Page 8-Friday, June 4, 1982-The Michigan Daily
'Androcles' puts fun into fable

By Melissa Bryan
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW'S, An-
drocles and the Lion is a fable
play, the old story about the Christian
and the Iion with the thorn in its foot.
Shaw develops this story and adds
many touches to make Androcles a
wonderful, interesting play.
This play is one of a-few that really is
for all ages. Many children were at the
Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre and were
genuinely attentive and receptive to the
performance. But this is not strictly a
children's play; Shaw presents subjec-
ts to the adult audience that are enter-
taining but thought provoking.

The cast does an excellent job of con-
veying the subtleties of Androcles. The
performer's characterizations show
great depth and preparation; they
retell the ancient fable but with a
brilliant modern flair. Michael Scott
Goldberg carries the title role
beautifully. His portrayal of An-
drocles, the little-man-who-can-only-
be-pushed-so-far, is fun and quite effec-
tive.
Gary Garrison gives us an un-
squelchable dose of royal snobbery as
the Emperor, and along with Lentulus
(Don Harvey) and Metellus (Gabriel
Otterman), he provides us with the
flash and decadence of the Roman Em-
pire.

Roya Megnot gives us a thoughtful
performance as she depicts Lavina, a
Christian woman who just can't change
the fact that she is seductive, although
she is trying to remain true to her
Christian beliefs. Ferrovius, (William
Dawson) and Spintho, (Mark Thomas
Nickels) face similar dilemmas, both
trying to change themselves and liven
up to their new ideas in the face of a
gruesome death at the hands of the
Romans.
The fresh interpretation of the roles
and the production give credit to the
director, Phylis Ward Fox. The con-
tinuity and staging are so good they ap-
pear effortless. With one notable excep-
tion, the play succeeds in merging the
fable with modern themes.
The exception is the dance sequence
in the last act which stands out like a
rude slap in the face. As Androcles
meets the lion in the Coliseum, they
recognize each other as expected, and

all of a sudden the entire stage is filled
with Christians and Romans doing a
ridiculous dance that resembles
something between a waltz and the
frug.
This dance breaks the continuity of
the entire act. For just as quickly as it
starts, it ends, and the cast hurriedly
exits the stage. The sequence has no
real purpose unless the choreographer
intends to correlate Androcles and the
Lion and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Although that interruption is rather
jarring and unexplained, it is the only
flaw in the play, and it does not ruin the
total effect of the performance.
This is the first play of the University
Players Summer Series. The series in-
cludes, The Glass Menagerie (June 9,
10, 11, 12) and The Happy Huntsman
(June 16, 17, 18, 19). If Androcles and
the Lion is any indication, the Univer-
sity Summer Series should prove to be
top notch entertainment.

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