ART Probes Love in Schisgal's 'Luv' By LOUISA KENNEDY complish what he had wanted to "In the sense that we use it do in the first place. On the as a repository for insincerity, ART's spring offering pro- face of it the theme may sound for physical desire, and per- mises to be interesting and neither funny nor original. Don't haps primarily for money. Love highly amusing. Murray Schis- believe it! While reminding us has become a commodity rather gal's "Luv" was a unanimous of our airs and self deceptions, than an emotion. By a commo- critics choice in New York se- Schisgal nudges the funnybone dity I mean relationships. By veral seasons ago where it out of all proportion. pretending in relationships that starred Eli Wallach and Anne In a recent interview Mr. what we say is what we mean. Jackson. The story concerns Schisgal was asked to say a To talk so glibly that our words Harry Berlin who, when the few words about the meaning are removed from our feelings. curtain rises, is contempla- of "Luv". To be so "hip" that we don't ting suicide from a bridge. He "The sense of it is that the even know what our feelings is deterred from this by an emotion of love has been per- are." old college friend, Milt Man- verted and misused to such an Inevitably, the whine of little ville, and persuaded to meet extent that it can only be defined whips orchestrates much of Milt's wife Ellen. The meeting by using another word which Schisgal's comedy. But they do is effected several minutes la- comes closer to what we expe- not inhibit. Much of "Luv" is ter; Harry and Ellen fall in love rience, to what we think, and old fashioned slapstick. There and even marry. Because he is how we behave. It can be "luv", are few, if any, dull moments. infactuated with another wo- "lov", or "xyz", but it certainly Dean Turner is directing. man, Milt is delighted. Delight- can't be a word that has been Norma Buckingham, Peter Sha- ed, that is, until several months abused as much as "love." baya, and Kerry Johnson star. later when we find these three In what sense did he feel that Opening night is June 7 and all back on the same bridge this "love" has been abused or per- "Luv" will run through the time Milt urging Harry to ac- verted? weekend. WHEN IS LOVE LUV?: Norma Buckingham and Kerry Johnson act out a scene in the American Repertory Theater's production of Murray Schisgall's 'Luv' which is slated for presentation in the I.C. Amphitheater starting June 7. Schisgall has found the word 'love' perverted by modern society, so must resort to a new term, LUV.