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VIEWSanilREVIEWSh\ E. I Kin nr 11 STlt;\KM XNwo productions currently on display in New York hear a striking resemblance in content, form and legal history Prior to their being made accessible to the general public, both encountered difficulties with the censors and with the law One U the play. “Che and the other is the film. ‘‘I Am furious (Yellow). Both are controversial, political and revolutionary I chose to celebrate the anniversary of another revolution by attending these two productions during the recent holiday weekend The original cast of Che Is still under indictment by the New York District Attorney for performing a variety of indecent acts before an audience Why the producers were allowed to recast their play and ns.p.-n the doors of the Free Store theatre on lower Third Avenue was not explained by director Ed Wode during his mumbling, semi-apologetic curtain speech lie did. however, request the members of the audience to sign a mimeographed petition conveniently placed on the back of the program stating that Che was a work of art and demanding that charges against the original cast he dropped immediately After roughly SW minutes of Che, some of which were very rough I decided to decline that bit of personal testimony Plavwright Lennox Raphel. a relocated dislocates! West Indianhas attempted to equate the United Slates attitude toward Cuba on a sexual basis The characters, in addition to Che. are the President (or Uncle Sam). Mayfang (agitprop angei spy I, Sister of Mercy ami Chili Billy, son of King Kong (Cong». Uncle Sam tortures, seduces and violates the prisoner (Tie. finally murdering him in cold blood Mayfang Is the cool Amaion who carries a machine gun in her handsAn additional character ha» been added to the now cast, the spirit of Fidel Castro who wanders in and out of the scenes This role is played to perfection lt;or cast to perfection; It is a silent pari) by a young lady-clad only in a revolutionary hat gun belt and hoots She adds a hit of cool saneness to the heated Intellectual discussions centerslage.The actors! *) mouth slogans and epithets bearing no apparent relation to their busy acts of sexual exploration of each other s All probable combinations of activity arc simulated (Surely that Is a legal loophole, or can the I) A arrest actors now for simulated murder onstage*)Sexual panion is projected in monotonous succession But the effect is of impotence frustration and pathetic sterility With all its nudity, scatological dialogue and simulated passion. Che is overtly anti-sexual The characters do not exist, they are only garrulous symbols of abstract thoughts fromthe playwright s febrile imagination The play and its production defy determination of Its value or potential as legitimate theatreVI LOOT S.IOMANS I Am Curious (Yellowi Is the first of a two-part film, or the same film from two points of view The second, or “blue version is now completed hot it will probably not cause the furor that greeted yellow when it attempted to enter our theatresAbout that curious title Sweden's flag is yellow and blue. The title, according to Sjoman. suggests youths questioning of the well fed Sweden of the late 80 s. a Sweden that Is hypocritical about morals ami politicsThe director, who also wrote the script ha* concentrated on two themes, both of which reflect not only Sweden but the present world situation One theme Is class society injustices created by class structure The other theme Is non violenceThese themes arc presented through the eyes and attitude of a young actress The film is about the making of a film. As the plot progresses the changing attitude of the actress Is revealed; the director, cameraman and crew are seen at various unexpected moments commenting on the scene.
Newspaper Details
Sunday Dominion-Post
Morgantown, West Virginia, US
Sun, Jul 27, 1969
Page 45
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
MI, USA 12 Sep 2017
Other Publications Near Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown Dominion Post
Morgantown Morning Reporter
The Morgantown Post and The Dominion-News
Morgantown Dominion News and Morgantown Post
Morgantown Dominion News
