PAGE SEVEN THE DAILY STAR - BEIRUT, LEBANON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1969 'Androcles and the Lion' Arena Spectators Stunned as Lion Spares Slave ! ROME, Feb. 15 - Yesterday head came off and bea and man games in the arena today and employment of scenes on mova- one different from the last. A in the Colosseum, before thou- stood as iftransfixed. They then tomorrow, but after that, what ble curtains. This eavesplenty polished performer who ex- sands of disbelieving merry- actually embraced and started could possibly be done as en- of leg-room for her actor's mo- plores and exploits every nuance makers, an event without pre- dancing about! The crowd, after core? vement, of which there isa con- of a role, his appearances are cedence took place. A runaway a stunned silence, went wildand siderable amount. always welcome. His crisp dic- slave, who was enduring the it was some time before order Every principal in this ver- tion added to my enjoyment of usual punishment of fighting a could be restored. satile cast hasat least one song. the author's preoccupation with beast in the arena, was spared Aw, come on! You mean you Written by Glenn Mack and back- rhetoric and onomatopoeia. by both the animal and the Em- The Emperor, in view of such really thought that this actually ed by Alan Hovey on the baton, Hank Rigler, as the lion, was a peror. a remarkable occurrence, pro- happened? Really? Well, it did, they are pleasant tunes that suit special treat for child andadult claimed a day of revelry and Last night at AUB's West Hall. the mood of the show. It's such alike. His was a cudly beast, Androcles, a slave to Panta- gave both the slave and the lion The American Repertory Thea- a pleasure to hear a small or- whose roar wasdefinitely worse lone, scion of one of Rome's their freedom. ter premiered "Androcles and chestra instead of the inevitable than his bite. Whether waltzing wealthiest families, had recent- the Lion" asits' annual show for In an exclusive interviw with piano being the sole accompani- with his tail over his foreleg or ly been convicted of absconding the ex-slave, Androcles infor- the kiddies. Written by Aurand ment. pointing out a rock with paw, with a large sum of gold. When med us that he is going to use Harris, it's not to be confused Philip Kennedy, the only non- he always had the lion's share brought before the Emperor, the his new-found freedom in try- with the Shaw play of the same adult in the cast, deftlydeliver- of the laughs. testimony of his master and of ing to locate his family. He in- name, ed the prologue in a crisp, as- It falls to Kerry Johnson, the captain, a recent employe tends to take the lion, which he Delightfully done in a com- sured fashion. Jacky Farra and however, to come away with the of Pantalone's, was uncontested, has named Clyde, along with media dell' arte fashion, it em- Ron Priddy make an attractive highest plaudits. Hitherto known and Androcles was sentenced to him. "With an enemy like him," ploys a wandering group of play- pair of oft-separated loversand locally for his portrayals of the pit. he said, "who needs friends." ers who inform you in song and Humphry Friend's villanious clumsy stumble-bumbs, he did He wouldn't divulge the secret verse what they intend to doand Pantalone was captivating. His a surprisingabout-face and gave Late yesterday afternoon, be- of the lion's behavior in the are- then, in a no-nonsense manner, pliable body contorted and con- a nimble-footed performance fore an unusually large turn- out, the doomed slave, weapon- na. "It's a result of solving a proceed todoit. Sparse settings, tracted and seemed capable of that practically amounted to less and blindfolded, was forced thorny problem," he enigmati- spare propsand heavy mime are going in several different direc- choreography. His amiable sin- the rule for this mode of theater. cally retorted. tions at once. This is one show ging, his sense of timing and out onto the blood-soaked sand. Plots are simple and the humor in which you can hear and under- his self-assurance were that ofa A thunderous roar of excitement The Emperor, in a show of heavy, making it beloved by the stand everything everyone says, seasoned "pro". The produc- rose from the people as anani- mercurial justice, banished the masses down through the cen- but there is a special charm tion's best moments were when mal, a large lion, sprang froma captain ritain and fined Pan- turies. when it is delivered in Mr. he graced the stage with his gate, loped across the amphi- talone. He had to pay 20 pieces Director Louisa Kennedy has Friend's mellifluous voice full presence. theater and flung itself with fe- of gold to Androcles and return wisely chosen to give her pro- of unctious insincerity. The show continues Saturday line fury on the haplessprison- a dowry to his niece Isabella, duction a classic rendition. Her and Sunday with performances er. A furious battle ensued until She will soon marry Lelio, a charming stage-on-stage set, Michael Mills gives us ano- at 2:30 and 5:30. suddenly, a miracle occurred! next-door neighbor. reminiscent of a puppet show, ther of his seemingly endless The hood covering the slave's There will be more fun and has multiple uses through the military impersonations, each DEAN TURNER