Satiric play
mimics flaws
of marriage
■ “Divorce Southern Style” uses
a comedic approach to poke fun
at old-money Southern culture.
By Bret Schulte
Senior Reporter
And people thought Michael Jackson made
divorce seem funny.
This weekend, the Futz Theatre, 124 S.
Ninth St., features “Divorce Southern Style,” a
farcical comedy poking fun at the illusions of
marriage, old-money Southern culture and the
comic desperation found in both.
Penned by Jennifer Jarrett in 1967, the pop
ular play has undergone a few name changes
since its off-Broadway premiere 30 years ago.
Originally conceived as “Before and After,” the
satire was immediately embraced as a witty and
light-hearted commentary on marriage and
money in an era of unprecedented economic
activity. Since then, the play has been performed
mostly by regional companies under the name
“Winter Chicken” until Jarret finally settled on
“Divorce Southern Style,” said director Ed Dill.
After looking through several scripts, Dill
said, he picked “Divorce Southern Style”
because it fit everything he was looking for.
“It was the funniest play that 1 read out of the
15 or 20 I was looking through,” Dill said.
“There were several things I took into consider
ation: the space, the amount of people you have
to work with, props and special effects.”
“Divorce Southern Style” is the story of a
rich Southern woman, Eleanor, whose posh and
recreant lifestyle begins to fade as she slowly
runs out of money. However, her ex-husband,
who was poor when they met, suddenly seems
very attractive to her once again.
The husband, of course, becomes a bit suspi
cious when she confronts him.
“She decides to get him back by alluding
their daughter is pregnant,” Dill said.
Please see PLAY on 10
Winter Winds
Festival features
select students
From Staff Reports
This weekend, the University of Nebraska
Lincoln will host the 1998 Winter Festival for
Winds and Percussion.
Intended as a vital music-making experi
ence as well as a recruitment opportunity, the
Winter Winds Festival includes master classes
and an opportunity to be coached in chamber
ensembles by UNL faculty.
Sixty-five students have been chosen for
the Winter Winds Festival from five states, as
i
1
Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Kimball Recital Hall.
The chamber recital will feature three wood
wind quintets, a clarinet choir, a flute trio, a
saxophone ensemble, two brass quintets, two
brass sextets and a percussion ensemble. All
groups are composed of high school students
and are coached by UNL faculty members.
The Festival Finale Concert is on Sunday at
3 p.m. in Kimball Recital Hall. This concert
features the Honors Wind Symphony, the
Festival Symphonic Band and an appearance
by the 52-piece UNL Wind Ensemble.
Admission to all events is free.