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Finally, a Greek tragedy with some violence

Posted on Oct 29, 1999

Prof.

Bill Finlay says he has always “felt cheated” that all the

violence in Greek tragedies takes place off stage.

So it shouldn't be surprising that the director of Antigone,

himself a specialist in theater combat choreography, decided to open the

play with a frightening three-minute sword fight that looks and sounds

like the real thing.

The play by Sophocles usually opens with a distraught

Antigone the morning after a battle in which her brothers, Polynieces and

Eteokles, die at each others' hands. But in the version directed by

Finlay, the audience sees what Sophocles had left to the imagination of

the audience as Brian Gould '01 (Polynieces) and Jason Helmer '00

(Eteokles) engage in mortal combat.

Though the edges are dulled so as not to cut the actors,

the swords are long and heavy just like the real thing and can inflict

serious injury, says Finlay, a member of the Society of American Fight

Directors, a union which works to promote the safety of such stage

combats. Finlay carefully choreographed the scene so that each actor knows

what to expect of the other.

Finlay recruited Helmer and Gould from his Movement for

Actors class. Large and athletic, they quickly took to the challenge of

making the scene look as real as possible. Except for a couple of bruises

during rehearsals, there have been no mishaps. But the swords are marked

with hundreds of dents from the weapons hitting each other.

The play is the story of the heroic attempts of a king

to restore order in a city torn by civil war, according to program notes

by Prof. Christina Sorum of classics. Antigone is an heroic woman fighting

against a tyrant who by allying the demands of patriarchal and civic

authority denies the traditional claims of blood ties and religion. To

assert the demands of her kindred dead, a woman must deny her essential

roles as mother and wife as well as her living family.

Besides Devon Ciampa '00 in the lead role, the play

has 18 other cast members. Charles Steckler is scenic designer; John

Miller, lighting and technical director; Patricia Culbert, vocal coach;

Chris Welch, assistant director and stage manager; Alina Samuels '03 and

Julia Maher '03, assistant stage managers; and Suzanne Doraski '01,

sound board operator.

Antigone runs this week

through Sunday, and again next week, Thursday, Nov. 4, through Sunday,

Nov. 7, in the Yulman Theater. Shows start at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees

at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7 ($5 for students and seniors). For information,

call the box office at ext. 6545.

Photo above: 

En garde — Brian Gould '01, left, as Polynieces, battles Jason

Helmer '00, as Eteokles, in a rehearsal of their sword fight that opens

the Yulman Theater production of Antigone.

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Calendar of events

Through Oct. 31 and Nov. 4 through 7.

Yulman Theater.

Antigone presented by

Performing Arts. Shows at 8 p.m. except Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets

$7 ($5 for students and seniors). For information, call ext. 6545.

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Former Congressman Vic Fazio to speak at Union College

Posted on Oct 27, 1999

Vic Fazio, former Congressman from California, will speak on “Rekindling Faith in Public Service in the Quest for the Common Welfare in the Next Millennium” on Thursday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Nott Memorial at Union College.

The talk, part of Union's “Perspectives at the Nott” series, is free and open to the public.

Fazio, a 1965 graduate of Union College, was the former representative for the Third Congressional District of California in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected to Congress in 1978, and re-elected to 10 terms before announcing nearly two years ago that he would not seek reelection.

A native of Winchester, Mass., Fazio did graduate work at California State University-Sacramento after receiving his B.A. from Union. A legislative consultant and then assistant to the California Assembly Speaker, he was elected to the California Assembly in 1975.

Fazio delivered the Commencement Address at Union in 1998, and received an honorary degree.

Described by The New York Times as “the House Democrat his colleagues lean on,” Fazio was Democratic Caucus Chairman, the third ranking Democratic leadership post in the House of Representatives. He was chairman of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee for 14 years and was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 1990-1994.

A reception in Hale House Dining Room will follow the lecture.

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Exploring the ‘Speeches, Plays & Presentations from the Life of Frederick Douglas’

Posted on Oct 27, 1999

Union College to host renowned actor Fred Morsell on October 27

Considered one of the great orators of the 19th Century, Frederick Douglas is known for his fiery speeches and his eventual triumph over slavery.

On Wednesday, October 27, at 7:30 p.m. in Union College's Memorial Chapel, acclaimed actor Fred Morsell will recount the life and times of Douglas, providing a unique look at one of America's most famous African Americans.

The performance is free and open to the public.

The play, which has been performed before audiences across the country to critical acclaim, covers the early life of Douglas, including his years in slavery, how and why he learned to read, and his discovery of The Columbian Orator (the book that provided the foundation for his becoming a great American orator). The play presents his encounter with Covey, the slavebreaker, which gave Douglas his greatest victory over slavery. This is followed by his escape from slavery, his introduction to the abolitionists, the purchase of his freedom, and the founding of The North Star. Citing words from his “Men of Color, To Arms!” speech, the performance concludes with his moving challenge to Americans to become all that they are capable of becoming.

In addition to the Union performance, Morsell will present “A Day with Frederick Douglas” at high schools in Albany, Clifton Park, Niskayuna, and Schenectady. The school performances emphasize the parallels between Douglas's solutions to the problems relating to slavery, and the issues that young people face today.

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EAP Offers Free Counseling

Posted on Oct 22, 1999

The Edison Employee Assistance Program offers free,

confidential counseling for Union employees and family members. Call

1-800-EAP-9411.

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AAC Minutes Listed

Posted on Oct 22, 1999

Oct. 11, 1999

1. The minutes of Oct. 4 meeting were approved.

2. Dean Brad Lewis reported on recent AAC proposals that

were voted on by the faculty. The following proposals were passed:

A. Students may have two minors. The original AAC

language requiring that all minors be declared no later than the end of

the first term of the senior year was deleted.

B. Drop/add deadline is at the end of the 2nd week, but

faculty must give approval when students want to register for a class in

the 2nd week.

C. Pass/fail deadline will also be at the end of the 2nd

week.

3. The AAC written response to the Sociology external

review was discussed.

4. A discussion on tenure line allocation continued.

5. New business: the committee briefly discussed adding

to the agenda the learning disability policy and student time management

(balancing academics with other activities).

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