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opens•early· 1 Director of Theatre, Char-', les Dodrill announced today . 1 ·that the Cowan Box Office · will open early for ticket Guest Artist Brock., Peters sales to the March 3-7 pro ( duction of "Othello" by the Otterbein College . Theatre. The show will feature Prq To Be Otterhein's 'Othello' fessional Guest Artist, Brock Peters in the title role. (See . G.uest Artist Brock Peters Appearing ,,,,ith Peters in Debbie Bowman · as Emilia, story ~lsewhere in this edi- \·,··' j will be feafured in the title the Otterbein production will with a suppor_t\ng cast of 17 tion-) I Ticket sales will begin Wed- : role o{ the Otterbein College be David Mack as Iago, Ste- other Otterbein actor~ and nesday, February 17. Seats ''. Theater production .of "ot~- phanie Lewis as Desdemonq, ac~ressc~. . . ' d'. for all performances are re - · ello" March 4-5-6.:, Curtain Dennis Romer as Cassio, r~e show 1s under the 1. served. Box office hours are ·\time for. all public perform- Marc Smythe as Ro~erig.oo,, .r~ct10n of Dr. Charles Dod- 1 to 4:00 p.m. weekdays. For ances will be 8:15 p.m. rn Dave Graf as Bra1b:i:lnt10 a~.,I.;t_lL . _ - reservations phone 882-3601. I 1Cowan Ha1l. · .·· · ···· · \: · · Always one of the most popular of Shakespeare's plays, "Othello" has provided Students ' many a notable actor's great- est vehicle. To See ' THE ROLE OF the Moor ..- had traditionally been played ·. 11 :;two Special by while men in dark : theU0 make-up until \826, when Ira : Aldridge, an extraordinary: 1 Th~' Otterbein College The- \Prbductions. Am e'r i can Negro actor,'. played the role with much; . 1· atre will present two sp. e-cial · . performances of its guest art- : , fanfare in London. \ '\ A1~e Planned ist production o.f "Othello" For the next 117 years, it\ Otte1,bein College The,ater . was still reserved for Edwin!, for high school and area col- ~ill present two special IP~r Booth, Edwin Forrest, Henry I ' lege students only. The spe-11 formances of its guest artist .. ' Irving and other celebrated · cial shows win be at 7 p.m. \ pr,oduction, "0Vhe1lo," for : white stars. Wednesday, March 3, and atl Then the noted American · high school and area college ! Nei!;ro . singer, Paul Robeson, · 10 a.m. Friday, March 5, in' 'studehts only. assayed the role, in London Cowan Hall. · The special shows will ibe , in i930 · and in New York in Shows open to the public \ 3 7 1943. The latter production Wednesday, March _at :are those Thursday through\ and at ,10 ia.111. Frnday, , earned so much acclaim that p~m. ' Saturday, March 4-6, at 8:15 :Ma:rch 5, in Cowan Hall. it compiled the longest run on record up to then of any p.m. in Cowan Hall. .... SHOWS OPEN to the ,. Shakespearean production, · Tickets for all five perform piwblic will \be Thursday . and toured for a full season ances may be purchased at i through SatµIlday, :March 4• . ; following. . the Cowan Box Office. For 5r6, at 8:15 p.m. m· COIWan. reservations, phone 882-3601, i SINCE ROBESON'S nota- Hall. · · from 1 to 4 p'.m. weekdays : ble assumption of ithe role, it Tihe ottenbein~ production\ · has been chiefly playecl in The Otterbein prod1,1ction of "Othello" will. fea~ure, 1 : America by, such .reputable · of "Othello" will feature pro- · professional 1f!)uest art ~ t, . , Ne·giro aietors ·as Earl Hyman, fe:5sional guest artist,· Brock iBro½k Peters, in the title .· Canada Lee and James Earl . Peters, in the title role. The : role. , , show is being directed by Dr. ; , ,The show, i:s !being ?1rect· 1 Jones. · "Othello" · is' one o[ the ·• Charles Dodrill. [ . ed by Dr. Charles Dodrill. _: , roles which has won Peters i ii "1 previous critical acclaim.
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. " f l \.. I CONFRONTATION. [. David MaClk as fago confronts·. professional guest all"· I' tist; Birock Petens, ri,!l)ht, feattlred in 1!he 1title role od: i '. Otterbein Oolleg,e. 'I\hleater production of "Othelil,q." It I 1 : rnpens a'three-night run Thursday in 001Wan Hall. Cu:r- / . i tain tirrnes are 8:15 p.ni. .. ' . ' I.I .BrocKPeters wilf perfO:fni-Othellol
the Broadway· musical, Indian mother, Brock secure than show business, he · M~~~~~~J;lit;1erf~;~~~-;; Kwamina, and did a series of graduated from Music and Arts studied Physical Education and ·: in films (particularly the highly one-man shows for the High School, New York's Psychology. :praised "To Kill A B.B.C.-TV, before moving on to famed scholarship school for Stage, TV and film star, ·. Mockingbird," "L-Shaped Hollywood and London where.' gifted children. He ~tudies Brock Peters, will appear as the ,Room'' and "The he has scored great success in' violin· and voice, and on tenth annual Professional Guest Pawnbroker")· have brought films. His most recent movies\ Sundays, earned money singing Artist with the Otterbein him wide public attentionm College Theatre in their March include P.J. with George Brock Peters has been in church and concerts. Peppard, The Daring Game At New York City College 3-7 production of Othello.· performing since he was a with Lloyd Bridges, and The his athletic prowess made him a Peters will play the title role, of . teenager. the Moore Othello. ' Incident, which has won major.: Born in NeV( York of a top college athlete. Deciding film awards all over the world.', French African father and West that teaching might be more' His stage career began when he left New York City College Ju·st recently he teamed: to tour the United States as Jim again with Monroe Sachson · in a revival of "Porgy and producer of The Incident t~ , Bess." This was followed by star in The McMasters, already i numerous other roles on and being touted for its significance off Broadway including a long r and contro'versial power. He also appeared with Peter Sellers run. as the 1·uvenile lead in Anna Ii Lucasta. 'i in Heavens Above, and in 1970 headed' the national company A three-season stint of/ of Great White Hope, garnering ___ one-nighters across the U.S. as ,: 1 some of the most triumphant I bas¾soloist with the famed personal accolades of his career. r DePaur Infantry Chorus made 1 Peters a seasoned performer Amidst the acting and established his reputation assignments, Brock sang on as one of the great numerous network variety contemporary bass baritones. shows, recorded albums sandwiched in club Then Samuel Goldwyn saw engagements, and has guest his performance as Tough starred on almost every major Sergeant Brown in the film, dramatic. TV show in the Carmen Jones, and personally United States. chose him to play. the evil Crown in his film of Porgy and He will arrive on the Bess. Peters was so good a Otterbein College Campus villain that it type-cast him for February 20 to begin rehearsals the next two years, a mold he ! for his appearance as finally broke with a hit\ "Othello." performance in the title role of i Tickets for Othello will be the off-Broadway production, 1· available from the Cowan Hall King of the Dark Chamber, in box office beginning . ' 1961. Brock Peters, critically acclaimldYJ,Otion picture and stage I Wednesday, Feb. I 9. The box actor, will arrive on this campus next week to begin rehearsal After a long run with King. \ office is open from 1-4 p.m. with the members of . the theatre department for Othello Brock left to play Obitsebi in weekdays. scheduled for March 3-7. Mr. Peters will play the title role. Theatre .in full. rehearsal· for March· 4-5-6 production Guest Artist Brock Peters has arrived in Westerville and the Otte .r be in College . Theatre is in full rehearsal .
for its· 1 tenth annual Profes sional Guest Artist produc tion,· "Othello,". Pe rfo rman - ces · will be 7:00 p.m. Wed nesday, March 3; and 10:00 a.m. Frigay, March 5. Tic . kets for ~h shows are on sale at the Cowan Box Office week day afternoons from 1 to 4:00 p.m. ·" Othello ", the twenty - - seven th of Shakespeare's thirty-seven plays, was writ te~ when The Bard was at the peak. of his powers. He had already produced all of his Histories, except the life of Henry VIII; and "Othello" was written on the heels of "Ham let", with "King Lear" and ."Macbeth" to come ill the next two year period. · Always one of the mostpopu l11r of Shakespeare's plays, it has provided many a notable actor's greatest vehicle. Se veral times the nearly evenly matched importance of the two leading roles of Othello and Iago has led stars to appear alternately in them. An enor Prqf~~ii,.Pqpl Gutst Arji;d,: ,Brock Pe.,ters. mom; stir was created .,'.,,hen Edwin Rooth,"the most bril front, ·win play the title role. in the Otterbein liant American ·actor of his College Theatre pn>d'-6ction of "Othei lo" March time. accepted the" invitation 4-5-6., Feat~fed wi1h. him' wi Ir be Stepfo.fr1ie. of the topmost British actor lewis as Desdemona, Dave Mack as Iago, of the time, Sir Henry Irving, to alternate these roles in the and Dennis Romer as Cassio. early 1800's in London. usually modern overtones. Its York, 295 times (the longest World-wide publicity resul story of the black man; hon run on record up till then of ted not only because the two ored by Venice for his mili any Shakespearean produc foremost actors in the Eng tary leadership, loved by a tion), and toured for a full lish language of their era' Venetian Senator's daughter, season following. were sharing a stage and al and viciously u11dermined by Canada Lee acted the part ternating mies, but because his sworn enemy, has parti in New York in 1947 followed this was such an extraordin cular interest for the second by a successful off-Broad ary trick; the two roles being half of the twentieth century way portrayal of Othello by so infinitely antithetical, one with Civil Rights one of the Earl Hyman in 1953. James the epitome of bhmt sincerity, leading topics of our time. Earl Jones portrayed tlle Moor the other a s~btle schemer. Tile role of the Moor had in an open-air production gi Richard Burton and John Ne traditionally been played by, ven in Cenlral Park in l 964, ville also undertook this al white men in dark ma!l.e-up which was later lhatyearpre ternation at the Old Vic in until 1826 when Ira Aldridge, senled oH-Brn<'.dway fora long London in 1956. an extraordinary American run. Although "Othello" is a Negro actor, played the role ln tile Otterbein Theatre tale of Renaissance Venice, with much fanfare in London. production, Guest Artist Hrnck it is considered to have am- For the next 117 years it was P<"t,'r;; v.h,, l;.,~ ., stm lf/il'.~e)O'~ (Qlf ~1'Vin f'M;)Q\b, '"Ottli!UO" i1il, m,1rau,e;r. Ed...,;in. .Forr~11t,, l!e"1ley bving pn:viously, wm. •. ~Od I Other: ~,e}ei;)rated White as the Moor of stars. Then'the noteclAmelfi lead roles with can Negro singer, Paul ,Robe Dave Mack as the cunning son, essayed the role, first Iago, and Stephanie Lewis as in London in 1930, then in Desdemona, Othello's faithful New York in 1943--the latter wife. production with so much me Dennis Homer will be seen claim that it ran from Octo as Cassio, the swaggering ber 1943 to July 1944 in New lieutenant who becomes a vie - tim of iago's plot; Marc Smythe as Roderigo, the fop pish tool in the plots; Dave Graf as Desdemona's agitated father, Brabantio; and Debbie Bowman as Emilia, the well meaning wife of Iago. Others in the cast include John Aber, Randy Cline, Tony Mangia, Carter Lewis, Shelley Russell with Linda Sheppard, l
casta." 1 • "/ 'OTHELLO' SELECTED I 1 Continued from l'age 12 with Rod Steiger as the i ·: reputation as one of the gre,at smooth, e,vil racketeer, Rodri- oontemporary bass baritones. guez, in "TI1e Pawnbroker." : SA1\'IUEL GOLDWYN saw ; Peters' performance as tough i ' Sergeant Brown in the film i "Carmen Jones" and person- 1 ally chose him to play the; evil Crown in his film of, "Po:rgy and Bess." One of the i few in the movie to use his; . own singing voice, he was so: effective as a villain that it' • I type-cast him and became the; bane of his career for the f next two years. "' : Then, in January, 1961, l1e1 was offered the title role in! the otf:f-Broadlway production[, . Guest 'Othello' ru ''King of the Dark Cham- i · ber," the classic play of Ta Stephanie ,Lewis· ,j 5 fea,tu,red · a,s ,Des'?1en1ona wi~h. profe;s siiona1l guest ar1'is't ,&rook lfl'et,ers, who pl~ys ~h~, Mle ro ~ gore, India's great play- .. ,j,n rtihe Otterbein Col,lege liheatre product10~ of O~helilo, wright and poet. The casting ' · 'Ma,i-ch 4-6, ,j,n, Cowain !HaH. Gu,rtain 11ime :1s 8: 15 p.m. of a Negro actor was a most : unusual departure, but the r~--~~~~~ 1 ' role broke. the villain jinx : and the show was· a hit. i ' ,. After a long run with 'i 1 · "King," Brock left to play ,---,.--,- ' Obitseb~ ,jn the Broad/Way .i s C!!nlmnhu11 iitsptttrlf ·, x SUN .. FEB. 28. 1971 musical, "Kwamina," and did I a series of one-man shows for ,,l BBC-TV. ,·:i FOLLOWING A busy schedule he moved from Broadway to ::Flollywood to play Tom Robinson in the film adaptation of the Pulitz- er Prize-winning novel, "To Ki:l1l a Mockin,gibird." From Hollywood he moved Jo London to co-star with ' Leslie Caron and Tom Bell in the award winning "The L Shaped Room" and returned ' to England almost immedi- · ately to co-star with Peter . Sellers in "Heavens Above." He also chose to play a , villa.in once again, co-starring
'OTHELLO' READIED Professional guest artist Brock Peters (center) will pJ.ay the ;tiiHe role in the- Otteribein College Thooter produc tion orf "Othello'' at 8:15 p.m. TlmrSJday through Satur day in Cowan\ Hall. Featured wit,h him will be, from le.ft, Stephani~. Lewis · as Desdemona, David :Mack· as Iago, and Demiis Romer as Cassio.
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I In ,vi~,,t~~~!:' ~,!~~~~ wd,ld he is I, recognized by his peers as an ','actor's actor." Viewers of [ television talk and variety shows have enjoyed his , , splendid singing voice and his gift for articulate repartee. j Noted drama critics have described his protrayal of i Othello as ''nobility walking on stage, with all the rage of a wounded lion." Film buffs won't soon forget his roles of Sgt. Brown in "Carmen Jones," Killer Crown in "Poirg,y and Bess," Tom iRobinson in "To Ki11 a Mockingbird" or t'he smooth, i evil racketeer, Rodriguez, in "The Pawnbroker." f His name is Brock Peters and although he frequently [. has been cast in the "heavy" role, in person he is a ___ ,__ l'IJWC'}S__f_E~T~_R;__S__:.._i\_T_E_iA_S='I,=: ; soft-spoken, gentle-mannered man whose well-mod1ula1t•ed =====J __ •' '.voice exudes an air of warmth and concern. 'Second Class' Rating , l}ItOCI~ CURRENTLY IS guest artist-in-residence at He and his wife, the former Dee Dee Daniels, are otterbeiI1 Co,Ile-ge;- where he' will play the lead role in both active in community and civil rights organizatwns, r;: ' "Othello" Thµrsday through Saturday. although he personally feels some despair about the :,r,i•,,,,:,( "This is my first experience working with students racist attitude of many Americans, both bwck and while. : on campus," he said, "but I do.hope it's not the last. It ."For far too l011g," he said, "whites have mistruslcLl ,,;;'"; ' has been matvelously enlightening, and let me tell you blat:ks . and vice ,versa, anLl although the ei.luc:atioual, ,://' 'some1lhin,g__:_it's noit a one way ,stree,t. · economic and employment opportuniti~s h::m: greally },e, "I've learned a , lot from these drama studcn'ts. increased ror, blacks, there are stiu many areas, w11en(,1,r Something will occur during rehearsal, the kids will do they are considered, and treated as, second class c1t1zem,: , · \ or say something which makes me view certain bits or "I don't pretend to understand it, but the_ banier ii( ,, ~, ; , \ , t'., ' action in an entirely different light. I've done Othello tlhere.- I l1ave gFave- doubts· tlut the prnblem w1U ever blt l , '( \\ several times and I'm still learning." , ,, completely eradicated. ,' . , , r\ t\\ 11~\ Brock, who describes himself as a first generation "But I don't honestly think that fighting, killing;.~: American, was born and reared in Harlem. "My niothet '':1,~t;,~ burn~ng ,and r,ioting . will, ,solve an)'.thing, anym_ore than 1'· ~'11:;l~k/ ' w.as from the West Indies ancl my father was French f1ghtmg and k11lmg m Vietnam w1il solve difforcnces ri African,", he commented. "Lill:e most kids, I changed my mind a dozen times about what profession I wanted to between gove,rnments." , , DEE DEE IS A FORMER television publicist and, , follow. ·" ',' ! producer who won an Emmy nomination for her produc-
1' tion of the television music 1:al seri,es entitled, "A,rt Ford's The Bug Bit at 13 Jazz Party." "My mother was a cook in a tea room in Greenwich "She's, a particularly bright and beautiful woman," Village. The restaurant was closed on Sundays and Brock said· "and although she holds a masters degree in i neighborhood artists would put on plays. When I was political science, right now she take's care of our 8- ~t about 13, my mother took me to see one and I can still year•old daughter, Liisa Jo. remember how fascinated I was. I've never wanted to be '"It's her deds,}on to concentrate on lwr home and anything but an actor since that time," , family just now. nu not one of these men who think the i He graduated from Music and Arts High School, wife's place is in the home, but I think if she wants to lbe f famed scllcilarship school for gifted children, studied 1Jhere, she, ha·s Vhe right to do that, just as much as she ~ violin and voice and earned money singing iri church has the right to work in her profession, if :;he so chooses. Fc choirs and concerts. He was a top athlele at New York ,,,,.,, City College, where he studied physical i:,ducation and Qualms A bout Quakes psychology. ' ! , · "I left college," he said, "to tour with 'Porgy and , "First, because I'm her husband and I love her and I Bess' and have been performing and singing ever since, '. want her to do what makes her happy. Secondly, I'd be l:' although I did find time to finish my education at the 1 tJhe last one to ~·old anyone 1bac:k, male or female and I f. University of Chicago." do think that women are notoriously discri~inated :: In the intervening years, he has appeared on and off against, particularly in employment-and I know about I Broadway, done a 3-season stint of one nighters, recorded discrimination," he grinned. [;,,,, albums, worked night clubs and conceits and been in :'You , know," l)e continued, ''that's probably why ! demand for numerous character roles jn films. ~omen are less bigoted than men. Tl).ey understand how A few years ago, he participite4 in a cultural ,1t feels to be the underdog and to be discriminated conference and went to Africa, his fathsr's native land, against and are in empathy with anyone in the same I fof the first time. iposition." . , "It's a beautiful, beflutiful country," he' said, "and I The couple Tesides -in New York 'but curr,;;mtly are felt so much at home there. For the first time in my life, hou~e · lnmting in Ips Angeles. "I'm a, little leery about I could walk down the street without feeling that white movmg there now," be commented, "particularly since passersby were aware of and evaluating my blackness. I the earthquake, and the, possibility that the San Andreas didn't feel as though I had to presenit a tacad1e to anym1e. , fault may c;ause another even bigger one, and of course '''Don't misunderstand me, I am an American and I because of the smog ancj, pollution. ' love my country, although I can see plenty wrong with it. \, , "But it's where my work is, mainly, and sol guess And I doubt that I would ever consiqer makmg Africa , , we probably will move soon." my permanent home, tbut there's no doubt that I £.eel a \1 HIS NEXT film, "Cold Coffee," ls schedul~d to start great rapport witl1 Af_rica and its citizens. /; shooting this year and he and Mike Tolan of "The Bold ,1 Ones" have bought a film properly which was written by Charles Russell, brother of retired basketball star Bill 1i Russell. 1 , r:· ' _ "It's. a marvelous comedy," he advised, ''tentati;ely !~t!ed 'Five ·on the Black Hand Side.' It is set in Harlem and deals with many o:f the very serious problems of the '~. ghetto, but witJh a sense of humo,r." In d~scribing his goa,ls as an ador, BQ·ock says, "I , want my audiimces to have an experience be it humor ous, _sorrowfu.J, angry or of love. Therefore, I try to exploit every nuance of a song or role so that the mood lasts long after they've left 1:Jhe theaiter.'' How well il1e ,aittains >this go1ail wili be realized wU1en the curtain goes up at 8:15 p.m. Thursdar in Cowan Hall. • t 11 · '' ns t I ht century, the play itself and the At Cowan Hall characters involved are as ''Othello",' w~ch opens to of most Shakespearean plays, modem today as when Shakes night at the Otterbein College a single basic set is usually peare conceived them in 1604. Theatre with Professional employed. Thayer has chosen Thus; Thayer did not want to Guest Artist Brock Peters to use a set for "Othello" confine the locale to the· fif Brock Peters brings · .... in tile title role, is perhaps which, at first glance, appears teenth century and strove for Sh a k esp ear e • s greatest w be the stone exterior, of a an indeterminate effect in his triumph as a stage play. Morrish castle. At second set. wealth of experience The violently dramatic play, glance, it serves equally wen ' Working with twenty foot .with· its portrayal of the most for interior scenes. flats, the highest ever used BY SARAH SKAATES evil schemer ever drawn, has an Otterbein Theatre produc- 1 With nine different lo~ations been desc.ribed in superlatives I You can hear it in the re from tile time Shakespeare, used in various scenes of tile ti.on,· new paint techniques, so11ant stage voice and the wrote it - - the year after play, one problem facing tile and with props and all furni warmly intetested .off- stage "Hamlet" and the year be .d~signer was how to convert ture built from scratch, ' voice of the guest artist. the set between scenes easily fore "Mac~eth". ThayeF feels a, locale has been Brock Peters. is a guest - - and rapidly. achieved. for "Othello" which The famous 11ine~ee11th cen star who makes the whole con Thayer's solution is to em suggests neither a special time cept of the visiting profes~ tury American critic, William ploy a variety of small props or place; one which will not siona'l valid, worthwhile and Winter, called it unhesitating detract fro!Il the action of the ly ';'Probably the best play in. which can be "flown"· in on totally pt!lsitive. play by calling attention to it Ope,Iting tonight in· the little the' English language", and wires or carried in and put self. the English critic, Macaulay easily in place. Tilus, with role./6f "Othello" for the went even ,further, calling it the addition of a map and flag Much of Ute set is irregular Ott~rbein Theatre, Mr. Peters "Perhaps the greatest liter tile set becomes a council in line, suggestin,g .the many bri11gs/a w:ealth of experience , inC}tJfilng . two professional ary work in the world.'' i chamber; with a bed and door faceted character ot'."Othellu" curtain, Desdemona's bed and special effects installed staggings of this same play. And to Fred Thayer, De chamber. for the production include light Doing ! 'Othello" with col lege actors is "proving very signer and Technical Director towers to provide side light" for the Otterbein College Once the show begins, all ing increasing depth andplas exciting to, me," Mr. Peters Theatre, falls the task of de scene changes will be carried ticity of the actors; .and .an noted, thi(l week. "It's making signing a setting which will out by actors in full view of "apron" which extends the ac- me re-examine this role which best enhance the action of the audience with only minute . tion further into the auditor March 6, with curtain times I've done before, and hone my interuption ofthe play's action. ium. at 8:15 p.m. For ticket re~ approach to it for the future." 'this monumental drama of hu Although the costumes used servations phone the. Cowan ':'lfhile no stranger to the man emotions. in the Otterbein production of "Othello" wm bepresente~· 'Box Office, 882~3601, from 1 play, Mr.· Peters did have Due to the nature and lepgth "Othello" will be fifteenth tonight through Saturda;r;., '. w 1:00 p.m. , some misgivings about work ' ! • I"' ing in ,a campus production. "I knew that college stu dents can be pretty rough ,_ cynical and critical. Hhought to myself, 'You're· going t~ ' really let yourself in for it,' But it . hasn't been that way at au." . ,.,~ While!: gitjng .generous praise fo 1thos,~,Jvith whom he : is working at Ott~rbein, Mr. ) Peters also indicated a con , siderable respect for educa- tional theatre in general. "Commercial theatre is in serious trouble," he said. "This is due to costs and the kind of timidity which leads them to do adaptations of work from other. forms. They need , new authors, new. forms of : their own. Educa~ional theatre seems, then, to be the hope for theatre in general. It is , encouraging the creative pro- ces~ which will give life to theatre in America." As a black actor, Mr. Peters is frequently asked to com ment on the growth of black the,atre. To such questions . he answers,. "I hope it has some value al)d will be as- ' s~milated into the amin stream of tile performing arts." ' · ,, Guest Artist Brock Peters i~ shown above ·in. two ··'i'Stephanie Lewis who is,feat~w~d as Desdemona. At right To him, black theatre is scenes from the Otterbein Theatre production ''Oth~llo" ·he exchanges greetings with Dennis Romer who plays in which he pleV:!kth!"!~~}e role. At, __ l~!!__ he is -~~!n__ w_i_th ___ C_a_s_s_io_.-=', ,<·· ,,...... :::.~.:::;;, - ;'-":-:::;, . the reflected thought of black : scholars and writers who feel mo5t other material either! omits them altogether orpre sents them in narrow stereo typed fashion, "There had to be a body of black writing to be known as other bodies are known," Mr. Peters contends. "It is im-: ·.portant because· it reflects certain aspects of ,life, and. because it reaches out to the black community to make iL homogenous." . . '. · · As · an actor, Brock Peters i is a professional through and; through. '.'There 11,re some ' performances which just flow·· out of. me; when that happens:
the audience is the better for 1 it. Other nights it.is all up- • ?ill with the juices not flow- , mg, and then I depend on tech- nique." , As· man, Brock Peters is i , · possessed of great warmth, :
! . c_harm .and sincerity. He, i li~e Ed Begley andPatHingle, : wlll be remembered by the : Otterbein Theatre community not only with respect for his talent, but with great affei~ tion for his ,sharing of him self. -----~,...... --~-.-----·----' 1 ' Brock Pe~rs <~ tenth 'artil;t W 6!f~f f'Yf falents in Cowan Hall productwns \, ·· .· q When Brock Peters appears - performances .. She was campus productions is to bring on the .Cowan Hall stage March followed in 1966 by another focus on the college cultural 3-4-5-6 in the title role of · female guest star, Viveca prog.ram by bringing William Shakespeare's Llndfors, who played the title professional artists into the "Othello", the Otterbein role in "Madwoman of academic community. And, of _College Theatre will mark a Chaillot". course, the final result is a · decade of participation by 1967 saw the late Albert better quality entertainment professionill guest artists in. iij Dekker as narrator in a revival for local theatre patrons. program. of "Om Town" with 1968's Dr: Dodrill feels that the · Mr. Peters, a fine - guest artist production starring experience of working with a perfoqning artist, pro.ficient in Walter Abel in "The Crucible". professional artist encourages a variety of fields, typifies- the What is generally considered the students to rise to heir best quality·· of professional actors one of the finest guest artist abilities and attributes a major who have appeared in performances in the history of share of the credit for the Otterbeirr Theatre productio,ns the Otterbein program was growing success of Otterbein during the first ten years of the given in 1969 when Pat Hingle theatre graduates to the Guest Guest Artist program. appeared as Sir Thomas More Artist program. Otterbein launched its in "A Man For All Seasons". Before the program was Guest Artist program, one of Hingle gav_e a sterling initiated in the l 960's, the most successful in the performance after only ten Otterbein record~ indicate that country, in 1962, secwing days rehearsal in a demanding the Speech-Theatre Hans Conreid to appear in a .. role that kept him on stage Department had approximately production of "John Brnwn's nearly one hundred percent of twenty majors in a total college Body." The enthusiastic . the play's time: enrollment of eight hundred reaction of both professional The ninth annual guest and the theatre operating artists ana the theatre artist was George Grizzard who budget was a little, over t~o i community has resulted in appeared as Malvolio in last thousand dollars. Currently, I successive guest stars of Mr. season's production of t h e S p e· e c h · T h e a t r e l .c i \. Comeid's stature. "Twelfth Night". As an added Department has approximately I I In 1963, Ed Begley was bonus, "Twelfth Night" also one hundred majors in a I secured to appear in "J.B.", featured an original musical · student body of fourteen "' givfng a commanding score. written for the Otterbein hundred and the "theatre t' · performance in -the role of -production by John Duffy.. operating hudget for Winter : ' . Zeus .. It was during his stay at Duffy served as music director, and Summer Theatre I Otterbein/that Begley received · conductor and -composer for productior.s ~ in the vicinity of word he had been nominated the American Shakespearean twenty-five thousand dollars. I by Eddie_· Pam , for the Academy Award, which Festival and had composed By achieving the purpose ~ Soul , . I he eventually won, for his role music previously for for which it was intended - in "Sweet Bird of Youth." One twenty-one Shakespearean drawing the best abilities from Brocl~ P~ters: Blacli. of the most congenial of productions throughout the the students and bringing focus Otterbein's guest artists, Begley United States. · ' on the theatre program - the made many friends in the Charles Dodrill, Director of Otterbein College Theatre S~udies are ~~ly correct Theatre, initiated the Professional Guest Artist Westerville community and in When I first walked into the · · are very important because following. years continued to Professional Guest Artist program has played. its part in apartm~nt of Brock Peters I they reflect the total refer to his experience on the program to achieve several the expansion of the total was impressed. After talking to , experience of the black Otterbein campus on national goals at the liberal arts college. college theatre program., The Mr. Peters for about an hour I American, and destroy some of shows and in personal The program provides training fact that a high percentage of rv was impressed with Mr. Peters the myths that have developed interviews. · for students in an educational Otterbein Theatre graduates in · as an actor, as an artist, and as about the condition of the So close was Begley's framework by exposing them the past ten years are seriously a black mari. - Afro-Americans. connection with the to professional talents and working in the fields of college Mr. Peters· talked about He felt Black Studies shouid · that upon his death in 1970, techniques. It also provides professional or educational several things during an be established on all campuses the Otterbein Los Angeles them with models and theatre also clearly indicates interview conducted by me and because an accurate appraisal Alwnn} Club, with the advice. experiences which cannot be the potential to be achieved Tony Del V~lle. The thing of the contributions of black 1 and consent of the Theatre se_cured through regular from the . interaction of which1 found most relevant to Americans is needed in this Department, established the Ed classroom instruction. professional artists and i this article was his comments country in order to create a Begley Memorial Drama Award Another ·principal goal of members of the academic · on the black theatre and black more equitable society. He said to be given annually to an guest artist particiapati9n in community. studies, that Black Studies were not Otterb.ein College graduate Mr. Peters stated that the something to be for or against, who has distinguished himseWI · · i::~,:;t?I,, · theatre has long been a bastion but something all Americans in theiatre. The first recipient f . for white actors only, and until should realize is only correct. of the award was Dr. Jack f , recently, it was difficult for a Mr. Peters displayed himself Wright, currently Assistant),; black person ,to get any role as a true gentleman, a Director of Theatre at the I besides a menial one. He said knowledgeable actor, and · University of Texas. Wright/. the black theatre companies someone that has definite appeared with B~gley. during!_ his residence at Otterbein,[· that have evolved in the ability in speaking. He is a man playing the title role of "J.B." .f ghettoes of many large cities. worth meeting. In 1964, Arnold Moss, llOVING REPORTER ...... !Continued from Page 3 former Director of the , with the ideas ,of housing, dorm system, then it would American · Shakespearean co-ed dorms, and the dorm have a right to make students Festival, Theatre in Stratford, situation in general. One live in them, but until they do, Connecticut; and .:xpert actor, possibility raised by two I feel upperclassmen or director, and lecturer juniors was, "They oughta start students who are 21 or older ·concerning· Shakespeare, came on a lower level - the should be entitled. to live to Otterbein to direct a ~freshmen, and build a big off-campus, and sophomores production of "Love's housing_ complex, where they should be allowed to live in Labour's Lost", in which he wouldn't have to worry about fraternity housing, and town also playen the part of Don security - make it co-ed. What housing, and shouldn't be Armado. would be wrong with co-ed trapped in those army Hunter was. the first dorms with separate wings for b a r r a ck s . I ' m re a 11 Y ·star to appear guys and girls? Professors could sympathetic with the fact that Otterbein Theatre. liv~ in the dorms if they the college has' to spend Her 1965 portrayal of the desired, and there'd be a money, and that students Dowager Empress in central lounge." · benefit by living together, but ." Anastasia" was one of the Commenting on off-campus if the housing were more most memorable of guest artist housing, a senior found, "If pleasant, it would be more fun .,_Otterbein would improve it's to live together." _,, March 5, 1971 , The Tan -and Cardinal' - 11 cti h s be n y_ lifel'-.- -· Bro.ck Peters
by Tony De1Valle the whole black experience in always so. It's a fine,life, yes. that I've got to win an this country. I have been But it's no more glamorous Academy Award. I've always Actor Brock Peters, appearing tonight in Othello in Cowan Hall, engaged in fighting this as best than, I -suppose, the upper worked with the idea that I chatted with the T&C's movie critic, Tony Del Valle, and Soul I could - given time, money middle class American.It'sjust wanted to make a real writer Eddie Parks in an exclusive interview. Mr. Peters film work and thought, trying to alter the that you get a great deal more contribution in terms of the includes such efforts as "The Pawnbroker, " UTfu L-Shaped situation. ·mack theatre I feel publicity. concept of the production and Room," and the Academy .Award winner, "To Kill A has a contribution to make.' T&C: What is the general I've often said "no" to films Mockingbird. " Black studies are not only attitude. of· p e op I e in and plays that I did.n't want to T &C: Perhaps we could. had an opportunity to start important to black youths in Hollywood towards the acting be in because I felt that the begin by talking about your ,:.,again. school, but they're important awards - specifically the philosophy expressed by the experiences with the other T&C: Do you have any. for all American youth, Academy Awards? author was not one that I three Othello productions particular preference between because it is a part of the Peters: I know there are a believed in and didn't want to you've been in. the stage and the screen? understanding of the great number of actors and be a part of. Or that it was Mr. Peters: Well, let's see. Peters: Well, I don't really contributions others have people in the industry who unclear and would only add to The first production l did was have a preference. What m3cde. There has been a serious don't think highly of the the confusion. And for that 'at the Arena stage in concerns me are the challenges deficiency ofknowiedge in this awards; because one has only reason, I've always been Washington, D.C. And since it· of a given role. I recognize that area. Consequently I feel that to look at the history of the regarded as a serious actor. I was my first Othello I was they are two different black studies have -a very awards to see how political it never go in thinking I've got to rather fearful, insecure, and mediums - the stage and. film. valuable contribution to make has. been in the past - political do this role so well that I've mvcertain about doing it. As a The techniques that one has to in keeping this country on an in the sense that an award is got to win an award. I think if matter of fact·,~ I had been have to create a role in each are even keel, and putting it into sometimes given not sci much I did that I would go crazy· I persuaded both by the director the same. You have to be a the next century. for a performance but for would go up a wall every time I who· is a friend, and the fairly sound craftsman - T&C: What illusions_ of longevity, or seniority or didn't get an award. operator· of the theatre there particularly for film because cinema would you like to see popularity. Apparently they T&C: How does it feel to be that I should do Othello. I had you shoot out of sequence so dissolved? Does the image of can be manipulated a Jittle. coming from a. professional been re!'uctant, I felt that I much -of the time and you are the actor trapped in a world of Elizabeth Taylor got the repertory company to a college wanted to do·· the role· not in charge of the editing of glamour bother you? Award for Butterfield because production?- · sometime later in life but not the film, and consequently you Peters: Well, the glamour she deserved it for Cat on a · Peters: Well, I don't know at that po1nt. In any case, they have to be pretty sure that only really exists when the Hot Tin Roof and didn't.win it yet. I am excited by what I am succe(lded in convincing :me when the pieces are put movies involved. are being and in the interim between the_ experiencing here. It's the first that it was something I should together you're not going to be distributed and they have two movies almost died. There time I'm playing with ,a student start doing then and continue at a very high level at the premiere parties that have to are other examples of the same group: I can say that it is doing for the rest of my life, beginning of the scene and do with publicity. The actual thing. So, there are a great interesting. which, apparently I've set Of! then discover when they put work itself is freqt1ent1y"' number who don'.t have a high T&C: Well, we appreciate the road to do. There were those pieces together suddenlyi: boring. The glamour only. regard for the Academy the time you've given us Mr. some problems with that in the middle of the 1.cene, the· comes between times - the Awards or any other awards Peters. production - a first for me. -level. drops~. Then there's· the Academy Awards, 'etc.. It looks· for that matter. I have never Peters: I enjoyed it. I'll see They were physical problems - kind of projection that's as though you're se~ogl~~!l-~}ll_~~~r~~~. with the idea ~ou a~_rehearsal tonight. staging etc. but with all that it · required for the theatre. flirst. worked out fairly well. of all, in ·creating your Then I. did a'Il other character you should find· the ,, rock Peters to be IJUeSt ~-- production of it, south of_ Los - care. and ·truth of it as closely Angeles which_went fairly well. ,as yoti can. Once· having .done And the third production I did that you have to beef that up with Othello was just outside better -than life size two or artist in tterbein's ' thello' San Fqrncisco - Stanford three times _life size so that the ' University and that I thinkwas man sitting · in the back· row when, during college, he audi- buss·· schedule he moved from tioned for a revival of"Porgy, Broadway to Hollywood to play perhaps· the most successful gets the impact · of what you and Bess''. Eight bars of production I have been a part think, what you' feel, what yo Tom Robinson in the mm "Old Man River" won him adaptation of the Pulitzer of. We gained. some rather intend to pro)ecf That'means the · role of Jim and he left Prize-winning novel, "ToKilJ college to tour the United fantastic reviews -from aU the· if you're going to ·beef tha.t up a Mockingbird". From Holly States with a troupe that in wood he moved to London press' in the area. With or it still has to be real. It. can't cluded the great Avon Long, to without those reviews in any become phony or fak/._ That's co-star with Leslie Caronand considered by many to be the Tom Bell in the award-winning case we in the company all felt a very tricky thiIJg to have to greatest "Sportin' Life". "The L-Shaped Room", and that we had delivered the do in theatre _.:.... to ·make Numerous featured roles on returned to England almost a.udience a rather stunning something larger 'than life so and off Broadway followed in immediately to co-star with cluding a long run in Chicago Peter Sellers in "Heavens · production of Othello in terms that the man· in ·the. _back row as the juvenile lead in "Anna of performance. And it is my -Above". He 11.lso chose to sees it, but sees it as a natural Lucasta". During this period play a villain once again, co hope that something like that expression. In films, however, · Brock became part of a group starring with Rod Steiger as ' can happen here at Otterbein. the reverse is ·true; You're in of rising young performers . the smooth, evil racketeer, that included Charlton Heston, · Rodriguez, in "The Pawn- T&C: How did you happen front of a camera, you've· got Marlon Brando, James Ed to go into acting? . · to reduce everything .pecause broker''. ' wards and Hilda Simms. He Amidst the acting assign'" Peters: Acting, without the camera · lies fight there .If also finished his education at ments, Brock sang on numer-· question, has been my life. I've you aren't·thinking, it ,shows · the, JJniversity of Chicago and ous network variety shows; ' been at it for some time and · that you . aren't. ff can ·· be ·~ BROCK PETERS served as three-season stint recorded albums; sandwiched The· Otterbein College of on·e-nighters across· the the decision to become an tricked but it is t,hat faithful. ff in club engagements and has Theatre announced today that country as the bass soloist gue·st starred on almostevery actor came fairly early in my you are standing there TV, film, and stage., star, with the famed De Paur In- major dramatic TV show in life. I was just coming into my delivering lines in a scene and Brock Peters,' will appear as fantry Chorus. ·That job es- the United States. teens and it'had ·come out of your mind is blank - it's going ~rofessional Guest Arp.st in tablished his reputation as His most recent in its next production. Peters·· one of the great contempor- films . an an clude "P.J.", "The Daring experience - exposure to to show. · wiU portray the title role in ary bass baritones . J theatre in the Village in ~ew T &C: flow does itfeel to be · Game0 and, two shows with a ' WilHam Shakespear' s Samuel Goldwyn saw Peters remarkable· repertory group, ', :' York and I had seen some bttle · a, black actor in apredominatly' "Othello", slated for five per- performance as Tough Ser- "The McMasters" and "The i theatre which had been .white profession? . formances Ma.re.Ii 3-6 in geant Brown in theµhn "Car- Incident'', the latter which Cowan.Hall; men Jones'' and personally of I performed in a tea ro6rri which Peters: Well, it's been my has won major film awards I . . The ·tenth Prof e s s ion al chose him to play the evil au over the world. was given over to .performances life experience .. Until fairly :. Guest Artist to" appear with Crown in his. fHm of l'Porgy I, on a Sunday evening. This was recently, the rolei .that I· could :, the Otterbein College Theatre ·. and Bess", . One.< of :the few I my first exposure to theatre. 1- ,get to play were few. As I say in as many years, Peters will in the film to. use his' own was very small then. It was a for most black actors. that ~as bring a working experience to ,singing voice, he-was so good 1 his Shakespearean role. In a villain that it type-cast him very exciting moment that first been true:Today since we are his years in theatre, ~rock ha:;. and became the bane of his ! time - it stuck with me. in the midst of a kind of done Othello many. times, a career for the next two years. ) Whatever else I thought I revolution in term so characterization which has Then, in January 1961, he 1 wanted to do in the interim of challenging tradition, we find caused reviewers to equate was offered the title role in his performances with Othello the off-Broadway P.roduction / growing up was eventually that there are more roles being himself, 1,1f;ing such lines as of "King of the Dark Cham- discarded and I decided, just . put togetheYTor black actors . "Nobilit.r,/walks the stage", ber", the classic.play of Ta- J about the time I was getting to both in television and the an~ "All the rage of a wound- gore, India's great playwright :1 be a teenager, that I wanted to. theatre. Curiously enough, ed liQD.". and poet. The casting of a ~ be an actor. My career has had theatre in New York seems to P~t.ers' ability to become Negro actor was a IIJOst un- . the character he .is playing usual· departure but the show · . I its ups · and downs like all :be dying while there may be and to speak through him has was~!\ hit. and the role broke ,. act0rs - and yet it has been a more roles, the percentage of · garnered him some · of his the villain jinx. career. I have a reputation , productions has dropped greatest personal accolades After · a long run with which I try to maintain ani;l - seriously.There have been a ~uch as his heading of the 1970 "King", Brock left to play improve. I fiU:d it still exciting.·' great number of discomforts of na~orial co.~pany . of ''G~eat Obitsebi in tile Broadway I think I wouldn't change if I course. They are reflective of ~bite Hope .' one of the ~IJ- musical, "Kwamina", and did ights of his stage career. a series of one-man shows for Broe~~~.~~!_~=,~!~.!1=.,-,,_f:!l!:.!·1¼.~. -TY. F_ol!!l~~~- .~ THE PUBLIC OPINION·- WESTERVILLE, OHIO· _FEBRUARY 18, 1971 - PAGE 7 tterbein marks _decade of guest artist's participafiQ,n
When Brock Peters appears self in theatre. The first on the Cowan Hall state March\ recipient of the award was 4. 5 and 6 in the title role of Dr. Jack Wright, currently William Shakespear's Assistant Director of Theatre "Othello", the Otterbein Col at the University of Texas. lege Theatre will mark a de Wright appeared with Begley cade of participation by pro during his residence at Otter fessional guest artists in its bein, playing the tiUe role of program. "J.B.". Mr. Peters, a fine per"' In 1964, Arnold Moss, for forming artist, proficient in a mer Director of the American variety of fields, typifies the Shakespearean ·Festival quality of professional actors Theatre in Stratford, Conn.; who have appeared in Otter and export actor, director, and bein Theatre productions dur lecturer concerning Shakes ing the first ten years of the peare, came· to Otterbein to Guest Artist program. direct a production of" Love's Otterbein laW1ched its Guest Labour's Lost", in which he Artist program, one of the most also played the part of Don I. successful in the country, in Armado. 1962, securing Hans Conreid Kim Hwite:r was the first to appear in a production of female guest star to appear "John Brown's Body". The with the Otterbein Theatre. enthusiastic reaction of both · Her 1965 portrayal of the professional artists and the Dowager Empress in "Anas theatre con\tnunity has re-· tasia" was one of the most sulted in successive guest memorable of guest artist stars of Mr. Conreid's s91- performances. She was fol ture. lowed in 1966 by another. fe - In 1963, Ed Begley was se male guest star, Viveca Lind cured to appear in "J. B.", fors, who played the title role giving a commanding-perfor in "Madwoman of Chaillot". mance in the role of Zuss. It 1967 saw the late Albert was during his stay at Otter Dekker as Narrator in a re bein that Begley received word vival of "Our Town" with Guest Artist George Grizzard appears • Viveca Lindfors is Guest Artist. in he had been nominated for the 1968's guest artist production as Malvolio in "Twelfth Night." "Madwoman of Chaillot." Academy Award, which he starring Walter Abel in "The eventually won, for his role in Crucible". bein production by John Duffy. secured through regular class over two thousand dollars. "Sweet Bird of Youth". One. What is generally con Duffy served as music direc room instruction. Currently, the Speech Theatre of the most congenial ofOtter sidered one of the fin·estguest tor, conductor and composer Another principal goal of Dept . .was approximately one bein's guest artists, Begley artist performances in the for the American Shakespear guest artist participation in hundred majors in a student made many friends in the Wes history of the Otterbein p,ro ean Festival and had com campus productions is to bring body of .Jou rte en hundred and terville community and in fol gram was given in 1969 when posed music previously for focus on the college cultral the theatre operating budget lowing years continued to refer Pat Hingle appeared as Sir twenty-one. Shakespeareanpro program by bringing profess for Winter and Summer Theat to his experience on the Otter Thomas More in '' A Man For ductions throughout the United ional artists into the academic re productions in the vicinity bein campus on National TV All Seasons". Hingle gave States. community. And, of course, of twentyfive thousand dollars. shows and in personal inter a sterling performance after Charles Dodrill, Director the final result is a better By achieving the purpose for views. only ten days rehearsal in a 'of Theatre at Otterbein College, way to entertainment for local which it was intended-drawing So close was Begley's con demanding role that kept him initiated the professional guest theatre patrons. the abilities from the students nection with the college that on stage nearly one hundred artist program to achieve se Dr. DodrilHeels that the ex ~nd bringing focus on the thea upon his di:ath in 1970, the percent of the play's time. veral goals at the liberal arts perience of working• with a tre prograJfl- the Otterbein Otterbein Los Angeles Alum The ·mnth annual guest ar college. The program prov professional artist encourag College Theatre Proffession ni Clul~, with the advice and tist was George Grizzard who es the stulfents to rise to their al Guest Artist program has consent of the Theatre De appeared as Malvolio in last ides training for students in an educational framework by ex best abilities and attributes a played its part in the expan-' partment, e,stablished the Ed s e a s o n ' s p r o d u c ti o n of posing them to profe&sional major share of the credit for sion of the total college theatre Begley Memorial Drama A "Twelfth Night' 1• As an added the growing success of Otter program. The fact that a high ward to be given annually to bonus, "Twelfth Night" also talents and techniques. It also 1 provides them with models and bein theatre graduates to the percentage of Otterbein The an Otterbein College graduate featueed an original musical Great Artist program., ater graduates in the past ten who has distinguished him- score written fm: the Otter- . experiences . which cannot be Before the program was years are seriously working in initiated in 1960's, Otterbein the fields of professional or records indicate that the educational theatre also in Speech-Theatre Dept. had ap dicates clearly the potential proximately twenty majol's in · to be achieved form the inter a total college enrollment of action of professional artists eight hundred and the theatre ancl members of the ac;ademic operating budget was a little community.
Guest Artist Kim Hunter was the. dowager empress in "Anastasia."
(~ ·'J,! --7"",; ; . - . -~ EINllRTAINMENT SECTION SUN,,_ FEB. 21. 1971
BIG THREE - Among . the theatricial giants who have . since· 1962 indude the ab'ove. Fmm left arre Hans Co111- VIOliro in '"11weJifth Night" and the lt:te Ed Begiley as the p,erformed during Otterbein ColiJ:erge's Guest Artist series ried in "John Brown's Body," George G,r,izzard as Mail- God, Zeus. in "J. B." in 1963. , Otterbein Guest Artist Series tn Its Tenth Year I When Brock Peters ap- uate who has distinguisihed with the Otterbein Theater. vival of "Our Town" with only"lO days' rehearsal in a ed 1Jhe Professional Guest .'°u' pea··:,: on the Cowa~ Hall him~elf in. t~eater. Her 19'65 portray a; o;, the 1968's Guest Ar-Cist pro due- demanding rofo that kept him ist prograni to achie1.ce se, s~age March ~-~-5-6 m the First rec1p1e'llt of the award Do":-a'~er Empress m Ana- tion starring Walter Abel in on stage ne,arl)'.' lOO per cent eral goals at the liberal art title role of Wilham Shake- was. Dr.. Jack Wright, cur- stasia was one of the most "The Crucible,, OJ£ the plays.time.. SJX"~re's "Othello," the Otter- rently assistant director · of memorable of guest artist . . ~ . · · , . T . . college. The program pre bein Colfege Theater will Th t t ,th u · ·t f performances. She was fol- Wh"t is gener~rly consid- THE NINTII annual gue5t vides training for students ii . . ea er a e mversi Y O • . - . ered one of the fmes,t Guest art· t G G · d ma1k a decade of partic1pa- Texas. Wright appeared wi.th lowed m 1966 by anotµer Arti t f . . th' 15 was eorge n~r. , ain eduoafaonal framework b tion by professional guest Begley during his residence female guest star, Vive ca h' ts P~\~rm~ftcet ~n I e who appeared as M.Mv:olio m exposing them to profession artist~ in its program. · at Otterbein, playing the title LindfQrs, who pla,yed the title 15 ory ? ~ ' er _em pro- ~ast season:s P;,°duchoo of al talents arid techniques. I 1 1969 Peters. , a . fine . .performing . . ·ro 1 e of "J . B . " role" in "Madwoman of Chail- whengram PatVI as HrnoJe ~ v e appearedn m as,, :'Jwelfthd bo N1ght.'"Iw lfthAs anN'gl· add- t" a 1so prov1 · d es ti1em w1·th mo d artist, prof1c1ent m a vanety In HJ,64 !Arnold Moss for- lot. · . 8. 'Jlh M . "A M .. e nus, ' e : . 1 1 els and experiences whicl of fields, t)'.'Pifies tJhe quallity mer dire~tor of the A~eri- - Ini 1967, the late AI1bert F~r Allo~!onso;,e ~~1gle gat~ ~sol feru,ured ~i°ngi;a,l ~u- cannot be secured througl of professional actors who can Shakespearean Festival D· kk . . t . t . · 1 . S]Oa . SC:ore wr ~ or e regular classroom instruc have appeared in Otterbein . . e er was n~na Oif m a re- a s erlmg performance after Otrteribem pro winter and summer theater 1 Westerville campus to play one which I strongly,:i;dvise pressed with Dennis Rom- clutter. · productions is in the vicinity f "Othello," a role which he . you t.o see d~rinf~li:ts"~-er's Cassio. Now here's .a The professional guest of $25,000. [ has done twice before. ;ree-mght run m Cowan young actor with,,a fijture. artist program at Otterbein BY ACHIEVING the pur-/ "othello" is one of all (through Saturday). De!Jbie Bowman has pr.orb- argues well for the inaugu- pose for which it was intend-/ Shakespeare's most chal- T~E REST of the compa- lems with voic~ .projection, ratdiotnk of similar give- .. ed - drawing the best abilil . ~enging tragedies, requir- ny 1s, as always, made up but she manages to make anh · f e programs at other ties from the students andl mg almost virtuoso acting of students _ the pick of Iago's wife, Emilia, a really . sc ?0 s. . . bringing focus on the theaiter\ : · program - the Otterbein!' _1_·n-:--t,,-h_e-:-p'-1~·v_o_t_al_ro_l_e_s_. _W_1_·t_h~· __D_o_:d_:r:::.il:.;:l.:::...'s. youthfulqrnp. ;, vit~ .... ~~:::~:~.~''"'"'';\.:,:~.~~:,-.~·•1 :_t~1:;_ra~~~G:~en~o~~- of College Theater Professional! Guest Artist Program hasl , played its part in the expan-1 sion of the total college thea-\ , ter program. t ,·, The f11ct that a high per- l vest. centage of Otterbein Theater ello~' r graduates in the past 10 '.. . . years are seriously working • ·· in the fields of professional · or . educational theater also tic. s nsat1on.. , ., . c;d'1' end, as the . wily· and.. evil clearly indicates the potential Iago, Mack again showeJ the to be achieved from the in ?'Brock Peters a ·Master: ;lctor"· . , teraction of professional art- run reach or lii'S ability . By SARAH SKAA TES Desdemona staked their honor Perhaps it is only person&! 1ists an.d members of the aca- / : demi~·'community. / ·· Whatever his strengths or oo a handkerchief. · bias, but the roles which are weaknesses as a playwright, Regardless of opimon one most memorable are those in William Shakespeare was wisi: way or the other regarding which Mack played a char in the ways of humanity. the substance of the play it acter with sinister overto.nes. For tfiie experience of insight self, there t.ould be no doubt With Iago, the shadings of alone, Otterbein Theatre's but that the Otterbein Theatre guile were p~inted with sure production last . weekend of students and guest artist conviction. , . "Othello" was well worth the Brock Pete.rs under the di Desdemona was played to price of a~ission: Where rection of Chuck Dodrill gave fragile, lily-white perfection else, m ' sue!'\ concentrate,d - " "Othello" .thoroughly im by Stephanie Lewis. Des form, could an audience find pressive treatme,it. cribed earlier in the week by · a bi-racial marriage, the de In the uu.-. role, b· her professional co:..star as vastation done by jealousy and Peters btov~nt immeas11 the "most right for the part" greed, :man'&,readiness tobe dr.amatic strength tempcrect of any Desdemona he hadpre lieve lies about a loved one; with subt,ety to the role of viously played opposite, Miss and an argument for women's the· Moor. His early love for Lewis provided an excellent equality? Desderr.ona was as totally complement to the characteri- Othello brings its bits believable as · his later an . zation given Othello. · . of wisdom and dramatic guish at her supposed betrayal. Debbie Bowman and Dennis. glimpses of human character, Kn«Jwn by ·many as an ''ac~ Romer brought their own deft but it also brings its share of · tor'.s actor" because of his talents to the roles of Emilia frustration . to the audience. dedieation to his work, Brock and Cassio, respectively, Presumably' it would not be Pete~s' mastery of botll the while Marc Smythe postured a Shakespearean tragedy if inner qualities of Othello and and · pouted df~ctively as the stage were not littered . the outward presentation of Roderigo. Mention must also · with bodies in the final scene. them was complete. His full iw· given· the highly attractive But the. audience can't help resonant voice heightened the dancing talents ·of Shelley wondering what would have image of th~ ,~oble, if some Russell as Bianca. happened if ()tllellp and Des~ what naive Moor. However, The staging for. the Otter demona had really ~lked to .• this same voice provided the bein version of·'·'Othello'iw·as each 'othe~ 'fuste~d of in souf '. onl.l(., Ila~ ;,J By· JAMES T. McCAFFER'l'Y the death she die.d for be- which Mack seemed deter- Russell having the best of it Enterlainment Editor trayal she denied; and Deb- mined to avoid. because of her spitfire atti- '" bie Bowman, who portrayed Instead he chose the route tude as Cassio's rpistress. Otterbein. College's direc- Emilia as an innocent by- of the 1elst likely, presenting . The single set was func tor of theater, Dr. Ch~rles_W. stander taken advantage of an almost boyish type of t10nal enough· to work out Dodrill, tackled his first by her jealous and plotting prankishness as though he well, though scarcely the Shakespearean tragedy husband. · knew what he was perpetuat- most lavish one "Othello" Thursday night in Cowan For both, the play marked ing but wanted to witness ,he has eve~ ha~l. .It ma_d~ for Hall, and thanks to the. over- their finest hour to date. · result. If one missed the some cur10us mcongruities of wh~lming presence of. guest Among the men, Dennis chilling inplications of his action, though it never an. artist Brock Peters m the Romer perhaps fared best as early resolve however he peared to be insurmountably title role, "Othello" emerged Cassio, the hapless and un- was wholly c;ptivated by ap·\awkward. - _ as a departmental triumph. suspecting lieutenant victim- parent nonchalance. A few laughs pccurred Where others ha~e had to ized by him own loyalty. He IT . WAS A diff~rent ap. wh0re they should not 1h1a".e, emulate the .Moor m black l~oked the.. pa.rt and acted proa.ch. Who isto say it was but this is understandabl_e face , ~ake11p - sometimes w1~~ aut.iho~1t;v, careful re· wrong? · · with a young ~ompany. T.he with disastrously embar~ass- sit~amt prov1dmg 1Jhe k~y to Others deserving of men- line is very thm. Watch Pe ing results - Pe~er:~ 1s a h~s strength and . ultimate tion · were Marc Smythe as ters. Negro so proud of his people trmmph. . · · Roderigo, John Aber as the that . he c~n play the role DAVE GRAF,too, reyealed Duke and Shelley Russell ~s peerlessly without apology. elegance and excellence as Bian~a. They fared. well _m HIS. IMPOSING stature Desdemona's disappointed fa. varymg degrees, with Miss was the .perfect picture of ther, Br~bantio, a brief role noble dignity, accented by fa. t,oo o~ten thrown away or. cial expre&sions of graphic ~therw~se wasted. Graf s~ent classicism and gestures thor- little time on stage, less ti.me oughly understood only by speakin_g, but few will forget the truly great. His dark, him while he was out there. rich resonant voice intoned Dave Mack as Iago wa£ 1 cad~nce and line like some- sometµing of an enigma · thing sung from a score, as pe~lrnps _int~ntionally so. T~e musical as though taken pnme v1llam of_ the_ plot is straight out of opera. · usu_ally played _with :more J?a· . AJ,med with these attri- tunty a_nd wei_g~t, imparti~g b u, tes, 1muue. ,.. d, wt'th · 1·nsti'nctive · • an obv10us, sm1ster quality intelligence, his uninhibited ======~== approach turned lhim into, .i "OTHELLO" giant, the · entire gamut of AT coWAN: HALL human emotion floming so Otterbein. ~allege Theater pro_duction of ; ·, play by William Shagespeare. Directed by flawlessly that thlS, the most Char_les W. Dodrill. D~sign and Je,ly,ical d1i_·· · 1 b .rect,oo by Fred J. Thayer. Or,gin~_I music I demandmg Of ;J.11 TO es, e- by Conrad Susa by arrangement. with Music i came total and complete. :~~/hfo.;h~!~\o~i~tu~es by Eaves . Cos- ' Peters is Othello. After ~~~~~f!~'" ...... Marc t~:i~~ Thursday let that fact never Iago · ..... · .. · .... · · · · · · · · Dave M.ack , Brabant 10. .. .. • .. • ...... • • Dave Graf be doubt_ed. When one thin~? g;~:;'~0 : : : • • • : : : : : : : : : : : : • D:~~~~ k~~;i of inflection, remember thlS Duke .of Venice ..-, ...... • John Aber · d th Lodovico . : ...... Tony Mang,a man. When One pon ~rs e G_ratiano ...... Ken Myers e ning of the profound F1..-st Sen_ ator .· ...... Tony Del V21/F m a . , Messenger ...... • ...... Larry Campbe.l think of Peters-and his hon- ~~it,~"· .:.:::::.:: ... st•P~:~i;r t::i; esty. So ma~netical~y strong Cypriot Soldiers T .... Keith Malb'.~· J~n~ and· vibrant ls the timlber of Emilia .. , ...... , . Debbie Bowman · ·.. ·th t · · Bianca...... Shelley. Russell t h a t VOlCe ·· · a many may Attendanls,. Soldiers, Officers Don Beas, · h V d' h d ·.. 'tt . h' Garv Burnard, Larry Campbell, Tim wis er i a .Wl'l en is Chandler, Oam Erb, Eddie Jenkins, Vickie work· for that range instead Langdon.·. · of tenor. · INSPIRATION emanating from such a fine actor is bound to rub oft It did, and the results showed them-· selves in a variety of ways. Most impressive was the gen, eral tone and pace in other parts, the clarity of diction, 'the meaningfulness of mea sured inflection, 1 Outstanding ex a mp 1 e s were Stephanie Lewis, whose Desdemona was · a model for all Desdemonas, touching in the tenderness of her trust in the man _she married, even to COWMBUS CALL & .POST COWMBUS, 0. W (NEGRO) C!RC. 7,000 j' .,_- FEB-2 7-71. '.j ,·. 1 ,. .,, .•.•.... ·' .,!:1 .. / . t,,4 YS;, OTHELL8 .··;,._ . ~I t~ltifrt11tiW~. I 1:-,!t·· of.essia,tJ~l ~· iu_est :artist I th the()Uerbezn ·College / ~- _ .eiftfe. in ~h'eii-:.March 3~ 7 • , ff}fii,Tf¢iict;ion_.:i c>fi ~fothetto.". · 1 ,;?.T,_~ters 'will play\ the ;ti(le ·1/ ;:'.f'.ole,' ': one·;'he has done \{t1¥:/0ftfti"!es · •to· .. !e,z:. 1 • Jh~{1asnq":,rt!vietvs, · B'iock ·1 f~·;i~_-~,~~}~irJ!!:~~1~~, .. j ~S~Q_'f an ,:the, l.1,S. · •. · ... ,jJ.