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Juggling irep plays talie ccDpimTnimcaiiaon
By Lisc Olsen
With the rest of the campus in a summer "reses
sion," Howell Theatre is a flurry of activity as the
Nebraska Repertory Theatre opens its 1984 season.
In its 17th year of production, the Repertory
Theatre is well-established. More than 500 season
tickets already have been sold and nearly all per
formances should sell out, according to Manager
Pat Overton.
The success of the summer shows requires careful
schedule planning and managements Overjon said.
The chemical mix of your season i3 all-important
but terrifically difficult," Overton said.
This year the repertory group is divided into two
groups an adult and a children's show.
"Crimes of the Heart," which opened last night, is a
light drama written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author
Beth Henly. It will run June 29, 30 and July 3 to 7,
and 1 0 to 14 at 8 p.m. The second play, "George M!," is
a musical based on the life of George Cohan, the
"Father of Broadway." "George M!" opens at the
Omaha University Theatre July 6 to 8 and 13 to 15,
and plays in Lincoln July 19 to 21 and 24 to 28 at 8
p.m.
Musicals like "Godspell" in the 1983 season and
"Man of La Mancha" in 1970 have been the Reper
tory Theatre's most successful shows. Also popular
in the summer, according to Overton, are light
comedies like the company's third show this year,
"How the Other Half Loves" (August 2 to 4 and 7 to
11, at 8 p.m.), which is filled with "funny comings
and gofngs and misunderstandings," Overton said.
"A Toby Show" is this year's touring children's
production.
Repertory theatre differs from school year uni
versity theatre in one major way it's a profes
sional company, thus actors and actresses are paid,
rather than simply receiving academic credit al
though mostly students and faculty members are
involved. .
Casting directors attend auditions in places as far
away as New York and California to find performers
and technicians for the productions. Thjs year,
however, about 85 percent of the company is from the
UNL and UNO theatre programs, as opposed to only
60 percent in previous years, Overton said.
Charles Bell, a graduate student in fine arts at
UNL who plays the title role in "George M!" said the
professional atmosphere has positive effects on the
company.
"People are working harder and really growing in
nine hours of rehearsal a day," Bell said. "They are
assuming a profesional attitude instead of that of a
Kimball sko
w spoof s flapper era
By Chris Barbach
Fun, fun, fun is the tune at Kimball Recital Hall
this summer not surfs up Beach Boys banter
but Roaring 20s flapper folderoL
Director Gregg Tallman has a twofold purpose
for the UNL Music Theatre's one and only summer
production, "The Boy Friend." "We wanted to pro
vide an outlet for students in the new Music Thea
tre major program - give them a chance to per
form, and provide the people of Lincoln with some
pure entertainment."
"The Boy Friend" is a musical comedy spoof of
the flapper era rife with music, dance and,
according to Tallman, laughs. "I particularly like it.
It's a fun show, and perfect for the new majors"
because of its combination of music, dance and
acting, Tallman said.
The 2 hour musical is about a wealthy English
girls' school on the Riviera. The girls all fall in love
with French boys, and each has a different prob
lem w ith her respective boyfriend in a sort of song
and dance sit com.
What is director Tallman emphasizing in the
Music Theatre's production of "The Boy Friend?"
"The style of 1920s acting. It's kind of silly and
shallow. We're spoofing that style in which Ginger
Rodgers and Fred Astaire used to break into song
and dance out of nothing," Tallman said.
The major difference between Music Theatre in
the summer and Music Theatre during the school
year is in the atmosphere, according to Tallman.
"It doesn't really differ they (students) still get
credit for it. It's just easier and more fun in the
summer. We don't have other things pulling at us.
It's easier to concentrate," he said. "Almost every
one has spent 5 or 6 hours a day for the last
month rehearsing. During the school year, we have
to spread rehearsals over three months."
An added attraction to "The Boy Friend" is the
orchestra, "a typical 1920s jazz band," Tallman
said.
According to Kimball Box Office Manager Amy
Meilander, The Boy Friend" is just right for
summer audiences' taste. "People love to come to
light musicals in the summer just go out on a
summer night and walk cn over to Kimball. It's
easy to sell tickets for something like The Boy
Friend,' " she said. Ticket sales for opening night
are going quite well, according to Meilander; but
there are still some tickets left. '
"The Boy Friend" opens Saturday night and
repeats July 6 and 7t all at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6 or
$5 regular, and $4 or $3 for students, children and
senior citizens.
student."
Also unlike school year productions, the Reper
tory Theatre often combines the crews and casts
and even props and scenery in all productions. In
fact, one of the biggest problems, according to Stage
Manager Joette Pelster, is communication coor
dinating the needs and efforts of three casts and
three directors and their technical crews, and doing
it all within the confines of a single theatre building.
This year's juggling of three play rehearsal sche
dules and the demands of casts and crews was
complicated by the decision to perform the musical
"George M!" at both UNL and UNO theatres. This was
done to "expand the repertory and take it into new
territory," as well as get the two drama departments
working more closely together, Overton said.
Taking "George M!" on the road also affected the
scheduling of other plays and the very nature of the
company itself. In fact, the 1984 Nebraska Reper
tory Theater is not a repertory theatre at all. The
term "repertory" means "in rotating performance"
and this year the company has scheduled its shows
in "stock theatre" succession. However, the name
and the basic tradition of good summer entertain
ment remains the same. Tickets are still available for
most, performances of the Nebraska Repertory
Theatre at Howell Theatre Box Office, for $5.
Celebrate July 4
with a picnic lunch
By Judi Nygren
The Fourth of July promises to be a fun filled day.
Independence Day traditionally means a day off
from summer classes and work, a day spent with
friends and family and a day of celebration at one of
Lincoln's parks or lakes.
This year the Lincoln Jaycees are sponsoring fes
tivities at Holmes Lake. Activities for both children
and adults include boat races, puppet shows, con
certs and fireworks. Activities begin at 8 a.m. and
fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. .
To add to the fun, pack a picnic basket with the
following delectables.
Pecan Chicken
1 cup finely ground pecans
V6 cup bread crumbs
Vz teaspoon salt
k teaspoon dry mustard
lA teaspoon pepper
i cup butter
2 tablespoons mustard
8 assorted chicken pieces
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In large plastic bag, combine pecans, bread
crumbs, salt, dry mustard and pepper. Shake bag to
mix ingredients. Set aside.
In small saucepan,, melt butter then mix mustard
in with a whisk. Remove from heat and continue
beating for three minutes until well blended. Pour
butter mixture into a shallow bowl.
Continued on Page 9
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Tattletales' emcee fights stupidity
Editors note: This articleis unadulterated fict
ion. It's recently come to my attention that a great
injustice is being perpetrated on the afternoon
television-viewing public. All those faithful to this
unique genre know what I'm talking about. First
they take away our "Brady Bunch," and now, our
beloved "Tattletales" is gone.
"Tattletales" started out in 1957, with a pilot orig
inally titled "Those Silly Stoolpigeons." Ace game
show host Bert Convy, (the show's sole master of
Billy
Shaffer
Dav TrouSiDally Nebrsskan
"Whcre'o Tlse Boy Friend'?" At the Kixnb&lL
Friday. Juno 29, 1984
ceremonies during its 27-year run) has epitomized
the definitive emcee. His suave blend of smooth pat
ter and curt retorts has consistently proven to be a
real crowd-pleaser. Convy's personal grooming hab
its and extensive wardrobe have also helped make
the show the stunning success story it's been.
In a recent phone interview, Convy described the
final days of the show's demise.
"I showed up at the studio, one day, and my park
ing space was gone. I walked to my dressing room
and there on the door where my name had reigned
for so many years, were the words "Tom Kennedy."
Needless to say, I was devastated. They booted us
after only one week air time of my new French
perm. No warning, nothing." Convey turned to drugs
and alcohol.
Daily Nebraskan
"I was on the verge of losing everything my
swimming pool, my wife, my girlfriend, my guest
spots on the Tonite Show.' I even blew off a few
episodes appearing on the "Love Boat." I'd reached
rock bottom," he said.
Convy's personal climb from his depths of despair
and self-degradation is a story of courage and intes
tinal fortitude.
"I was coked out one day, and tried to strangle
Sparky, our cocker spaniel, for barking at the pool
cleaners. In the middle of this devious act, I realized
just how sick I'd become, and that maybe there is life
after Tattletales. "
For Convy, there may be hope for the future, but
television audiences the world over will have to
learn to cope without the afternoon hilarity and
hi-Jinx that were the trademarks of "Tattletales."
Surely, the powers that be (i.e., network executives)
should see fit to return this classic to the airwaves.
But then, network exec's are, on the one hand, next
to God, and on the other had exceedingly stupid and
incessantly wrong.
The only redeeming aspect for this sad debacle is
that Tattletales" replacement "Body Language"
could prove to become a show with as high standards
of quality programming as its predecessor. Only
time will tell on that matter, of course. And after all,
we still have our "Eight Is Enough" in the meantime.
But dont rule Mr. Convy out quite yet,
"I'm gonna fight this thing " he said.
"We're thinking of pulling a Mike Douglas and
going into syndication. The country needs Tattle
tales and, by God, I'm gonna give it to 'em."
Go get 'em, Bert.
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