Event Article

"Summer and Smoke," FJC drama department's second play of the year will open Jan. 13 and run through Jan. 17.

Ticket prices for the play will be $1.50 for adults, and 75 cents for students.

"Summer and Smoke" was written in 1948 by Tennessee Williams, author of many other fine

plays including "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Camino Real," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "Suddenly Last Summer," "Swee Bird of Youth," "Period of Adjustment,""The Night of the Iguana," and "The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore."

The cast for the play has been selected for months and rehearsals began prior to Christmas vacation. The cast includes Steve< Winget, Reverend Winemiller; Deborah Benedict, Mrs. Winemiller; Walter La Fontaine, John Buchanan Jr; Terry Sidell, Alma Winemiller; Joyce Katz, Rosa Gonzales; Diane Perez, Nellie Ewell; Bradley Watson, Roger Doremus; Lance Danks, Dr. 'John Buchanan Sr.; Kathleen Melcher, Mrs. Bassett; George Spelvin, Vernon; Kathy Carter, Rosemary; Randall Christian, Dusty; Robb J.

Hennessey, Gonzales; and Joe Fletcher, Archie Kramer.

Faculty production staff includes George D. Archambeault, publicity, ticket sales and production director; Todd V. Glen, technical director and makeup; George L. Stoughton, house management and costumes; and Barbara Tucker, box office management.

Student production staff includes Corky Moore, stage manager; Robb J. Hennessey, assistant stage manager; .:Johanna Steffen, property manager; Cliff Senior, hair stylist; Theatre Crafts 21, set construction; Stephen Woody, special effects, lighting designer, console operator, sound operator, makeup; Carol Barnett, costume mistress; -Kathy Beam, Cliff Senior, Kathy Carter, and Kathleen Melcher, costume crew.

"I have been a devotee of Tennessee Williams ever since my first contact with his plays," said Mr. Archanbeault. "My devotion is based upon my belief that he comes closer to the revelation of truth, real truth about human beings and the way we live. He does so in a nonrealistic manner. He makes constant use of literary and theatrical devices.

"In Williams' own words, 'truth, life, or reality _is an organic thing which the poetic imagination can represent or suggest, in essence, only through transformation, through changing into other forms than those which were merely present in appearance!", said Mr. Archambeault. "I am particularly stimulated as a director and audience member in discovering the verbal and visual symbols which abound in Williams' plays. The symbolism in his plays, like symbolism in all good poetry, reveal truth ideally in the lives of man.

"'Summer and Smoke' is loaded with symbols. The play's locale is a town called Glorious Hill, Mississippi (the earth, man's adobe). In the town's center is a park in which the focus of attention is a statue which hovers over the town, a stone angel called Eternity. The dramatic conflict exists between Alma (Spanish for "Soul") and John (who as a doctor represents the physical man). The division is further symbolized in the two main acting Rectory, where Alma lives. Alma's philosophy is reflected in her speech on the Gothic Cathedral ("the everlasting struggle and aspiration for more than our human limits reach") and John's lecture, using the anatomy chart, in which he points out the brain, the belly, and the sex organs, all of which must be fed. Other relative symbols exist throughout the play," Archambeault said.

"Williams presents all this richness through superb characters. Not often does the actor find a play presenting characters so rich and challenging. Even small parts are rewarding to the young actor. As a vehicle for teaching acting students procedures in character development, Williams' plays are excellent. His sensitive and penetrating revelation of man's psychological and philosophical conflicts brought about by our modern society are most rewarding," Archambeault said.