PAGE TWO;
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2967
PAGE TWO THE MICHIGAN DAILY FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1967
THYSTES:
F
Professors Present Polished,
Entertaining Choral Reading
By DAVID APPEL
"About a month ago," says Prof.
Marvin Felheim of the English
department, "four professors de-
cided to present the Elizabethan
Jasper Heywood's translation of
"Thyestes" by Seneca.
The whole thing started as a
lark, he continues, "but after Prof.
Claribel Baird of the speech de-
partment joined the group as ac-
tor and director, everyone became
excited and realized the powers
of the play." The result was quite
a convincing choral reading and
a very enjoyable evening.
"Thyestes," written by Seneca
in the first century A.D., is the
horrible story of how Atreus, pre-
tending to be reconciled to his
brother Thyestes, entertained the
latter at a banquet with the flesh
and blood of hiL own sons.
The play is full of gory details,
blood, bombast and highly polish-
ed rhetoric; precisely the qualities
attractive to such Elizabethan
writers as Kidd, Webster, Mar-
lowe and Shakespeare.
Pomposity was characteristic of
Roman culture, and such charac-
teristics found their ways into the
drama. Because tragedy was the
higher drama, as opposed to com-
edy, it became elevated in rhetor-
ic, with the tragic element highly
compounded and centralized in a
single family.
"Thyestes" is typical of this. Be-
cause of the tremendous detail of
the tragic element in a single fam-
ily, the modern audience often
finds difficulty in seriously iden-
tifying with the tragedy, and in-
stead, laughs at it.
This perhaps is sophistication,
but one does well to remember
that identification with the mod-
ern alternative, murder outside
the family, is a peculiar comment
on our society.
It has been said that it is a
sign of decadence when a socie-
ty becomes oratorical and rhetor-
ical. Certainly, a look at Congress
would show that today's society is
just as oratorical as Seneca's
Rome. The difference is that to-
day's society is filled with poor
oratory.
But the difficulties in credit-
ability demonstrate that for a
modern audience, choral reading,
as opposed to acting, is more }ap-
propriate for "Thyestes." The five
faculty members deserve credit in
this type of reading.
Set on a bare stage, except for
stools and music stands, one im-
mediately feels a seriousness to it
all. For the most part, lines were
delivered accurately and cleanly,
and each person performed admir-
ably.
Although one could cite flaws
and failings, one was nevertheless
impressed with the rich voice of
Prof. Gerda Seligson of the classi-
cal studies department, and Prof.
Gerald Else's (also of the classi-
cal studies department) ability to
evoke the rat like quality of Atre-
us. The rhythmic delivery of Fel-
heim, and the bigness and pom-
posity of rhetoric revealed by John
D'Arms was also rewarding.
In addition to her excellent per-
formance, Miss Baird should re-
ceive special credit for her care-
ful direction. The pacing and tim-
ing was almost always exact, and
the rhythms effectively imitated,
and thus, stimulated a moving
emotional experience.
The response of the audience
indicated that such a program of
choral readings should be contin-
ued. First, it is an effective way
to present drama, especially drama
of this type.
But more important, it cites the
possibility of enjoyable and mean-
ingful student - teacher involve-
ment with art. One must certain-
ly hope for a repeat performance
soon.
CINEMA II
presents
JEAN-PAUL BELMONDO
in
TH- n"AT MAN
FROM RIO
(Color; French with English Subtitles)
"Bubbles with improvisations!"
-Crowther, N.Y. Times
"A masterpiece in its class!"
-,
G
tt
Warner Bros.
unlocks all the
doors of the
sensation-filled
best seller.
41
DIAL 5-6290
1i
"Not half bad."-Hubert Cohe
FRIDAY and SAI
-United Artists
en
[URDAY
7 and 9:15 P.M.
50c
AUDITORIUM A
ANGELL HALL
I. D. Required
L
.w
t{
aI
but some things still breathed and pulsed with
'V
4
9
4
rORGANIZATION NOTICES
...'. .y.... . :<' -.,:.. . 1"C~f:r}:'"}:{":'' '}{i}:k:4: "'' :~
USE OF THIS COLUMN FOR AN-
NOUNCEMENTS is available to officially
recognized and registered student orga-
nizations only. Forms are available in
Room 1011 SAB.
U. of M. Chess Club, Meeting, March
24, 7:30 p.m., Room 3C, Union.
* * *
Newman Student Association, Com-
munity mass and supper will be can-
celled for March 24.
* * *
Folklore Society, Workshop featuring
Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys,
Sat., March 25, 2 p.m., 3rd floor SAB.
Come and bring your axe.
La Sociedad Hispanica, Una Tertulia,
Mon., March 27, 3-5 p.m., 3050 Frieze
Bldg. Para todk persona que quiera
platicar en espanol. Cafe, galletas, etc.,
gratis.
University Lutheran Chapel, 1511
Washtenaw, Good Friday, March 24,
7:25 a.mi.:Half-hour Matins with Holy
Communion, "An Imperishable Inheri-
tance" (Pastor Scheips), and 1 p.m.,
a 50-minute service during the Tre Ore
period, "Sentimental Religion or
Christ?" (Pastor Spomer).
* * *
Hillel Foundation, Purim Debate,
March 26, 7:30 p.m., 1429 Hill. Optional
Deli House supper-call 663-4129 for
reservations.
* * *
Hillel Foundation, Sabbath service,
March 24, 7:15 p.m., 1429 Hill. Dr.
Herman Jacobs will review "Blood
Accusation" by Maurice Samuel and
"The Fixer" by Bernard Malamud.
* * *
Lutheran Student Chapel, Hill St. at
Forest, Good Friday services, March 24,
12:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
Alpha Lambda Delta, Initiation din-
ner, March 31, 6 p.m., Michigan Union.
Phone 434-0190
6%&c4 &CARPENTER ROAD
All new members are reminded to
make their reservations by March 28.
Baha'i Student Group, Religious dis-
3ussion, March 24, 8 p.m., 335 E. Huron,
Apt. 5.
Guild House, Friday noon luncheon,
Prof. William Porter, Dept. of Journal-
ism, "Mass Communications," March 24,
12-1 p.m., Guild House, 802 Monroe.
Join
The Deily
Sports Staff
what had happened the night before -
Starring
ROD TAYLOR
I
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ALBUM ON WARNER BROS. RECORDS,
Michelangelo Antonioni' s
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starring
Vanessa Redgrave
BLOW-UP
CATHERINE SPAAK KARL MALE MELVYN DUULAS RICHARD ONTE
MICHAELRENNIEKEV IN MORTYand MERLEOEON as "The Duchess".
Written for the Screen and Produced by WENDELL MAYES" Based on the novel by Arthur Hailey
*Time Magazine, Newsweek, Saturday
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HELD OVER
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co-starring
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Sarah Mites
COLOR
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Recommended for matore audiences
DIAL 8-6416
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Program
Information
NO 2-6264
TATE
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"The Night of the Generals"
PETER O'TOOLE
OMAR SHARIF
Technicolor
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nothing to buy... just complete and
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TONIGHT
TWO OF FINEST
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Alain Resnais'
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(dir. of "La Guerre
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John Huston's
LET THERE
BE LIGHT
BEST PICTURE
Q "Alfie"
F] "A Man For All Season
Q "The Russians Are
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Q "The Sand Pebbles"
F "Who's Afraid Of
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BEST ACTOR
MICH IGAN.
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SATURDAY, APRIL 1
LAST DAY FOR
CHECK ONE FOR EACH CATEGORY
t BEST DIRECTOR
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upporting Role) - 5 ACTRESS
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I
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Alan Arkin
Richard Burton
Michael Caine
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ORIGINAL SCREENPL
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Please print your name and address at the bottom
Contest closes at 6:00 P.M. MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1967
196
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1st PRIZE: 8 passes EACH to the
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" 5 nominated sound-track LP's
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