Event Article

"Sweetheart, maybe we need to separate and go our own ways," the husband says passively. Silence.

"Free?" the wife finally manages, and growing bolder she repeats in a strong voice, "Free? Free to go my own way?"

More silence.

"That doesn't sound so bad."

The audience is stunned and the air is blanketed with a thick quiet. However, within seconds, the man and wife run into the open arms of each other and cry, "Hold me!" in a relenting unison.

A relieved applause and laughter from the full-house crowd proved that the tension had been broken and the play was a success for last Saturday's performance of "Hold Me."

The play, being presented through May 25 by Fullerton College's Theatre Arts Department was written by Jules Feiffer who is known for his cartoon strip, "Feiffer," which appears in several newspapers throughout the United States. "Hold Me"is a composition of 71 "Feiffer" cartoon sketches reflecting different situations that the average person faces each day.

"Hold Me" allows you to see yourself on stage and to think to yourself, "Yes, I've done that before." The play does make you laugh, but the humor is always bittersweet.

The cast includes five characters,, two couples and a female dancer, the latter played by Tera Marie Coughlin. She keeps the audience in good humor as she, garbed in black tights, prances and swirls about the stage in an effort to come up with "a revised dance for '78."

Michael A. Kane portrays Bernard, an intellectual who wears horn-rimmed glasses and polished oxfords. For Bernard, nothing goes right. Kane's portrayal of Bernard is excellent as the little person striving for other people's acceptance. Kane has a real talent for comedy acting. His mimics caused the audience to bend over double in their seats.

Man 1 played by Harvey Hand, portrays a more serious type. His responses to certain situations makes the audience analyze themselves and wonder if they don't at times respond the same way as Man 1.

Woman l is somewhat similar to .Man 1, with successful physical attributes. But along with everyone else in the cast, she has her share of problems.

Woman I, as played by Hattie Totten, is a thoroughly modern woman. Along with the rest of the cast, Totten performs very well in her role.

The set works well for the play. It is very simple, yet effective Costumes, make-up, and lighting are also kept simple.

Theatergoers will leave "Hold Me'' feeling either that the production gave them a better insight into life and themselves or-as havng seen a light comedy, or, as Feiffer probably hoped the outcome would be, a feeling of having gotten insight to human nature; wrapped up as 'a well-presented comedy package.'