THE BATTALION
TUESDAY, APR. 13, 1976
Page 3
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By B. J. STRODE
The Aggie Players’ production of
“Celebration” opened last night in
Rudder Auditorium. The show con
sists of 2 1/2 hours of lively, colorful
action camouflaging a thin plot.
Orphan, played by John Barnes, is
looking for bis garden. With the help
ofPotempkin (Mitch Hall), he makes
a deal with Mr. Rich (Steve Bales).
In return for teaching Mr. Rich how
to “feel again, Orphan can have his
garden back.
In the process of completing the
bargain, Orphan meets Angel,
played by Celina Ellington, who
wants to be somebody. They fall in
love, of course. Mr. Rich tries to
back out on his end of the deal, but in
the end they all live happily ever
after.
John Barnes is gloriously blonde
and innocent. His voice is certainly
not flat, but his acting is. However,
his looks and his singing manage to
carry the part of the wide-eyed inno
cent fairly well.
Potempkin is a Fagin-like charac
ter (for those who have seen “O-
liver!”) whose loyalty fluctuates with
the rewards to be won. Mitch Hall
handles the part very well, both act
ing and singing. He was the only one
of the major characters who seemed
to know how to use a microphone.
The villain of the piece, Mr. Rich,
is delightfully portrayed by Steve
Bales. The role did not require a
well-trained voice, but it did require
the ability to sell a song, and Bales
excels in that ability.
DRAMA REVIEW
Celina Ellington makes a stunning
picture in her white robes and
wings, which are discarded sub
sequently for gold-sequined hot
pants. She also sells her songs, but
does best on the belting, vibrant
numbers. Her voice does not lend
itself to saccharine love songs.
Several numbers got a helping
hand from the Revelers. Their voices
and sundry antics were sometimes
amusing, sometimes distracting.
Outstanding style and spirit were
exhibited by Nancye Gandy and
Steve King. Gandy is also a pretty
good whistler.
Beau Sharbrough pulled a work
able arrangement out of some
mediocre music. He conducted
Michael Wilson, Jon Juneau and
Russell Harris in some virtuoso per
formances. The band, and especially
the drums, occasionally overpo
wered the vocalists.
Lights designed by R. W. Wenck
and run by a crew under the direc
tion of Ralph Weber added a colorful
touch. There was some precision
spotlighting and a few excellent spe
cial effects.
Stage Manager Walt Meissner has
once again outdone himself on the
set. The stage is the same for the
whole show and it is intricate enough
to provide variety without producing
confusion. Props were hampered by
a grocery sack from Skaggs.
Costumes were designed by Mar
garet Thomas and executed by Phil
Hafer and his crew. These folks ob
viously worked hard and the major
characters were appropriately at
tired. The Revelers, however, ap
peared in all manner of weird and
bizarre garb. The variegated colors,
frequent costume changes, and
bizarre masks were more often dis
tracting than enhancing.
Carolyn Johnson choreographed
the dances and also appeared as a
Reveler. She did a good job in both
areas, but could not dance all the
parts. Most of the big production
numbers suffered from an over
abundance of undertrained actors
who nevertheless cavorted with
abandon. The lack of expert footwork
was a serious drawback in only a few
songs.
The Aggie Players have once again
put together an enjoyable show from
less-than-fantastic raw materials.
The plot is old, the music ordinary,
and the dialogue uninspired—with
the exception of a few brilliant spots.
Perhaps not surprising on opening
night, the show was running slow.
There were a few fumbles which
were recovered with finesse. In spite
of these difficulties, the show is
good. It is humorous, a little madcap
and at times touching. The cast and
crew fully deserved the standing
ovation they received last night, and
not for effort alone. Go and see the
show. If you don’t come away feeling
just a little more lighthearted, sue
HAPPY
- COTTAGE
is full of Easter Gifts
809 E. 29th St. Bryan
3 blocks from
City National Bank
ROPE AND LEATHER WEDGE IN RED,
NAVY, AND WHITE.
100 lines
les to
College
<43.
must an
oncerts, car-cram highlight
Sas Week celebration mania
N.Y. Policeman protects oldsters
Hi is is Gas Week and the Recrea-
onl Committee is sponsoring ac-
itics each day to celebrate the
T .es of spring.
I 6X3$ All activities will be held at the
Hder Fountain except where
du rwise specified. Events include:
)sons 1
Tuesday
First Annual Card Stacking Con
test, 12:30 p.m.
Basement Committee Outdoor
Concert, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Recreation Committee Car Cram
3-5 p.m.
^Centennial series
presents art films
13
39
15 _
■Art in Man s Experience is
icing presented today through Fri-
fay as the last program in this year’s
Centennial Academic Assemblies
cries.
Qg The program’s two presentations
ink art and architecture. David
loss. Deputy Director of the Long
1AL?f th Museum of Art, will present
‘Video Art and the Architecture of
Utention . The video-tape and film
irogram will begin at 8 p.m. Wed-
9 may in Harrington 110.
John Lunsford, curator of the Dal-
as Museum of Fine Arts and profes-
HBtfor of Art History at SMU, presents
mm^Mayan Civilivation: Art and Ar-
liitecture Reveal a Society’ Friday
it8 p.m. That program will also be in
larrington 110.
Supporting presentations for the
irogram include:
Tuesday
lAjiLHideo Program I, 100 Harrington,
i p.m.
Wednesday
: == = ®ideo Program II, 207 Har-
ington, 12 p.m.
m ||Film About a Woman Who”,
aveto Ufvonne Rainer, 204 Harrington, 4
IS'" lm.
Thursday
; Program of Regional Video Art,
larrington 103 and 104, 12 p.m.
f Video Program II, Harrington 103
Cl04, 4 p.m.
“Film About a Woman Who ”,
Yvonne Rainer, 110 Harrington.
Friday
Video Program I, 207 Harrington,
12 p.m.
Wednesday
Hot Air Balloon Rides, Drill
Field, 10 a.m.
Host & Fashion Committee Fash
ion Show.
Recreation Committee Balloon
Stomp, all day.
Thursday
CAMAC Jalapeno-Eating Con
test, 1 p.m.
Recreation Committee Giant
Canvas, all day.
F riday
Life-Size Chess Game, all day.
Basement Outdoor Concert, 11
a.m.-4 p.m.
Saturday
Recreation Committee Frisbee
Loan and Rock Music, all day.
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Once a week
policeman Richard Croce spends his
lunch hour taking senior citizens
shopping and banking.
Croce, 28, says he started leading
the weekly expedition of as many as
50 elderly people after he was as
signed to a beat that included the
Mount Eden Senior Citizens Club in
the Tremont neighborhood. It has
the second highest crime rate in The
Bronx.
“It was evident, said Croce, “that
the oldsters that attend the club
were living in fear of walking the
streets. This was especially true
when they wanted to go shopping or
banking.”
So Croce got permission from his
captain to use his lunch time once a
week to escort the oldsters on their
errands. Now club director Gloria
Feldman says the old people
couldn’t do without him and look
forward all week to their stroll.
Battalion
Classified
845-2611
707 TEXAS 846-1148
Easter Party all day Thursday
with free goodies and discounts.
CHARLI'S
BOUTIQUE
Moved
Temporarily
The section of the Registrar’s Office
which clears graduating seniors and does
degree checks has moved to the second
floor of Registration Headquarters (en
trance from Fish Pond side of building)
for a few weeks. They will return to the
Coke Building by May 1.
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846-9626
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Monday - Saturday
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Give your
chick” flowers.
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Easter Arrangements
Drawing Board Easter Cards
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OF
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OUR REMODELLED AND
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You’re Invited To The Formal
Ribbon-Cutting At 10 a.m.
Thursday, April 15
Refreshments Will Be Served
ALL SHIRTS & JERSEYS 20%
(UP TO 5 LETTERS PUT ON FREE) OFF
New Carpet By
327 UNIVERSITY DRIVE NORTHGATE
OPEN 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
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