Arts
The Michigan Daily Saturday, August 1,1981 Page 9
RC Players riding high
on an allegorical 'Sea'

By GAIL NEGBAUR
Daily Arts Writer
Ann Arbor can thank its lucky stars
that there are groups like the Residen-,
tial College Summer Players putting on
productions like The Sea. This is by far
the best show to come here in a long
time.
The Sea, playing at East Quad this
weekend and next, is a delightful
political comedy by the contemporary
English playwright Edward Bond. The
play begins in the dark with the clash of
thunder and the sounds of the howling
wind and sea. Suddenly, the terrified
voice. of Willy (Mark McGlynn) can be
heard above the din yelling for help for
a drowning companion. Neither of the
two people on the shore will help. One,
Evens (Jeff Wine), is too drunk, while
the other, Hatch the draper (P. Arden
Ray), threatens inexplicably that the
amy will get Willy and sends the con-
fused boy back to the sea.
IT IS 1907 but Hatch is the only
character in this small town aware of
the impending danger to England. Un-
fortunately, he mistakenly. identifies
the potential threat as being creatures
from outer space. *These same
creatures, displaying an uncanny
resemblance to the English Im-
TtW Sea
BY Edward Bond
Residential College Auditorium
July 30-August 2, August 6-9


MED BY DWARD BOND
perialists, "build formal gardens for a
hobby," warns Hatch.
Hatch decides that it is Willy who is
bringing the creatures to the town. He
manages to convince some of the locals
of the danger, but not the wealthy set,
who are represented by an extremely
eccentric group of women led by Louise
Rafi (Carol Hollander) and her con-
stant companion Jessica Tilehouse
(Tracy Rowens). Rafi's group while
away their time with hysterical ac-
tivities ranging from putting on the
play Orpheus complete with a version
of "row, row, row your boat" for the
trip down the Styx River, to spreading
the ashes of the drowned boy all over
the funeral group in a fit 'of jealous
rage.
The Sea is not just a comedy by any
means, but also a play that questions
human actions and provides a solution.
Bond said, "I wanted deliberately to
say to the audience, 'You musn't be
afraid. You must be conscious of the
dangers but nevertheless be conscious
of your strengths. Be conscious of your
intelligence.'"
THE PLAY has a variety of potential
technical problems that are handled
well by the cast (who also doubleas the
crew). The eight scenes are at four
totally different locationa, but with
mobile seta designed by Ned Richar-
dson and Mark McGlynn, the tran-
sitions move fluidly.

P. Arden Ray totally captures the
schizophrenic character of Hatch. It is
almost as if there are two different ac-
tors playing the humble draper and the
fascistic madman. He is especially
good in the scene where Hatch
discovers that his attempt on Willy's
life was unsuccessful.
Blake Ratcliffe as Hollarcut, Hatch's
devoted follower, and Carol Hollander
as Louise Rafi, both have a special
ability to express their respective
characters through their bodies and ac-
cents. Ratcliffe, who is quite tall, bends
over in such a way as to appear coward-
ly and speaks with a cockney accent.
Hollander stands very erect and speaks
in an appropriately condescending
tone.
JEFF WINE has some trouble as the
"wise fool" Evens. Evens is an old man

who can understand the problems of the
world but lacks the power to act on
them. Wine's character is not as old and
broken as Evens should be. It seems
that Wine does not quite think of him-
self as his character, but as an actor
playing a part.
One of the outstanding aspects of this
production is that everyone in the cast
is able to develop their role to its full
potential no matter how small the part
may be. Especially commendable are
Tracy Rowens, Mark McGlynn, and
Alison Wohl.
The Sea will leave you smiling 'but
thinking. As Evens says at the end of
the play, "The trui's waiting for you,
it's very patient and you'll find it.
Remember, I've told you these things
so that you won't despair. But you still
must change the world."

Willy Carson .........
Evens............
Hatch. .....
Louise Rafi. ..
Jessica Tilehouse .
Hollarcut...
Thompson ..
Carter ..........
Rose Jones.......
Mafanwy Price .......
Jilly .............. . .
Rachel ...............
Davs
Vicar . . . . . . . . .

.....Mark McGlynn
.......Jeff Wine
.....P.Arden Ray
Carol Hollander
..Tracy Rowens
.Blake Ratcliffe
.Alan Pearlman
.David Goldstich
...Ilene Moshowitz
Carrie R. Goldsteir
.........Alison Wohl
........Janelle Wine
Blake Ratcliffe
....Neil Bradley

The La Montaine concerto is ".... filled with
wit and open songful beaut.. Bryan
carried off the (world) Iremiere with great
spirit, taking obuious pleasure in the virtuositt
of the writing " Washington Post, April 13, 1981
Northwood Symphonette
Don Th. Jaeger, conductor
and Keith Bryan, flutist
Mozart: Symphony No. 36 ("Linz"), K. 425
La Montaine: Flute Concerto, Op, 48
(Ann Arbor premiere)
Bach: Violin Concerto in A minor
Strauss, R.: Suite, ' Le Bourgeois
Gentilhomme'
Wednesday, August 5 at 8:30
Hill Auditorium
Tickets,at $8, $6.50 and $5
Tickets at Burton Tower. An. Arbor. Michigan 48109
Weekda-s 9-4:30. Sat. 9-12. Phone 665-3717
ujIVE SITYIUSICAL OCIETY

Director. WalterBilderback; Set and ichtinR
designe,,NedRichardson;
Mukicdier,TLodBorhlund;
Makeup dsignr, Todd Stoart

PUT EM AWAY,
If you can lve without
your cigarettes for one
s'day youmight find you
Cigre$ can lve without them
forever
JUST FOR A DAY.