The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 02, 1981, Page Page 7, Image 8
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Aaat. Entertainment Editor
The great Norwegian drama "Peer Gynt"
was translated into a unique production by
the USC's Theatre and speech department
last week. The play, written in 1876, opened
at the Longstreet Theatre in a different
version Thursday night and ran through
Saturday evening.
The story is about a nineteenth century
rambunctious rascal who leads a life of
adventure and mischief complicated with
By David Baker WHAT ISN
Film critic this screen
There's a scene, midway Agatha Chri
through Guy Hamilton's novel, "The P
"The Mirror Crack'd," in From Side to
which Elizabeth Taylor and while Kim's
Kim Novak, two faded stars busy trying
from the 50 s playing faded character ir
stars from the 50s, trade nervous
insults with a frenzy that someone is
rivals that of a busload of Liz's career c
chimpanzees set loose on a basis.
banana plantation.
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Peer Gynt (Michael Do well) talks to his
rehearsal of "Peer Gynt". (Photo by Chi
Elizabeth 1
head all-stt
As the dea
They goad, they chide, murder atten
they bitch and they wail and the famous 1
the result of their catty Miss Jane IV
verbal circus is one of the Lansbury), e:
most delightful 10 minutes and attempts
I've spent in a theater in identity of 1
years. The scene is funnier assailant,
even than the infamous
"Saturday Night Live" Like the
sketch in which John film version
Belushi, playing Liz Taylor, novels, "Mi
got a chicken bone caueht in Orient Exnre:
D I
his throat and proceeded to on the Nile,'
dislodge it by performing the Crack'd" is
Heimlich maneuver on elegant, lavi
himself. motion pictu
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Kim Novack, Roi * Hudson and E/izabt
7 953-settinff of ' he Mirror Crack d,''
;nt' serio
lies and procrastination. Playwright Henrik
Isben based this drama on a conglomeration
of old Norwegian folk-tales and characters
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which icvuivc uiuuiiu me me 01 reer. n is
accented with his encounters with
trecherous trolls, an exotic belly dancer,
and with a mysterious man in white during a
voyage.
Peer is a dreamer preoccupied with his
wild imagination who would rather have a
loose and unsettled life instead of a normal,
stable one. It is not until the bleak peak of
/
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mother (Lauren Crawford) during dross
p Lowell}
"ay/or, Kim i
ir cast in 'Tt
*T FUNNY in earlier films, however, it's
adaption of far from being lethargic.
sue s popular
Mirror Crack'd HAMILTON, who herSide,"
is that tofore directed some of the
character is better James Bond films
to send Liz's (among them "Live and Let
ito her third
breakdown, "They goad, they
>'na'permanent and they wail and
catty verbal circus
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th threats and aeiigntwi i u mmu
lady "detective; theater in years. "
larple (Angela
nters the story Die"), has quickened
to uncover the Christie's pacing to the point
Liz's unknown where "The Mirror
Crackd" unfolds and is
resolved in just over 100
previous EMI minutes. "Murder" and
is of Christie "Death" both were well over
jrder of the two hours long. Here, we feel
ss" and "Death that we're involved in a story
' "The Mirror rather than watching a
in i-ALiTuiiigi) uaveiogueon Europe or
shly produced Egypt with Hercule Poirot
re. Unlike the as our faithful guide.
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?f/i Taylor smile for the camera in the
a lavish comedy playing in Columbia.
us but bi;
his sporadic life that he comes to grips with
himself and understands the troll's message
"to thyself be enough."
RF.rAIISI? THIS nlav has hppn nrnHnroH
seriously only a few times for the American
Theater in the past, different -ippriac *es of
the drama have led to sligi afferent
interpretations.
As for director Rebecca Koon, she has
condensed the five-act play into two acts
which concentrate solely on the youth and
old age of Peer. Surprisingly, the intermission
served as the transition between
these two periods of his life when Peer loses
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years of traveling.
An unexpected omission was that of the
famous compositions written by Greig
especially for the play. However, the
bizarre electronic music which replaced
Grieg's score served effectively to accompany
Peer's tricks and turmoils.
However, Koon's production concluded as
a near two-hour fantasy laced with balletic
symbolism. Although it is somewhat shorter
than the original script, the play flows
evenly in this tight adaption.
MUCH CREDIT should be given to the
cast for attempting this complicated drama.
As the playful Peer, Michael Dowell gave a
convincing performance of the restless
youth. However, Lauren Crawford, who
played Peer's mother, gave a subtle ,
execution of the worn woman.
Novack trat
xe Mirror Cr
The performances are,
with the exception of hammy
Tony Curtis,- snappy and
wcu-vuuccivcu Willi iiie i mil
being technically sharp in all . | gg|
A handful of critics have #
chide, they bitch 'u
the result of their
is one of the most
tes I've spent in a
complained that the move,
which is set in 1953, could t
very well have been made in
1953, that its ideas and its
visual style are outdated. To / J
an extent, this is true. But
it's also true of the RollsHovce
Silver Cloud and the
T-Bird and I don't hear
anyone complaining about
IN MANY CASKS, the old
adage, "They don't make S
them like this anymore,"
can still be considered a ||
compliment and this is one of
those cases. "The Mirror Anqt
Crack'd" is not to be missed.
Amateur Night t
A- A- ? *-*iw 4- ?/-?
biauiiiH di 7 p.ii
Amateur Night at the Golden Spur tonigh
sored by Contemporary Sounds and Molson Gc
The event will begin at 9 p.m. and Molson
discount price of 75 cents. Also each participai
award the winner with a case of its beer. The f
casting ballots at the end of the contest. The a
open to all students
These sponsors plan to present the Amateur
the end of the semester. Although a limited nui
any interested act may sign up in the Golden
rules.
Amateur Night has been a growing progr
popularity continues to increase, possible per
happy hour
zarre
Other actors who deserve mentioning are
Peggi Morrow as the faithful pure love of
uic pciiuuucis imiiv iuii auvaniage 01 me
circular stage to weave in and out for
various and unexpected entrances.
ADDING TO the fantasy effect were the
costumes which were appropriately old
Norwegian style. As for the trolls, no other
costumes or make-up could have made
i i ? - - *
uiem iook more repulsive ana ingntemng.
-Although the symbolism and underlying
meanings in the drama may have made it
difficult to follow, the production succeeded
in giving a spiritual dimension to the drama.
It was indeed an unusual performance to
feed anyone's imagination.
ie barbs,
yirk' (1*
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t!a Lansbury and Edward Fo *
>egins tonight
n. in the Spur
t will feature a new competitive format spon>lden
Ale.
Golden Ale will be served until 10:30 for the
it will receive a t-shirt from Molson which will
mdience will decide who deserves the prize by
ctual competition will last until 12 p.m and is
Night the first Monday of every month through
nber of acts are accepted for each competition.
Spur or Activities Office and pick up a lis! of
am for the past year and a half, and il its
formances may he presented during lunch and
Peer's and the hilarious Thurmond Brandon
as the booming Boyg, who symbolized fate
or death. Also, choreographer Lucinda
Hamrick played the reluctant bride Ingrid,
who also became entangled with Peer.
Perhaps the most hideous but yet at the
same time the most intriguing performance
was that of Jim Reynolds as the intimidating
Troll King. Reynolds, disguised
as a crrntpsniif* rfpfnrmpH prpatiirp with
black seaweed hair and pig-like features,
led a small pack of other grotesque groaning
trolls who clawed and crawled out from
under the stage. This alone added luster to
the play's interest concerning Peer.
Most impressive was the stage production
and design created by Elbin Cleveh -.d. The
round, fragmented stage transformed from
a country setting to that of a rocking ship
platform. It served effectively for the
transitions from one scene to another. Also,
4 1- f.-ll _ J A. r -