• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1989-11-02_Vol55_No09_08

TMttrtainmtnt The Western Carolinian Page 8 Thursday, November 2, 1989 No More Days Like That Realistic Portrayal of 40s Racism Shawn Busby Associate Editor "No More Days Like That," an original play by WCU professor Alfred Wiggins, takes a realistic look at racism in the early days of World War II. Superbly casted and directed by Dr. Loef- fler, this premiere production was brought to life, much to the delight of its enthralled audience members, last week in Niggli Theatre. Wiggins's well developed message is creatively placed in the laps of his audience members via a diverse group of Army men physically and spiritually imprisoned at Camp Polk, Louisiana in 1943. Commanding these men are Captain Merriwether (Stephen Ayers), a white northerner, and Lieutenant Whalen (Wayne Wilson), a white southern country boy with a "corn pone" attitude. The military underclass includes First Sergeant Tate (Randall Morrow), who has completed 20 years of military service at age 34; Sergeant Smith (Morris Hatcher), who works as company spy forthe bigoted Whalen; Private Ellis (Wiggins), a man drafted by mistake; Private Lyles (Fredrick Mason), who has an MA from the University of Chicago; Private Thompson (Leroy Owens), a man AWOL from the Navy; and Private Grundy (Shelton Grant), Smith's partner in deviance. Mr. Ayers's realistic northern accent contrasts nicely with the southern drawl of Wayne Wilson. Rising above predictability, Wiggins creates the white characters in the play as oppo- sites rather than cohorts. Merriwether is a man struggling to keep Company B calm, while Whalen is likely to be a member of the Ku Klux Klan. A portrait of First Ser- Noted Contemporary Artists "Art Books" at Exhibition in OPI-- More than 80 art books by some 50 contemporary, internationally recognized artists will be on display at Western Carolina University in an exhibition to run through December 5 in the Belk Building art gallery. An opening reception for the exhibition, entitled "Artists' Books: An Investigation in Time, Sequence, and Manipula tion," was held on Tuesday, October 31 at 7:30 pm. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to handle the books. In a few cases, the books will be "performed" by the exhibit curator, Leonard Seastone, Assistant Professor of Art at WCU and a book artist who has shown his work nationally and internationally. "Making the books available to the art public is one of the unique opportunities of the Artists' Books exhibition, and represents an effort to de- mythologize the artist's intent geant Tate is calmly and cooly delivered by Mr. Morrow. Few events ruffle his feathers, since he has been in the Army from the age of 14. Wiggins gives an exciting and multifaceted portrait of his character. Private Ellis can evoke sympathy from the audience with talk of his four children in one scene, and display harshness and abrasive language in another. Wiggins's writing, acting, and directing are first-rate from top to bottom. The action centers around the attempted murder of Sergeant Smith, and an anonymous letter, which the audience finds out later was written by Private Lyles to the Pittsburgh Courienn regard to the treatment of the black soldiers. The set for "No More Days Like That," comprised of an orderly room and the office of the company commander, facilitates Will Display Belk Gallery and make the visual record more meaningful," Seastone said. Since artists' books are not traditionally available in bookstores or libraries, WCU's exhibition presents a unique opportunity for the public to experience artwork of this kind, Seastone added. The Belk art gallery is open from 9 am until 5 pm Monday through Friday and by appointment. For more information, contact the WCU Art Department at 227-7210. well the actions of the play. In addition to its physical uses, the set is realistically furnished and pleasing to the eye. One problem with the set is that it tempts the actors to look through an imaginary wall to the next room. However, in making sure that all audience members could see the action, this imaginary wall was a necessity. Although vital to any performance, lighting is a small component of this particular production. The lighting in "No More Days Like That" serves the most basic function—visibility. The neatly constructed uniforms and set furnishings are enough to convey the time and place of the production. "No more Days Like That" deals with the treatment of black soldiers in the early days of World War II. In a nutshell, Mr. Wiggins makes his point, and makes it well. Chorus Concert Scheduled OPI-- The 52-voice Western Carolina University Chorus will give a concert at 8 pm Thursday, Nov. 9, in the recital hall of the WCU Music-English Building. The program will include classics, spirituals, folk music, and contemporary selections. The performance is open to the public, and is free of charge. The chorus will perform Haydn's "Gloria" and Mendelssohn's "Lift Thine Eyes" and "Be Not Afraid," and will be accompanied by the WCU String Ensemble on Telemann's "Psalm 117." Daniel Walker, tenor solo, and the Men's Chorus will perform Shaw's "If I Got My Ticket, Can I Ride?" Walker also will perform Whalum's "Who'll Be a Witness?" and The Matinees Musicales series, sponsored by the Asheville Symphony Society, will continue Sunday, November 5,1989 at 4 pm in the Walker Arts Center at the Asheville School. Featured in this afternoon of chamber music will be the Asheville Symphony Brass Quintet: Brad Ulrich and Brian Chance, trumpet; Paul Basler, horn; Robert Kehrberg, trombone; and Linda Davis, tuba. The quintet will perform a variety of works including Canzona Bergamasca by Samuel Schiedt; Contrapunctus IVby J.S. Bach; Three Glad Rags, arranged by Frackenpohl; and selections from Porgy and Bess ,by George Gershwin. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available at the door or by calling the Asheville Symphony Orchestra at 704/254-7046. im&RSy cTfSSfVeLD "For all your travel needs" Ullll fares and NO CHARGE Seruices 586-8479 or 586-6266 23 East Main St. Sylva Music Department Will Present Faculty Recital OPI- Members of Western Carolina University's Department of Music will present a faculty recital at 8 pm Tuesday, Nov. 7, in the recital hall of the Music-English Building on the WCU campus. The recital is open to the public and is free of charge. The program will feature a variety of instruments and musical styles, with selections ranging from "Porgy and Bess" tunes to classical numbers by Alessandro Scarlatti i:4S.«*Lwaw«Mte'<--?ir«| li COMBO WHOPPER, URGE FRIES, REGULAR SOFT DRINK *M$^f^*9 WHOPPER COMBO LG. FRIES MEDIUM DRINK $32f and Louis Couperin. The program will open with Carl Maria von Weber's Grand Duo Concertante, Op. 48, performed by Maxie Beaver, clarinet, and Lillian Pearson, piano. Three selections from the George Gershwin/Jack Gale opera "Porgy and Bess" will be performed by Bradley Ulrich and Brian Chance., trumpets; Paul Basler, horn; Robert Kehrberg, trombone; and Linda Davis, tuba. Basler will perform his own composition, "Phoenix Rising (1989)" for solo horn. Robert Holquist, bass- baritone, and Pearson, piano, will perform three selections by Ralph Vaughn Williams. Pearson and Ulrich will join soprano Mary Kay Bauer for music from Arie Con Trombe Sola by Scarlatti. Philippe Guabert's Nocturne et Allegro Scherzando will be performed by Eldred Spell, flute, and Lillian Pearson. Pearson will then perform on harpsichord Pieces de Clavecin by Couperin. The program will conclude with "Spring Wind" by Eric H. Thiman and "Old Mother Hubbard" set in the manner of Handel by Victor Hely Hutchinson, performed by Bauer, soprano; Holquist, bass- baritone; and Basler, piano. For more information, contact the WCU Music Department at 227-7242. Soon And Very Soon, the winning play of WCU's first Original Play Festival, will be presented November 14-18 in Hoey Auditorium. The play is one of the four major productions of the 89-90 drama season. WI09.T ■ m» TOUT) Port I I I I I I I I I It I I I I I I I li Perm for the Holidays fantastic Hairstyling Studio 293-312$ 'located beside Cullowhee Quik Stop' Nexxus Regularly $40 -Now $30 30-89 '^^Ba Coupon Expires 11- tenor solo Steven Wilson will perform Dett's "I'll Never Turn Back No More." Also on the program are Lane's "Lady Mary," performed by the Women's Chorus, Erb's "Shenandoah," Kingsley's "Shepherd Me Lord" and John Williams's "Can You Read My Mind" (from the movie "Superman"). The Men's Barbershop Quartet will perform Alstyn's "I'm Afraid To Come Home In The Dark." The University Chorus is conducted by Robert Holquist, Associate Professor of Music. Mary Ward is graduate assistant. Accompanists are Rosemary Cook, piano; Henry Lofquist, organ; Sarah Eller, cello; and William Henigbaum and Cathy Arps, violin. For more information, contact the WCU Department Of Music at 227-7242. WCU's World Art Gallery to Open in Asheville Shawn Busby Associate Editor The World Gallery, an art showplace administered by Western Carolina University, will open Friday, November 3 at 5:30 in Asheville. "The Figure When It's Speaking," an exhibition of figurative art by Atlanta and Asheville artists, will open the weekend of events. The exhibition, curated by Alan Sondheim of the Atlanta College of Art, will include works of figurative art in various media. Continuing until 8 pm, this first presentation is open to the public free of charge. Artists participating in the exhibit are Larry Caveney, Charles Clemmons, Pat Courtney, Elma Johnson, Heinz Kossler, Frank Southecorvo, Tyler Stallings, and Monika Teal. Teal, Clemmons, and Courtney are contributing paintings to the exhibition. Site-specific and other installations are courtesy of Cav- eny, Southecorvo, and Stallings. Presenting ceramic pieces and three-dimensional work are Johnson and Kossler, respectively. The World Gallery will also feature works by art students from colleges and universities throughout Western North Carolina. Catamount students Jim Crawford and Chris Hunter will have their work displayed. A seminar and panel discussion on "Issues of Censorship" will be held on Saturday, November 4, at 9 pm. The session will deal with the issue of censorship in the arts. The discussion is co- chaired by Sondheim and Xenia Zed, who is the Assistant Dean of the Atlanta College of Art. Panel members for the discussion include Hendersonville attorney Kenneth Youngblood and Sam Frishner of the American Civil Liberties Union. The event is free of charge. Also held on Saturday will be a "Critics Workshop" sponsored by Art Papers and the North Carolina Arts Council. Led by the Editor of Art Papers, the workshop is designed to help encourage writers and critics to contribute to regional and national journals. The workshop will include a discussion on strategies for art criticism in western North Carolina. Located at 37 Biltmore Avenue in Asheville, The World Gallery is designed as a self-sustaining enterprise to showcase work by western North Carolina art students. Although administered by WCU, the Gallery receives no University funding.

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1989-11-02
  • Date digitized: 2019-09-18
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 14.25"
  • Pages: 12 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1989-11-02_Vol55_No09
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library