Vol. LXXXV, No. 58-S THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Five 'Canterbury T es: Ribald musical By ALICE HENKIN Springtime follies appeal to mid-summer madness. So Can- terbury Tales, a musical colored brightly with the zestiness of the English spring, the delight of the journey, and the ribald spirit of Eros at play, has been joyously received at the Men- delssohn Theatre this week. Canterbury Tales concerns a diverse group of pilgrims who meet at the Tabard Inn, en route to Thomas a'Becket's shrine at Canterbury. TO PASS the time, they agree to tell stories servicing the "general morality and general pleasure." The musical, based quite faithfully on a selection of four of Chaucer's six tales, treats that most topical of themes - the war between the sexes. Much of the script is taken directly from Chaucer, whose language and wit are not re- strained. In fact, a great deal of the joy of the play is derived directly from Chaucer's lines-- his vocabulary and phrasing, his allusions and rhymes. The result is a musical burst- ing with jocularity, bawdiness, and an overall air of celebra- tion. THE CASTING is superb; there are outstanding perform- ances by Sally Bublitz, Sheila Heyman, Denise Cole, Mikell Pinkey, Charles Sutherland and Dave Johnson. Costumes and props are similarly excellent. The costumes enhance the me- dieval atmosphere of the play, and the general visual interest. The props are simple, and several are strikingly clever. There is a definite progression from an effective subtlety to- wards a colorful gaudiness. Wit- ness the bed prop (beds figur- ing importantly in the produc- tion), In the first skit, "The Miller's Tale," a vertical board effectively represents a bed. By the last tale, the Wife of Bath's, a silver-gray canopied bed wafts through a cloud of smoke onto the stage. To some extent the costum- ing undergoes a similar transi- tion. So in the third tale Pluto and Proserpina appear, deific, bedecked in silver; and the last tale gains glitter from the regally attired king and queen. This progression has a positive value, maintaining the visual dynamism of the m u s i c a l throughout. THE MUSICAL quality of the production does not, unfortun- ately, measure up to the pro- duction's dramatic standards. Although the forms might have enhanced t h e predominantly vivacious mood, under the cir- cumstances it frequently de- tracts from the overall quality of the production. There are no 'memorable melodies;' there is nothing out- standing about the arrange- ments; there are no songs par- ticularly worthy of note. Soloists, both instrumentalists and singers, are on the whole highly competent. But on open- ing night good ensemble work was still lacking, so that a pro- duction which was in general of high professional quality at times tended towards the ama- teurish. BALANCE was also absent at times, so that singers were oc- casionally forced to strain to be heard, and were sometimes inaudible beneath the overly en- thusiastic tones of the brass and percussion instrumentalists. Another problem lies in the religious-moralistic angle of the play. The real pleasure of the production derives from its 'low' humor: the bawdy, the illicit, and the scatological; and in its ribald treatment of the eternal war between the sexes. But the play also has a re- ligious tone. The Prioress (Mar- dy M. Medders) wears a locket inscribed "Amor Vincit Om- niae" or "Love Conquers All." This adage provides an impor- tant theme, and it is on this note the play ends. After the predominant broad humor of the play, this tone is, at least for some, annoyingly uplifted. IT IS questionable as to what the author's intentions were. It is true that Chaucer allows for the expression of some honest religious sentiment in his Tales. But it is both an enigma, and a theatrically untenable situa- Lion, that this element should have been so poorly integrated throughout the musical, to be given so significant a place at the end. But this detail, although sig- nificant in an overall assess- ment, should deter anyone in search of fine theatrical enter- tainment from seeing Canter- bury Tales, which is on the whole a real treat. John (left), Mikell Pinkey, and Alan (right), Ken Ward, amorously caress the Miller's daughter, Molly, played by Sally Bublitz in a showing of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" at the Men- delssohn theater. The performances will continue through Saturday. Benefits of new rape law questioned (Continued from Page 3) -and change a rape charge to because the the victim's intention to come assault, according to Barbara the law n forth. "If the victim is going to MacQueen, a Law School grad- change to a talk, he or she will talk," Hill uate and an active lobbier for will still ren says. "There is no way you're the original state bill and ual conduct going to legislate that." Elaine Milliken, former head Milliken p THE NEW law was intended of the Feminist Legal Services the new law to bring about another reform Group. tory (the ol( by making it more difficult for MacQueen and Milliken say to females a defendant to "cop a plea" - fewer rape charges will be who rape m plead guilty in exchange for changed to assault - which (against m prosecution on a lesser charge carries a smaller penalty - brought to, Former Senator four-tier nature of neans when pleas lesser degree they nain within the sex- statute. wints out that since v is non-discrimina- d law referred only as victims), "men en and gang rapes ales) can now be court." (Continued from Page1) "Thank God for the jury system that got me out of the clutches of the Justice Department," Gurney said., He refused to speculate on the reasons behind his pro- secution, but said it probably came because "some- body wanted to hang a big hide on the wall." THE FIVE-MEMBER team of prosecutors left the courtroom declining comment on the outcome of an investigation that started in late 1971 and culminated in a 24-week-long trial. But Gurney said he did not think the government would attempt to try the case again. "If they couldn't prove this case after two years and plea bargaining by every key witness, they're never going to prove it," be said, Gurney, the first incumbent U. S. senator indicted since the Teapot Dome scandal of the 1920s, appeared relaxed as the jury filed into the courtroom. He sat with his head resting on his fingertips. HIS DAUGHTERS, Sarah Stoner and Jill Holt, who had joined Gurney at the courthouse through the Jury's deliberation, embraced after the clerk read the verdicts' Before dismissing jur for their patience ande "If there were meda . I would award th panel. He praised the j this country." GURNEY, who decid second Senate term foll said: "The government' a case to begin with." . He refused to say wh back in politics. He said politics is one But he said his first con back in shape beforen future. Swiger stood blowsg ed a charter bus thatv the motel where they1 you, thank you," he she HE TOLD reportersa job at the Tampa FHA Koontz thanked his f four of them volunteers Gurney acquitted ors, Krentzman thanked them that victims of these horrors, such as myself, should efforts. be fully recompensed for all financial loss and be en- is for distinguished citizenship titled to punitive damages as well. em to you," he told the weary "The physical and emotional torment and the eco- jury as "a model for jurors in nomic injury to me and my loved ones has been pro- found," Koontz said. "The government should never have indicted me." ed not to seek re-election to a owing his indictment last year, THE CASE centered around the activities of ex- 's had its shot. They never had Gurney fund raiser Larry Williams, who testified as the government's key witness that he collected near- ether he would make a come- ly $400,000 between 1971 and 1973 by shaking down builders in Gurney's name. of his options, another is law. Gurney, who began his political career two decades scern is to rest and get himself ago as a city councilman in Winter Park, was first making any decision about his elected to Congress in 1962. After serving three terms in the House, he defeated kisses to jurors as they board- former Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins for the Senate in would take them two blocks to 1968. had been sequestered. "Thank WILLIAM TAYLOR, chairman of the Republican outed at them, party in Florida, said he would ask Gurney' to run for the Senate in 1976 against Sen. Lawton Chiles, (D- he planned to be back on the Fla.). But Gurney said politics is only one of his op- office at 8:30 a.m. today. tions, and he may just stick to law. ive-member team of lawyers, Jurors commented that the government prosecutors and said, "I sincerely believe had presented a "weak, weak case."