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Show D 0 0 3hJ Stffi A Hit Paul Robeson was the first black player he was widely misinterpreted by the news on the football team at Rutgers University. media. The thing that may have gotten him He overcame physical and mental torment into trouble, was the press misquoting . and made twice. Robeson him, saying he believed in the principles of graduated valedictorian with 15 varsity scientific socialism, which was then an letters in 4 sports. He was a Columbia University Phi Bctta Kappa lawyer 4 later. He gave up his law practice andyears won connected with Russia. Sadly, many African American parents did not mention him to their children, the they fondly spoke of international acclaim as a concert Marian Anderson, way Jackie Robinson, Willie e and stage actor. He excelled Mayes, or Lena Home. He added protest in this area, giving command performances songs to his repertoire, notably "Joe Hill", a for the crown heads of Europe and acting song about the radical labor leader and in many of Eugene ONeills early plays. He Swedish emigrant who was executed by a became Americas first Broadway star. He Utah firing squad in 1915. Older Utahns in received 20 curtain calls for his Ingram's audiences recalled Robeson's performance of Shakespeare's "Othello" at appearance at Salt Lake City's Kingsbury the Savoy in London. If this wasn't enough, he spoke 12 languages fluently and became " Robeson overcame Hollywood s first serious African American film actor: he paved the way for the likes of Sidney Poitier, James Earl Jones and Billy pysical and bass-bariton- I Westminster adjunct professor. Dob Ingram, performs a one man play in tribute to Paul Robeson. Dy Calvin L, Harrington Westminster speech instructor Bob Ingram, Jr. received standing ovations for his one-ma- n production of "Paul Robeson" Thursday, Jan. 13 at Utah, State University in Logan, Friday, Jan. 14 at Judge Memorial High School and at Southern Utah State College In Cedar City, Thursday, Jan. 19. The show was written by Phillip Hayes Dean. Figaro! Figaro! Figaro! an titles they given him some 30 years earlier. Robeson died in seclusion in 1976 at the age of 77. The controversy continued even after his death. A few years ago the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce flatly rejected the nomination for the addition of his name and star to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Despite public protest from noted film actors and actresses as well as eminent personalities like Mayor Tom Bradley, members of the Chamber of Commerce were adamant. Brett L. Johnson, a junior Political Science major at Westminster, gave a riveting supporting performance as Mr. Walker, the man who chaired the man who chaired the House Activities Committee. and made Accompaniment was provided by Kenneth Runnacles (as Robesons long-tim- e pianist Lawrence Brown). Ingram was bom and reared in Chicago, the place where he first met Paul Robeson. Hall in 1947; at that time he announced "I was 17 at the time", said Ingram "and that he would devote the next two years to stood next to Robeson batling against racial discrimination in the in his honor. He had at a reception held sung for about 30 U.S. At that time, that was a shocking minutes and then answered thing to do. After all, this was even before When I told him I wanted to be questions. a singer he the civil rights movement. to me, 'make sure you get an said Paul Robeson testified before the House education.'" Activities and denied that he Ingram took the advice to heart, earning was a Communist. When asked to sign an his undergraduate degree from Indiana affidavit stating that he was not a member and two masters degrees, one in University of the communist parly, he refused one saying in education, from the he would rather go to jail than foresake his music, of Illinois. In University right to keep his political affiliations studied at the New England addition he Conservatory of private. "My vote is nobodys business", he Music in Boston, the Ecole Normale said. "I am not and never have been of Music in Conservatory and the Paris, involved in any international conspiracy or School of Music in Germany. have1 mental torment Dee Williams. this impressive list of accomplishments, a generation of Americans, both Despite black and white, have never even heard of Paul Robeson. There is a reason for this. Like Othello, there was a tragic flaw to this almost perfect man. Besides being black, he chose politics over art. President Harry S. Truman revoked his passport in 1950 because of his biting statements about racism in the United States combined with his praise of the Soviet Union. Revocation of his passport made it impossible for Robeson to accept the numerous any other kind, and do not know anyone who is." But this blacklisting haunted him for the rest of his life. He was rejected by the country he dearly loved. Even Rutgers University took away the two . international concert bookings extended to him. After World War II, he spoke' out against racial and ran into a sea of trouble. He injustice talked about how much better he was treated in Russia than in this country. African Americans too, wanted nothing to do with communism. He confused them because . Un-Americ- an all-Ameri- can twice.' an . By Calvin L. Harrington There are only two more performances of Utah Opera's production of "The Marriage of Figaro" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The opera is being presented at the Capitol Theatre at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 and a matinee performance will be held Sunday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. Mozart chose his favorite subject, love, as the central theme for this farce in which ordinary mortals cheat, scheme, suffer and enjoy life. "The Marriage of Figaro" remains one of the greatest masterpieces of comedy in music. Mozart's melodies, with all their Poet Packs Nime maker By Skip Gregory It was standing room only when more than 150 people packed Nunemaker Place on Thursday night, Jan. 12. to listen to charm, perfection of form, utter Richard Kenney give readings from his and 'The Evolution of a spontaneity, and apparent naivete are books "Orrery" Bird" and other selected pieces. Flightless to faithful enormously character and After a welcome by Westminster situation. Lorenzo da Ponte wrote the libretto, which is based on a play by Pierre Englishcommunications professor Scott A. Beumarchais. The play was written only Caims, Kenney was introduced by Kathryn a scant decade before the French Cole, assistant to the coordinator of the Utah Arts Council. Kenney, an English Revolution and created a public scandal. It was forbidden major in Paris and professor from Washington State University Vienna, not on moral grounds but on in Seattle, joked about having to leave his wife and new son behind in order to make political. The government officials, already conscious of gathering storms, were the' special trip to Westminster. Kenney, infuriated with the depiction of clever' the winner of a Yale sponsored poetry servants and ridiculous masters. But set to competition has also won The Rome Award music as an Italian opera, it took on the which permitted him to spend a year in charm of forbidden fruit. In place of the Rome working on his material. Kenneys next book will borrow its public performances, private "rehearsals" title from a previously published piece were given, at which no less a than Marie Antoinette (always a personage liberal in entitled, 'The Invention of the Zero." Westminster students Samantha matters of art) condescended to be present. Dunn and Michael Knight both said the It was an instant success and has delighted audiences for 200 years. Only the greatest reading was very thought provoking. "Most masters can create the deepest emotion in poets take themselves too seriously," Dunn a comedy, especially a broad one, without said, "but he was able to be intelligent with wounding the genre, and Mozart a sense of humor." Knight said that an continually proves himself such a master in earlier reading had left him cold, but that this opera. The plot is carried forward Kenney was able to touch him, "especially when he covered things I had also with astonishing speed, depth and clarity. One attendee said she Only in the last act docs the pace slacken experienced." into stretches of sublime enjoyed the reading, but thought that but, with arias of such quality, who could Kenney digressed a little too often. Everyone who attended the reading complain? Half price tickets are available for seats was invited to a reception at the home of Gail Davern from The Kings English Book ranging in the $10-$2- 0 categoiy. Students need only to show their student card to Shop. Cairns said the event was sponsored receive the discount. Tickets may be the by at the Utah University of Utah Creative purchased Opera Box Office located in the Capitol Theatre, 50 West department, the Utah Arts Council, 200 South between the hours of 11 a.m. Westminster Colleges English department, and 5:30 p.m., weekdays. history department and Ellipsis magazine, and The King's English Book Shop. Wiling, Waidung Love Redeemed The Marriage of Figaro -- by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart In Italian with English supertitles January 19. 21, 23, 26, 1989, 8:00 January 29, 1989,2:00 pm. self-indulgen- CALL FOR TICKETS pm 533-649- 4 Eleventh Season 'tern General Director k mo? (manse hq mimzFK, Jan. 24, 1989 - Issue 13 |