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Show THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY NOVEMBER 3, 1986 PAGE 9 Cheryl Ann Cluff, Pat Sterling, Tobin Atkinson and Jennifer Rothey (from left) prepare for this week's production of 'Private Lives.' Coward's comical farce 'Private Lives' begins run Nov. 5 BY DAWN DE BUSK The SUSC production of Private Lives, by Noel Coward, will run at 8 A matinee will be p.m. Nov. featured Saturday at 2 p.m. Private Lives, directed by senior Jeff Ingman, has an overall goal for this production to "stick true to the author's humor of the play." Ingman, from Riverton, Utah, is one of two SUSC students who were chosen to direct a Stage Two play. He took on this challenge with a feeling for Noel Coward's writing. Ingman quoted Coward, saying, "Laugh at everything. Laugh at all the futile moralists who make life boring. Be 58. flippant." Ingman said, "The wit in this play is flippant, fast, and unrehearsed." "This is my concept of the play; love equals life. You can only live life to its fullest if it is unpredictable, illogical, unreasonable. Love has those qualities," he says. The main characters of Private Lives, Elyot and Amanda, are also unpredictable and unreasonable, said Ingman. "Elyot is blase in that he doesn't have to care about anything. He's rich. He's never had to eat Kraft macaroni and cheese in his life. Because of his super rich lifestyle, he can do zany, wild things." Tobin E. Atkinson, cast as Elyot, describes his character as passionate. "I admire the fact that he can do anything. He has no politics in his life; he can stay in love with his Amanda and run away to Paris with her." The play has that spontaneity, he said. "The characters are not afraid to express themselves," continues Ingman. "The audience wants to relate with and have fun with them." e, "Coward's characters are sophisticated, yet human," said Ingman. The humor comes from within them, he said. "The audience's response won't be belly laughter; but they will leave thinking it was funny." Learning to be funny in a comedy was an obstacle when Cheryl Ann Cluff was originally cast as Amanda. Cluff said, "When I was first cast, I was worried since I've only played dramatic parts; but have learned with comedy the most important thing is to let go and be funny even if you look silly." "Cheryl Ann is naturally funny." Ingman said. "My goal is to pull out the part of her you see everyday. When Cheryl started loosening up she was funny; but this play is not a slapstick comedy. On stage, the characters do not play funny, they are I funny." The cast, also including Jennifer Rothey as Sibyl, Elyot's wife; Patrick Sterling as Victor, Amanda's husband; and Janette Jensen as Louise, Amanda's French maid, is a really close ensemble, said Ingman. 'Friends' membership drive under way Gallery slates reception Efforts are underway to increase membership in Friends of the Gallery, an organization associated with the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery at Southern Utah State College. g drive "We hope to complete the before Nov. 5 so that members can attend the annual dinner that evening." said Friends chairwoman Mary M. McDonald. The dinner is but one of the benefits members enjoy. Others include the newsletter "On Gallery Walls", advance notice on fine arts tours and discounts on purchases made through the SUSC Gallery. A trip is planned to Los Angeles this year, with another fine arts tour tentatively planned for the San Francisco area. SUSC Art Department Chairman Anton "Tony" Rasmussen is the guest speaker for the Nov. 5 Friends dinner, arid the program will also include musical numbers by the student fund-raisin- i group "Tuxedo Junction." Those attending the dinner will have an opportunity to preview the Annual SUSC Art Facility Exhibit that opens the following evening. Friends of the Gallery was established in 1978 to promote fine arts education and cultural development through the SUSC gallery. Specific projects include the sponsorship of exhibitions, conservation work on the college's permanent art collection, hosting artists for lectures and art demonstrations, and providing help for public openings and receptions. V Free art films are being shown at the gallery this year. The Thursday afternoon and evening series again being sponsored by the Friends. The group also provides funds to extend gallery hours which are from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays and from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. A public reception will be held Nov. 6 at the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery to mark the opening of one of the gallery's most popular shows, the Annual Southern Utah State College Art Faculty Exhibition. "The Electronic Palette," a Utah Arts Council traveling exhibit of 31 computer images, also opens that evening. The dual exhibition will continue through Dec. 12 at the SUSC gallery. Paintings, portraits, ceramics, pastels, watercolors, sculpture and weavings are in the faculty exhibit. "The annual event included is one our best attended shows," Williams said, "and the opening gives patrons and participating artists a chance to meet and enjoy one another's company." The faculty show includes works by Glen Dale Anderson, Mark Bangerter, Arlene Braithwaite, Carmen C. Jones, Mary MacDonald, Anton J, Rasmussen, Mark Allen Talbert and Williams. Many pieces will be available for purchase. |