PAGE TWO THE MICHIGAN DAILY SUNDAY. OCTO ER g. 1961 PAGE TWO THE MICflhI~1N IbAuI~V ~T1NDAY. ACTORKR L 1~7 7 ~!1\ilLiiy ,/T ,Y i.VLS a iV U 1VV s music Simon and-Garfunkel Provide Beautiful, Meaingful Melodies drama APA's 'Right!' Produces Uneasy Smiles By AVIVA KEMPNER phere full of beautiful musical sounds at Hill Auditorium. And For those who were disappoint- the packed audience really appre- ed when Simon and Garfunkel ciated their performance as evi- cancelled their concert last Feb- denced by the two encores and ruary (because they were snowed the standing ovation. in) it was worth the eight month Sporting purple and orange wait. 'sweaters respectively, Simon play- Last night, .Paul Simon and ed a fine guitar and harmonized Art Garfunkel created an atmos- with Garfunkel who now has a mustache. Garfunkel meanwhile tried doing something with his hands. They made attempts at being funny and making conver- sation, but were more successful just reproducing their best songs. Their first song, "Homeward Bound," was the weakest one, probably because of technical dif- diculties with the microphone. For the rest of the evening, however, Simon and Garfunkel combined talents, to make each song an By RONALD ROSENBLATT feet with remarkable effective- Luigi Pirandello's greatest pleas- ness. ure is to assault violently all our Anyone who has seen the play intellectual complacencies. His "Six Characters in Search of an many plays, termed "a drama in Author," one of the premises of a hundred acts," all strive toward which is that literary characters the same goal: to uproot our self- really are "realer" than "real" satisfied mental foundations, to people, knows what confusion show us that what we believe is Pirandello can wreak on the a mask, and there is nothing be- mind.! hind it. "Right You Are!" is another Pirandello, with his characters Pirandello play in the same vein. searching for an author and his Here the basic notion is that real- brutally sane mad-men, seeks to ity is utterly subjective: If two awaken us from what Coleridge people say contradictory things, termed "reality's dark dream." both are right, for each believes we~ go..ahno+ u <:e,:,1r +ci .rea ing l: niste . rgt. mT+7-is n a ciose This play, first presented by the APA Repertory company in 1960, was once more performed by this admirable group of play- ers on Friday night at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. To bring to life so incorrigibly talky and essentially didactic a play is no easy task, and the APA company, in general, succeeded in turning philosophy to colorful drama. The story centers around aI group of provincial Italians of the upper middle-class who be-; come entangled in the strange re- lationship between the old ladyI next door, Signore Frola, and her morose, forbidding son-in-law. Signor Ponza. As the prying fant- fly of Signor Agazzi probes fur- ther into the matter, they find that Signora Frola and Signor Ponza have conflicting tales to; tell concerning the reasons for their behavior, especially as it concerns Signor Ponza's hidden wife: Ponza claims she is his sec- ond wife, married after the death of Signora Frola's daughter, but Signora Frola claims she is really unqe ice e oabout the orld treadin g 1imself righ hsi scoet unique piece. securely on the rug of our anio- truth as we ever come. (The full Simon's songs are both happy matic beliefs about the world; we title of the play, suggestively and sad, but always meaningful. know what's what. Pirandello enough, is "Right You Are! If He explained that the moods of yanks that rug from under our You Think You Are.") h i s s o n g s d e p e n d s o n h i s f e e l i n g s - -a h - - -he w t s h m . at the time he writes them. VT 1T A theme that is often empha- -( 7.Witn L VbVe Poves sized is the lack of communication Proves between people. This point is sure- ly com uicatedin afnl U co v c g Crture called their favorite. 7 1 f old for the sort of ingenue role she usually plays in APA per- formances as she portrayed the girl, Dina. Most attention was paid to Helen Hayes, as the aged Signora Frola. Miss Hayes' timing was admirable, and she dominated the scenes in which she appeared. It seemed, though, that she portray- ed Signora Frola a trifle less pa- thetic and frail than she should have been. At any rate, one ex- pected a less self-possessed and composed Signora Frola. " If the pace of the performance was a bit static, and the direction at times stagey, the cast brought out the full significance of Pir- andello's lines, Pirandello's play, written in 1922, has much to say to the con- temporary world. Signore Frola and Signor Ponza emerge from a background of holocaust, an earthquake which supposedly kill- ed all their relatives. They dress in black and seem to have evolved, in their particular relation, some way of coping through fantasy with the reality of annihilation. May some of us some day also have to invent imaginery worlds to replace real destroyed ,ones? The Honors Steering Committee is now open to petitioning for new mem- bers. Petition forms may be picked up and submitted at 1210 Angell Hall. Deadline for petitioning is Oct. 12. *# * Tiangles (Engin.ern Hnorr La Sociedad Hispanica, Una Reunion, Mon., "Oct. 9, 3-5 p.m.. Frieze Bdg., coffee, conversation. Hispanic music. vengan Todos! ' 4 * ORGANIZATION NOTICES USE OF THIS COLUMN FOR AN- NOUNCEMENTS is available to officially recognized and registered student orga ni7za ions only. Forms are available In{ Rm. 1011 SAB Unitarian Universalist Student Reli- gious Liberals: Allan Shnaiberg, Dept. of Sociology, and others in Sociology Dept., will speak on "The Population Problem and Some Possible Changes," followed by discussion from the audi- ence, Sun., Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m., at the First Unitarian Church, 1917 Washte- naw. 1 American Chemical Society Student Affiliate, there will be a special elec- tion for secretary at 7:45 p.m., follow- ed by Dr. E. F. Westrum, Jr.'s pres- entation on "Transitions and Free- dom in Molecular Crystals," at 8 p.m., Oct. 10, 1300 Chemistry Bldg. Delta Phi Epsilon (prof. foreign serv- ice fraternity), open meeting, Speaker; Prof. R. N. Pearson, "Land Tenure and Land Reform in Latin America," Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m.. Union 3C. Communication Sciences Lecture. Se- The greatness of their songs is By BARBARA HOCKMAN of E. R Braithwaite's novel, Cla- her daughter, pretending to be not only that they contain poetic I certainly can't fight it. No vell's writing, directing., and pro- another woman. lyrics, compelling messages, and matter what I say, "To Sir, With ducing didn't help much. A brief The question becomes, who is well done musical arrangements. Love" is going to be a popular pic- summary of the movie: people mad? Or rather, as the mocking Most important their songs stimu- ture, enjoyed by the masses. The walking through doors, in and skeptic Lamberto Laudisi puts it, late the emotions and create a novie shows how a mild-mannered, out, saying hello and goodbye to what is the "truth"? The con- scene so life-like, like in "Cloudy" middle-classed teacher, Sidney each other. elusion, in true Pirandellian fash-' and "A Poem on the Underground Poitier, speedily subdues and civil- Almost every scene begins with ion, is that either version is true. Wall." izes an classroom full of English "Sir" entering an uproarious class- The relationship is just what Their songs tell of a personal toughies. We know that regard- room, then quiet, then again up- people choose to see it as, just protest and demand a more inti- less of the film's artistic qualities, roar. Poitier's best gestures are as each man is only what other mate surrounding than Hill Au- its theme will inevitably appeal when he stands motionless and people see (or think they see). ditorium. ' But the b e a u t y to oldsters (especially teachers speechless, seemingly in a stupor, I Outstanding in their roles were of Simon's lyrics, so brilliant and the parents of teenagers), who facing his class. When he talks, he the casual and poised Donald. in "I Am a Rock," and their will relish their dominant role, and mumbles, and his accent changes Moffat as the satiric voice of rea- voices made one forget the sui- to the teenagers themselves, who with whatever personality we have son Lamberto Laudisi and Syd- roundinigs, and appreciate their will be attracted to the sex-appeal derived from the previous moment. ney Walker, as the mysterious genius. of the kids in the film. Nonethe- The scenes of him with the other Signor Ponza. Walker had just - - - - less, the movie is a weak, uncon- teachers are ridiculous, the right tenseness and rigidity vlncing caricature. There are only two nowhere- about his body, and the proper What are we supposed to grasp near-redeemingly pleasant parts. mad, fixed stare, for Ponza. Dee from the story? A serious and One is a montaged museum visit Victor was convincing as the nosy lighthearted objective portrayal of with comicly juxtaposed postures. Amalia Agazzi, but Jennifer Har- m a erthe educational experience? If so, The other is some "in-jokeness" of mon seemed at times a trifle too id I age y what is shown seems highly! the movie, where a humor tran- naccurate. The children don't scends the plot and we laugh at _ react in the true spirit of people t-------_ o1 arv i ei.e from deprived, emotionally un- ;1are ethe lmopeni ng linesxabouetexua stable homes. They are too flex-'intercourse, and those where Poi- ible; their change comes too easily, tier, talking to the class about his femininity going against the The four other teachers are un- childhood Guianian dialect, sud- grai of is alenss.But hisbelievable. They are just typical, denly exclaims in the accent of our kind of tension is missing in Jan pedestaled statues, providing little d y as is intentional the man who seems more resign- else to the film than a place (thedthou thingaseems intentional edtthan shakene y h lounge) for "Sir" to go to, other thefi? ot inUNON-LEAGUE iences, and Marianne's limpid- than the classroom or meaningless if you thik twice eyed stoicism and conventional visits to his flat. One teachernisy-ou think-twice- Swedish beauty has no 'fire at all,.on n e:sh ie i n The implicit condemnation of ries, Student 41iscussion: "what should snooping and prying as a point- the.Language Requirements Be?",Tues., snopin an pringas pont-Oct. 10, 4:10 p.m., Michigan Union, less outrage and waste of time is Room 3R. not without relevance too. The APA company, though its inter- Lutheran Student Chapel, Hill St. at Forest Ave., speaker: Prof. David Kop- pretation might have been some- plin, psychology dept.. "How Does a how more intense, still managed University Education Affect Religious to realize the power of Pirandel- Beliefs?" Oct. 8, 7 p.m. lo's play, which is to revive in us Course Evaluation Booklet, mass slumbering doubts about the meeting, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m.. Grand indistinct boundary between Ballroom, Union. "truth" and "illusion." Guild House, Monday noon luncheon, In "Right You Are" only the Prof. John E. Powers: "Freedom and fools demand the "truth;" the un- License in the student sub-Culture," reasonable character, Laudisi, Oct. , 12-1 p.m., Guild House, 802 Monroel Tuesday noon Symposium, with watches and smiles and we smile lunche, Oct. 10. too, though uneasily. The APA * * * company suceeded in producing Young Democrats, meeting Oct. 10, that uneasy smile which is the 7:30 p.m., UGLI Multipurpose Room. Speaker: Former Congressman Wes Viv- aim of Pirandello's plays. ian.' 'Night Games' Features Go Grafted To Stock Contemp I CONTEMPORARY DISCUSSION COMMITTEE presents RCHY U.S.A." For another thing, both come- dy and its extension, grotesquerie, are thinned dowh because the decadence, instead of being al- lowed to live, is always subject to moral pressures. Jan indeed ends up harmonized, which seems existentially unlikely and aes- thetically a shame. And at the end the celebrants are showii up, as merely greedy. Most of what's supposed to be bizarre sexuality is quite routine, except for one fine funny scene where the boy slips under the satin billows of his mother's dirndle skirts and caresses her legs, and another of some stag movies in which the { decadents prurienatly titillate themselves. ,Inthislast every- thing-wigs, sex, repulsive people -really "springs." But for the most part, despite the potential flamboyance and "lewdness" of the film, it stays quite safe. The music, a counterpoint of jazz wail and baroque decorum, captures some of the dissonance that the film lacks, and is maybe the best thing in it. couragement and makes us think of romance. Another is calloused and resentful of the kids. A third is motherly. The fourth teaches art and remains unseen. Also stepping around is the mousy, smiley, busi- nesslike principal. None of these people exhibit the communication you would expect in such a small school. Perhaps we're supposed to get a character study of Mr. Thackerey, alias "Sir." He studied engineer- ing, hails from British Guiana, is teaching because, strangely, he can't find a job, is teaching his own personal truths. In spite of Sir's avowed honesty, his passive sincerity, and the developmentsof the kids' trust in him, his myste- rious aura is almost diabolical. He isn't warm and funloving. We ' really know nothing about him but that he likes to eat rich food, and yet abstains. If the weak content is the fault Phone 434-0130 F%- CARPENTER RDAD Free OPEN 7:00 P.M. Free leaters NOW SHOWING Heaters Shown at 7:40 Onl ALSO Shown at 9:5OnlyTe "ANA I i! ;;i lip' '; ', MONDAY, OCT. 9,7:30 P.M-. UNION BALLROOM NO ADMISSION CHARGE -This film, just released by the John Birch Society, examines some of the outbreaks in our urban ghetto areas this past summer II *1 I '' Si k _. ~ L. ._ _._ _ E _ .. ._.___ __. _._...... . _.._._......_ .__'_ti" ' i; NATIONAL GeEUERAL CORPORATION FOX EASTERN TEATRE I FH VILLa6E 375 No. MAPLE RD.-7694300 Showings Daily 2- :00-5 :10 8:30 i 'PERFECT FROM TOP TO ROTTOM" SIDNEY POITIER in JAMES CLAVELL'S 'To Sm, WITH LOVE'f p - /I lVill Shows at! C"INEM A' 11 T T ' For Feature Times PRESENTS Dial NO 2-6264 JASON ROBARDS JR. E irW o says they dont make A Tho sandBlood-and-Guts Westerns ATousand an*mre Clowns f 1 l .a i , a - presents L'ORCHESTRE NATIONAL FRANCAIS (French National Orchestral Directed by MAURICE LE ROUX Soloist: EUGENE ISTOMIN, pianist in HILL AUDITORIUM Monday, October 9,8:30 PROGRAM I ca nderto No. 4 for Piano and Orchestra Beethoven i I