Hayenga Sparkles in "Elephant-Man."
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Enter tainment Hayenga sparkles in "Elephant - Man . " by Jerry Szypaniak rick's affliction, it allows the audi- factory performances. the hands of his fellowman, but portantly, it is a good play. The life of John Merrick (a.k.a. ence an opportunity to warm up to From the mood setting, somber was not mentally maimed through the elephant man ) has received a the intriguing personality of John opening notes of the lone cello to bitterness or self-pity. It also pro- ('THE ELEPHANT MAN" js resurgence of attention in the past Merrick, as it is unfolded on stage, the final curtain, "TH E ELE- vides, without losing the overall currently playing at the Forrest few years with several plays and, without completely turning them PHANT MAN" offers a pitying Theater in Philadelphia for a one most recently, a movie focusing on off with his physical aberration. A yet understanding and even ap- serious tone of the play, a tongue- month run. It is also enjoying con- it. Probably the most well-known realistic representation might just preciative look at a man who suf- in-cheek look at contemporary and tinued success at the Booth of these is Bernard Pomerance's evoke a response of pure pity for fered at the hands of nature and at Victorian thought. But most im- Theater on Broadway.) highly acclaimed dramatic play the cripple which would interfere "THE ELEPHANT MAN." with the understanding of the ad- The play "THE ELEPHANT vanced development of John Mer- Main Point: end of an era ? MAN" deals with John Merrick rick, the person. The only problem by Mark Reilly ous to the value of the Main Point. and Tom Rush are not out of the (played by Jeff Hayenga) in his is that any true appreciation of the Since its opening in 1964 the . All tickets at the club are gener- ordinary. The kitchen facilities later years, spent as a sideshow real Merrick's abnormalities Main Point, located on Lancaster al admission, but the club is small are modest, but the brownies are freak in England until he was be- being the same as the play's Mer- Avenue in Bryn Mawr, has provid- and even in the last row you are first rate and the service is good friended by the young Dr. Fred- rick may be forgotten. The audi- ed the Philadelphia area with an literally right next to the stage. In general,' the atmosphere is aj. erick Treves (Ken Ruta) who then ence doesn't see the character the outstanding array of jazz, folk, Tickets are easy to get through ways energetic but much more cared for him for 4 years until same way that everyone that ac- blues, and rock. Many of music's Ticketron or at the Main Point it- personal than the Spectrum oi Merrick' s bizarre death in 1890 tually met him did. However , the biggest names started-at the>~Main self. You don't even have to camp other arenas. If you're over 21, (He died as an indirect result of audience doesn't have the same Point. Stars like Bruce Spring- out; there are two shows a night. his str ange disorder , neuro- amount of time to become ac- steen, James Taylor, Joni Mitchel, Many of the finest local bands fre- B.Y.O.B., and if you're not, just go fibr omatosis, which produced dis- customed to his physical ap- George Thorogood, and Jackson quent the Main Point, and appear- for the music. In any case, do it figuring and crippling growths all pearance , so this compromise is Browne have all made numerous ances by legends like Don McLean soon or you may be too late. over his body). well taken. appearances at the Point. In the American National The overall presentation is With such outstanding talent Theater and Academy's pro- quite effective . The acting in the haunting the Main Point, it seems duction, the elephant man is por- play is generally rather good with hard to believe that the club is in trayed without any real costume Hayenga (replaced on Broadway financial straits and under the or make-up. Instead, in the begin- by the highly celebrated David threat of closing. The loss of the ning of the play , the audience is Bowie) putting in a more than con- Main Poirit, Philadelphia Maga- shown slides of the real John Mer- vincing job with his physical con- zine's number one suburban club, rick (taken while he was at the tortions and his quavering, high- would be a blow to the area as a London Hospital, Whitechapel) pitched voice. Although some whole. Today, as in the past, the and then forced to rely upon mem- lesser , supporting roles were filled Main Point maintains high stan- ory and the contortions of by players who seemed a little dis- dards, offering the best in new Hayenga. This approach is quite interested in acting, the per- talent as well as many old favor- effective in its uses in the play. formances by the main characters ites. It is a mystery to me how, While providing the observer with (esp. Hayenga ) pretty much allows even with the club's excellent an actual representation of Mer- one to forget any less than satis- reputation, people can be oblivi- T and C defend station format David Lindley, Bruce Springsteen, and Jackson Browne in Main Poinl by Timmy and the Colonel featured him live from the Main would make this up. dressing room. Last Friday, The Hawk ran the Point. Places like the Main Point The question is then brought up article One Man's View: DJ at- and Electric Factory Club of as to why the policies of a major tacks new wave, and since this was yesteryear have been replaced by organization that receives funding a criticism of both our article the Starlight Ballroom and dependent on "the whims of a (Food for thought for the radio Emerald City today when it comes handful of people." If WSJR is to listener) and our work as Program to showcasing unknown artists. be programmed by that which is Director and Music Director of Last week's article tells us that the most popular among the WSJR, we felt we should answer music becomes popular when it student body, then so should other his article in order to set the has the quality to be accepted by a clubs, like the Caps and Bells, the record straight . plurality of people. Wrongo. A Hawk, the Greatonian and the Firstly, Jack Myers (the writer song becomes popular when it Crimson and Gray. Each of these of the article) tells us he is going receives so much airplay that it organizations (all of which, in one CAREER SALES to provide the readers with some sticks in the public's minds. We way or another, receives money food for thought to counter the have all had the experience of from the pockets of all students) fourteen questions we posed in the finding ourselves humming or has an editor-in-chief or director. previous week. Well, Jack almost knowing the words to a song we The decisions of these clubs, answered one of them, but he had hated. The music that becomes therefore, come down to a few his facts all mixed up. It was a popular is the music the radio people. The fact remains, though, OPPORTUNITY good try, thou gh. programmers decide should be that this is a college, and for most He tells us that listeners tune popular. Music is not to be judged of us it is the last chance to be into popular stations because they bad or good simply because it gets creative, without having the worry cater to what is most popular. a lot of airplay; and conversely, it of turning a profit. Would you like to earn $20,000 to $250,000 a year (and more) as True enough. Unfortunately, it is isn't necessarily good or bad only No one ever said that college a salesman? Several of our company's sales representatives have the thinking off these stations that because it doesn't receive it. students should like only music done this. We currently have 3 openings due to an expansion in this area. keeps things stagnant in music. Supply and demand ere next that is new and different , but we Everybody's scared to play brought up by Jack. This are asking everyone to open their No overnight travel is required. We offer a comprehensive and on- something that is new or different argument would be appropriate if minds a little. It has been said going training program . Our sales representat ives receive good fringe for f ear of losing closed-minded we were discussing bars of soap or that a lack of openness to new benefits. Our business has not been severely affected by current listeners. (Hasn't rock music light bulbs; but instead of talking things is a sure sign of lost youth. economic conditions. always strived on growth and about a product, we are speaking It's easy to make fun and laugh at newness? ) Catering to the most of music, which is an art form. the Cramps, the Silicon Teens and popular (or average) tastes is the From this point on, last week's Dow Jones and the Industrials Approximately 60% of our sales representatives with 2 or more same argument ABC-TV uses for article might have been entitled, when you've never heard them but years of experience earn in excess of $33,000 yearly.