’ REVIEWS It’s somehwat overdue — almost two years, in fact — but someone has finally come out with a play that attacks, with wit and deadly accuracy, the crimes commit- ted by the budget and legislation of B.C.’s ruling Social Credit party. Expose 84 — A Musical Protest does this with a cast of three actors, some off- stage musicians and a minimum of props, producing a show that is packed with good honest laughs and many accurate political barbs. Expose’s tale of the jobless Go West Young Man (Brian Linds), his wife Wife (Suzanne Ristic), and their entanglement with an assortment of negative types that includes Premier Bilious Rennet (Boyd Norman) and the boys at the “‘Razor Insti- tute,” is accomplished without crossing the line between entertainment and preaching. Considering that the musical covers virtually all ground scorched by the Bennett government’s attack on human rights, social services and labor, this is no mean feat. song, dance and occurrence involves Go West’s attempts at job-hunting. As might be expected, his fortunes are those of most The story that connects the vignettes of Play about ‘Socrets ; hits mark job-seekers in Lotus Land these days — until he goes to Victoria to complain of his fate, and meets face-to-face with the notor- ious Premier Rennet. In short order, Rennet, who claims to be Go West’s “uncle,” hires the ambitious young man as the leader of the newly- formed “Rennet Youth.” To keep his job, Go West merely has to abandon his prin- ciples and possibly his marriage. There is, of course, a moment-of-truth scene in which Go West makes his ulti- mate choice. On the way to the climax, Expose 84 gives its audience some theatri- cal treats in both song and dialogue. Not to be missed are the “Swing to the Right” square dance, a Latin-style dance in the Unemployment Insurance office (where Go West is refused assistance) and the sexual double-entendre in “I’ll Never Sleep with a Socret” (short for “Social Cretin”). Expose hits only one sour note. In a debate with “the Russians,” Go West produces several of the more draconian pieces of Socred legislation on education to prove that B.C. can outdo the USSR in. its supposed quest for the ultimate central- ized education system. Not only is this unfair — a society which can produce a university which teaches in the language of a relatively small group of Siberian indi- genous people can hardly be compared to the budget-slashing Socreds — but it smacks of week-kheed liberalism as well. It’s as if the writers, having levelled some deservedly devastating broadsides at the worst provincial government in recent his- tory, feel they must protect themselves politically by taking a misdirected potshot at Soviet society in a classic Cold War manner. The otherwise worthy Expose 84, a pro- duct of actors, writers and producers gathered into the Expose 84 Co-operative, suffers the lack of financing most political productions face. To alleviate this, the co- operative is asking patrons to buy a $20 “share’’ ($10 for seniors and unemployed) which purchases a ticket and supplies a tax-deductible donation. Running until Oct. 27, Expose 84 offers its humor and insight from Tuesday through Sunday at the Firehall Theatre, 280 East Cordova St. in Vancouver. — Dan Keeton Chile: will The liberation struggle in Chile faces con- tinued problems of unity because of the reluctance of the country’s middle class for- ces to unite with labor and the left, two Calgarians returning from a fact-finding. mission said in Vancouver Sept. 30. In spite of the Christian Democrats’ reluctance, and the continued harsh oppres- sion from the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, organized resistance continues, even among the poorest sections of the population, according to Kathi Dun- can and John Hedrich. The two toured the South American coastal nation for three weeks — during some of the bloody demonstrations held to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the September 1973 coup — and met with leaders of the urban poor, political prison- ers, peasants, church and several other “movers and shakers ” on the their self- initiated fact-finding trip. While they missed most of the demon- strations — arriving in Chile sometime after Sept. 11 — Duncan and Hedrich did attend a student strike and in their meetings with organizers in the capital, Santiago, and the key port city of Valparaiso, said they is stop over. discovered that Chileans are bracing them- selves for a long, hard struggle against the dictatorship. . In talks with the Tribune and local Chi- leans, both had praise for the form of peo- ple’s action known as the “toma.” Sit means, ‘to take,’ ” explained Duncan. “It’s a gigantic, illegal land grab mainly started by women and children. Usually, they’re kicked off by the carbineros (police).” to fight still strong Calgarians John Hedrich and Kathi Duncan reporting on conditions among shanty towns, prisons, and other areas of poverty and resistance in Chile, during Vancouver Ga | JOIN THE GREAT i A\% With GLOBE TOURS For any of your travel needs big or small. Let Globe Tours find the best way for you. Specializing in tours to the USSR GLOBE TOURS 2679 E. Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. V5K 1Z5 253-1221 But other tomas, she said, evolve into permanent living areas with electricity and plumbing, taken illegally since municipal governments do not recognize the shanty- towns. The land grabs are necessitated by hous- ing shortages so severe that in Santiago some 800,000 families are homeless, Dun- can related. By that later stage of development — when a form of self-government has been established — the toma becomes a cam- pamento. And it’s there that a good deal of organizing and educational work is done, said Duncan. Like the similar — in class terms — poblaciones, the poor established urban neighborhoods, the campamentos are fre- quent targets of police raids. “Police will pick up some people, beat them up or detain them for days, just to use them as a warning,” said Hedrich. “But there are other areas of the population that are targeted as well.” ‘ The two said the medical profession, which has seen a first-class health care sys- tem set up by the Popular Unity govern- ment “destroyed” has become increasingly outspoken against the junta. Within the church there are deep div- isions, they reported: ““The archibishop of Santiago is not sympathetic to the popular forces, but the cardinal is (but) basically, the difference lies between the hierarchy and the lower orders,” said Duncan. Meanwhile, organizing in the Campa- mentos and Poblaciones continues through the Popular Democratic Movement and the Communist Party, Duncan reported. ~ Classified Advertising = COMING EVENTS OCT. 12 — COPE pub night. Campaign head- quarters, 118 W. Broadway. 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. Food, entertainment, refreshments. OCT. 13 — OCTOBERFEST. Good food. Good friends. Adults: $6; children, oap, unemployed: $3. From 3 p.m. on. 21972 Cliff Place, Maple Ridge. For directions 467-2888. OCT. 14 — COPE Civic Follies — QE. Play- house, 649 Cambie. 2 p.m. A madcap revue of city politics. Adults $9, OAP, unemployed, children $6. Tickets available at 118 W. Broad- way or 875-9188. OCT. 14 — Ukrainian Artists from USSR in concert. 2 p.m., Ukrainian Hall, 805 E. Pender. Reception following. All welcome. Further information 253-3032. OCT. 20 — COPE’s 2nd Annual Auction of goods & services. Legion Hall, 6th Ave. & Commercial Dr. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Auc- tion at 8 p.m. $2 admission. Music, food, refreshments, bargains & fun. For more infor- mation or to make a donation call Susan at 254-9797 or Lydia at 874-4806. OCT. 26 — YCL Hallowe’en party, 2235 E. 8th, 7:30 p.m. Prizes, food, refreshments. OCT. 28 — COPE Women’s Day. Campaign headquarters, 118 W. Broadway. Speakers, entertainment, food, drinks, childcare. Focus on women in the city and their concerns. OCT. 28 — Historic concert & supper from 3 p.m. at Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Ave., Adm: $10; pensioners & unemployed: $8. Sponsored by Veterans Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion. Tickets available from Tribune office or veterans. NOV. 4 — Celebrate the Anniversary of the Russian Revolution, 2 p.m., Clayton Commun- ity Hall, 18513 70th Ave., Surrey. Sponsored by the Fraser Valley Region, Communist Party. Watch for further details. COMMERCIAL GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete print- ing services. Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc. A union shop. 1595 W. 3rd Ave., Van. Hours: Mon-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 733-6822. ELECTRICAL, plumbing, appliance repairs. Don Berg. 255-7287. LEGAL SERVICES RANKIN, BOND, McMURRAY. Barristers and Solicitors. 2nd Floor, 157 Alexander Street. 682-3621. DIRECTORY COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA offices located at 102, 2747 E. Hastings St. Vancouver. Phone 254-9836. Office hours 9:30-12 noon; 1-5 p.m. Mon. to Fri. For information on political issues or assistance in political activity. HALLS FOR RENT RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for rentals. For reservations phone 254-3430. UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL CENTRE — 805 East Pender St. Vancouver. Available for banquets, weddings, meetings. Phone 254-3436. Classified advertising rates $1 per line per week. Deadline for insertions, Wednesday of week prior to publication. RANKIN ae COMPAN Barristers & Solicitors 4th Floor, 195 Alexander St. Vancouver, B.C. V6A IN8& 682-2781 Offers a broad range of legal services including: Personal Injury & Insurance claims Real Estate & Conveyancing Divorce & Family Law Labour Law Criminal Law Estates & Wills PACIFIC TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 10, 1984 e 11