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Show Forum A&E 9 September 21, 1993 Scantily Clad Man Found on Stage Anitra Lynn McLeod Forum Staff Writer The extensive cast and lavish, opulent costumes makeTimon of Athens expensive and difficult to produce. As it is one of Timon stood in blinding white gibashe faced the audience. He seemed to lode at us Shakespeareslesscrknownplays,patronsmay have decided to see classic Midsummer Nigjhts Dream rather than risk the unknown. arri then, sudderdy, right through us, asever so slowly he removed his costume. Layer after layerof clothes joined the enlargingpileon the stage until he stood before us clad only in a flesh-tone- d bin cloth. As he informed the audience of his intention to reject the company of man and seek out the mere faithful company of the wild, we sat silent, mesmerized by the intensity of his demeanor. After everything Timon had endured at the hands of his friends, he and comfortable safe in the naked felt mere woods than he did fully clothed in armor among men. Shakespeares obscure Timon of so-call- ed to Midsummcrwaswondcrfullycrafted,but I find thinking back on the 1993 festival, I think of Timon - his generosity, his willingness to freely share all the wealth that he possesses, his desire to be loved so deep, that others spot it at once and exploit it It is obvious to everyone but Timon that he has surrounded himself with sycophants that cater to bis whims in order to gamer various objects of wealth. When Timon finds his coffers empty, he sends his faithful steward, Flavius, to request modest sums from his friends, who all deny him. The dawning realization cf friends drives Timon into a ed times due to the inherent uncertainty of the text This play, performed at the 1993 Utah Shakespearean Festival, was only published misanthropic madness, and he strips off all vestiges of civilization (his clothes) and plunges into the forest After a time Timon becomes a wild in Shakespeares First Folio and was printed directly from Shakespeares foul papers, which should have been cleaned up and clarified by a copyist before printing. creature who gnmts and leaps around the stage, digging eagerly for roots to eat There, in the ground, next to theedibleroots, hefinds a cache of gold. He picks it up and lodes at it with the disinterest that a horse would have for an automobi le. In his new life, gold, money and objects of wealth mean little to him. Food, shelter and warmth are what he now considers of value. But men come and see his gold; the palavering flattery begins again. Timon is no longer fooled by these parasites, and, in what can only be presumed, he exits the stageand dies from moral indignation. A soldierreturns to Athens with an impression taken from Timons tomb, and the town learns of his death; but even among his friends toe 9ecmstoberx) real remorse or sorrownt having lost him. As the stage grew darker and applause began, Sheridan Crist, who was cast in the roll of Timon, stood up and looked out at the audience. This time, his gaze seemed to catch with ours and his eyes opened wide with surprise as the entire audience stood up and clapped loud and long for a man who had made Timon real to us; so real that I would remember him long after the curtains were drawn to a close. Local Poets to Read for City Arts Poetry City Art will open its 1993 season on Thursday, Sept 23, with the third annual Poetry Twenty of Utahs favorfor four minutes each. read writers ite will The program begins at 8 p.m. atMountTabor Lutheran Church, 175 S.700R Itis open and free to public, although donations are Melt-Dow- n. to gratefully accepted. There will also be an art exhibit by Duncan Hilton, official Gty Art Artist, and an exhibit of City Art posters and fliers. City Art will continue it policy of having an open mike at the end of the evening, and there is an open spacefortodisplayofartworkonafirstcome first served basis. Melt-Dow-n The 20 readers were chosen by audience ballot from a list of over 1 00 writers who have past appeared on Gty Art programs over four years. The selected writers include some of the most widely read authors in the state, as well as one writer who gave his first reading last year. The age range extends from 20 to mid-60Many will appear again through the season as featured readers. coming to s. The20readcrsincludeHectorAhumad3, Sandy Anderson, G.Bames.andWestminster professor Katharine Coles.Coles is also sched- uled toperformarcadingonOctober7at City Art. All readings begin at 8 p.m. and are followed by an open reading. "Streetcar" Delightful, Technically Pure Brent Larson Forum Staff Writer . Theater fans were pleased with the recent performance of A StreetcarNamed Desire by to theater staffofTheater Works West The play was kept moving by strong performances from Mark Anthony Taylor and Charla Brinkpeter, with a supporting cast which was marvelous. Taylor, who played the part of Stanley, was stellar in his role as the husband of a woman whose sister has been physiologically batteredbyamaledominated society. Taylors emotion and sharpness on stage was both dramatic and comical, giving him a very real appearance throughout the performance. BrinkpcterplayedtheleadroleofBlanche intheplay. Blanche became psychologically unbalanced after the suicide of her husband, death of her parents the death of a sister, and the less of the family estate. Brinkpeterss over dramatization made it hard to follow many of the details necessary to to Theactcrsattemptatbotliplayingthe partandsoundinglikeasoutonbeUseemed exaggerated, at timesiniating, but the actadid leaveonewithafeelingoftenseness inBlanche through most cf the play. The smoothest acting by anyone one intheplaywasperformedbyVickiPugmire, who played to neighbor of Blanches sister. Pugmire was so good in her part as Eunice one felt as if he or she was watching the actress on the screen. From a technical point of view, Streetcar was incredible. The lighting was right on Introducing our 1993-9- 4 Season. Subscriptions now on Sale. FLUTE THE MAGIC By Mozart. October 9 17, 1993 theploL By to to southern, Cajun blues throughout performance. to entire 15-2-3, ALGIERS IN By Rossini May 1422, 1994 to to January THE ITALIAN GIRL Chridtmaj Special throughout performance. Every scene was thoroughly enhanced by shades of color and moods of perfection. Theplay was set inNew Orleans, and the actors appeared as if they were actually in a humid New Orleans atmoqtoe. Such detail bedroom as aflashingred light just outside window added to the feelingthattoapaitment was in a downtown district technical effort w;as In addition, classical sound of wrapped perfectly by MACBETH Verdi 1994 HANSEL AND GRETEL By Humperdinck. December 10, 11, 1993 50 STUDENT DISCOUNT CALL 355 --ARTS Where Mystery Ends, Dreams Begin. Utah Opera. ' |