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- STRATFORD PLAYS,
MEATY MEANINGFUL

The three openers of the 17th
Stratford season, in the Festival
Theatre, have this in common,
that.they are meaty and mean-
ingful for today, sounding the
tragic Hamlet’s challenge for the
young, The Alchemist’s satiri-
cal rebuke for their parents and
Measure for Measure’s ethical
arguments for both generations.

As conceived by the director,
John Hirsch, the keynotes of
Hamlet are the strength and
toughness of the principal cha-
racters — a welcome departure
from traditional treatments.
King Claudius (Leo Ciceri) is
more than the sensuous opportu-
nist we have seen in the past;
he is also hard and aggressive
and domineering and cruel.
Powys Thomas’ Polonius is not
the doddering old fool we have
known; he is firm and crafty, he
manipulates power; he moralizes
but artificiality oozes from him;
he is, in essence, a cool political
career man.

Anne Anglin as Ophelia (his
daughter) is obedient to her
father and adores her brother,
but she is no longer our stock
virginal ingénue; she has become
capable of enough violent emo-
tion to choose death. Her mad-
ness is a touching thing. And she
has a lovely singing voice.

Angela Wood, as Queen Ger-
trude, is another strong person-
ality, self-possessed and proud
(after all, she married her hus-

‘ band’s murderer, his brother)

but one expects a more physical
magnetism from this vicious
creature.

As Polonius’ son, Laertes
(Neil Dainard) is a hot-blooded
youth and John Gardiner as
Fartinbras is an impatient, no-
nonsense soldier.

Even Osric (Eric Donkin), a
minor character is different.
Though he is a dandy, he avoids
the fruity caricature and emerg-
es a poised courtier with a hint
of arrogance.

Even the ghost of the poison-
ed king (Kenneth Pogue) is
very realistic, his anguish in-
sistent—no mere shadow he.

The title role is the catalyst.-

Kenneth Welsh’s Hamlet is not
an introspective brooder. De-
spite his inner turmoil he is an
active youth. Despite confusion,
he drives himself to a decision.
He is a volcano erupting. He is
young, dynamic, argumentative,
affectionate,“ violent, angry,
agile, very physical, full of sex
appeal, emotion and humor. This
Hamlet loves Ophelia even when
rejects her. He is rough and cy-
nical to her; but he is also cap-
able of the tender gesture. He
speaks cleanly and his stage

coming in...

#5
uy

communist
viewpoint

July-August
POVERTY AMIDST
PLENTY

by George Harris

The paradox of
poverty and
affluence in
Canada today.

On sale at your local bookstore or
newsstand , ... 75¢

oh PIR OE oe oo ee ees roa

PAGIRIG TRIBUNE JUNE.20,.196

‘msc

Scene from The Alchemist directed by Jean Gascon.

presence is rarely less than com-
pelling.

Clarity characterizes Mr.
Hirsch’s definition of the Danish
state in war and conquest, as
in domestic politics. He is selec-
tive, so that at evening’s end,
instead of the usual clutter of
corpses, only the bodies of Ham-

let and Laertes remain, focussing ~

our attention on the tragic waste
of young lives. Again, when Po-
lonius advises his son on how
to “make good,” Laertes, who
has heard it all before, virtually
ignores his father, so that we
better gauge the hollowness of
the father’s philosophy. ;

Sam Kirkpatrick’s stage design
restricts itself to a few chairs, a
bed, some weapons and, with
few . exceptions, austere cos-
tumes. Lou Applebaum compos-
ed the incidental music.

This Shakespeare play, after
every new viewing, never fails
to impress, in scene after scene,
with the richness of phrase and
the wealth of expression which
over the centuries have become
part of living, everyday langu-
age.

* * *

In the other Shakespeare work,
Measure for Measure, the peo-
ple are obsessed with sin, sex
and immorality. The law and the
police represent virtue and jus-
tice. But Vienna is a corrupt
place and the death penalty is
the state’s handy regulator.

This play is really a study of
power, of government by an au-
thoritarian group, where even
the most moral officials can be
harsh and arbitrary.

The story, in brief, is about a
young man condemned to die
because he has had unsanction-
ed relations with a girl. His ‘sis-
ter, about to become a nun, ap-
peals to the acting head of state
for mercy. The ruler offers cle-
mency if she will give herself
to him. The plot becomes com-
plicated, the conflicts multiply,
the real head of state secretly
intervenes and, after many man-
euvers, all ends well for every-
on.

Among the_ outstanding per-
formances are those of William
Hutt as the amused ruler who
manipulates his subject like so
many puppets; Leo Ciceri as the
guilt-ridden, unyielding auto-
crat; Kenneth Pogue as the
tough provost; D. M. Hughes as
the simple constable; Robin Mar-
shall as the executioner and Neil
Dainard as’ a compulsive liar.

PiePage 40«

Karin Fernald, as Isabella, has
a radiant presence, but her effec-
tiveness is weakened by an ex-
cess of virtue. David Giles di-
rected. Music was composed by
Raymond Pannell. The script
could stand compressing and the
tempo could be stepped up to
effect a much greater impact.

Kenneth Mellor’s setting is
especially effective, with its
high barred prison doors, the
executioner’s gibbets and the
bodies of the state’s victims do-
minating the stage.

* * *

The Alchemist, by Ben Jon-
son, is a virtuoso comedy piece.
Jean Gascon, the director, de-
scribes it in a program note:

“It was not one specific per-
son that Jonson wished to at-
tack, but the whole of society
with its epidemic passion for
money and power.”

This is a play about a trio of
charlatans who lure all kinds of
greedy people with the promise
of changing everyday kitchen
utensils into gold and _ silver.

The victims are conned with or- -

nate displays of fortune-telling,
phrenology, astrology and other
mumbo jumbo. There is also a
fantastic machine that boils,
flashes, hisses, gurgles and ex-
plodes.

The action is full of pursuits,
fights and outbursts. The charac-

ters spout wild rhetoric. The ©

language is earthy, flamboyant
and razor-sharp.

Mr. Gascon’s production is a

comic achievement, ranging in
style from sly wit to brilliant
burlesque.
‘ Powys Thomas as the alche-
mist is a man of inspired inven-
tion. His co-swindler (Bernard
Behrens) is the more practical
scoundrel who ends up on top.
William Hutt as the knightly
dupe turns in an extravagantly
funny performance. Portraits of
rare eccentric humor are pro-
vided by Eric Donkin, a clerk;
Joel Kenyon, a _ tobaccoman;
Kenneth Pogue, a gamester; Neil
Dainard, a deacon ; Mervyn
Blake, a pastor; James Blendick,
an angry boy; Anne Anglin, his
widowed sister and John Gardi-
ner, the householder — all eager
to make a fast buck.

A highlight of the play is Jane
Casson’s Dol Common, the bux-
om tart who dominates the two
con men and who appears in va-
rious guises, always very seduc-
tive and always hilarious. Music
is by Gabriel Charpentier and

design by James, Hart ‘Stearns.; _

Whether the habit can be
regarded as a sort of political
LSD for mass consumption re-
mains to be-seen. The fact is
that in recent weeks Prime
Minister Pierre Elliott Tru-
deau is once again being fre-
quently featured in the col-
umns of our “free press” in a
spate of kissing — or being
kissed by, obviously charming
young ladies.

This natural behavior would
indicate the PM’s keen inter-
est in “the better things of
life’ in preference to such
mundane things as housing,
high prices, the “phasing out”

out the rest of us, etc., and ad
infinitum. It all goes to show
a little of the June 68 charis-
ma still remains, if albeit,
very little.

Actually about the only

* segment of our society which
derives a fleeting benefit from
this increasing tempo of min-
isterial smooching (aside from
the principles) are those well-
matured Liberal or Tory dow-
agers who murmur “Oh! the
dear boy”, before Morpheus
enfolds them in fitful slumber.
For the rest of us it doesn’t
matter a tinker’s damn who
or what the PM kisses, just
so long as he doesn’t get the
idea that it was all the Cana-
dian people who. gave him a
mandate to do so!

The old cliché about “life
itself” cuts through and across
these Trudeauean osculatory
exercises.

Not so long ago the Tru-
deau government “solved” the
high prices problem by setting
up a ministry under the im-
posing title of “Consumer and
Corporate Affairs”, with Mr.
Ron Basford, MP (Vancouver-
Center) as minister in charge
of this important department
of government.

To date its “achievements”
(in terms of past and current
spiralling prices) are to all in-

ly nil. As one irate citizen
from Basford’s constituency
put it recently, “as bald as
the Basford pate.”

Ever since and long before
the creation of this specialized
department, big business

of NATO before NATO phases

tents and purposes, practical- -

monopoly in

areas of exploitation has ‘ |
working overtime pU~
prices and maximum Pj,
squeeze on the people “6 3
clothing and shel ie’
plus every other 0 in be
amenities or necessities ™
tween, the while reap
and unprecedented Pf \
and still at it!

In Vancouver t
in many other areas eral |
and all Canada Ber alt |
masses of people are. |
and vigorously protesting and |.
current prices squeeze vet
monopoly gouging 4§ on
before. Hard won we jv
creases to meet increase 4,
ing costs are eaten UP F thet!
prices squeeze, na OF
even before they ar we

But, ah yes, just befor
forget. The Trudeau - Be al
“Consumer and Corpor done |
fairs” sideshow has
“something” about it.
cently it tabled’in thé eral
of Commons what is 8° met! |
ly known in Establish, |}
circles as a “White Pape te i
in which is propose a af
alia, the creation of ¥ stud |
other “commission” 10 |
“prices and incomes- oe

Soi if the belt-tightem
price-gouged consumeF og |}
hang out for another uns the
period of time—and W! met"
monopoly - cum - gover’ og
scalping continuing Un@™ 4
—he or she may live 107°, |/
the latest “commission they |.
commendations, even } ound
never show on that last Pa 1
of grissle-and-sawdust ign?
burger! It is not the nis"
purpose of such “com
sions” that they should. jet!

Moreover, if the T!
kissing-bee lasts,
“commission” could b
ed to “study” what the ne)
vious one did (if any! qit
with the one that preced@
Who knows?

A vicious, endless ™
poly controlled circle, parth .
ical and cynical to the |)
degree, which regards the
called ultimate consume og
god-given sucker—to be aie
ed at will, while a milliOM
vest-pocket Caesar specl@’

. . . . . “é B
in kissing in lieu of oe

* as ]
nis week |!

ond |
sit |

Worth special attention are
the two sculpture exhibitions at
Rothman’s Reservoir Park, not
far from the theatre. People in
the Park, a Canadian group, is
an open-air show with a number

U
of fascinating figures. Fees y
indoors, in the gallerie> oot
very striking collection 9 cul”
work by prominent Italia? |
if

tors. ‘
or, Martin 5

_ photos.

Cuban Photo-Expo in Montreal

A Cuban Photo-Expo will open in Montreal on yi ;

_nesday, July 2 and continue through the following tw?
Organized by The Friends of the Latin American PeoP ie
the Photo-Expo will be presented in Budge Hall ee! |
YMCA, 1441 Drummond Street. It will be open bef’ |

- 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on each of the three evening” |

ule
“The. Cuban Photo-Expo has been made posse
thanks to the cooperation we have received from the CU” 1,
Embassy, the Cuban Consul in Montreal and the
Commission office,” states the announcement issvé ew
Jean Paré and Clara Buhay, president and secretary
pectively of The Friends of the Latin American Peoples 4
Cuban handicrafts, books, products and films wil of
displayed and shown in addition to the expositio" —

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