The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 28, 1985, Page 4, Image 5
Spotlight , *
H WH0 Monday, October 28, 1985
, HE GAMECOCK 1
Play depicts fi
By MARY JO MILLER
Staff writer
Dumas: Pere et Fits, an irreverent view of French
novelist Alexander Dumas, is a rollicking suprise
for theatergoers expecting the staid chivalry of his
fictional creations, the Three Musketeers.
The play, which opened Fridav at Lonestreet
Theatre, centers on the skirt-chasing Dumas' stormy
relationship with his sensitive son.
The father, played by Gary Heilsberg, and son,
played by Michael Hawk, share more than a surname
as they move through the rarefied air of 19thcentury
French salons. They are both bastards and,
doubly shameful, the product of mixed ancestry.
The senior Dumas, the son of a Frenchman and a
Santo Domingan slave, views his illegitimacy as a
source of both pride and amusement. When confronted
with his mixed blood by English aristocrats,
Dumas' outrageous response sends a woman
swooning and the audience into uproarious
laughter.
The younger Dumas, however, is ashamed of his
heritage and disgusted with his father's decadent
lifestyle.
During the course of the play, the senior Dumas,
who is writing his novel The Count of Monte Cristo,
encourages his son to try his hand at writing. The
younger Dumas declines. He is reluctant to enter a
profession that would strengthen the tics between
Girls' night out
Naomi Judd (right) and her Jj[ ,J.
daughter Wynonna performed
Saturday at the South Carolina : " r2 *
State Fair. The Judds were the lest
in a number of famous country
music acts to play the fair this
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As the young man tries to forge his own identity,
he unwittingly parodies his father's lifestyle. He
masses gambling debts, drinks heavily and becomes
embroiled in a number of unsavory affairs. And he
secretly writes.
Ultimately, the young Dumas must look to his
father for literary advice, peace of mind and love.
While the search for identity and the reconciliation
between a father and son are not original
topics, playwright John MacNicholas' decision to
frame them around Alexander Dumas' colorful life
adds a refreshing and comic angle.
Heilsberg, with his dark, bushy hair and robust
delivery, is both visually and dramatically convincing
as the senior Dumas. Hawk's younger Dumas is
a charming man-child ? a touching combination of
youthful idealism and wordly knowledge gained
from his father's peccadillos.
Helen Baldwin, cast as young Dumas'
languishing love interest, is attractive, but a bit too
bloodless to portray the world-weary temptress
Marie. She is apparently dying of an ailment that involves
discreet coughing in a handkerchief. The audience
can only assume it's tuberculosis.
Chris Brown as an absurd duelist and John Emerson
and Dalton Ward as his inept seconds deliver
some of the richest comic relief. When they raise imaginary
swords in a salute, these klutzy Musketeers
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John Emerson, Irene Raxter, Gary Heilsberg, Michael Hawk i
are irresistible.
The set, designed by William Buck, is dominated
by Dumas' paper-strewn, anarchic study. If chaos
fosters genius, as Dumas tells his son, than Buck's
study is a belivable workplace for the brilliant
author.
MacNicholas' play, like Dumas' novels, obviousI
Lectui
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From staff reports
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- f - From Here to i
the greek system
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Man of La Manch
pace at Coliseum
By EDWARD BOHAN flawless, though
Staff writer formance seem
The North Carolina Opera restricted, partici
Company presented a lively pro- show's open
duction of Dale Wasserman's Quixote."
Man of La Mancha Friday as Janis Eckhart <
part of the Carolina Concert Aldonza, the
Series. whom Don Quix
Set in a prision in 16th-century his "Lady Dulcir
Spain, the story centered on seem quite arrog;
Miguel de Cervantes and his tale was her singing
of an eccentric old man who fan- during her op
tasizes that he is the noble knight "One Pair of A
Don Quixote de La Mancha. shame, because
John Reardon's role was cellent voice, b
Get a HUE!
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a 1 order anytwo same
U JPKLsJLI same-finish Kodak c
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1 enlargement free, f
own labs.
Just bring in your
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slides, or color prints* for breathtaking e
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808 HARDEN ST.
COLUMBIA, S C. 29205
(803) 771 03Q6
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TIM CURRY/Th? Gamecock #
and Perry Simpson star in Dumas: Pare at Fils.
ly isn't intended for strict realists, but rather for
those willing to suspend disbelief in favor of largerthan-life
characters and delicious plot twists.
Dumas: Pere et Fils will continue its run Thursday
through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3
p.m.
re to explore life
seks nationwide *
3t, party" will be the theme of a lecture at 9 p.m. toI
House Ballroom.
Carolina Program Union as part of 'Ween Fling acgan,
author of From Here to Fraternity: A Celebraeek
on the College Campus, will explore greek life
iss his book and dramatize wild and strange greek
indreds of slides. The program is designed to attract ^
but also those who want to experience greek life w
te of Harvard, Egan was a member of a fraternal
ormerly a chapter of Delta Phi, the country's third
Egan, who was originally from Greenwich Village in
iescribes himself as a "six-pack kind of guy."
er understanding of the greek system, he travelled
i miles, interviewing more than 150 Greeks.
n will include greek stereotypes, greek wear, rushing,
>ranks, classical decorative articles and fundraising.
fraternity, said to be the first guidebook to evaluate
in such detail, will be available following the lecture. A
a galloped a lively
this weekend
his singing per- more on tone than
ed small and pronunciation.
ilarly during the Quixote's faithful companion
er, "1 Don Sancho, who accompanies Quix- ^
ote into battles against enchanted
did a fair job as knights, windmills and other
"kitchen slut" forces of evil, was delightfully
ote worships as played by John David Gruett.
lea." She didn't Hal Mcintosh gave a fine perant
enough, nor formance as the malevolent foe,
especially clear Dr. Carrasco. His powerful voice
ening number, and menacing appearance were
rms." That's a perfect for the part.
she has an CV- Pf>rhcsr?c ?Vi*> finocf <V?
... . VI >mpj %iiv IIUVJl pel IUI lliailLV
ut concentrates of the evening was given by Ted
Forlow as the hapless barber who a
happens upon the inn where
Quixote and Sancho arc staying.
His highly animated expressions
Eand mannerisms were an absolute
pleasure to behold.
Forlow is also responsible for
? H the magnificent, spirited
ch< "Ography.
M N The best number concerned a
priest (William MacDonald)
besieged on one side by Antcnia,
S-SIZ6, Quixote's self-serving niece
iolor (Amelia Jester), and on the other ^
3 third Quixote's housekeeper (Shazy W
: Hopfenberg). Both ladies plead
ra'n for something to be done about
Quixote's "madness" because it
puts them in unpleasant positions.
But they insist that "We're
Doing It All for Him!" The trio's
I ? bright, perky voices, combined
I c^ever direction, made this
whimsical song simply
f tim.* I outstanding.
VifialfI Lending support on many
_ J numbers, and more than making
?dl up lor the slight falters among
Q|Qr the two leads, was a first-rate
I chorus of young men. Their shin- ^
? -j ? "i v?cal abilities were most w
tor details. noticeable during "Little Bird,
Little Bird" and the show's
<i imii> 111 imii) finale, a reprise of "The Impossible
Dream."
iVI'.fcl The small orchestra under the
J direction of Charles Rosekrans
______did an adequate job.
The troupe made excellent use
of the facilities available to them
M at Carolina Coliseum, not the
M most advantageous location to
stage a musical play. The
|i numerous scene changes were ^
I handled with such ease that they w
I were scarcely noticeable.