Faculty, Roach, Joseph, 1973

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STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALBANY
1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12222

DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE

JOSEPH ROACH, Jr.

Courses Taught

Course # Sem. Title Enrollment
THR 220 9/73 Theatre History 27
THR 331 9/73 History of Dramatic Criticism 23
THR 530 9/73 NeoClassic and Romantic Theatre 2
THR 397 9/73 Independent Study 1
THR 210 '§/74 World Drama 21
THR 330 1§/974 History and Theory of Dram.Prod., 14
THR 500 16/74 Intro, to Grad, Research 1
THR 397 16/74 Independent Study 1
THR 207 9/74 Intro, to Dramatic Art yy
THR 500 9/74 Intro, to Grad, Research 5
THR 397 9/04 Independent Study 3
THR 530 9/74 NeoClassic & Romantic Theatre 5
= P3e 699 q74 Gradeate Thi st 3
f roductions
730

Played Leicester in Ma: tuar:
Played Egeon in The Comedy .
Played several roles in Spoon River Anthology (Summer Theatre)

Committees

Departmental Ad Hoc Committee on Casting Policy
1973-74 Departmental Search Committee

1974-75 Departmental Search Committee
Departmental Student-Faculty Liaison Committee(As Comm. Chmn, )

Voluntary Contributions
Departmental Coordinator for Univ. Community Day 1974

Supervised expansion of Theatre slide collection-adding 800 new items
Conducted study group in writing style, Spring '74

7 ~. ‘i *

MIR 307 ge vdeo wy Dewwdlc Ok 74.
Thr. 330 Your Nistor, out Thon, Q Diane Pd Jl

Tun. Soo YIs duhy be Cred Re Sererk. 2
rhn 6449 YS Granuare — Teex)5 we 3

~ 518 * 457-3300 * Cable Address SUALB

August 22, 1975

Dr. Joseph Roach
P.O. 125
Sweet Briar, Virginia

Dear Professor Roach?

The Teaching Awards Gommittea has informed ma that you were one of
saveral teachers nominated for an avard in 1974«75,

You were not, however, despite tha strength of support in your behalf,
one of the two finally selected by the committee, Public announcement of their
names will come early in the fall semester.

L know how thorough the committee was, and how difficult the members found
the process of final selection. ‘They asked that I pasa along their fealing
that you are indead one of the "outstanding" taachers at Albany,

Congratulations on this racegnition, and best wishes,

Sincerely,

Edward M, Jennings
Assistant to the President

EMS/teL a
cet Dr. James Symons
Chairman, Department of Theatre

May 15, 1975

Professor Joseph Roach
Department of Theatre
PAC 354

Dear Professor Roach:

I am truly sorry that you will be leaving the Departuent of
Theatre and the State University of New York at Albany at the end of
this academic year, for you have contributed a great deal to the program
in your two years on our campus. Thank you very much for your dedication
to the students and to your colleagues; it is appreciated, Please take
with you my best wishes for continuing success in your new institution.
We shall miss your services here.

Sincerely yours,

Ruth A. Schmidt
Dean of Humanities

RAS/ko

ec: Official Personnel File
Professor James Symons

Hay 9, 1978

Professor Joseph Roach
theatre Department

Dear Pxotessor Reach:

This note is to confine your vesiqnation from the UndversLty
ami tO wxprega our sincere appreciation for your service.

So thet you aay plan your financial arrangements, the Personnel,
Office has asked me te reaind you that your final, payroll cheek
Will be issued on the date indicated below, Since you are on a 26
paynent system, you will recwive the remainder of your full salary
dn thak cheok,

We wish you well iu your future activities and would like you
to know that if we can be of asedetance in any way, you should feel
txee to wall the Personnel Offlae at 457-9624,

Sincerely,

Phdilip Siretkin
Vieo President ~
Academie Affaizs

Appointment, Year Hada: Auguet 31, Le76
Payroll Date: June Li, 197s
Titles Aasietant Protessor

Paskha
beerbean @ College of Arta and Selences
Dean Sehmids
Dr. Symone
De. Martin
Ms. Noxruan
Payroll
File

MEMORANDUM

DATE: June 5, 1975

FROM: Dr. J.M.Symons, Chairman, 'neatre Dent, y Se

BUILDING ADDRESS: PAC 266

TO: John Levato
BUILDING ADDRESS: University College ULB 36

SUBJECT: Qutstanding Teacher Recomrendation: Joseph Roach

Prof. R,ach has been, for the past two years,
the most consistently successful teacher in our
Department, We have eleven full-time teaching
faculty. ‘

Prof. Roach's evaluations are excellent. These
include a range of courses from Introduction to
Dramatic Art Conroliment 150+) for 200-level
students, to graduate-level seminars.

He is an unusually popular instructor, but
is not known to be an easy one, His popularity,
in other words, has not been cheaply won.

Nis most impressive success has been with the fore-
mentioned Introduction course, In the past, other’
professors have found the course "impossible". to
teach due to the size and diversity of the class.
The evaluations at those times suggested that

the students didn't care much for it either!

But with Roach teaching the course, it has beeome

a popular and attractive course - for majors and
non-majors alike,

Prof. Roach is indeed and outstanding teacher.

State University of New York at Albany
1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12203

December LL, 1974

Professor Joseph Roach
Yheatce Depariment

Deux Pyofessor Roaghs

It de my pleasure to confirm on behalf of the President, your
reappointment to a new texm at this University.

Questions regarding this matter should be veferred to Dr, Symong.
Lf thera axe specific questions you would like to refex to the Paraonnel
Offlee,s please feel free to call 457-8624,

Sincerely,

Phillip Sixotkin
Vice President =
Academie Affairs

Now Yoxme September 1, 1975 « duguat 31, 1977
Ranks Asaistant Professor

PSapap
ger Dean ~ College of Arts & Sciences
Bean sohmidt:
Dy. Symong
Dx. Hastie
File

May 31, 1974
Dear Joe:

In looking over the student evaluations of courses for the
Spring I was once again impressed by the extremely favorable
evaluations of your teaching. You seem to have an unusual
gift and I salute it. I'm very glad that you will be teaching
the Introduction course next year, and T look forward to hearing
(eventually) how it goes for you. In the meantime, congratulations
on the fine job you have been doing.

Jarka M. Burian

JUMB/kh

Vage 2

2. Justification for merit increment

a. By chairperson of department:
(continue, if necessary, on a separate sheet)

pr. Roach is starting only his second year with us, but already he
has established a reputation among both students and colleagues as an
outstanding teacher. The ACT rating conducted for two of his courses
gave him an overall evaluation of "A" for both courses. In their in-
dividual recommendation for discretionary salary increases, nearly every
department facutly member recommended Dr. Roach.

Furthermore, Dr. Roach has been a model of cooperativeness and
e@thusiasm, In addition to a very full teading load last year, he
performed major roles in two department productions ~~ and did so with
considerable artistic success. And for the summer theatre program he
again performed (and again without any obligation to do so) to the
considerable benefit of the department's summer production of Spoon
River.

His salary is below the average fox his rank, but this is due to
being in only his second year of teaching; and in any event, this
recommendation, is based on his professional contribution rather than

a salary diferential.

b, Conments of Dean:

Auguek 24, 1973

Professor Joseph Reach
Theatre Department

Dear Profassor Roach:

This is to confirm the change in your status following
the reeelpt of your Ph.D. Degres from Cornell University.

We have changed your title in our records from Lecturer
to Assistant Professor effective September 1, 1973. We have
also extended your term of appointment to August 31, 1975,
and inexeased your salary to $12,000.

Please accept our congratulations on your achlevemant.

sincerely,

Leon J. Calhoun, Sr,
Director, Personnel

LIC spap

eo: Lean ~ College of Arts & Selences
Dean Sehmidi
Dx. Burian
Dx. Martin
Pile

waly 15, 1973

Ne. dasgeph Roagh
Bor 1
Brooktondala, Saw York 14817

Gear My. Roadie:

% ae pleaged to extend to you thie offay te join the academia
comunity of State Usiversity of Hew York at Albany an Legturer for
the pewiod beglening Sapthembex 1, 1973, and ending Auguat 31, L974.
While tevn appointment da subject te and in agsordance with the Laws
of thie Shebe and the Pollelas of the Beard of fruetews. A copy of
$hese Polleies is eaclesed fox your reference. May 2 draw your
attention to Avtiale ME, ithe ©, and Artigle 2zV, Uitle B, af these
Poliuies foe they ave particularly oppliosble te all new non~tenuxed
appointments. Tha sharting annual salary for your agademie your
profesgional ebhigation wiki be $11,500 to be pald over 26 bi-weekly
payments poy year, aubjeck te gugh chaages ae mey be autherlaed by
daw. Ff Ba. Dd. wequlraments ave web priex to the beginning of the
1973 Fala gemeatexy, your title will pe shangad to Agcletant
Peofesser, and your ter: of appelntwent will be far twe yeare at
an onnual salery of $12,000,

Yader separate caver you vill raceive a package of materLale
wonaaweding your felnge benefin auolews., Ia ia important thas you
eheck the date Ligitatilons tn the augeupen7-2F monerendun aad return
the eompleted femme weld within tha spaaitied time Limite, so preelade
pogeible euployment tilwe witheat coverage or poapible sankeletien av
co choigs of options, Please indigate your acceptange by elgning the
andersenent provided on the enelesad copy and returning At promptdy
to the Parsonned Gffiea, ATTN: Mx. Leon df. Calhoun, Sy,

De. Baviean and hie olleagues La the theatre Department hava
heon enihuglastia in thedy esappexi of your appelatwent. We send
you a wasn welcome to oux campus.

Singarely youre,

Poilhip divotiin
Agting Yrealdent

Tt hereby accept the foregoing appointment

Dake Signature
bee: Dean ~ College of Arts & Sciences Dr. Martin
jassociate Dean Sehmidt Mr. Vanbyck
Dr. Burian Ms. Stroyen File

i
i

May 26, 1973 {

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li

Jarka M, Burian | i

Chairman bow

Department of Theatre tof

SUNY at Albany if

{
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4
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i

Dear Prof, Burians

I would like to gratefully acknowledge your letter :
of May 17 and formally accept the offer of an Assistant
Professorship or Lecturership as the circumstances warran!
I am very excited about the prospect of getting started |
at Albany next Fall. i

if
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|
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I plan to be in Albany apartment-hunting and what net!
sometime during June. I would like to get together with i

at that time and chat about the courses I will be teachi Cie

I would like the theatre history course(s) to be very sty ie
in visual documentation and illustrative material. I may:
able to get copies and duplicated material from the Corne
slide collection to fill in any gaps, if need be. But moje
of this when I see you next month. (I will write again oR i
call when I know the exact dates.) }

i

. |

Please find the enclosed forms, loyalty oaths et, ol. {
I hope I filled them in correctly--the "Appointment Request’?
form was rather Delphic. |
i

Once again, thanks. I can hardly wait.

est
Ae
Joseph R. Roach

i
1

AWYN 4Sv7

isuia

J STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

~ PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENT VITA FORM
FORM UP-4

(3/65) .
INSTRUCTIONS: Complete and forward one copy to Central Personnel Office with initial appointment forms.

1. CAMPUS
Albany
2a, NAME IN PULL, he. Joseph Roger Roach 3b, DATE OF BIRTH
CMs. Jan. 2, 1947
Miss
3, EARNED DEGREES (List Highest Degree First)

a, INSTITUTION b, LOCATION . ¢, SPECIALIZATION d. TYPE OF DEGREE , DATE RECEIVED
University of Newcastle Elizabethan Me Ae July, "70
upon Tyne (England) drama
U. of Kansas Lawrence, Theatre/English - B, Avy dune, '69

Kans.

AVinINt

4, EARNED DEGREES IN PROGRESS
a, INSTITUTION b, LOCATION c. SPECIALIZATION: d. TYPE OF DEGREE

Cornell U. Ithaca, N.Y. Theatre Arts “Ph. De

. DATE ANTICIPATED
‘August, °73

0. DATES OF b. INSTITUTION ¢. LOCATION d. TITLE OF
EMPLOYMENT POSITION
Sept. 72-May 73 Cornell Ithaca, N.Y. Teaching Asst.

196869 U. of Kansas Lawrence Instructor

5, PREVIOUS EDUCATIONAL EMPLOYMENT (include Prior State University Service List Most Recent Employment First)

©, SUBJECT OR.
RESPONSIBILITY

Freshman Humanits

Western Civ.

6. OTHER EXPERIENCE (List Most Recent Employment First)

a. DATES OF b, EMPLOYER » LOCATION J.
EMPLOYMENT sr bO » BOSTON

1966-68 Creede Summer Rep. Creede, Colo. Actor/Director Acting/Directing

@, RESPONSIBILITY

7. PUBLICATIONS (Title & Date)

1969).

(ed.) Poems in a Manuscript Miscellany (Eagle Press: Newcastle upon Tyne,

8, PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Member, American Theatre Association (ATA)

T, HONORS, TRAVEL, LANGUARES, Oltor Slenjficant Dajp
Honore th nel igh, Geiveratty of Kansas

Omicron Delta Kappa

Reading knowledge of French, Spanish and Germans

Humanities & Social Science Fellowhip, Cornell 1970-73 _

Tv snanvo

was at! Mi é
FORM AP#4 State University of New York at Albany
: NEW APPOINTMENT © BACKGROUND INFORMAT!ON
(Use typewriter or permanent Ink only)
carp or cE
‘al security Number
ic Gwe. Lo Mrs, C] Miss Today's Date: May 26, '73
Roach Joseph Roger .
Tas? Name “FIrst MiddTe or Matden
- 2, Permanent Address 5354 Shadow Lawn Drive Sarasota, Florida
«Place of Birth_Evanston, Ill. Date of Birth Jans 2, 1947
+4. (4U.S. Citizen [J] U.S. Naturalized (date & certificate number)
[LJ Non U.S. Citizen (If papers applied for, give date & place)
>. CJ) Married [J Single [J] Widow [Cj Widower (4 Divorced or Separated
Name of Spouse Number of Children 1 :
6. If parents tiving, give name and address.
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph R. Roach (Sr.) 5354 Shadow Lawn Drive Sarasota, Fla.
7, Ethnic Origin {] Caucasian [] Negro [J Oriental CJ Spanish American
CJ American indian CJ Other
‘(State of New York policy permits eliciting this Information following appointment)
8 In case of Emergency please notify
A, \Mre Je Re Roach 5354 Shadow Lawn Dr. Sarasota, Fla, (813) 922-
Namie Home Address rar) Tephone
5200
Father
{relationship |f any) BustIness Address Zip Bus, Telephone
Be
lext o n eren Address 2ip Telephone
i 9%. Military service current status or eligibility, 1-H
‘10. Three references, Including present er most recent employer, Names and addresses.

(1) A complete dossier is on permanent file with the Educational

(2) Placement Bureau, Cornell University, 14 East Avenue, Ithaca, N.Y.

(3)

NOTICE: ™ Any questions which do not provide sufficient space on the form, mark with an

asterisk (*) and continue on @ separate sheet,

AP@s Personnel 3/71 50

veeerrnemnp ene a

May 9, 1973

Mr. Joseph Roger Roach
$4-B Hasbrouck Apts.
Ithaca, N.Y.

Dear Mr. Roach:

Please accept this as acknowledgement of our
having received your letter of application for a position
in our Department. Our Search Committee is currently
veviewing the applications we have received. We shall
be getting in touch with those people from whom we should
like additional information or with whom we should
like to have an interview.

Sincerely,

Jarka M. Burian
Chairman
Department of Theatre

OMB/kh

Joseph R, Roach
Dept. of Theatre Arts
104 Lincoln Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, N. Y, 14850

Albert B, Weiner
Dept. of Theatre Arts
SUNY at Albany

Prof, Weiner:

Bert States gave me your name and suggested that I write to
you regarding a possible opening in your department for a new Ph.D,
in Theatre Arts, I have taken the liberty of sending along a dossier,

I am currently in the final stages of my dissertation and will
have the degree in hand as of next September, In addition to the academic
dossier, I can furnish a complete resume of my acting, directing and theatre
management experience if you would find that pertinent,

Joseph R, Roach

wetagen! .

eg
* hoa eeamal cantatas ea sii. ota bamasmnliiabinl ua

My

ft

aa By ELEANOR KOBLENZ

“ What’ was shocking to the public in 1915
when “Spoon River Anthology” was written
is no longer even surprising, but what made
; this slim volume Of free verse so intriguing
cat still appeal to an audience. This is
clearly demonstrated by the State Univesity
Summer Theatre's current production of
Edgar ‘Lee. Masters’ classic work which
paints a dramatic portrait, of this 19th
' century “Peyton Place.”

Composed of a collection of epitaphs from
a rural cemetery, the vehicle is a series of
monologues which expose the seamy side of
life behind the facade of a seemingly

Spoon River's Dead Confess |

character were not identified, some of the
interpretations and character delineations
were particularly skillful, We were able to
determine that it was Joseph Roach who was
outstanding as Benjamin Pantier, an
attorney, and “Indignation” Jones, an old. *.
ne'er-do-well (among many other parts).
Poor Pacing.
Jinx Lindenauer, too, scored in a number
of roles, Also most effective were Marci 'j
- Lynn Peres as Russian Sonia, and Thomas
L. Brennan in several characterizations.
‘The main problem with the production
seemed to be in the pacing and this error
must be laid-at the feet of the director,

' respectable small mid-western town, Edward Golden, Actors spoke almost an
There really is a'Spoon River in linois; exclusively in otatorical style — strict
one cin meander today, through its cemetery tneasured tones — with abrupt pauses for

und view the tombstones, reading here and
there lines whicl author-poet Edgar Lee’
Mastets lifted verbatim into his anthology.
Even the same names appear — a first name
‘from ofe stone, q last tame from another,
but enough to give adihenttclhy to the
;; Material,
Ln ' Behind the Scenes
‘tn the dramatic versio of Masters' work
i; 'we meet the former townspeople as they are
;. “sleeping on the hilt." There is the deacon
F who died of cirrhosis of the liver, not from
' too much watermelon as everyone thought;
ft the milliner who knew all the ladies’ (and the
i .gentlernen's) secrets; the wife who burned
‘down the barn and her husband along with

emphasis.

More variety. and change of pace to fit the
different characters would have given a,
necessary lift to the material, and would *
shave pointed up the pathetic qualities of
some characters and the gentle humor
‘present in others.

In addition, less marching around by
entire cast after each monologue and more
smoothly choreographed movement would .
enable scenes to flow more casily one into ©
the other.

Music of the People

On the other hand, the musical portions of
the production were # delight, Guitarist.
singer Devorah Zusman und vocalist Paul + |

‘xiTE

wf |

I i ta io, ig
1
i

uit; Russian Sonia, who lived with a man for poore gave outstanding ‘renditions -of a | heal " be
120 years while everyone thought they were ~ number of charming folk songs. Miss Ao oat

‘ were the heroic soldier who died ‘of 7usman has a lovely voice, full and throaty ie 5 ae
(malaria; and the Senator who fever kieW in both upper and lower registers and with i

his mother was really the German maid.
Dozens of characters step into the
iti ? spotlight to bare their souls and confess their,
sins — sote seridusly, somne with tongue in
wy hs cheek, |
Costumed in authentic turn-of-thé-century.
*fural garb, thd dozen actors who make up
the cast shift characters: easily as they sit,
he did: ofiss-ctoss back and forth on the
afi tat of thulti-level platforms.
Wie thé Upedific: Actéte-portraying each.
i abt SS ei lh

beautiful, clear tones, Mr, Poore’s spirited /
offerings were a welcome change of pace and
added another dimension to the whole,

+ Also in the cast were Jerrold Brown, Joni . ‘
Goldberg, Howard Kolins, Maria Makes,
Marilyn Ornstein, and Thom Prager. !

The production will be repeated this ta” a
‘weekend, Wednesday through Saturday, at}
8:30 p.m. in the Laboratory Theatre on the
Albany State campus,

wat Sathae be a

SUNYA Theater Plans ‘Blue Leaves’

farce" involving a> grotiy. of
bizarre characters thrown

ae tH

| Jotin Guare's “The House
of Blue Leaves," witner of -

the 1971 Critics’ Award and
ithe Obie Award as. best
; American play, will be
presented July 17-20 and 24
j 27 by the Albany State
t University Summer Theatre,
‘In “The House. of Blue
» Leaves," Guare employs
jabumor to present the bitter

isappointments suffered by
ean unsuccessful New York

songwriter.
i, ‘The play has been
‘e desrited asa easel
f :
Be

together on the day when the
Pope visits New York City,
Director Albert Weiner i

assisted by stage mannger’
and,

Alan Von Stetina
assistant’ stage manager Jott
Lichman, Cast members
selected ate Jim Barone,
Kathleen Collins, Jerry
Duckor, Nonéy Eliot Jody.

Hiatt, Louise tule, Vicki
febinan, ¢

Richman, Jon:
“Hank “Maloy. Andy
Matashinsky, idwatd Reivti,
and Susan, Scheti rae ed
Mf
alby ied,

!
Par peenmeer

“By MARTIN P. KELLY
i , Drama Critie °

©

= Eee Masters’ work, “Spoon.
River Anthology.” by Charles
Aidman provides an opportun-
ity for a multitude of charac-
{ter vignettes. In the hands of

the-company at the State

iversity Summer Theater
Albany, the Masters is well
served.

Director Edward Golden
hag collected a fine group of
varied voices and character
re the praduc-

and variety
it needs in order not te be
swallowed up by the sardonic

-times the-frustration and bit-
terness of the various charac-

“The: adaptation of Edgar

ters—all deceased individuals
resting in Spoon River's ceme-
tery— are overwhelming and
dulling to the senses.

Golden doesn’t always gain
the heightened effect of the
irony in many of the vignettes
so necessary to relieve the
tragic tone of much of the ma-

_ terial. Masters outrages his

reader and. in this case. his
viewer by destroying the buc-
olic view of small-time life
that a Thornton Wilder might
provide in bis Grovers Cor-
ners. « -

While this outrage is not as
severe today as it was 60 years
ago when the work first ap-
peared, it is still felt in some

small measure when one ques-
tions the complete infatuation
with the losers of life. Only
near the end does. Masters at-
tempt to call our minds to the

a blow that caved

better things but itis is not “suffi-
cient to Balance the bulk of the
evening.

The IZ performers are on
stage for the full two acts.
picking up the threads of char-
acters as the stories unfold

without, any real relation to,

each other. The actors over-
come the particular difficulty
of exposition of character in
moments. quite Spent no
mean feat.

Of the cast. Josech Roach
stands out as an actor pos-
sessed of a fine. deep. flexible
and resonant voice. He
from tragic tones to the comic
demeanor with skill and his
physical bearing gives the
characters added stature.

Jinx Lindenauer pla’
ost. of oo ters adroitly

which doomed her to be buried -

‘palien soll weds ren to:

do her honor.

_ Masters’ characters are all
‘restless with their mortality
and rail against a God who

puts them to such daily testsin ]

life even though they are capa-

ble of great deeds and

thoughts.

Thom Prager has several ;

vignettes in which he plays a
frustrated native’ of Spoon

River who searched abroad {
for fame as an artist and ¢

couldn't find it.
equally successfi

the character of a yo

and he is

dier who dies in the Phillipine _.

swamps during the war to
quell the native insurgents.
Tt may seem unfair to single

‘Masters’ | ‘Spoon River’ is a well-served-ut

out some indi iduals since the
production gives equal bal-
ance to all the performers. yet
some_ strike” Viewers with

greater impact.

Singers Paul Poore and De
vorah Zusman piece together ,

nian

+} far those syith a more sophisticated
kgroujd, the delightful rendition

by Nancy Miller
Stite University Theatre's
production ‘of William
Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors last
jeekend afforded u pleasing night of
+ entecainment to virtually all who

camy within its charmed sphere, For »
Edward Golden's directing debut at f®
Albany State, the transposition of

the play into the milieu of the

huge success, For those novices,
whose appetites for Shakespeare had
; bever been whetted, this production

offered 4 good starting point from f
which to build an appreciation for f

- the great playwright, And, finally,

by
bale

s early Shakespearean comedy

took on added dimensions in its new

> sgiting,
Heavily indebted to Plautus’ The
Tin Menaechmi, much of the play's

comedy arises from the repeated fi
mistaken: Identity of ‘one identical f!

twin’ for the other, ‘To complicate
this“ basic problem, Shakespeare
Presents us with not one, but two sets
~ of twins, thus increasing the capacity
‘for misadventure geometrically,
‘Howard Kolins and Nelson A yidon
ais the Gin Antipholouges — (Anti-
‘ tipholi?) of Syracuse and Ephesus
respectively, serve as the focal points
for much of the fun which devolves
‘trom the situational comedy, with
, cach being taken, in turn, for the
‘othoi, with hilarious consequences,
|, This basic confusion is amplified and

‘compounded further by the in- .

terchangeability of their two ser-
jvants Dromio, played with puckish
frivolity by Thom Prager and
Charles Varadian,
Although the contingent from
Syracuse were slightly more effec-
+ tive, all four of these roles were amp-
ly tilled and were.played off against.
‘gach other with remarkable balance
and. congruity-as is essential to the’
overall success of the play,
‘The secondary characters were,
(or the most part, an adequate com-
plement to the twins, Egeon, the
father of the twins Antipholous,
played by Joseph Roache, gave a ¢
fine portrayal of the doomed cow-
boy whose:last necktie was fated to
! pe a rope, His long-lost wile, Emilia,
athe pecson of Marit Mabie sei

American West of the 1800's was a f

Make No Mistake About It

that fine figger of a western woman,
whose mothering energies once
deprived of her children was
chanelled into that bane of

spinstorhood-—-the mission. Her mis

sionary zeal was a splendid addition

(o the play, and themoment in Act V
when the separated couple recognize

one another was priceless. The
presidin’ officer in those parts, in the
person, of the Sheriff/Duke was
played with dubious solemnity by
Erwin E, Rablet(inagram), The wife
of Antipholous of Ephesus,
Adriana, played by Marilyn Orns-
tcin, was uneven in spats, owing to
he difficulty of rhyme and meter in
“some of her speeches, but was non-
etheless effective,
Adriana's sister and the unwitting
object of her brother-in-law’s twin
brother's love (whew!)was alternate-
ly outraged by the seeming im-
Propriety of his advances; yet was
coyly receptive to his overtures,

Jody Hiatt,

costume designer and of Robert
Donnelly as set designer, Lighting
clfects under the supervision of
Jerome Hunley were especially fine,
with the strobe-light escape scene
among the highlights, 7

Last, but not least, Jerrold Browns’ .
highly stylized portrayal of Angelo |
the goldsmith, as the slick-talking »
Mexican added the finishing touches ©
to the western panorama in high ©
fashion,

Although the minor characters
were somewhat weak and uneven, [CORT eRe OE
they were, however, instrumental in , :
‘cereatitig thé West within the bounds » *
of this play, and were, therefore,

effects called for were met
oe

“marginally successful, The special |
by the im-

five effirte of *

wpa

Monday, July 8, 1974

FG

— The Times
aS atonced

By DOUGLAS deLISLE

ALBANY — The State University Summer Theater
ened their season last week with a compelling produc-
‘7 ef “Spoon River Anthology” in their home in the =
=tforming Arts Center at Albany State University.

“Spoon River Anthology” is otiginally a work first
‘lished in 1915. Using free verse and native speech
etic forms, and exposed the seamy side of life in 2 small

_giems, author Eagar ‘Lee Masters threw out traditional

Covering the span of time from 1060-1910, the work is
Ges of monologues spoken by the natives of Spoon
‘ow buried on a hill overlooking the town. The dead

~ ent. :

_ .. Theater Review 7

any State’s ‘Spoon River’

ave no lies to tefl, and they speak out with poignant
candor. Actor Charles Aidman recognized the work as an
ideal theater piece so he combined 60 characters with
traditional songs and new music by Naomi Caryl Hir-
shorn for an evening that is as fascinating as it is differ-

‘The monologue form of this theater piece could be
very static. Director Edward Golden has conquered this
problem by Huid staging and a rapid pace complemented
by excellent technical effects.

EDWARD MENDUS has designed a set of platforms
and pillars that lend themselves very well to stage pic-
fures of starfling beauty. The cast is silhouetted, spot-

Co p ling
lighted and back fit by the expertise of lighting designer
Harry Feiner. Particularly effective in the lighting at the
rear of the playing area. Feiner creates portraits in ight
using artfully draped sctims lit from above and below by
well-placed ‘banks of colored lights. The effect the lighting.

__ has on the total mood of the piece is immeasurable.

To single out any one member of the cast would be to
slight the whole cast. Thomas L. Brennan, Jerrold
Brown, Joni Goldberg, Howard Kolins, Jinx Lindenaver,
Maria Makis, Marilyn Ornstein, Marci Lynn Perres,
Thom Prager, Joseph Roachm singers Paul Poore and
Devorah Znsman are all outstanding. It is absolutely
amazing to find a cast of this size in a work of this
complexity without a single weak Tink~

” Whether playing old men, children, soldiers, embit-
tered widows or soldiers disillusioned ‘by their horrible ~
deaths, the whole cast enters completely into the spirit of

. the production, listening interestedly and reacting to the

stories the others have to tell. Not all is-gloom though.

‘The piece is broken up by humor and ribald songs. *
¥e Bving, vital theater is your bag, make it a point to-
this production which will play again this week from ~

see
‘Wednesday through Saturday.

atad

lat SUN YA

} play will be staged' July 10 |
\ Through July 13 at the aie

"Charles Aidman's “adapta. ei
ition of Edgar Lee Hasler

Spoon River A
jay *

‘opens tonight arid will

through’ July 6 at the Sate. a
University Albany Perform j
{ng Arts Conley Curtain ime ”

{s 8:30 p.nt f

* Repeat Ferforuied ofthe

tty" 's arls center. id ]

"miusic, to teveal both the hu-
merous and the pathetic sides
of life in a small town at the *
turn of the century.'The pro- °
duction includes Thomas ‘Li
Brennan, Jerrold Brown, Joni‘
Goldberg, Howard Kolin, +:
Jinx Lindenauer, Maria Mak /

is, Marilyn Ornstein, Mare /

Petres, Thom Prag et, Joseph '
one and Michael Steere, «

the vii lises American folk 1

1 Sts are by ui Mors

Sie aa

ean; sets by Edward ene
log by Harry. Reinet.

'Spoon River has stirring moments say g

!, THE SPOON RIVER AN-

THOLOGY,” by Edgar Lee
Masters, Adapted by Charles
“Aidan, Directed by Edward
Golden, At the SUNYA Sum:

jy bat

mer Theater Performing Arts.
Center, Albany.

By JIM KUNSTLER,

Asa nation we are constant ,

ily trying to rediscover our-
\* selves, and one of the most
. popular stage vehicles for this
undertaking is Aidman‘s ad-
{ aptation of Edgar Lee Mas-
+ ters’ book of poems, “The
4! Spoon River Anthology.” The
‘work is a series of vignettes
~ out of small town life in Illinois
3 tperiod, 1860-1910). each
poem the voice al a villagér
speaking from the grave. ,

{2 tis an exceedingly appeal

+ ing work and also a very diffir

, cult ane to produce for the

stage. The production lypical-

ly runs along the lines of Aid»

“i man's Broadway show of the

late fifties, a pair of actors and

* getresse’ trading olf portraits

{. with frequent folk-song inter-

5 rupttons,

And so the nut-of the prob

{em in producing this show is

how to do tt in an original

i manner; Charles Aldman's

adaptation was not just the

translation of a book into a

| play. but a directorial mise en
Scene,

Director Edward Golden
‘has correctly perceived this
"problem, fo a point, and has
' endeavored to enrich the for-
4 mat with a large cast and a

. multileveled set for the more
r dynamic visuals and tableaux
}, which the the play, feasibly,

* identily the players,

He has also cast some very
interesting players throughout
the'piece, offen casting direct
ly against type (though be-

cause of the ensemble listing |”

inthe program, 1am unable to
role |

against name).

What does. come through
here is the richness of life in
the small Ilinois hamlet; the
diversity of character, ¢on-
clousness and circumstance,
so that one old man rues the
day of hig birth and his next-
door-neighbor walks gracefule ,
yy into the arms of death, The

“types” arc all there: village |
atheist. minister, prostitute,
town drunk, thief, immi.:
grants. drudjes, singers oF!
life, chasers» After death,
would-be-poets, . reptobates..!
creatures of faith,

1

‘The genius of Masters, in
this particular work, the was
a prolific author of quite a fot
of unsticcesstul stuff too), was
the clarity of focus which he
brought to these profiles of
ordinary people in an ordinary
place. He rendered them quite.
extraordinary. The rhythymis
ol their voices through the

poetry of Masters form one:

‘ot our quintessential cultural :
documents. ,

The evening has its stirring
moments, interesting effects
and movements, Perhaps one ,
al the reasons we indulge in 50.

much cultural self- analysis, is,

that we really know so little

about each other, ‘like the s

American human beings who

_ lived and died in Spoon Rivers

dad

‘ calls for.

her