Page 8 Baby A few performances make the play worthwhile b Vick Sn der The Collegian Director Kathleen Campbell takes Christopher Durang's, outrageous Baby With The Bath Water and texturizes it into a situation that may actually work better than any modern birth control device I know of. Durang often uses realistic characters who have unrealistic ideologies. The characters in Baby With The Bath Water are no exception. The play begins with the parents, Helen and John, cooing strangely at their newborn baby who is concealed in a bassinet. Through the course of the play we learn that these parents have no idea what they are doing to their child. They don't even know what sex is. Financial, marital and alcohol problems contribute to their insane conception of child-rearing. Baby With The Bath Water is not without its share of problems. Teresa "Terri" Swanson plays Helen. This is Swanson's first major role and her motherly characteristics are portrayed well, although her inexperience is somewhat evident as you watch her. She needs a bit more of an emotional element to reach the realism plateau and connect with her audience. Swanson's performance was average, but a little too dramatic in parts. I'm sure with some more experience, she will add a lot to her acting ability and her roles. On the other hand, Stephen Daniel competently plays the role of John. His crazy antics and paranoid voice add a sense of despair to the play. Although his performance is also very presentational, it fit his character. He is very impressive in the otherwise drab birthday scene. Entertainment is lacking but worth it Ah, how cute! John and Helen and Teresa Swanson) coo at infant To say Cassandra Bedeau has potential is an understatement. She turns in two fine performances as Nanny and as the Principal. Her characterization of the eccentric and flighty Nanny is right on the money. She highlights every scene she is in with her intense and outrageous style. The Principal scene is by far the best scene in the play and Bcdcau's execution of the role is outstanding. The role of Cynthia, a woman whose baby had IT'S HALFTIME AT SUBWAY! • f 4 : • Get a FREE 6" Sub with the purchase of 12" Sub all day Sunday and Monday For lunch, dinner or game time snacks come to any area Subway location and purchase a 12" Sub and get a 6" Sub for free. No coupon required. 6" Sub must be same as purchased 12" Sub. For a limited time only. • . CV. ruK , ' • )******************** * * * ********************o Happy Birthday To Me!! (Stephen Daniel their 'newborn Thursday, November 7, 1991 been eaten by her dog, is played by Johnna Simmons. She does an adequate job of portraying her detached and slightly nutty character. Again, the lack of emotion displayed by this character is a little disturbing. Simmons also plays two other minor roles in which she does a fine job. Miss Pringle is the teacher who is desperately attempting to convince the Principal that there is something wrong with this child. Stacey Harper plays this role in the Principal scene and does fairly well playing one of the only "normal" characters in the play. Harper also plays a "good" mother in the park scene. Her work in this scene is convincing but could be a little less restrained. The part of the young man (who goes by many different names) is played by Bill Sides. Sides does a satisfactory job of convincing us that his parents screwed up his whole life. Cassandra Bedeau turns in two fine performances and proves she has a lot of potential. In The Psychiatrist Scene we sec just how inadequate John and Helen arc as parents. His thirteen-year-old college career shows how hard it is for this character to focus in on every day life. In the beginning of this scene we see him dressed as a woman and later he dresses as a man. His frequent name changes convince us that he is lost in his own little world. Baby With The Bath Water is not without its share of problems including long scene changes and some slow dialogue. It is however worth the price of admission to sec some of the outstanding performances. Baby With The Bath Water plays Nov. 8-9, 15- 16 at 8:00 p.m. and Nov.lo and 17 at 2:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $4.00, Behrend students, faculty and staff pay $3.00. For reservations call 898-6015. Dance marathon Friday b Gre for The Collegian Commuter Council's fourth annual dance marathon kicks off this Friday, and its sponsors have high hopes. This year the marathon will enjoy support from Rocket 101, Joint Residence Council, Student Programming Council and numerous other local businesses. In past years, the dance marathon stretched for 24 hours, but sponsors are hoping to appeal to a wider cross section of students by shortening the overall length to 12 hours. The dance benefits the United Way of Erie County. Those who preregister will also be eligible for free food during the dance and free musical gifts froni In addition to preregiftered students competing for - prize packages,'. - walk-ins, are also welcome and donation cans will be scattersdihroughout Bruno's so Behr 'lid's spare change can make difference. * * * Farrell
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