Thespian Alert

By Rob Coffin

The U.P.E.I. Theatre Society is getting ready for a new season of theatrical endeavours with its major fall production to be "Love is Strange".

This play is based on a Saskatchewan farmer’s —

obsessive love for well-known Canadian entertainer

Anne Murray. The script of this play shows that it -

is not a parody of this rather serious issue; rather, it is a competent attempt to deal with the popular

notion of love. The Society has much work to do -

in preparation for this production, but a talk I had with Professor Richard Lemm served as a good foundation in finding what the play is all about. "Love is Strange" will present its audience with a dialogue that discusses the way society has come to perceive the notion of love. It is a convention of twentieth century society that love is a popular self-help literature. This play describes how one man crossed the line between fantasizing about a person as a lover and acting out his fantasy. The man, in real life, was found by legal standards to be mentally ill. The-intent of the writers of "Love is Strange" was to discuss how this man might have been influenced by the way society around him handled the idea of love. The timelessness of the topic of romantic love and the contemporary setting should make this a popular production. The Play is set in Mt. Stewart, P.E.I.

With about seven weeks left until the production dates of November 15th to 17th, the Theatre Society has much to do. The executive of the Society is comprised of Richard Lemm, Terry Pratt, Ron Irving and Carl Mathis. Prof. Lemm tells me that the play will be partly musical and that actors with musical inclinations could perform double roles in "Love is Strange". The theme of the play is somewhat weighty, but the play will have a lighthearted musical tone as well. Any student interested in acting in the play, being part of the band, or helping with stage management can contact Prof. Lemm at 566-0592 or Roddy

part of your life.

Weatherbie at 892-7927. The productions of the

U.P.E.I. Theatre Society are typically very well done (I’ve seen a couple) and are fun to be involved with. Anyone with even a mild desire to take part is encouraged to do so. It could be the start of a new - Roddy Weatherbie, student assistant stage manager, says that the plays are "professionally done with little pressure on the

participants."

Proverbial time will tell, but the Theatre Society’s "Love is Strange" should be a worthwhile play to be a part of or just to go and see. It might even shed some light on the confusing idea of romantic love. Good luck to the Society in this production.

Student Union Council 1990/91

Andrea Ledweli

President

VP External Chris.Larsen

VP Internal Jo-Anna Murphy

VP Operations Lisa Chandler

VP Finance Susan Wynne

Arts Rep Leanne McGee Jackie Goodwin Paul Landry

Business Rep

Science Rep

Vet. Medicine Rep. Board of Governors Senate

Mapus Senate Mapus Rep

Grad Students. Assoc.

Speaker Recording Secretary

Andrew Hughes Laurie Callaghan Colin Duffy Heidi Bassler Bob Chapman Adam Deluca Nadine Dewolfe Michael Egan Marla MacDonald Paula Gauthier Steve Richards Janice Giles Vacant

Melissa James

September 27, 1990

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