Letters to the editor: 09/28/00

True raves for 'True West'

To the Editor:

"True West" was recently in revival in New York and nominated for numerous Tony Awards. Here is your chance to see Sam Shepard's play at its finest, right in our own back yard. Under the outstanding direction of Jeff Becher, this play lets us see the talents of some of our local people, showcased as never before.

John Walters is flawless as the brother Lee, playing a calm, controlled scriptwriter, until his itinerant brother Austin returns home. The two brothers have probably the most dysfunctional fraternal relationship in all theatre literature, and directed under a less talented person than Bechar, this play has the ability to become an unintentional farce, a caricature of itselfŠ the kind inviting snickers and giggles from the audience.

But there are no giggles and hidden laughter hereŠ only the rawest of emotions, stripped bare and performed so grandly that the viewer is stunned into forgetting he is watching a play. The stage is alive with thundering emotion from the first five minutes until the last lines, two hours later. Director Becher wisely chooses to forego an intermission, propelling the emotion to almost unbearable heights.

Tim Beck and Gladys Kilgore are excellent as secondary characters. They are to be applauded for even taking the stage with two such overwhelming performances as those of Walters and Allman.

Once more, as in "The Return of Buck Gavin" Howard Allman amazes us with his gargantuan acting ability. One is reminded of Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront," but more especially "A Streetcar named Desire." Allman is so dynamic, he has the ability to hold your attention in silence, even while others are supposed to be center stage.

His eyes, his neck and jaw muscles can show unbridled and silent rage and the viewer watches, waiting for another explosion. In one quite passage, as he reminisces on something past, he stares out above the audience, and the scene he describes so well is one the viewer remembers as if it were a part of the play, instead of merely told during the play.

At least twice during the play, Allman portrays a man unbelievably out of control, throwing phones, stomping on pieces of toast, insanely beating his brother's typewriter with a golf club. He does it so well, however, that the viewer has the feeling of being a few feet from an uncaged, raging lion, not knowing if this man is merely acting or lost control of himself and become dangerous.

Certainly, Howard Allman is a talent rarely seen. No one without reading distance of this reader's opinion should miss catching him at his best.

Congratulations to Heather Guyse and the Kudzu Players. Jeff Becher, take a bow.

Mack Mangham

Balsam

Support the Christmas Store

To the Editor:

We hope it will encourage everyone to send gifts to the Christmas Store for all of those hard-to-buy-for friends, so they'll receive a copy of Linda Kotila's original artwork on the announcement card.

Not only that, but for as little as $50, you can provide gifts for a child in Jackson County who might otherwise find little under the tree this Christmas season.

Thank you, Rose. Thank you, Sylva Herald. Thank you, Linda Kotila. And thank you, Christmas Store organizers. We are proud of you all.

Florence Sumner

Sylva

Police Department's intentions questioned

To the Editor:

At the most recent breakfast, a Sylva policemen came into the club and ordered all cars not parked in marked parking spaces to leave immediately. Most of the spaces in question are used five days a week by people visiting the park across the street or working in the county office adjoining the street.

Why was the town of Sylva pulling this kind of a stunt? Several months ago, when the park was enlarged, not one consideration was given to parking in the area.

Parallel parking alongside the club building is permitted every other day. The Saturday breakfast was not considered, nor was any consideration given to the fact that normal traffic movement was able to move freely in the parking lot. Even a fire truck could have made it through the space remaining.

Is the town of Sylva trying to displace this Golden Age Club and its activities? If so, why do it in such a cowardly manner?

Some of the overhead street lights on East Main Street are not working properly and have not been for as long as three weeks. The police should keep their eyes open to these conditions. But, they are not interested in safety issues concerning these lights.

The police department also lets people park cars obstructing half of Hall Heights Drive. The town did install a "No Parking" sign on the railroad post, but it is not enforced.

Again, why is the Police Department intent on restricting the Golden Age Club before 9:30 a.m.? Again, I say this was not a dangerous condition.

Thank You,

Frank Young

Cullowhee

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