Page 12 - The Canadian Jewish News, Friday, February 24, 1978
Arts
Analyst's book on Mideast is required reading for all
!D<ivid Croskind photo)
Dcnm Nathan |left| pla>s Nurse RaU'hed and Sam Powell portra\s Handle McMurphv in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" at 'Y'.
^Cuckoo Nest^ at is real winner, but why fall hack on past success?
theatre
Bv LYNN SLOTKIN
Reva Tward and the An Theatre Production Company have a winner in their present production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, now at the Leah Posluns Theatre at (he North "Y".
Dale Wasserman's adaptation for the stage of Ken Kesey's novel is a view of life in a mental institution, on one level, and a sharply perceptive look at ourselves on an-other.
The play takes place in a large lounge of sorts where we,scc the Lomings and goings of the male patients, who are "cared"' for by Nurse .Hatched. It soon becomes, apparent that Nurse.Ratched is not so much a nurse to these men "as she is a lord and master Avho rules with an iron.hand gloved in steel.
Through gentle but very deadly intimidation she reduces these men to insecure, unstable, dependant children — iJnable to
: cope.with the real world because she has convinced them that they are unable . to do so, : ;.
She almost meets her-
^match Tn Randle Mc-
'Murphy. .a cocky,' irrev-erant patient..a con man who would probably take on the world if given the: chance. The sparring be-tw^een NdcMurphy and Nurse '-Ratched . is fasci-, nating to watch, indeed
. the whole pla:y is fas-, cinatihg — a mental ihsti-' tution acting as a mirror of society; the rulers and the downtrodden, the biillies and those who dare to fight them. Who will win?
Ms. Tward does a fine job as director-designer.
.Her set is stark white. There is little furniture bjiit it is functional, a small table here, a rocking-thair there. Only one ashtray. The wails are smudged with dirt — it is clear that the comforts-6f the patients are not of the utmost irnportance.
The focal point of the_ set, the nurses' kiosk, is ablaze with flashing lights supposedly from the newest "Squipment. T^e glass windows looking out onto the room are spotleW. It is obvious who is more important in the'-society'' of this institution.
Director Tward guides some fine performances
out of her cast. Denny Nathan is like a quiet despot as Nurse Ratched. Every barb she delivers has an acid tip and all are spoken in the sweetest voice.
Howard Hurwitz as the timid, stuttering Billy Bib-hit is quite tine. He has bhown us the fighter in Billy, preventing the character from sinking into over-sentimentality. Sam Powell is a wonderful, fast-talking, swaggering, yet sensitive McMurphy.
The Arts Theatre Production Company did the play in 1975, when the group was called Beth Tikvah Drama Guild and the production was a success too. Now that the group has a permanent home they thought it would be a challenge to bring this success back . and'see how it worked in a
'oona fide thcairo.
May one oftcr a humble suggestion? The nc.\t time the temptation to bring back a pre\ious success arises, please, don't give in. How can the group
grow . stretch and mature if it falls back on past hits.
The group opened the theatre with YentI and brought it back a feu months later. It had a success with One Flew Over
The Cuckoct's Nest and
again, brought it back. .
Please, coivtinuc to gather laurels lor \our work, but don't be satisfied with sitting on- them when you have a hit.
books
Bv ERIC FLANDERS
The Politics of Defeat America's Decline in the Middle East Joseph Churba Cyrco Press
Ihc front page of The - Globe and Mail of Feb. 13 carried two headlines which in essence sum up all that the author of The Politics of Defeat is saying.
One story is headlined "U,S. Taking Sides in Mideast Talks, Israelis Complain "..the other pro-clauiis "Somalia Abandons hope for U.S. Help".
1 he latter story goes on to relate that the United Stales is not prepared to contront the Soviet initiative in the Horn of Africa.
Churba,- a former special advisor to Air Force Intelligence at the Pentagon, and the air force's senior Middle East intelligence estimator, gives us a short (200 pages) but devastating account of the persistent failure of the United States to recognize • the penetration of the Middle East by the Soviet Union, and its ultimate purpose — the political and military isolation of Western Europe and the United States.
Commencing with a careful analysis of Moscow's design for the region, he proceeds to document a historv of incident
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after incident4$nging over a period of 30 years, illustrating the myopia of U.S. policy vis-a-vis Israel, the only stable democracy in the area, and the only guardian of Western interests.
He is particularly accrr bic in his treatment of the Kissinger-N.ixon policy of detente with the Soviets. \s±ich he maintains was and still is responsible for U.S. actions.
Reciprocity from Russia has not been forthcoming, and each act of vacillation by America has been utilized by the Soviet Union and her Arab pawns.
Of great interest at this time, is Churba's assessment of the U.S. policy with regard to the creation of a Palestinian state and her preoccupation with pushing Israel back to her pre-19()7 borders.
The book was written prior to Sadat's visit to Jcru.salcm. yet foretells the present Arab position with ama/ing accuracy.
He points out that the assumption by the world that the central issue in the Arab-Israeli conflict is the Palestinian problem is a major misconception.
The issue with regard to Palestine is not that of the Arab Palestinians, but rather that Palestine is a country in dispute with two nationalisms (.lewish and Arab), only one of which (Jewish) is prepared to compromise.
The sole Arab policy is to uproot Jewish nationalism from the region. The cessation of Arab calls for the annihilation of Israel is merely a ploy to obtain U.S. pressure on Israel to retreat to her pre-1967 frontiers.
The Arabs, says Churba. realize that it was Israel's territorial depth that saved the dav for her in-1973 — had the battle been fought on the 1967 lines, Israel may well have found herself cut to pieces. The Arab plan for the solution of the Jewish question in the Middle Fast is simply to reestablish the conditions that would strategically reduce Israel to submission.
Unemotionally, with the dogged logic of a true political and military realist. Churba makes his case, and a strong one it is. His formula for future U.S. actions necessary to thwart the use of the Arabs to implement Russia's imperialist designs, makes Israeli Premier Menachem Begin's preoccupation with territory not.a fanatic desire for a return to biblical grandeur, but a down-to-earth realization of the basic facts of life.
This book is required reading for all who wish to understand the drama currently being played on the stage of the Middle East.
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THE INVESTIGATION opens Mar.T for 5 days only (previews Feb. 25/28). Peter Weiss created this rnoving documentary drama from actual Nuremberg trial transcripts. It's a 'must see' for CJN readers and their teenagers.-Evngs. 8:30, Sunday Matinee 2:30. It's a Factory Theatre Lab Special Project, directed by Ken
Gass. 864-9971, 207 Adelaide Street East.
* «•» « • • »•
SPLENDOR AND DEATH OF JOAQUIN MURIETHgot a standing ovation opening night, A powerful saga of Chilean immigrants to California by Nobel Prize poet: Pablo Neruda, pre-sentedby Open Circle & our Chilean community, superbly staged by Sylvia Tucker. Tues. to Sat., 8:30 p.m.. Sun, Mat. 2:30, Rsvtns: 922-
5256, St. Pauls Centre. 121 Avenue Road.
• • * « «• •
Take the whole family to THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK. A poignant staging by Martin Fried of the life-in-hiding history with an all-star cast ,,. Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, their daughter Roberta (as Anne), Kate Reid, Paul Soles, August Schellenberg, Henry Raimer. Only $3 for 18-&-under, $5 adults. Reservations & information:.864-9732. At the new Young
People's Theatre Centre, 165 Front Street East. *•«*«» •«»
THE ISLAND, by Athol Fugard (of Sizwe
Bande fame) opens Feb, 28. Phil Akin (last
seen as Roger in Streamers) & Henry Gomez
-play political prisoners, incarcerated on Bobbin
Island, It's another TWP champagne season gem.
See it 8:30 p.m. Tues,-Sat., 2:30 Sun. Mat,
34 (students S3). T.W.P. Theatre, 12 Alexander
Street. Box Office: 925-8640.
» ».» »» » « » «
Celia Franca makes a rare, special appearance in The NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA's last'Swan Lake of this SpringSeason on Feb. 26, See The Dream and Don Juan Mar. 1 to 3, featuring all our most celebrated dancers. Evenings at 8, Matinee 2 p,m. Feb. 25. Tickets at leading agents and box office, O'Keefe Centre,
1 Front Street East, 363-6633. .
♦ » ■» « ♦ •»■■»■«■'
Hurry to see ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, Art Theatre Production's back-by-demand staging of Dale Wasserman's compelling play. Here to Mar. 4, and filling up most performances. If you liked the movie, this version of the soul-searing Kesey novel will truly, move you, Riva' Tward directs. Information and reservations: 630-6752. Leah Posluns ! Theatre, 4588 Bathurst Street. '
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