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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1970)
Review by BILL WALLIS English Department If the Omaha Studio Theater's recent production of Strindberg's Dance of Death is a sign of things to come, area viewers may expect not only highly experimental produc tions, but traditional in terpretations of past masters which subscribe to methods and techniques indicative of dramatic art at its best: presenting the joys and terrors of life-conflicts in presentations which are the result of a balanced state of technical and aesthetic dramatic elements. The dramatic art of Strindberg is an excellent test for any director. Much of it is universal meaning through his imaginative efforts. The Dance f Death is such a play. The theme of the play is vampirism. Edgar and Alice, both in late, middle-age, draw life from those about them Kurt, Alice's eousin and a family "friend," and their own daughter Judith and her young lover, Allan, Kurt's son. The vampirism may involve purely emotional matter, or, as is the case with Alice and Kurt, physical love; or, it may be limited to business affairs, as Edgar usurps Kurt's worldly possessions. Edgar and Alice's characters may be interpreted as Strindberg's metaphors for human existence studded with the violent confrontations in volved in forming bonds with other human beings, and with the great fear of being alone in a hostile universe. The result is a bitter struggle of individuals for what they hold precious. Edgar is an aging officer, mzA Iff? ! ! FREE ! ! Delivery to campus area MENU Small Mouartlla Qm 1.1 S Onion 1.50 Sausago 1.65 Mushroom 1.65 Pepptroni 1.65 Anchovy 1.6$ Pizza Suprtai 1.90 Vt Cktcst Vi Sausagt 1.50 Hamburger 1.65 Canadian Bacon 1.65 Shrimp 1.65 Block divt 1.50 Extra Ingrtdioitts JO MfLX PCP EAT IN OR CARRY OUT OPEN 11:00 A.M. DAILY 7 DAYS A WEEK tar Pewter Service Phone Ahood A flew 20 Mimtw 4601 "0" St. Phone 459-4431 2435 So. 48th St. Phone 483-2359 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, bitter about the lack of ap preciation of others for the strict discipline to which he has always held this discipline is amoral and .cruelly so, the au dience finds out as the play progresses. Edgar is poor, so he drains Kurt's capital (while Alice is draining him emo tionally and physically); Edgar is estranged from Alice, so he has a brief affair with Kurt's Midwest drama at it's best ex-wife, whom he knows Kurt still loves. Gene Driscoll as Edgar and Tom Adams as Kurt were both far more than sufficient in their roles, but neither had the nuance to fully complement the force and beauty of Lee TrudeU's Alice. With impec cable diction, considerable power of presence, and con trolled functional movement, her Alice was a demon-woman who alternately horrified and tore empathy from us. Judith, Edgar, Alice's daughter, and Allan, Kurt'3 son, may be seen as metaphoric representations of the spiritual side of man. These characters capture the com bination of ecstasy and despair which is that of the spirit of eternal youth and the rediscovery of self a self Largo 1.90 120 155 155 155 155 3.15 120 155 155 155 120 JO 1970 divorced from the physical. Diane Casker as Judith was exquisite and impressive; Larry French handled the dif ficult role of Allan with com petance. Their flight from conflict-dominated presence of their parents was clearly representative of Strindberg's affirmation of man's existential possibilities through the spirit of love and art. Robert Neu's direction offered clean func tional movement and a cons tant flow of action from scene to scene. - Sets, costuming and lighting complimented a soundly directed and performed aura of action. This production seems to me the best community theater I've seen in this area; and, since it is Neu's first produ ction of the season, area viewers may look forward to other productions of this same high caliber. The short trip to Omaha is well worthwhile. The next Studio Theater Production at Omaha will be a night of one-act plays, presented on Dec. 4-6, and 11-13. Read Nebraskan Want Ads r i -NEBRASM T2thPSt!Mt TL. I I I AT 2 1' r as , . usgaussi umss tr deem " -v & - 4 i i f Car eLTS'WSaSSW mm' G CX3H -WAR t liOO. 4;i5, "MONSTER" at 2:30, THE NEBRASKAN T0M1V NIGHT at 8:00 P.M. Pf7fe3 m Continuous from 1 PJM. www wist roilta now showing! "' 11,11 ' it t aJL. ': v'.iTv- 5(15, 10t20 P.M. 5:40, Ii43 P.M. CONCERT C7 "EASY" RIDER" . . . EASY LISTENING" Featuring "In-A-Goddo-Da-Uida" DON ELLIS AND 23 FRIENDS ALL SEATS RESERVED $3 $4 - $5 - EXTRA SPECIAL LIMITED SECTION - $6.50 PERSHING TICKET OFFICE OPEN 12 NOON TILL 6 P.M. DAILY rv. 10 CCOf co GCUfGE STCEJTS MET CE By conserva tive estimate more than fifteen million college students have used Cliff's Notes since we became America's tint literary study aid. This prefer ence continues to build-far two big reason! 1 QUAIITY-The eaiy-to understand commentary an4 explanation you get from Notes result from painstaking work by our board of authors. Predominantly Ph.D.'s, these" scholars art specially selected) for their knowledge of particular works and for their ability to make these works meaningful to you. 2AVAIUBIUTY-Cltfrs Notes concentrate on giving yoa all the plays and novels moat frequently assigned In colloga. If your dealer is temporarily out of the title you need, ask him tocall us on his special "Hot Line." Buy Clim Notes today- they're a bargain in understanding college literature assignments. $1 at your bookseller or writet J!lifiki:oic Wnccln, Nebraako 68901 PAGE 9 323P23P2'' nJBSininnii "lif