resemble a rain iungle.
that one hears music that is so vivid th
f conjures up visual images. The Secret 1
J is an album to be seen and heard.
f
t Wonder hasn't completely abandoned
3 though. His current single, "Send One Y
t unfortunately along his previously
timental lines, sporting a rather predict
The disco influenced stuff here m?
familiar beat and some electronics, bu
1 un-disco melody line featuring all kin
i instrumentation.
? The pressing of Secret Life is rather
1 mnct Mntnu/n rplpacpc arp A rasspflp v
1 be a better choice. However, the cass<
c give you the chance to see the superb gr
album jacket. If the album's artwork do
you, then maybe the flower scented insid
3 If you've already bought the Secret J
s and like it, there are a couple of oth<
i utilize similar musical ideas and insl
; One of them is Popol Vuh who are a (
v whose records can only be found at stoi
imports.
Jade Warrior is another incarnation
intarnolinn Tkio n_:i' l i
niv^k voimg. i ma iyvu-iiuiii DrillMl tJii
extraordinarily wide variety of music tj
e national heritage of numerous countries
e
h I hope this review doesn't scare yoi
g think that The Secret Life of Plants is o
a *
^ iciuainouic aiuums ui nit; year an
\ deserves your attention. C'mon kids, s
never hurt anyone, now did it?
ing
Dec. 7-9. PerDec.
7, 3 and
ec. 9. The 7:30
>sen so that
lay. I strongly
theatre, loved
see this play.
ice
ml music are
so thick and
It isn't often
at it actually
Afe of Plants
his old sound
our Love," is
overtly senable
melody,
lintains that
t with a very
ds of unique
shoddy, like
ersion would
?tte wouldn't
anhif??s nn thp
esn't intrigue
le will.
Life of Plants
?r bands that
trumentation.
jJerman band
res that stock
you may find
ind plays an
aken from the
i away, but I
no of thp most
d one which
i little culture