'WORLD OF THE PLAY':
i ,'
Stratford Lends High Level of Artistic Perfe<
By DAVID KESSEL
U ntior A rm Y Stratford, Ontario is easily
reached from Ann Arbor through
either Sarnia or Detroit and Lon-
Unrelieved desolation met the don.
eye of a Union soldier in the Ten- The northern route is a trifle
nessee landscape of February, longer, but more desirable during
1863, according to a diary in the the daytime when traffic through
possession of the University's His- Detroit is heavy.
torical Collections. Canada, or at least Ontario, has
Henly Mortimer Hempstead, adopted daylight, saving time dur-
from Marshall, Michigan, wrote: ing the summer, while the more
"Moved from Nashville at 9 a.m., backward state of Michigan has
via Murfreesboro Pike. The rain not. This must be remembered
of last night had-made everything when making the journey.
horribly muddy." Stratford is entered on route 7;
Because of the rain and the the path to the theatre is well
condition of the road, Hempstead marked by blue arrows. A few
found that "trains of wagons blocks into the city is the festival
moving toward the front filled the ticket-officewhere the curious,
road for miles." Union forces had are cordially received.
rofo r i lkhes ~Unionfory esadng Local restaurants and shops
to pick their way slowly among greet with delight visiting for-
the wagons. eigners, although it must be noted
Hempstead noted that almost that the rate of monetary ex-
every foot of the road was "punc- change is against us. Cafe cash-
tuate uy the aofa dd iers are careful to devaluate
horse or mule." If the animal did United States currency 5 per cent
not die when it fell, its life was we iuig h il
"crushed out by the next wagon's when figuring. the.-bil.
ponderous wheels." Theatre Curious
Although once a "fine maca- The theatre itself is a curious
damized pike," the Nashville and structure from the outside al-
Murfreesboro Road was "in hor- though the interior is ideal. It
rible condition" as seen by the is placed on a bit of high ground,
Michigan soldier. surrounded by a quiet region of
He remarked that "heavy ar- hills and a river with some is-
tillery and army wagons have lands.
broken through and torn up the In this river are the infamous
stone' foundation, leaving great Stratford swans which are rea-
holes into which the wagon sonably, but not overly tame.
wheels plunge clear to the hub." They travel in assorted groups
Hempstead observed that the and snap eagerly at anything
carcasses of animals served as tourists see fit to throw at them.
bridges over the large holes in Spectators wander around these
the road . grounds; a large picnic area be-
The 'soldier described the coun- hind the theatre seemed to have
tryside by saying: "Groping our attracted a crowd all its own;
way through mud and slush probably not Shakespeare lovers.
among cursing, yelling teamsters, Just outside the theatre, some
and struggling, braying mules, we club is raffling off an auto. 'A
saw today more of war's desola- soft drink stand is located in the
tion than we had yet seen." shade of one of the overhanging
According to the soldier, out- theatre projections.
Quildings and fences were gone But in the lobby, the atmos-
most probably "to cook soldier's phere is more sedate. Throngs of
rations, and not a living fowl or people move about: visiting
beast of any kind to be seen." #school-boys from England wear-
OR RELAXED: 3
GasCuompany Service
Could BeRd
SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL THEATRE-From the outside it looks likea modern wig,
interior design is ideal.
ing genuine blue blazers with
brass buttons, distinguished-look-
ing men with monocles, haggard
aristocratic women, visitors from
this country, itinerant journalists.
The interior is not quite finished;
bare concrete walls bear this " out.
A few minutes before each play
begins, and after intermissions, a
band of three trumpeters, two
trombonists, and a snare drum-
mer play a thrilling fanfare. This
is rthe signal for the late-comers
to find their way nto the partial-
ly darkened auditorium which is
furnished in the Elizabethan
manner, with modifications.
The stage is on the traditional
two levels with entrances at the
bottom, sides and top; a trapdoor
is set in the floor. Tunnels lead to
the stage area from underneath
the sloping rows of seats.'A semi-
circular balcony seats about one-
third of the audience with a row
of large spotlights suspended
above.
Cannon Roars
Lights darken, an earth-shak-
ing cannon sounds, and he play
begins.
The first impression of these
Stratford performances is a re-
markable one.
Gone is the need to ignore de-
viations from perfection notable
in many local performances. The
music provided is excellent,:
whether it be the brass chorale
version of "God Save The King"
which begins each performance,
or the Elizabethan songs for harp,
woodwinds, and brass which oc-
cur through the plays.
During the intermission, girls
sell orangeade and ice cream, in
the lobby' or mezzanine. Soon the
brass and drum fanfare an-
nounces the next act.
'World of the Play'
And once again are we trans-
ported to the world of the play.'
As the play ends: "Hamlet"
with a tremendous barrage of
cannon fire, Twelfth Night" with
a jolly song, the audience moves
from the theatre into the strange-
ly remote countryside - for the
transition between 16th century
England and 20th century Can-
ada cannot be made in a moment.
On the grounds, there is a large
barn-like building filled with dis-
plays of books, nostly, as one
might expect, d e a 1 i n g with
Shakespeare. A somewhat over-
priced restaurant 's also there,
but if one assumes the money will near, perfect performance
somehow find its way back to the make Stratford an irresist
theatre the prices seem justified. .traction to such' large and
On Saturdays, both plays are numbers of visitors.
presented, which makes a rather Yearly Gatherings
full day. The film festival, with With the theatre cot
films from 20 or so countries, is the grounds showing yea
over, but the music festival is yet provement, and offibials
to come. Festival firmly resisting
Opera Premiere. plorable icommercializatio:
Most significant here is the seems ; to hover vulture-li
American premiere of Britteni's so many similar unde
opera 4"Turn of the Screw," on hereabouts Stratford wil
August 20th. Canadian music is be the gathering place o
featured at each concert, a quaint tinguished audience.
touch. Perfection is a dangero
Still, this does afford audiences and a steady diet of such
an opportunity to find out what ful drama would probably
is musically happening in Canada edge of appreciation wit
these days. Eyidently the situa- Yet, after the final fanf
tiop there is about as sad as any- 'canion salute are finish
where. trip back to Ann Arbor
But the CBC orchestra is com' mildewed theatre is a sad
petent and should offer much of ence.
value to its audiences. It would be Perhaps only during ri
incorrect to value the music and ments at musical perform:
film programs as much more than Hill Auditorium does An:
frosting on the cake. For it is un- enjoy a similar level of
mistakably the plays, and the perfection.
" 1
restrictions on the number of tions on gas for space heating
company can serve has been pro- A formal show cause order is
pa y axnp s ees n pdoobe-ed' .
posed by the State Public Service expected to be issued soon.
Commission. "'The purpose of this is to move
Such restrictions have been im- in an orderly fashion from re-
* . . . .strictions to no restrictions,"
posed in Michigan since WorldSiti
the Bureau of Appointments, 3528 Ad- ar Smith said.
ministration Building, NOrmandy 3- The principal purpose for re-
1511, Ext. 489. If they are relaxed, it would taining regulation over the gas
mean that home-owners on the companies after the war ended,
Personnel Requests: waiting list for gas service could Smith said, was to make sure or-
Standard Fruit and Steamship Co., h e hooked up as fast as the utili- dinary householders were not cut
a an, from 3545 years old, with ex- ties were able to take care of off in the scramble for the supply.
perience in all phases 'of engineering them,' "The commission feels very
-cavil, mech., industrial and elect. for Chairman Otis Smith said the strongly that proper regulating
the position of Chief Engineer. The
company handles several business en- Commission will proceed by or- philosophy would indicate that
terprises in Central America and the dering six major distributing util- in an area such as this of pro-
job would involve traveling consider- ties to show. cause why restric- curement and supply it should
ably during the initial stages. return the prerogatives to com-
City of Hamilton,! Ohio, announces
recruitmentfor a Civil Engineer. (En- pany management," Smith said.
gineering Aide IV). Deadlines for filing Stenber .G ets. He said the show cause order
is Fri., Sept. 13th. will. call for detailed data from
Mich. State Civil service vacancy A w r d the utilities in at least three areas
in areas throughout Mich. for men -present s
and women invarious fields including use by various classes of custom-
Med., Engrg., Education-special, Bio- Patricia Stenberg, '57SM, of ers and future prospects for in-
lgGuidance, dNursing, PyhloManagement, Saitc
Psychiatry and Psychology, Statistic Jackson, Mich., received the Na- creased bulk supply from pipe line
and SociaL Work. tional Leadership Award from the companies.
..Stanley G. Flagg & Co., Inc., Stowe, honorary professional fraternity Smith said he though three or
Pennsylvania, offers an opportunity towomen in music, Alpha Sigma Iota four of the six companies would
a man with foundry experience to ev- It oro h i opne ol
entually become Foundry Superin- at the National Music Camp, In- avail themselves of the opportu-
tendent. Prefer a man with five or terlocken. . nity to move out from under re-
more years of experience, and it would
be helpful if this was in a brass Miss Stenberg was a Regents strictions.
foundry making pressure castings. Alumni Scholarship student and He did not name those he
Burroughs Corp., Plymouth, Mich., received the James L. Babcock thought might seek to retain the
needs a man with training in BusAd Scholar award this year. She was restrictions.
andl Personnel to work as Rough r
Screener in the Personnel Office, a member of Mortar Board; Alpha Utilities supplying expensive
B. F. Goodrich Co., Louisville, Ky., Lambda Delta; Phi Kappa Lamb- m a n u f a c t u r e d gas, however,
has an opening for a Chemical Engr. da; Phi Kappa Phi; Tau Beta might want to retain the restric-
For further information contact the
Bureau of Appointments, 3528 Admin. Sigma; and a member of the Ann tions because they could not pro-
Bldg., ext. 3371. Arbor Little Symphony. vide greatly expanded service.
-Daily-David
THE INFAMOUS STRATFORD'SWANS-,Meading for a c
, of tourists, they hope for a handout.
Tax Study Plans
Receive Support
Rep, Rollo Conlin (R. Tipton)
received pledges of support for thb
research phase 'if the special state
House tax study yesterday.
Three major universities and the
Michigan Departmexrt of Revenue
assured support.
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