University of Virginia Library

'Mother Courage' Ready
For Monday Opening

By Russ Gustafson

The Virginia Players' upcoming
production of "Mother Courage
and her Children" is in the last days
of its rehearsal stage and will open
on Monday, October 27. This first
major production of the year is
being handled almost entirely by
students of the University.

The director of "Mother Courage"
is Paul Kuritz, a senior drama
major from Rochester, N.Y. Mr.
Kuritz has had previous directing
experience at the University with
Ionesco's "The Leader," and as
assistant director of "Angels of the
Half Moon." This summer he
worked with the outdoor drama
"Trail of Tears" in Oklahoma as an
actor, understudy, and technical
assistant.

In directing Brecht's drama of a
canteen mistress who follows battle
after battle during the Thirty Years'
War, Mr. Kuritz is utilizing a
number of new ideas to the original
script. "The play has never been
done the way we are doing it," he
said, "but it is still faithful to
Brecht's ideas." This production
adds the character of a master of
ceremonies to the cast, who will
announce the scenes and time
changes. In the past, this was
usually done with projections on a
screen.

"This idea lends itself to the
cabaret atmosphere we are trying to
achieve," Mr. Kuritz said. "I am
also having the songs and certain
speeches done out of character on a
runway. These ideas are similar to
an earlier form of Epic Theater that
Brecht wrote for during the 1920s
during the period that he himself
was also a cabaret entertainer. The
entertainment of a music hall flavor
will be contrasted with a more
sophisticated didactic form of Epic
Theater found in "Mother Courage,"
which Brecht actually wrote
in the late 1930s."

Only Functional

Working closely with the director
as scene designer and technical
director is Bruce Miller, senior
drama major from Cleveland, Ohio.
In creating the hint of the music
hall in the set, Mr. Miller commented,
"We don't want the
audience to pin point the style
exactly; instead, we have suggestions
- footlights, very theatrical
boarders, and a gaudy front proscenium."
But nothing will be done
for theatricalism along," he adds.
"Everything will be practical and
functional. We are using just the
necessary objects."

Mr. Miller is qualified in the area
of design, having designed the sets
for both "The Homecoming" and
"Comedy of Errors" at the University.
He has also worked as
technical director of "Trail of
Tears" this past summer.

Musical director for "Mother
Courage" is Ed Godshall, a graduate
student candidate in German. Mr.
Godshall was quick to state that
while "Mother Courage" has songs,
it is not a musical. "This is not a
"Camelot" or a "My Fair Lady." It
is a play with music.," he said, and
the songs are about alienation and
suffering. The runway idea adds to
this idea of alienation, taking the
actor-singer out of the context of
the play.

"Those are not tunes the audience
will go home whistling," he
added.

The orchestra will include two
flutes, an accordion, and percussions
in addition to Mr. Godshall at
the piano.

Lucy Blandford, costume mistress
for the Players and graduate
student in drama, is making all of
the numerous costumes from
scratch. Explaining the designs, she
commented, "Although the costumes
are basically in period, we
didn't want them to scream 'this is
1632' or 'this is 1939.' We want
costumes that will get the idea of
human misery across. The different
armies will be told apart by
different colors and cuts of material."

Jeffie Paschall

In the demanding role of
"Mother Courage" is Jeffie
Paschall. Her children are played by
Patrick Stoner, Steve Samuson, and
Dee Ann Wolf. Other major characters
include F. Guthrie Gordon as
the Chaplain, and List Skls as
Yvette.

"Mother Courage and her Children"
will run the week of October
27-November 1, at 8:30 p.m. in
Minor Hall. Reservations and season
ticket orders may be made from 2
to 5 daily at the Virginia Players'
office in Minor Hall.