Page 8-Saturday, August 2, 1980-The Michigan Daily
Arts

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Like
Freud,
Schnit:
a majc
the M

A psychosexual merry-go-round
By ANNE GADON According to Schnitzler, we are all . marriage by affairs. But Schnitzler their husbands die young,"
his fellow countryman, Sigmund players in a game. He believes that all never states his contempt for such proceeds to seduce the ninete
Austrian playwright Arthur- people are united in a common behavior overtly. Rather he sets up his old Little Miss. He promises I
zler points to sexual agression as goal-engage in sexual pleasure as of- characters in juxtaposition and age mistress that they can ma
or force in social interaction. In ten as possible. This game transcends through their baseness he directs the steady relationship "if you wa
fichigan Repetory Theatre's class, birth, or wealth. There are no audience toward that goal. with me and only me," pri:

and the
en year
his teen-
intain a
Lnt to be
zing the

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production of Schnitzler's play, La
Rbnde, sex is not only a dominating for-
ce but also a domineering one. Schnit-
zler's characters "lust in their hearts'
without a semblance of true love or af
fection.

barriers to partnership, leaving the
Young Gentleman (Pat Garner) free to
pursue the Parlormaid and the Young
Wife (Elizabeth Jahnke). In the Vienna
of Schitzler's day affection is replaced.
by desire, loyalty by flirtation, and

SCHNITZLER HAS constructed La
Ronde as a series of ten interlocking
scenes, each representing an illicit love.
affair. The scene progression is cir-
cular, with one character from each
scene appearing in the next until a
character from the first appears in th
final scene. The circular effect is rein
forced by the peripheral action during
the scene changes. Characters stroll

wealth of her chasity while The Poet
(John Hardenbrook) in his subsequent
encounter with the Little Miss shows his
delight in using women as pawns. When
he learns that the Little Miss is
unaware that he is one of Austria's
foremost literary figures he tells her
how he treasures women for ignorance
such as hers.
Each of the other characters is
similarly preoccupied with making a

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THE SPECIAL EDITION
OF THE THIRD KIND

1:00
3:45
7:00
9:45
(PG) ,

a
I
I

12:15
2:30
7:00
9:15
(PG)
Fri & Sat
12:00 mid

Elizabeth Jahnke and rat uarner play te cnaracters Known simply as tue
Young Wife and the Young Gentleman in Arthur Schnitzler's exploration of
sexual mores in late 19th century Vienna. 'La Ronde' continues at the Power
Center tonight and next week, August 6th and 8th at 8 p.m.

LED-ZEPPELIN
1flSoNMAIS .. SA..

Fri & Sat
12:00 mid

singly and in pairs along the downstage
area during these interludes, ap-
praising each other as prospective par-
tners. In the background can be heard
alternating strains of music from a
carousel and a marching band each
suggesting motion, the fluid charac-
teristics of relationships.
Before he delved into novel and
playwrighting Schnitzler was heavily
involved in the field of psychotherapy
and it is interesting to note the different
aspects he chooses to bring out about
the male psyche. The Husband (Jon
Hallquist) has a penchant for naive and
virtuous women. He explains to the
Young Wife that he would like to think
"that all married women who cheat On

conquest. They yearn for a satisfying
relationship but never let down the
guard with their partners except in bed.
As the Husband says, "I never risk let-
ting the weeks of the honeymoon run in-
to months."
Of the cast of ten, Jane Kinsey as the
sensuous parlourmaid and Elizabeth
Jahnke and Pat Garner as an ex-
citeable pair of young lovers deserve
special notice. Greg Jbara is ap-
propriately callous as the Soldier and
Terryl Hallquist offers a touch of
sauciness as the Prostitute. Director
Dick Cermele's production maintains
the sharp edge of cynicism that Schnit-
zer intended but is never offensive
despite its delicate subject matter.

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*"ImFri & Sat
12:00 mid
- I

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