ARTS
The Michigan Daily Tuesday, June 11, 1985 Page 6
Irish drama portrays subjugated lives
By Mike Zwick One side of this conflict is represen-
ted by the character of Maire
HOW WOULD you feel if some (Heather Ann Lockwood). Maire sees
foreign power invaded your English as "the language of the
courregnamdplof na your wsi future." Learn it or be left behind.
country, rensmed slI of your towns inTh ohe grpesnfed y
some obscure foreign language, The ty e d group, personified by
sod-on top of it all-forced you to Doslty (Wyne Dvid Prker), sees'
swkwarp a nrd hauhty the British invasion as an attempt to
speak in this awkward and haughty slowly yet completely suffocate the
tongue? Gaelic culture and society.
One response to these questions can As the play develops, it is obvious
be found in the Performance Net- that the playwright's sentiments lie
work's most recent production, Tran- with Doalty.
slations, an Irish drama by Brian The British are portrayed in a
Friel. The play chronicles the effects somewhat less than friendly light.
of the British educational system on Captain Lancey (Robert Bardy) is the
Gaelic culture. 19th century's version of Charles
Set in a small town in Ireland in entury'smersin barles
1833, the action takes place in a little Manson-complete with beard and
one-room home which doubles as a hypnotic stare. As the playsr ,
"hedge school, an informal school spokesman for the motherland, this
house. fine British gentleman is offered as a
The main topic of conversation in taypb ishmen.ber of the British
this little school is a new British One should not forget that this is, as
schoolhouse, to be built nearby. In- Oe sld nfet thaiss, as
deed, it is this topic which provides the playbill clearly proclaims, an
the first essential thread of conflict Irish drama. It was first produced in
woven nto the p.trd hhIreland in 1910 and often appears as
Thve newo oisfr th ispcom- though it were written by an I.R.A.
munity, a local representation of the propagandist. What the audience gets
new British education system-a isa genuinely Irish perspective of the
which will force all Irish story, which is most different from
students to learn and speak solely in the typical British version.
Englis. This concept, borne out of When the British finally arrive at Pictured are cast members of 'Translations,' now playing at the Performance Network.
British efforts to convert Ireland to the schoolhouse to complete work on a
English ways, was at the time rather detailed map of Ireland, two more
E s y, s the 9ie raterconflicts are introduced. removal of Gaelic culture-of Ireland. and would-be husband of Athena- and playing what should have been a
hard to swallow for the 90 percent First, Maire, girlfriend of the It is this reluctant traitor who is performers John Ward and Heather serious role comically and, thus,
Gaelic-speaking population, assistant schoolmaster Manus (Glen charged with converting the Lockwood as ill-fated lovers Lt. negligently. Also, Manus appears to
Allen Pruett), falls in love with the traditional Ireland to English. Yolland and Maire. shift moods a little too quickly at
Course Syllabus dashing Lieutenant Yolland (John But is Owen a traitor? More impor- Ward injected just the right amount times, going from happy to angry to
PAD -101 Ward). Although the idea for this tantly, can there be friendly of naivete into his role to be convin- sad fast enough to shock even Joan
Course Topic: relationship appears to have been lif- cooperation, or possibly even roman- cing. Lockwood complemented his Crawford.
How to live comfortably and ted from Romeo and Juliet, it is ce, between the British and the Irish? honest acting ability with what But, as said, the production in total
affordably on a college played out exceptionally well, both by Overall, I would say that it is worth seemed to be true emotion. Their love is excellent. If you want to see a good
budgetb the playwright and the actors them- finding out. The production was very scene in Act Two was, in a word, mar- thought-provoking play, keep Tran-
budet. selves. good, with solid performances offered velous. slations in mind. It runs Thursday
Offered Dates: The second conflict comes out with by each member of the cast. Most The only noticeable flaw in this through Sunday at 8 p.m. at the Per-
Full season with a few the return of Manus' brother Owen. noteworthy were Glen Pruett as the production was most clearly due to formance Network, 408 E.
openings for our He is welcomed as a traitor of sorts simple Manus, Chuck Greenia as misdirection. Captain Lancey was a Washington through June 23.
summer session. for aiding in the Anglicization-the Jimmy Jack-drunken philosopher bit too maniacal at his introduction,
IuiSmiths' show transcends rational violence
665-219
Office Hours:
10:30-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. By Richard Williams what makes them dry, and over- clocked in at 55 minutes. The sound The show concluded on a sad, scary
Mr. Prcksr is available for priced. was unbearable; the bass throbbed note. During the second encore while
iatrvngbyappr)
TypHE SMITHS proved to be just like It perplexes me a bit. The Smithson too loud; the guitar distorted beyond the band was in the midst of a great
Course Material: their namesake Saturday evening vinyl are a catchy and listenable item. rational violence; and the bass drum version of "Miserable Lie," people
The Tiffany: 736 Packard, at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. Or- But I've seen this kind of disc-to-live didn't even exist. The sound system started running on the stage to be in
The Colony: 731 Packard, dinary. They played their songs problem before. Concert strategy: would have been appropriate for a the limelight with Morrissey, and
The Madison: through an awful P.A. system and Playing most of the hits. Doing most Jesus and Mary chain gig: things just got out of hand. The Smiths
316 E. Madison paraded on stage just like any other of the songs closely leashed to the Morrissey fostered the image of a were a bit too trusting in the.heat of
pop band would. studio version. Unimaginative teen idol. He came out in jeans, red the moment and dozens of people
Course Objectives: See, I've been realizing something lighting. Insincere encouraging of a shirt, and red sweater. But slowly and flooded onto stage, and there was
You will learn in this course lately. Pop music fails to excite live. communal atmosphere. "Thank surely he managed to get bare- nothing security could do.
throughyour extensive and It's an intrinsically safe music whose you," said Morrissey, "You've been chested. Morrisse danced around The stage was filled and the band
comprehensive first hand stage interpretation remains in that very kind. We won't forget you." You like a dog with thousands of fleas all kept on playing (sort of) and a riot
lab work lust how easy it rut. Shows are usually safe, and that's have to wonder, who does Morrissey over. Actually, it was good. But I'd nearly ensued. It was out of control
is to live close to campus think he is? swear he'd taken skanking lessons and Morrissey yelled, "Get off the
in comfortable and _ _The show was a 14-song set that from Lawrence Kent of the Civilian stage." But to no avail and the band
affordable surroundings.A C Fun Group. fled the stage.
The offered material will 7 HAIRCUTTERS The Smiths finished the set with Afterwards, ambulances drove up
demonstrate to the student A defense "Meat is Murder," and Morrissey to treata girl who had been pushed off
the convenience of its e NO WAITINGaainstcancercan be started the song saying, "This is for the stage and had hurt her head and
efficiency, 1 and 2 bedroom all you burger kings and burger back, according to Royal Oak police.
apartments. DASCOLA STYLISTS cooked up in yourkthen. queens." Just who does he think he is? It's sad to see an audience take
Fees: Call us. This may be the onset of a torrent of liberties such as this. I'm sure it was
Less than you'd expect. Liberty off State ...... 668-9329 AMERICAN CANCER SOCEY self-righteous pop stars preaching frightening for the band. One hates to
Maple Village ........ 761-2733 everything from anti-abortion to cap- see this kind of spontaneous moment
ita-unishment. man otherwise safe show.
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