Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 1971)
,? Id '. 1 i 1 1 "5' -4 M i i M j 8 . "'I A Touch of AAogic one Review by Jim Gray Holidays arc for children. And, appropriately enough, so is Howell Theatre's holiday show, A Touch of Magic. An original musical by UNL graduate student Royal Eckert, with music by Steve Bradford, the show is just what it says a touch of magic. Casting a spell over the children in the audience at a sneak preview Monday, the play was a far cry from Howell's last production, the sex-and-sadism world of The Balcony. In Magic, Howell's stage is transformed into an enchanted land called Middle Earth, populated by droves of elves, gnomes and reformed trolls. As a children's show, A Touch of Magic is good. From the second the two pianos strike up the melodious, if non-memorable score, the audience is bombarded with images of bright lights, colorful settings, cheerful choruses, sterebtyped sinister villians and heroes of all sizes and descriptions. The real hero of the show, however, is costume designer Cindy Wallis, whose amazing designs are so spectacular, no actor could hope to compete with them. Seldom have costume designs for a show at Howell had such impact. Even so, the principals do a superb acting job. Traditionally, the best parts in children's shows are allocated to the archvillian. A Touch of Magic is no exception. Big winner in the characterization category is Chris Stasheff, who plays Zyxoma, the head-baddie who snorts, cackles and snarls his way to one of the most interesting and perhaps most-perfect stereotypes ever. On the hero side are also several sterling examples of kiddie-musical heroes. The all-powerful good King of Fair Land, Oberon is amply played by William Szymanski. His performance is good, if for nothing else, because of its lack of variation the perfect sameness of a good stereotype. Along with him there are of course, the usual bunch of im be cilic-but-well-meaning helpers, who just happen to be elves, dwarves, trolls, pixies and dragons. Though somewhat lacking in musical projection, the five supporters come accross exceedingly well in the acting department. Jim Ogden, Robert DeLancey and Kay Strain all provide agile, well defined character backgrounds for the play, while Bruce Thiel as an accented dwarf and Wenda Miller as a women's lib-supporter ex-troll, provide interesting sidelights. The inevitable love-interest comes into the play in two forms: the comic (Susan Baer and Larry Pothest) and the serious (Lee Rathbun and Bill Wallis). There is even one well-rounded character, ' Jim Waechter as Talisjn the Thaumaturge, a misguided magician. And, of course, no fantasy play is complete without a Brooklynese Jewish merchant, in this case played by Nick George, In so many words, this play has everything. This is, however, where the play falls down. Even in a children's fantasy, there can be too much of a good thing. While a certain amount of mass casting is necessary to provide the spectacular effect of the Celebrate the Holidays in Due to cancellations, there are now 8 vacancies for the Student Activities Interim Flight round trip Fare on a TWA Boeing 707: $183 Trip from Dec. 26 until Jan. 17 IMMEDIATE RESERVATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL STUDENTS, FACULTY, & staff; & immediate families are eligible STUDENT ACTIVITIES OFFICE 340 UNION PI EDM ONT CHAW1PLIN foreign car clinic grand opening friday L 01 0 48th randolph 4889836 see our ad in today's classifieds for the children play, there are far too many major characters for comfort, and too few with enough lines to make a major characterization. About halfway through the first act the adult viewer, not to mention the child, finds himself in the position of the fan who can't tell the players without a program. Once the audience figui? whol who, the show S.72ii over and the audience a good more tired. By the end of the performance one gets the feeling he's seen enough to fill three or four fantasy musicals. The plot, while inventive and creative, is somewhat overcomplicated also. There often seem to be too many loose ends up in the air for comfort, which is not helpful to the fantasy's delivery. The book and song lyrics are not bad, although the play seems to lack memorable lines. Technically the play came over fairly well Monday, especially considering the sneak preview was actually a work-out-the-bugs dress rehersal. The choreography was for the most part lackluster, with the exception of a pantomime sequence with Baer gracefully fleeing monsters. Hopefully, most of '" the bugs will be worked out in time for the production's opening night. The set and lighting designs, while adequate, are overshadowed by the costumes. Some interesting devices do, however, add to the set's fantasy orientation. No fault, however, can be attributed to a lack of enthusiasm by the cast, which obviously loves to play for a young audience. Leaping off the front of the stage, the actors clo wned and joked with the children in the audience after Monday's prevue. Unprofessional as it may be, this unbridled enthusiasm is what -Iiildren's fantasy is all about giving the kids what they want, a real live, exciting Christmas present. Don't come expecting to see Cabaret or Hello Dolly! Come to see a children's fantasy, with its own special Touch of Magic. Lancaster District Judge Herbert Ronin Tuesday took under advisement the request of four UNL students for a temporary injunction in a suit challenging the constitutional ity of mandatory student fees. Attorney - La-wren ce Murphy, representing plaintiff students Ralph Larson, Bruce Wimmer, Frederick Otto and Wayne Stuenkel, asked the court to enjoin the collection of seconc semester lees for The Daily Nebraskan and ASUN. In deferring decision, Judge Ronin allowed two weeks for the submission of briefs by attorneys Alan Peterson representing the Board of Regents, and The Daily Nebraskan, and Patrick Healcy, representing ASUN. There will be a meeting of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the Nebraska Union. All members and interested persons are invited to attend. AH artwork checked out from the Union Art Lending Library will be. due Wednesday. Bring the artwork to the Union Lounge between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The record lending library closes Thursday. All records are due. Return them to Room 237, Nebraska Union. Students p re-enrolled in Math 206 (Introduction to Partial Differential Equations) will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room 208 Oldfather to arrange next semester's schedule. The Undergraduate Library will be open extra hours for finals. The Study area outside the library will be open until 2 a.m. Dec. 12-1 7, Dec. 19-22. 'tfail j " Tim, rlL Girls, go to the Wooden Nickel and get mom some thing that won't fit her (but will fit you). GIFTS OF THE TIME OPEN Thursday & Friday nights until 9 pm Campus Bookstore PAGE 6 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15. 1971
