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e Vol. XIX, No. 6
u1tur
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March 6, 1973
CABRINI COLLEGE, RADNOR, PA.
Ten,.esee
Williams: face to face by Terry Cavanaugh
The dream of every English major is to meet the literary giants of his day . And what better fulfillment for that dream than to meet the greatest living American playwright? Tennessee Williams ' latest play, Out Cry, was recently at the Locust Theater . After the performance , about a dozen students and faculty members were invited to return to Dr. Frank Saul's apartment - to meet and talk with Tennessee Williams! My first impression was that he was too small to be Tennessee Williams. (Tennessee Williams is is such a big name!) Sitting about two ¡yards away from him, I found it hard to believe that here was the talent behind A Streetcar Named Desire, The Glass Menagerie, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. There should have been a drum roll, blazing lights . .. In contrast to the temperamental artist I had expected, Mr. Williams was friendly and seemed to be honestly interested in the comments and criticisms we had to offer. Several surprising things came to light in the course of the conversation, particularly concerning
the actual control a playwright has over a production. In the big money world of theater , the producer is anxious for a commercial success . The playwright is forced to either make concessions or to face the possibility of no production . Mr. Williams told us that there were five or six different versions of this play, from which the producer had his choice. Previously, the play had been done in Chicago, where a different version was performed . Williams preferred the Chicago version, but had to bow to his producer. In addition to some dissatisfaction with the script, Williams had a few other complaints. He said the costumes were' 'the worst I've ever had," the backdrops " should have been more abstract," and the actor and actress were not mature enough . Out Cry has been changing and developing for a long time. Its world premiere was in a London suburban theater in 1967. It was then entitled The Two Character Play. Changes are still being made: the night we spoke to Mr. Williams he had just written two new pages for the play. The script
EVALUATION Tennessee Williams at Dr. Saul's apartment.
Plansand proposals by Al ice Vail One big question in everyone's mind is "Will the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart continue financial support to Cabrini College?". Sr. Mary Louise Sullivan, president of the college, answered this question at a faculty meeting on Februa r y 13th. Yes, there will be continued support, but with
$190,000, this year, to $0. in the next five years. The plan shows that, with an increase of 40 full time students each year, and with an expected increase of gifts to the college we can, by 1978, reduce our deficits from $125,000 to a balanced budget. This is, of course, contingent on a number of factors.
will not be "locked in," that is, permanent and final , until a week before it goes to New York. The Playwright and the Critics Asked if he expected good reviews when the play reached New York , Mr . Williams replied that he did not , that he had not received good reviews in thirteen years. He said that he writes to please himself , and is not too interested in what the critics have to say . However , he did admit that when the audience is there, he often wishes his writing pleased them, too . This was more in keeping with my preconception of what a great playwright's attitude would be : no concern for the critics and very little more for the public. Mr. Williams remarked that Out Cry
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Evaluation Committee
the understanding that Cabrini College must do everything that it can to lessen the need for permanent financial aid. The "yes" is, by no means, a permanent yes. It is given on an annual basis, and Cabrini College must show signs of future financial independence. Knowing this, the Budget Committee drew up a Five-Year Projection Plan. If this plan is successful, the amou.nt of money needed from the MSC's will drop from
Sr. Mona stated that there are two major areas in which Cabrini can hope to increase its annual income. These areas are admission and development. Admissions Ms. Oristaglio, Director of Admissions, stated that the admission's picture is not very bright , because all private colleges are in competition with the State schools and the Community Colleges . Cabrini is not exempt from (Continued on page 4)
Lately , not much noise has been coming from the Council of College Affairs -- a disquieting symptom for an advisory organization. Now, well into the winter months, the CCA appears to be sustaining a case of quiescence. The ailment became most apparent at the Council's January meeting. Attendance did not even comprise a quorum, defined in the Council's contribution as ''one half of each class of membership" (students, faculty, and administration being the three classes). For four student members this single absence terminated their tenure. Hence, Council requested SGA to hold elections for new student members to the Council. The elections, held the week of February
had been written when he was coming out of a severe depression. It deals with fears, the fear of death; the play is a sort of purging for him . Mr. Williams said that he frequently sits in the audience during the play, although he can not sit through the whole thing. He leaves occasionally ("The first act drags, don't you think?"), and comes back for the parts he likes . He was remarkably candid about this , and I found myself thinking , "He ' s just like a real person !" And for the future . .. ln a more philosophical vein , Mr. Williams was asked wha~ he saw for the future of American theater. He replied that he did not see a future for American theater ,
that he intended to go to England , where theater was alive and flourishing. He has no plans for retirement: "I'll never stop writing." At one point Mr. Williams remarked that he does not consider himself an artist, but rather an entertainer. He does not like the term "artist." This sounded strange to me then , and I now realize why. It is out of character for an entertainer to be so little concerned with those he entertains . It seems that writing to please oneself falls more within the province of "artist." But whichever Mr . Williams prefers to think of himself as , much of his work is art, and he is undeniably entertaining.
Quiet 12th, provided the CCA with four new members: Sharon D' Agostino, Ro Miller, Beth Schweitzer , and Rose Worthington. Even given these recent elections, however, the CCA is nevertheless without adequate membership. Since December, when one of the Council's faculty representatives resigned, this class of membership has been minus the power of one vote. Thus, an official meeting cannot be held until this discrepancy is resolved. Presently, the Council's chairman, Carter Craigie, is in the process of arranging elections for a faculty representative to the Council. The purpose of the Council of College Affairs is to "facilitate communication and to actively seek
academic and social improvement among the students, faculty and administration of Cabrini College." And although "of its nature it has no authority to make executive, legislative or judicial decisions," "the Council of College Affairs shall be empowered to advise the President of the college ... " Thus, in view of its selfdefined functions, Council has the potential for being the most influential group on campus to determine the status of collegiate life here at Cabrini. In the past, Council has, in fact, realized this potential. Its proposals have been the origin of innovations such as the present
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