ij( aWw4fa4St 'liaTisSiTafcBTeMaS'l
thursday, april 13, 1978
ad lib
page 3
Opening night draws closer for UNL playwright
By Charlie Krig
World premieres are usually associated with glamour
and excitement. Next Tuesday a play will open with a
somber theme that doesn't match its performance birth.
UNL graduate theater student Robert Beadell Jr. wrote
the play, The Final Stroke, as his MFA thesis and after
two major re-writes and numerous alterations, opening
night is drawing closer.
The play has "changed a lot" during the last year,
Beadell said, and there have even been some revisions
during the weekd the play has been rehearsed. His origi
nal idea was to show a group of monks who hide during
the black plague. The plot was to concert their isolation
in the monastery while the townspeople suffered outside
with unanswered cries for help.
The present version occurs in Tutney (a fictional
village in England) in 1348. The old idea was "locked too
much on one spot," Beadell said, so he expanded it to
include more townspeople, specifically, a persecuted Jew
and his relationship with the others. Balavignus (a name
adopted from a real Jewish scholar of that time) is blamed
for the plague because he is different from the English
people: they are ignorant and afraid of his knowledge.
Balavignus also is falsely accused of buying a boy from his
mother, a charge cleared by Bartholomew, one of Bala
vignus' students.
The play took over a year to research but Beadell 's
interest in the subject extends to his high school days. He
said it began when he read Herman Hesse's Narcissus and
Goldmund. Later he got more information from Hublein's
The Black Death but his details came from microfilms of
16th century documents.
'The microfilms were the best information source for
the attitudes of the time because the people knew nothing
at all about medicine," he said, "It told me how they
really acted under the situation."
A group of theater students read the play for the
theater department faculty last December when the de
cision was made to produce The Final Stroke. Beadell
said he received few suggestions from the instructors be-
pot luck
Sweep Left (815 0)-lf you thought this was just a
foosball hangout, try the very good prime rib. Also offers
seafood and salad bar.
Tico's (317 S. 17) Good Mexican food and good
mixed drinks, but you may have to wait during peak
hours because this is a very popular restaurant.
Teny and Luigi's (5140 0)-A popular premium res
taurant with an Italian flair. Everything on the menu is
good, but bring money because it's not cheap. Good for
a "special" meal.
Valentino's Pizza (3547 Holdrege, 2701 S. 70, 27th
and Highway 2)-The classic college pizza hangout, and
for good reason. Fine-flavored pizza, not as heavy as God
father's or as light as Pizza Hut. Salads are big and crisp,
cheese and garlic rolls tasty. Check the Yellow Pages be
fore going because not all locations are open all days.
Often a long wait.
Village Inn (2949 N. 27, 1 1 1 S. 29, 1 1 1 S. 66)-A
pancake house with a wide menu choice, open until 2
a.m. Village Inn burger is a good value. Unusual items
blintzes, German apple pancake (which may be too big for
one person to eat unassisted.) Service is usually rather
quick.
Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers (930 N. 48,
2615 S. 48)-The best hamburgers of the chain shops if
you like plain hamburgers. Mild but pleasant chili also
good. The ordering system is a little inconvenient and
prices are on the high side for hamburger places, but many
consider the extra cost worth it.
Greenwich Cafe (1917 0)-An unpretentious cafe
that's turned into a trendy gathering place for some
groups of students. Famous for its fish and chips, but
also offers other good items, especially soups.
Kuhl's (1038 0)-A nice, quiet little diner with reason
able prices, competently prepared food, although nothing
fancy.
Little King (1311 O, 1045 N. 27, 3801 N. 48)-Your
choice in submarine sandwich shops is determined mostly
by what you like on your mammoth meal. Little King
tops its sandwiches with several vegetables unless re
quested otherwise. Choice of meats is wide.
McDonald's (865 N. 27. 5305 O, 3330 S. 20)-Every-one
complains about McDonald's, and everyone goes
there. It's because they have several things that are pretty
good by any standard. Big Mac's special sauce makes it a
top burger, and competitors don't offer cherry pie.
Perkins 'Cake and Steak (2900 NW 12)-A relatively
new entry in the 24-hour pancake and meat category, it
offers unusually light pancakes and good steaks. Service
is a bit slow but very friendly. Prices about average.
Pizza Hut (239 N. 14, 2435 S. 48)-A convenient loca
tion offering pizza to those who prefer it thin and light.
Several other Italian items too. Not as expensive as some
other pizzatoriums.
Sam's Self-Service 0001 S. 13, 2135 N. 48)-A ham
burger place with little provision for eating in. The "Big
Samson" is the best deal on the menu. Pecan pie is good.
Super Sub (930 S. 13, 1321 O. 339 N Cotner)-This
submarine sandwich shop also offers a wide meat choice.
Topping runs to shredded lettuce with vinegar and oil.
Not quite as strongly flavored as Little King sandwich,
take your choice
cause they realized that it is his play. On the other
hand, Beadell has been careful not to influence the direc
tor's interpretation.
"I've watched rehearsals a couple of times and made
A
V
THURSDAY APR. 13. 1978
EVENING
Robert Beadell Jr
Photo by Bob Pearson
a few changes in the script, even a few minor changes last
week. I enjoyed seeing the play but it kind of put the
actors and director on edge when I went in. The actors
would start asking me questions that they should have
been asking the director," Beadell said.
But when the play is over, will there be more revisions
of -the script? "I think so," he said. "I've gotten many
ideas from rehearsal but I'm interested in the people's
reactions to it. The only ones to see the play so far have
been the theater faculty and I can't wait to see how the
general public reacts to the play."
Artistic inclination is natural for Beadell. His parents
are accomplished musical enthusiasts. His mother teaches
voice lessons and his father, Robert Sr., is a UNL School
of Music instructor who has had two of his own works
(the operas Napoleon and The Number of Fools)
produced at UNL. But Teadell said there never was any
pressure to be an artist, let alone a musical artist.
"All my life my father's been writing so I'm sure that
influenced me. My father never pushed me. I took some
music lessons for awhile but he didn't want to force me to
be a musician's son," Beadell said.
Another influence Beadell noted was playwright
Bertolt Brecht. He said Brecht gave him an affinity for
theatrical aspects of plays such as short scenes, projections
and special writing. For that reason, Beadell waid, "I try
to change my style. I think every playwright writes his
Chekhovian play or his Tennessee Williams Play."
Beadell said present theater movements are searching
for new directions but that is hard because so many types
are popular now. Beadell will be part of the movements
because he intends to continue writing and possibly do
some college teaching.
But for the next week, The Final Stroke will be on his
mind. He said he probably will go on the opening and
closing nights but everything in between is unscheduled.
And, in spite of his friends and relatives who will attend
the show, Beadell said there aren't any plans yet for a
Tuesday night celebration.
Still, it is a world premiere and Beadell said it "should
be a gala opening."
0:00 0000(E) news
O EMERGENCY ONE
O DICK VAN DYKE SHOW
WOONSPE (EDUCATION AND
THE SIOUX)
6:30 O NEWLYWED GAME
O MARY TYLER MOORE
O TO TELL THE TRUTH
O CONCENTRATION
O WILD KINGDOM "World Of The
Sea Otter"
O ODD COUPLE
THURSDAY MAGAZINE
(0 MACNEIL LEHRER REPORT
7.00 O JOKER'S WILD
O O THE HANNA-BARBERA
HAPPY HOUR This comedy
variety series will be hosted by
Honey and Sis, a couple of almost
life size, nearly human puppets.
This week's guests are Leif Gar
rett, Anson Williams, Charo.
Gavin MacLeod and Yogi Bear
(Premiere; 60 min.)
O O WELCOME BACK, KOTTER
Gabe's teaching career is on the
line when he gives mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation to a girl who
fainted and Mr. Woodman
misinterprets the ad as an
assault
O G9 THE WALTONS Both Mary
Ellen and Erin suffer when Mary
Ellen's husband is drafted and
Erin's former boyfriend, GW,
enlists in the Army (R; 60 min )
O ADAM 12
WILD WORLD OF ANIMALS
'The Barn Owl"
7:30 O HOLLYWOOD CONNECTION
O O WHAT'S HAPPENING!!
While Mama is away. Shirley
takes over the Thomas household
while Raj and Rerun prepare to
take final exams before gradua
tion from high school.
O MOVIE "The Oulck Gun"
1964 Audie Murphy, Merry
Anders. A cowhand redeems
himself when he fights a gang of
outlaws in hie home town (2 hrs.)
AGRI-SCOPE
8:00 O MOVIE The Ouestor Tapes"
1973 Robert Foxworth, Mike Far
rell Ouestor is not man, nor a
machine. He Is an astounding
combination of both, an android
robot. He appears to be com
pletely functional male but has
the power and strength of five
humans. (2 hrs.)
O O BLACK SHEEP
SQUADRON The leader of a
group of Woman's Air Service
Pilots Is determined to avoid any
Incident that could bring disgrace
on her unit, and demands that
Pappy Issue a "hands off order to
the black sheep. (R; 60 min.)
O O BARNEY MILLER Captain
Miller and his detectives are
stymied when a mortician reports
a stolen body. Then retired
Detective Phil Fish steps In to
lend a hand In the Investigation.
(R)
O O HAWAII FIVE-O Princess
Amlna. wife of prince Al Rashk), a
visiting near-Eastern potentate Is
"P k
M. .
I
HANNA-BARBERA
HAPPY HOUR
Abe Vigoda. Melissa Gilbert and
Betty White are guests of life-size
puppets Honey and Sis on the second
Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour' of fun,
comedy and music Thursday. April
20 on NBC-TV.
Miss White plays the puppets' voice
teacher, who while under the in
fluence of brandy candies, rum cakes
and cough medicine, urges the
sisters to pursue careers in music.
In a takeoff of TV's Laverne and
Shirley.' Honey is Lavine. Sis is Shrilly
and Vigoda is Lavine's father.
Together they satirize the series that
satirizes the '50s. In the regular
segment Disco of Life,' White is the
center of attention at the Party,
during which she claims that she can
foretell the future and Vigoda is an
aging child movie star who can't get
out of the past.
Miss Gilbert (pictured with Honey)
and Sis sing and dance in the
jazz-waltz number. Waltzin' the
Jack.' White sings Razz-Ma-Tazz
Me.'
kidnapped in Hawaii, and a
beautiful Kalian journalist, who
can provide McGarrett with
crucial information, cites freedom
of the press as her reason for
withholding H (00 min.)
C9 BACKYARD FARMER RFD
6:30 O O A E.S. HUDSON STREET A
deceased patient springs back to
life and Doctor Menries faces the
task of breaking the newt to the
man's not-o-grieving widow
O VICTORY AT SEA The Killers
And The Killed"
90 O Q POLICE WOMAN The
discovery of a huge Illegal arms
cache prompts Pepper to tell the
story to a Congressional commit
tee, but her testimony attracts the
attention of a gang of gun runners
who hire a hit man to silence her.
(R; 60 min.)
O O 6ARETTA Tony Baretta
goes undercover as the trainer of
a burnt -out former welterweight
champion to trap a killer (R; 60
min.)
O O BARNA6V JONES Lee
Daily Nebraskan
Job Opening
DISTRIBUTION PEOPLE
Must be free. 9001030am
Car necessary.
Good Pay for Hard Work.
See Jerri at the Union Rm. 34
Pureed guest stars as the sister of
a hlt-and-run-vlctlm who disap
pears after the accident. (R; 60
min.)
IB NORTHWEST TRAVELER
"Pastimes On The French Riviera"
6:30 QNEWS
DATELINE NEBRASKA
10:00 O STAR TREK "The Enterprise
Incident (60 min )
OOOOOQNEWS
O ODD COUPLE
0 DICK CAVETT SHOW Part II of
an interview with a panel of
songwriters includes Sammy
Cahn, Alan Jay Lerner and Arthur
Schwartz.
10:30 Q O THE TONIGHT SHOW
Host: Johnny Carson. Guests:
Bob Hope. Lola Faiana. Joseph
Wambaugh (90 min )
O O 6TARSKY AND HUTCH
TOM A Starsky and Hutch-tong
Walk On A Short Dirt Road' A
pretty country singer Is plagued
by telephone calls from a raspy
voiced stranger demanding
money (R) Toma-Frame-Up"
Toma is aet up by the head of a
crime syndicate to take the Name
for the beating of a hoodlum. (R; 2
hrs , 15 min )
O HONEYMOONER8
O MOVIE "Keep Your Powder
Dry" 194$ Lans Turner. Larame
Day A soldier's wife stops an
open rivalry between a wealthy
pteygirt and an "army brat at WAC
candidate achoo) (2 hrs.)
CB CBS LATE MOVIE "MASH
Radar, with his unusual powers of
observation, prepares e report on
the events Of the 4077th unit
'Some Came Running Stars
Frank Sinatra Dean Matin
C9 LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
1V00 O STARSKY AND HUTCH
TOMA Starsky and Hutch-Iron
Mike" a noted police captain Is
seen taking an envelope from a
racketeer whtcr. Starsky and
Mutch are assigned to In
vestigate. (R) Toma-Blockhouse
Breakdown Toma poses as a
cop-hating misfit in an aborted
plan to lure a young sniper bar
ricaded atop a building (R; 2 hrs.,
15 min.)
O CBS LATE MOVIE "MASH The
4077th unit begins to take on the
air of Epsom Downs as Hawkeye,
Trapper John and their friends
run a daily betting pool on how far
off target Five 0'ClockShartte wlH
miss their munitions dump. (R)
"Vi "Forever Darling Stars
Lucille Ball. Deal Arnaz
(3 PREVIN AND THE PITT
SBURGH 'An Evening With Com
den And Green The musical
comedy team of 8etty Comden
and Adolph Green (oln Andre
Prevm for reminiscences of their
movie musical days m Hollywood
Classic material Includes "Bells
Are Ringing', "On The Town' and
Smgln' In The Rain (60 min )
12-00 O O TOMORROW Heat: Tom
Snyder Guest: David Wettha,
University of Iowa professor who
will discuss Ms course on rein
carnation (60 mm.)
12 30 O MOVIE The Secret Part
ner 1661 Stewart Granger. Have
Harareet. (105 mm.)
0 NEWS
12:46 ft ANSWER fS LOVE
1-00 ffNEWS
116 O MOVIE The Ouestor Tapes
1671 Robert Fo worth, Mike Fer
ret! (00 mm )
1 6 O DRAGNET
(1 FOCUS
216 C NEWS
2 46 f LOVE AMERICAN STYLE
140 fl DKX VAN DYKE SHOW
1.90 NIGHT GALLERY
40 fl THRILLER
tm fl UNTAMED WORLO
6 SO 0WILOUFT. THEATRE
NETWORKS AND STATIONS
RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE
CHANGES