Page Five Repertory theater kicks off tonight The 1974 Michigan Repertory Summer Season will commence tonight and tomorrow night, with two produc- tions presented in repertory: William Shakespeare's clas- sic comedy, The Taming of the Shrew and William Inge's 1950's romance, Picnic. Though the two plays are quite varied in style, both Inge's small-town Kansas setting and the splendor of Shakespearean extravagance are in- habited by unusually strong female characters. In both plays the women experience a maturing process which adds to their development, interest and challenge. Kate's "submission" to her husband at the end of The Taming of the Shrew could indicate weakness instead of strength. How- ever, Director Richard Burgwin explains, "I do not consider Shrew a male chauvinist play. Shakespeare was concerned with maturity in his plays and his notion of maturity was to successfully deal with the reality of the world. The reality of Kate's world was different than ours. Many things she says in her so-called 'sub- mission' would be unacceptable in ours but were inevitable in hers. She has learned to use her intelligence." Picnic boasts five fully drawn women's roles. In fact, according to director David Kelley, "Inge originally wrote the play as a sketch for five women. The male characters were later added to initiate a maturing process which affects these five. All of the principal women undergo a change, an awakening." Both productions will be presented in the air-conditioned Power Center at 8:00 p.m. They will run in repertory for two weeks, beginning with Shrew. Have a few extra moments during the day? Need something to occupy your mind? THEN, tuck a copy of Crossword Puzzle under your arm. PE utUHIu (AVID H SnusN) iNaSTUcTS nis reuctant spouse ate tat iette) during a rehearsal for Shakespeare's comedy "The Taming of the Shrew", tonight's opening production of the Michigan Repertory '74 Series in the Power Center. "Shrew" will run in repertory with Inge's "Picnic" through July 26. For ticket Information, call 764-0450. Genet's Maids': Fake reality By MICHELE BECKER In a world which separates the rich from the poor, the em- ployer from the employe, and the elite from the rest of the population, Jean Genet deals with the separatenesstand ha- tred of two maids and their ma- dame. The Maids is being presented by the Summer Repertory The- atre of Ann Arbor. Future per- formances of The Maids are scheduled for July 21, 28 and August 9 and 18 at the East Quad theater. Genet's play, directed by De- nise Koch, concerns itself with reality and illusion. The two maids are portrayed by men, Florida has 40 wildlife man- agement areas with five million acres of public hunting land. Seven require special permits, but most are accessible with one $10 permit and a hunting license. Nick O'Connor and Fred Gold- stein. Madam Jackson Phippin is also played by a man trying to present the reality of a wo- man. Both the maids and their madame engage in lesbian ac- tivities. The play deals with fakes, trying to emancipate themselves into a reality which they can never escape into. The maids are involved in role exchanges. Claire becomes the Madame and in turn Solange takes over Claire's role. They carry on the same masquerade each time Madam leaves. The maid exposes her hatred of her mistress and thus overcomes her station. Then the carefully set alarm clock rings, warning the maids of the impending re- turn of their Madame. Claire puts on the black dress of a maid and Solange returns to her own identity. We discover the ironic fake- ness of their reality as the maids become the loving ser- vants of Madame. The loyal maids who would "never desert Madame," claim while she is gone that they will kill her. Most of the problems were relatively minor. At times communication between the two sister - maids lacked the direct- ness it needed. There were also moments of intensity with no apparent build-up or motiva- tion. Yet as a whole the produc- tion was an honest piece of theatre, presenting Genet's work truthfully before the audience. I; KBIV/OUNO i s.. . 330 S. State St. 761-6207 CAMP TRAILS frame packs 20% OFF "CANYON" Regular-$29.95 SALE PRICE-$23.99 --7- I . - L' 4.5 J5 7/ & dacron sleeping bags 25% OFF 3 LB. DACRON Regular-$20.95 2 LB. DACRON Regular-$1 6.95 SALE PRICE-$15.72 SALE PRICE-$12.72