OCTOBER 21, 1981 Play Review "Curious Savage" by Tricia Wood The Behrend Studio Theatre opened its doors to thirteen per formances of John Patrick's "The Curious Savage." Director Paul Iddings treated the play with his usual compassion towards the human spirit. "The Curious Savage" was filled with perspectives of life that shone with a cynical light on pride, loneliness, and reality. In the Savage children; money creates such false pride, that all real emotions are blocked out. This causes them to lose respect for their mother, and do not even try to understand her. Lily Belle (Elaine Bass), Samuel (Sal Clemente) and Senator Titus Savage (Andy Bowser), are the step-children of Ethyl Savage (Nina DeFabbo). They speak with hearty Boston accents, that, combined with a few other coin cidences, are strangely reminis cent of the "Kennedy Klan." Never having the insight to see past dollar signs, Mrs. Savage's children have her committed to a mental institution for the purpose of gaining access to the estate left her by their deceased father. Mrs. Savage enters the closed atmosphere of the "rest home" expecting isolation, but finding comfort. She is comforted by the patients who intrigue her by giv ing of themselves in their concern for each other. Although the pa tients reside in an atmosphere removed from the "real world," they still manage to reach into the depths of Duman emotion. They make their own world a pleasant one, in which reality ex ists only in what they want it to be. Living at The Cloisters, Fairy Mary (Kathy Devine) exists as an "ugly duckling" shining a perspective of beauty on all that she sees. Her delight in the simplest comments reveals a stark truth; a truth that is pure through her eyes and could not exist in cold reality. Her beauty overpowers that of Lily Belle's who shields herself with a hard core of brittle falseness. Fairy describes her parents as "emo tional albinos," because they can't see her beauty. "True beau ty comes from within," is realiz ed in the character of Fairy Mary. Another patient, Florence (Heidi Miller), carries a doll with her which she believes is her child. Whether it is her inability to care for a real child or guilt for a child she might have lost doesn't seem to matter. She loves something that exists if for no other reason than that the intensi ty of her love makes it exist. Mr. Paddy (Cyrus Erickson) resides at the rest home as an old man who has learned to shut out Eastway Bowling Lanes Every Day 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone 89909855 the pain of the world by hating it. The only words he utters are a recital of the things he hates, from broccoli to electricity. He always begins his list with, "I hate everything in the world, but most of all I hate ...," in this way his vulnerability is always ap parent. When he tells Mrs. Savage (who alone out of the pa tients can deal with the mad reality of the outside world, and is strong enough to understand it) that he loves her, he breaks through his repertoire of hating. Mr. Paddy expresses this positive statement only when something matters too much to repress, unlike the world which he had learned to hate for repressing the things that really mattered. I Hannibal (Brian Cancilla) has been a statistician by profession, before coming to The Cloisters. The numbers that come so easily to Hannibal only confuse him by their lack of emotion. So, he seeks to express himself by playing a violin, for which he has no talent. He gives of himself that which he loves, not the talent that others place a value on. Jeffrey (Brian Chaffee) is a Vietnam veteran consumed with guilt. He feels • that :he made mistakes duririethe:war,' - which he never had to pay for, and is the only surviving -'tfiethlier' of NS squadron. So, he designates his own punishment by :always covering -an imaginary scar on his face with his hand, to exter nalize the infliction that others cannot see.. He is also a gifted pianist, but will not play for others because he feels undeserv ing of their approval. Miss Wilhemina (Ann Dieteman), affectionately called Miss Willie by the patients, is a nurse at The 'Cloisters: She -ex emplifies patience as a Virtuety demonstrating it. She reveals at the end of the play, that Jeffrey is her husband and her devotion to him is her reason for being there. Dr. Emmett (Gregory Allen) is a professional whose hands are tied in two ways: First, he is responsible in answering society by keeping the rules and restric tions imposed on the care of his patients. Second, his ability to help his patients lies in the fact that the only way they can learn to deal with the outside world, is by helping themselves. He cannot force them to do so, but only show them the way. Mrs. Savage finds in these peo ple the meaning of friendship and of caring. The ten million dollar estate that she has prospered since her husband's death, becomes a tool and a burden at the same time. At one point in the play, when it seems that all the money is lost, she realizes that in 4110 Buffalo Road 40 Lanes Open Bowling BEHREND COLLEGIAN using it to help other people, she has forgotten that many things can make people happy; that per sonal satisfaction can only come from within. When she first enters The Cloisters it is by force. Now that her money (which near the end is recovered) no longer puts these restrictions upon her, she faces the difficult choice of staying within the security she finds at The Cloisters, or facing the uncertainty and loneliness that exists in the "sane" world. By choosing to do the most dif ficult thing and leave the peace she has found, she gives the other patients the respect they deserve. "Out of sight, out of mind" is applied to people that differ from the norm. Except for a few strong individuals, most of us are too weak to face the pain of seeing a loved one in a "rest home." We place them apart from our daily lives so we don't have to feel both the respect and pity their presence evokes. "The Curious Savage" doesn't let us take the easy way out: it tricks us into see ing what we usually won't look at. Women Have Winning Season by Tricia Wood The women's tennis team com pleted their 1981 season with a winning - 7-6 record. They lost to Edinboro State and Gannon University; 2-7, coming back near the end of the season to beat Villa Maria and Allegheny; 9-0; Mercyhurst, 8-1. Last Thursday, October 15, the volleyers pulled through to beat Thiel College, 8-1, under the pressure of an even record. Although tennis is baskially an individual sport, the girls have developed into a team that works together and supports each other. The team manager, Marla Silver man, related some of the events that helped to make these girls a team. Here is one of them: during the match against SUNY- Fredonia, the heat was on the last doubles team of Michele Gonda and Marla. The match was tied 4-4, Marla and Michele had split sets when it started to rain. They Tome HE at ea MI 31110 013Kf.:ilkItakilf1110 tfilZiettOJ ZOO Eastern and Gray Avenue Wesleyville, Pa. 899-6386 Rev. Martin Roth, Pastor 8:15 and 11:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Sundays Sunday Church School WESLEYVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH Buffalo Road and Market Street Wesleyville, Pa. Phone 899-9243 Rev. John W. Jones, Pastor Sunday Sunday School Bus Transportation Available for 11:00 a.m. Services Bus leaves Reed 10:15 a.m. Sundays New Student Un By Josette Skobieranda Entertainment Editor Have you ever wondered who is responsible for the diverse pro gram of co-curricular activities at Behrend College? Who advises student organizations? What per son is responsible for the plann ing, implementation, supervi sion, and quality of student organizations and co-curricular activities? Mr. Chris Reber per forms all of these duties as Stu dent Union Manager and Student Activities Coordinator. Chris, a native of York, Pa., at tended Dickinson University where he majored in Latin. He then went on to Bowling Green State University where he com pleted requirements for a Master's degree in College Stu dent Personnel. Because Chris graduated in June 1981, all aspects of college from a student's point of view are still fresh in his mind. Thus, ).„ THE LARGE V" 1 /Nik.s. AT- 1 LION Smoking and Snuff Accessories Albums & Tapes 417 W. Bth Street. - 455.0511 rs. - Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-9p.m Sun. 12-5 p.m. 9 , ITALIAN RESTAURANT SPECIAL • Try our Daily Lunch Specials 3512 Buffalo Road, Wesleyville Ph. 899.3423 Buy One Pizza Sub Get One Free ' Good Till 10/30 began a tie-breaker to hasten the Chips Ahoy", motto of the winning decision. The game and women's tennis team. Although the entire match were dependent that doubles team never got their upon these two girls shivering in cookie, they went on with water the freezing sleet. Michele aping mouths to win the match. This proached the fence where the and other incidences have com coach stood looking pressured, bined to make the value of tired, and cold. "Coach," she "team" very singular in its said, "can you shove a cookie meaning to this year's women's through the fence?" "Playing for tennis team. Sunday Masses WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 3308 South Street Wesleyville, Pa. Phone 899-3302 - Rev. Earnest Hummer, Pastor Sunday 8:15 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Evening Fellowship 6:00 p.m. 11:00a.m. 9:30a.m. ion Manager Behrend students are very for tunate to have him on the Behrend staff. After applying all over the country and waiting for replies, Chris wrote a letter to Behrend and was interviewed last spring. He has been on the Behrend staff since July 1, 1981. Chris is an educator and he realizes that students need to par ticipate in co-curricular ac tivities that promote their overall development. Activities outside of the immediate classroom af fect a student's behavior and growth which help to instill leadership and planning skills. These, in turn, are very useful when searching for a job. Not on ly does a student's involvement lead to personal satisfaction, but learning theory studies show that a student's involvement cor relates with his grade point average. Much of Chris' time is spent with student leaders, activities, club affairs and the promotion of events. His work is mainly con centrated on goals and how to achieve them properly. These skills are applied by students to student organizations and to stu dying. These skills are very helpful to life, in general. Chris also handles the Reed Student Union budget and supervises the RUB work-study students. Because Chris is the spokesman for students, he and his talents are very much appreciated by Behrend College students and staff. ST. JAMES R.C. CHURCH 2635 Buffalo Road Erie, Pa. Phone 899-6178 Rev. Robert W. Cohan, Pastor PAGE 3 7:30, 9:00 10:00, 11:00 a.m. 12:15, 5:00 p.m.
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