The News from Frederick, Maryland • Page 26

Family Section Page C-G .6 Frederick, Wednesday, September 10, 1975 LINDA GREGORY, Family Section Editor 'Summer Brave '--best yet of the American Bicentennial series By Richard Lebherz WASHINGTON IN 1962, THE PLAY A A PUBLISHED. It was announced that this was the version that its author, William. Inge, wanted rather than the a i i i a i appeared on Broadway in 1953. In that production, apparently Elia Kazan, its director, saw "Picnic" from a Sherwood Anderson jroint of view. Drop a rooster into a Middle Western hen house and what have you got? Sex and plenty of it.

"Summer Brave," which is the third play in the American Bicentennial Theatre series co-produced by the Kennedy Center and Xerox, is Inge's preferred version. might be fair to note that in 1953, "Picnic" won the Pulitzer Prize. One wonders if "Summer Brave" would have met with the same acclaim? In "Summer Brave," the rooster is again dropped down into the Middle Western hen house, but the rooster has been castrated. And so have the hens. In other words, the sex and repression is gone and we get a lovely picture of Middle Western Americans at home on their front porch, embellished through Inge's romantic rose-colored glasses, and a Chekovian outlook on life in the 1950's.

The guts have been rearranged. Instead of flesh and blood and sweat, we get hot apple pie and three-layered chocolate cakes. "Summer Brave" concerns Madge Owens (Jill Eikenberry), the prototype of all attractive and beautiful young American girls in every State of the Union, who glance into a mirror when a a a i a a a i a i Monroe comes to mind, especially). Madge couldn't quite make it out of high school on her own; but she has already landed the local banker's son, Alan Seymour (Peter Weller). Yet, there is a bit of the slut in Madge.

It is her mother, Flo Owens (Nan Martin) who is guiding her marital career, a precarious endeavor at that. Flo has been greatly disappointed in love herself and in men, especially. She keeps Madge virginal and is guiding her into a marriage that Madge probably won't survive anyway. Madge is after sex not marriage, and her mother knows it. Into this world drops the rooster, Hal a bare-chested, and ready for anything.

While Hal may be a castrated Bantam in Inge's new version, he is bulging with muscles, and sends a minor heat wave rolling over the rooming house which is run by Flo Owens. Next door, Mrs. Helen Potts (Martha Greenhouse) who has never been married (but uses the Mrs. anyway), lives with her neurotic bedridden mother. Hal is like a breath of spring to this lonesome, middle-aged woman.

Just to have the smell of his shaving lotion in the air (for he is working for Helen), and to hear the sound of his boots on the stairs, is enough for Helen to live on. But not for Rosemary Sydney (Alexis Smith). Rosemary boards at the Owens Rooming House. She is middle-aged, unmarried, and worse than that, she is also a frustrated school teacher. For ALEXIS SMITH AS ROSEMARY SEYMOUR years she has been involved with a salesman by the name of Howard Be vans (Joe Ponazecki) who has been leading her on, but not towards the altar.

Rosemary is a possible example of where Madge's life could lead in years to come. But when Hal, the rooster, steps on the scene, pulses rise. There is not doubt that Rosemary Seymour represents in one person the repression and wastefulness that can Miss Cutsail, Mr. Wisner married Mr. and Mrs.

Larry Richard Wisner Miss Wanda Sue Cutsail and Larry Richard Wisner were recently married at the Tom's Creek United Methodist Church. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Cutsail, Woodsboro.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Merhl W. Wisner Walkersville. Rev.

Walter Bowers officiated the double ring ceremony. Traditional wedding music was provided by Mrs. Virginia Wantz, organist and George Bruchey, soloist. The bride, given in marriage by her parents, was attended by Miss Trudy Unglebower as maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Miss Carol Stitejy, New Midway, and Miss Janet Cutsail, sister of the bride, Woodsboro.

Michael Hammond, Woodsboro was best man. Ushers were James Crum, Walkersville, and Bryan Bentz, LeGore. A wedding reception was held in the Social Room of the church. Following a wedding trip to Harrisburg, the couple will reside at 6 Pennsylvania Walkersville. The bride is a 1975 graduate of Walkersville School and is now employed as a receptionist for James M.

Murphy, D.D.S., Woodsboro. The groom is a 1972 graduate of Walkersville High School and is now employed at Citizen i Branch of Farmers and Mechanics National Bank, Frederick. Xi Sigma Chapter begins new year Members of XI Sigma Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi were welcomed by the President, Mrs. Gregory Marsh, in her home at the first regular meeting of the year on Sept. 4th.

Yearbooks prepared during the summer were distributed, and its use briefly explained. Each year the members study a new and challenging cultural program, a i a themselves in the presentation of the material and in discussions which follow. The program a i a Mrs. Peter Lincoln, interestingly introduced year's program book "Heritage and the Woman" which will be used as a launching pad to awaken within a woman an interest in and knowledge of her heritage and what has brought her to where she is. Mrs.

Lincoln reviewed the outline for the coming year, and she did hint of some intriguing presentations the program committee has worked out. Social Chairman, Mrs. John Robinson, presented her committee's calendar for the coming year. Ways and Means Chairman, Mrs. a i a a Hodgepodge Garage Sale is scheduled for October 18th at the Fire Hall in Middletown.

The new Beta Sigma Phi International book Save and "Win" will also be offered for sale. It is an attractive and unique book full of projects and recipes to whip the high cost of inflation. The cost is $3.95, and a copy may be reserved by calling Mrs. Killer at 371-5873. The next regular meeting will be held at the home of Mrs.

George Wessinger on September at AMERICAN DANCES CELEBRATE BICENTENNIAL NEWPORT. R.I. (AP) Ballet Repertory Company, appearing under thisyear. was choreographed by- The company did four new works by Kevin Haigen, bom in Miami, Howard the auspices of Ballet Theater American choreographers to music by Hanson's "Piano Concerto." Hanson. Foundation, offered the only dance American composers to celebrale the born in Wahoo, is professor events at the Newport Music Festival Bicentennial.

emeritus at the Eastman School of Music. STAUFFER FUNERAL HOME WATCH FOR OUR 2 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS Opossurotown Pike, Predenck, Md. Phone 663-1690 WalkersvHfe, Phone 845-8091 Formerly Barton's Funeral Home exist for a woman who is not exactly promiscuous, nor does she have ability to hide her need for closeness and for sex. When Rosemary spots Hal, she is suddenly out of control. She wants to dance.

She wants to put the make on Hal, only she doesn't quite know it. When Madge comes out pretty dress to go to the picnic, Hal starts a i i i i a Rosemary resents it. She throws herself at Hal, rubbing up against him, clinging on to him for dear life, as if this closeness were her last chance to get her hands on a man's body. When Howard tries to distract her by taking her away from Hal, he tells her Hal wants to dance with Madge because she is young. This, of course, is the worse thing that Howard could say to a woman like But it.is because of this scene, this sudden letting of her repressed desires out in the open, that a realizes she must do something about her life.

She must take the only step open to her. She' must get In one of the most powerful and touching scenes with Howard after the' picnic, she asks him to marry her, to save her from the abyss she believes she is falling into. "Marry me, Howard!" she begs. She insists that he must marry her. But he won't At least, he says, she could say, "Please, marry me Howard!" She says please.

She goes even further. She gets down on her knees and begs him to marry her. Madge and Hal are perfectly suited to each other and they sense it. Even though Madge's fiance, Alan, is Hal's good friend, Hal seduces her (or maybe she does the seducing). This seduction, of course, means the end of Ihe Seymour marriage possibilities, but it opens Madge's eyes as to exactly-what it is she is after and it isn't necessarily marriage.

You can suddenly see where her path is leading. She will spend the rest of her life in a ten cent store, behind a counter selling hair pins, and being available for any man in the small Kansas town who will catch her fancy. Her mother understood this about Madge and she was trying to circumvent it. Because of this effort on Inge's part to remove the offensive sexual repressive aspects of "Picnic," and to make it into a sort of class comedy, the effects of having Hal come into their midst and rearrange their lives is only slightly felt. The impact in "Picnic" was thathnone of their lives would ever be the same again.

Instead of acting as a powerful catalyst, in "Summer Brave" Hal just seems to be a mistake that has dropped into the wrong backyard. The drama has been cut out and we are left with the comedy, which is apparently what Inge wanted. The play is cast with great care and excellence. Jill Eikenberry plays Madge with all the frustration of a young woman who wants to be liked for herself and not for her beauty. For she knows that being beautiful can be a trap.

She wants someone to need her for herself, which is exactly what Hal needed from her. From Alexis Smith we are used to glamorous portrayals of self-contained women who ask for champagne rather than booze. In "Summer Brave" we find a different Alexis Smith, an actress who can act who can probe into a role until it becomes a part of her. She is aided tremendously by Joe Ponazecki's perfect Howard Bevans, a man who is as trapped as she is in the middle class world they live in. Ernest Thompson as Hal has the most difficull role to play.

He has to be the Bantam rooster, to swag and throw his muscles about but do it in such a way that the sweat won't show. He had to cause the action in the play, without stirring too much of the troubled waters himself. We will no doubt find him in the centerfold of Playgirl in months to come. Shelia K. Adams, as Madge's kid sister, created that role with alMhe skill of a diamond cutter.

We know Millie Owens like we do the palm of our hand. Michael Montel has "Summer Brave" the way William Inge wanted it to be seen, whether this makes the play slightly out of focus is another matter. He, at least, knows where the traps were set and he avoided them. Stuarl Wurtzel's excellent set helped the mood of the play tremendously. In fact, it reeked of middle western frustration and repression, and the wooden house offered a claustrophobic atmosphere that seemed to be the only reminder of what "Picnic" was really all about.

Frederick News-P ost Sept. 10,1975 Copyright 1975 By Richard Lebherz Miss Lori Taylor marries Robert Specht Miss Lori Darlene Taylor, daughter of Mr. and- Mrs. William D. Taylor, Myersville, and Robert W.

Specht, son of Mrs. Charles were united in marriage Saturday, Aug. 30 at Evangelical Lutheran Church, Zion, Middletown. The double ring ceremony was performed by Pastor Emmanuel J. Hoover, S.T.D.

Nuptial music was provided by Miss Christy Dyer, organist, and Miss Donna Easier was soloist. Basler served as acolyte. Given in marriage by her parents, she was escorted to the altar, by her father. Miss Lynn Taylor, twin sister of the bride, served as her sister's maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Beverly Neal, Middletown, and Christine Taylor, sister of the bride.

Junior bridesmaid was Valerie Taylor, younger sister of the bride. Miss Karen Grossnickle assisted at the guest register. Serving as best man was Earl Rice III of Thurmont. Ushers were Dennis i and Dave Sexton, Myersville. A reception followed the ceremony in the social room of the church.

Organ music for the reception was furnished by Bobby Ricketts, Westminster. The bride graduated from Middletown High School, class of 1974, and is employed in the medical records a of Sibley Memorial Hospital, Washington, D.C. The groom is a 1971 graduate of Catoctin High School, Thurmont, and is employed by the Blue Mt. Express. Following a wedding trip to Ocean City, the couple will reside with the groom's grandmother, Thurmont, until their new apartment is completed in Myersville.

Engaged Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Stull, Hagerstown, announce the engagement of their daughter, Sally Ann to Thomas Richard Koontz, son of Mr. and Mrs.

Elbert H. Koontz of Rt. 2, Mt. Airy. Miss Stull is a 1972 graduate of North Hagerstown High School and a 1975 a a of The National Legal Secretary School with an A.A.

degree in Legal Assistance. She is currently employed with Home Federal Savings- and Loan Association of Hagerstown. Mr. Koontz is a 1971 graduate of Linganore High School and attended Frederick Community College. He is employed with Harne Plastering Company of Mt.

Airy. The couple plans a Feb. 14, 1976 wedding. Mrs. Robert W.

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