Friday. Ociober 7, I966 SCARLET AND BLACK Page Fi __—____.—____._.—_—_—————————— } Play (Continued Irom Page I) Meyer said the character of the scene made the play "unacceptable tor the Grinnell audience.” The scene in ques- tion involved the female char- acter's pantomime of the sex— ual act with an imaginary per- son. The female role was played by Bonnie Tinker, who com- mented, “I iully realized what was involved in the role when I accepted it. The eitect that we hoped to achieve was to com- pletely disgust and embarrass the audience.” Her iamily was in the audience the night or the cancellation. circumslances Confused The circumstances surround- ing the censoring of the show are both involved and cnniusing. The discussions of the censor- ship among the various parties concerned have been equally coniusing and oiten emotional and contradictory as well. Rich directed the play as an Independent Project in speech and theater under Mr. Thomas Somerville, who is new on the tactilty this year and was a 1964 graduate ct Grinneli. Somervilie, to whom Rich was directly responsible, saw a come piete dress rehearsal and part 0! another rehearsal before the play was presented, but did not say anything to Rich directly concerning the controversial scener Somerviile told the sen, “Nothing was directly said about the actions of the girl, but I did say tone down some of the physical actions and speed the whole play up." lie added. “I wasn’t judging it against u Grinneil audience" lack! Meyu Somerville went on to say "I back up Meyer completely now I just don’t know why 1 old not demand a change in that articular point at the play." hen asked about the effect at the play on the Grinnell audi- ence Somerville said: “Grinnell is sophisticated enough to ac- dept many things, but this scene was just too repulsive." When asked if he thought the administration or iaculty had the right to go beyond an ad— visory capacity and actually censor a student artist, Somerville replied, “No com- merit.” Meyer had not seen the production previous to the open» ing night He said, “I made the assumption that the play would be given in good taste. It was not given in good taste.” Meyer said later that the forni- cation scene was [he “most graphic and most distasteiui that I have ever seen. I don’t think that it could have been made much worse." Reason Unclear There was much discus- nion and disagreement between Meyer and Rich concerning the reason for the censorship There was contusion over whether the play was censored Ior artistic reasons, moral con< sideratlons. administration in- fluence. or all three. Rich told that the scene was “pur- posefully made shocking, exag- gerated and palntul" “After ltudylng Ionesco and reading his notes on ‘The Chairs.’ I felt lhnl I rhould embarrass the audience and make the audience feel uncomfortable.” Rich commented, "The die rector doesn‘t give a damn about good taste. I tried to give a faithful interpretation of Ion- esco. I do think, howeVer, that more are still many things wrong with the play and that: we need to work on, especially the timing of it." Meyer agreed with Rich that the director's obligation is to interpret as taithtully as pos- sible, " but added, “Our artISr tic standards are intertwined with our moral standards.” He said that the audience must be considered and also noted that "a director is not a tree agent at Grinnell College." Scene Destructive Meyer said, concerning the artistic effectiveness of the play, “that scene destroyed the rest of the play. One went away not thinking anything else about the play. This is my own judg< ment and I didn’t talk to any- one else about this before I told Dennis and Bonnie that they couldn’t put this on again in this manner." In a discussion last night Meyer said, “The oifense was primarily a moral offense — the scene was inappropriate to the Grinnell audience.” But he also said in the Same discussion, “I'm not trying to protect the morals of the students.” He went on to say, “If the play had been presented in a classroom situation I would have simply discussed the interpretation and the suitability at it.“ Meet with Leggefl Rich and several of the other students involved met with President Leggett yesterday to discuss the censorship. Leggett said that there was a difference between a student director in an academic situation and the nnrmal role of a directort The student, he said, comes under the academic judgment of the faculty memberr He added. “As I understand it, Mr. Meyer iinds the play unacceptable artistically and I accept his judgment on this.” In a discus- sion with Rich on the scene in question, Leggett commented. (-> , HALL South Younker North Younker Smith Lungun Ruwson Gates Clark Dibble Cowles East Norris West Norris 1012 Broad "I understand that Mr. Somet- ville told you to tone down that scene.” Dennis replied, “That is a blatant lie." Tanya Huvav nessian. director of “Snowan- gel," and who was also present at the meeting. told Leggett, “I thought ‘Sllowllngel’ was more objectionable morally than was Dennis’ and less suitable to be shown to a college or any nudi- ence. ‘The Chairs' was more or an intellectual drama.” "Knack" Controversy It was also brought up at the meeting with Leggett that “The Knack," directed by Meyer and presented last year during Par- ents’ Weekend, caused some embarrassment to the college when some or the mothers pres- ent complained. Leggett said that he thought part of the rea- son {or the criticism was that the performance was somewhat limited by the abilities of the amateur actors here He felt that this caused some misin- terpretation oi the play. He said that when there is criticism he is “the one that has to answer all the letters.” Meyer commented on “The Knack" by saying “I made an e rror in presenting “The Knack” on Parents’ Weekend. Otherwise it was It harmless Show. But the experience made me more Conscious of the fact that we should not make errors in the future.” Undefined Viewpoint Meyer had previously re- terred to “past administrative experience” as a factor in his decision to censor “The Chairs." The part that the “undefined administration v i e w p o i n t" played in influencing the censor- ship was an additional compli- cation in any discussion of the moral and artistic objections to the play Meyer said, "Per- sonally I’m against all forms of censorship, but you are not a free agent at this college. ideal- ly the show should stand on its own leer, but we should face the tact that the college spon- sored it." Leggett later told the Ser, "Everything that is put on on this campus, whether you like it or not, carries the over- 0ur Representatives on Campus SALESMAN Gene Coleman Dick Lamb Hank Bulikov John Pittman Dave Schulz Tim Duiley Bob Wart Kent Thompson Nord Brue Ellion Hibbs Jim Polsor South Campus — Par Miles, Robin Kroc Campus Representative—Bob Wait (Clark) BATES FLOWERS 236-3111 tones of institutional approvalt" He went on to say “I’m going to reserve the right to say that some things are unsuitable to show to a Grinnell audience. I think that I have a high toler- ance though." Concerning the possibility oi personally review- ing the play and then passing judgment on it, Leggett said. “Mr. Somerville and Mr. Mey» er know more about this than I do When a faculty member finds a work unacceptable I have to either accept this or get rid of him." Alter meeting with Rich last night, Meyer told the SM}, “I hope that in discussion with Dennis and his Cast We can find ways to play the scene that would satisiy them artistically. And it we can agree with them on this then we may have a performance in the very near future.” KRAMER JEWELRY Your Keepsake Dealer fill at Irond First Choice Of The Engageabies MARTINIQUE SONIA And, lor good reasons . . t like smart styling to enhance the center diamond t . . guaranteed perlect (or replacement assured) r . . a brilliant gem of line color and precise modern cut. The name, Keepsake, in your ring assures lifetime sui- lsloction. Select your very personal Keepsake at your Keepsake Jeweler'l store. Find him in ll’il , yellow pages under "Jewelers." alctuu-I K9_ep§_a_k§' can.” um- mtrt me no. a rim. utter [Mullen yo its. 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