No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1962-03-29, Page 2SHAKE HANDS — Italian President Giovani Gronchi, left, shakes with U.S. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy as she plays a courtesy call on ;he Italian official in Rome, WV's siaLISS. MILLINERY - 44 -0-r- .1r of MIMIMIMP1,1!Vi." sured by the distance between, . Shirley Temple in "Rebecca of SunnybrOela Farm" and Patty Duke in "The Bad Seed." In the image of Miss Temple, we had confected for us the child as sugared innocence. In the image of Miss Duke• the clich4 was upended into a melodramatic paradox: we were . given the innocent face, the ma, licious heart. The transition 'has been, .alt too typically, .from one excess to another. And both these excesses interestingly illustrate the gen, I eral imbalance that exists in the Portrayal of human nature by today's dramatists. Do they not too regularly veer ! with adult characters as well as children — from willfully wide-eyed extremes of sentimen- tality to equally naive extremes of depravity? And, as usual, do not these • distortions in the theater simply reflect the confusion of the society in which the theater lives? Actors As. Scene .5tppler4- Me^ Petty Duke, age 14, happens to be the Only member of the Cast to have star billing in "Isle f Children," recently opened on kL roadway. It is an accomplishment which would have brought W. C. Fields no end of anguish. There is a legend that when. Fields was asked. how he liked child actors he growled: "Per- boiled. r Fields * never a patient man was forced on one Occasion to offer his round, eminently dis- illusioned face as target for O. al:7 LeRoy, sharp - shooting with spoonsful of oatmeal for the pleasure of the camera, and doubtless himself. The irascible old rascal had -tie provocation. Still — allowing for exaggerita lion — his answer may not have been wholly unrepresentative of those adults in the craft who have to compete with child ac- tors. There is no scene stealer like them, Even trained dogs and mugging chimpanzees are help- less in their company. From the first child in the first medieval morality play down to Caroline Kennedy, they need merely walk onstage in high heels mid the audience's attention is in- stantly and completely bemused. The adult actor can only sulk in a corner, as Fields used to, and mutter vague, injured com- plaints against an outrageous injustice. Meanwhile, the child actor prospers as he has not since fuzz-cheeked boys held the mon- opoly on women's roles in the Elizabethan theater, and those who feel that the United_ States is a child-dominated society find documentation in cast listings. An ambitious mother would hardly know where to begin. This Broadway season her pride and joy could have led a goat onstage in "Milk and Honey," played a cruise ship's Dennis the Menace in "Sail Away," or 'strummed a guitar in "A Gift of Time." And then there is always "The Sound of Music." The adult actor's personal grievance, it should be acknowl- edged at this point, is not en- tirely without a broader basis. When a child actor steals a scene, he momentarily steals the play along with it. He steps out Of the dramatic frame, as it were, to present himself: a dimpled actuality, in rivalry not only with adult actors but with the basic illusion of theater itself. , Few playwrights or directors, once they have admitted a child into their world, can resist the obvious sorts of exploitation. It is so simple, so deliciously illegal a way to hold an audience. Just one or two rituals of cuteness and the most mediocre play- wright can have a popular scene — and the best playwright can ruin the tone of a whole play. The pay-off is tempting, the risk is perilous, writes Melvin Mad- docks in the Christian Science Monitor. In television family comedies the cute child is still the norm. On. Broadway and in certain films — like, for instance, "The Innocents," the recent film ver- sion of "The Turn of the Screw" — the treatment can be differ- ent. The difference may be mea- Japan Squawks About U.S. Television On Japan's six-channel televi- sion sets, the shows that pull the biggest audiences are often West- ern, if not Westerns. Such Amer- ican staples as "Dennis the Men- ace" and "I Love Lucy" are as popular with Japanese viewers as they have been withAmeri- cans and an American TV actor without honor in his own country may be mobbed by screaming fans if he visits Japan, as the stars of "Rawhide" did this year. The enthusiasm of the masses, however, is not always shared by their self-appointed spokesmen. Last week, Tokyo's official Com- munist newspaper, launched a heated attack cn the U.S.'s "ever- tightening cultural offensive by radio and TV." in a single week, reported movie critic Yumi Yagawa, writ- ing in Akahata (Red Flag), he had counted 94 made-in-U.S.A. items on-Tokyo stations, taking up as much as twelve and a half hours in a single day. "At any time of the day," Yagawa wrote ominously, "there is at leaSt one channel from which these propa- ganda beasts are waiting—sharp- ening their claws — to pounce upon us . , ." The programs Yagawa feared hav:= sometimes been criticized by Western watchdogs, too—but for radically different reasons. Among Yagawa's bates noires: Crime shows like "The Un- touchables." "Although on the surface taking the form of prais- ing the efficiency and capability of American police authorities, (they) are actually aimed at promoting anti-Communism and anti-Soviet thinking." Situation comedies ("homa do- raxna") like "Father Knows Best." "Based on domestic. daily happenings in urban and agri- cultural petty bourgeoisie . . . (they) aim at propagandizing the American way of life Westerns like "Rawhide." "Al- though they are made to show, on the surface sympathy toward. Indians, (they) actually are de- signed to exalt white supremacy." The danger to Japan, Yagawa warned, is subtle and pervasive. "Out land is now completely enveloped," he wrote, American shows "slyly slip into our homes —in the guise of amusement or artistic expression — and insidi- ously, inch by inch, inject Amer- ica's imperialist policies into our ochanoma (tea-drinking rooms), SUITED TO THE MOON. Carmen. Duro looks ready to take off -in his "Moon-Shot Suit " The suit boasts detach- able bat - like wings that stretch from wrist to hip; it's just the thing for the future man on the moon, says the fashion designer. Jailed For Debt In. Old England! When 7-month-old Carol Day died of pneumonia in a hospital in Bath, her father was not al- lowed to attend her funeral. lie was serving fourteen days in jail for failing to meet a $47.60 in- stallment-plan payment. "The ridiculous thing," protest- ed 28-year-old David Colin Day as he regained his freedom and told the story last month, "is that, had I committed a crime and been a convicted prisoner, permission would have been granted." Debtors' priscns have a long and inglorious history in Britain. Hogarth depicted their squalor in "Rake's Progress," and. Dick- ens railed against them in "Little Dorrit." Parliament finally de- creed in 1869 that no Englishman could be imprisoned for debt. Yet the growth of prosperity has brought the "hire-purchase".(in- stallment plan) and a British consumer debt of $2.6 billion. Creditors today can' take a debtor to court and have him imprison- ed, not for debts but for con- tempt of court. In 1951, 499 peo- ple were jailed by this proce- dure: ten years later the number had soared to 5,057. Usually, the debtors have some excuse, but not enough to save them. Engineer Arthur Ainge, who rented a car while his own was being repaired, didn't pay the bill „because he believed -it was the responsibility of his in- surande company. By the time be emerged from Brixton. Prison,, he had lost his job. Irene Simnor kept ordering appliances end .selling them to pay the deposit on new ones. She Was sentenced to four years for ordering, 48 washing machines, twelve refrigerators, twelve spin dryers, and twelve TV sets, To' police, she sobbed: "I've forgot- 'ten the number of things I've had, I just paid the deposits."' Hoping to make some sense of What he calla "a jtkrigle" of in- stalltnent buying, Laborite Wit- liam Thomas Williams lies intro-, duceol a private bill in the House of Corm-hots'. Which would curb high-pressure salesmanship, pro- vide a 48-hour .001h-1g-off period during which a purchaser can change his mind, and forbid re- possession when More than one- third has been paid, He has little hope for this session but yews` to "go on nagging therm until some , things gets done," Arid he has won considerable support "This is no way for di civilized SO-ditty to allow citigetid to be treated,"' declared the Daily Express, "Phil dis- grsi. should have died With Dickans." H Ror4 ICUS INGE/1VMM eassitzsdottruz P Well, here I am, still holding down a hospital bed—and think- ing myself lucky to be in it. The doctors got busy on me last week — that is doing a job of plastic surgery on my face. To avoid, complications after- wards it was done under local anaesthesia so I knew exactly what- was going on although I didn't feel a thing_ I told the, doctors it was up to them to make Tennyson's words come true — "A thing of beauty is a joy forever" — although I have not yet reached the stage of be- ing a thing of beauty and' prob- ably never will. But there's al- ways hope. Apart from a little discomfort, I aim more or less enjoying my stay in hospital — "Dr. Kildare" and "Ben Casey' are not in it when it comes down, ta the real thing,. and Partner tells, me that neither of those, so-called medical dramas has been ery vied! lately_ They seem to be getting away from orthodox situations and creating others for the sake of making a good story,, which is a pity as they were both. good programs before the producers: began trying too hard for' effect.. But let's get back to the real thing, I am allowed to wander' around this floor at will so of course I go visiting in other rooms. Such interesting patients, as there are. The body functions: in a peculiar way.. One part Of a person can be'realiy sick and the, rest healthy and active, So I find a diabetiC patient sitting up in. bed, or in a chair, working' away at account hooka for the business, with which she is, connected. another room a poor soul, with at skin allergy makes use of hear time — when. she, is: able — bar creating floral arrangements for table centre-pieces. With artifi- cial flowers, of course. So far I. haven't ventured into, any of the. men's roams, One patient did: just that and she ended tip with a "special" at nights whose jab, it was to keep her- in had., Incidentally, in case you think I am one of. the lazy patients„ perhaps I should. tell you I am knitting baby bootees and send- ing them down to the Gift Shop. I find knitting much easier than reading. Interruptions make it impossible to lose oneself in a book. Even writing this column has its problems. Since I started, one nurse Came along to change my surgical dressing, another to take my blood pressure and noW a ward maid is -mopping, the floors. And of course doctors are liable to come popping in any titne, especially as I have one G. P. and two specialists. So that's the way It goes. Life in hospital boring to its patients not on your life, To an ambulatory pa- tient it is interesting. On the other hand, all a seriously ill pa- tient asks for is to be taken care, of arid that is done in all cases. Doctors, nurses and staff mein- bets are kindness personified, i — • i•ii airdlike 'everybody look Mee let'S See &Stine hat." He's Been Married 123 Times ! ir • ...„ A fifty 7 seven year ',old' Man who lives in Novi Sad, Yugo, elavie, should go down in history as the holder of a unique world record, • For the Men, Petar YleolieeV- lev Nikolie, has been married 123 times! What's more, the white-haired, prune-faced Petar, who looks more like seventy-five, is happy to talk about his romances, and 'give advice to bachelors on how to win • a feminine heart. "Women," Petar maintains, "like to be liked," And he adds, "Any man who keeps this fact in mind will have no trouble in winning the heart of a woman." However, despite his being a charter member of the fraternity of professional .bridegrooms, Pe- tal, can never match the score established by Don Juan in Moz- art's opera,' In the opera, Don -Giovanni, the lady-chasing nobleman made 1,003 conquests in Spain alone, according to the first aria — if his servant's statistics ring true. Unlike.. Don. Giovanni,, a noble- man, Peter was born a May,. But, like his operatic counter- part, his women have been of. all nationalities, although, by and large, from countries- behind -the Iron Curtain. Besides Yugoslav, women he's led. a variety of Czechs,, Hunger-- tans, Russians and Bulgarians Ina. to, his matrimonial stable. The only time he: ventared, forth into, the West was. wliem he: chose' a aerman for his bride.. But the . marriage lasted only' three days.. The reason, as given by• Peter:: "We were incompat- ible,' Yet this, same' reason has ,pre- veiled in all his, marriages to' date, except in, his current one to a forty-one-year-old Serb) peasant woman:. • . . Peter's shortest marriage was. to a Croatian gypsy, whichilested' ',three hours. "We were imago*, 1121e," say Petar. His longest .marriage, to a Ruire# .sian girl, lasted for two years before the break-up. It was his first wife, :toci he mended .ho r . when he was only fifteen. Peter divorced her two. ytars. tat .r because — they were in- compatible. There have been only twintp, -two children from has many marriages. The oldest one today, a Hurigariam is thirty-eight. • And he's a bachelor: Peter can't •rernember any more which child betonge to which wife — but lie iTISW.1-: it doesn't really matter, as they know, • Although he's been a husband and a father many times aver, 'Peter claims it hasn't interfered with his purpose- in- :ire: the pursuit of leisure. Petar hasn't done so much as. a day's. work since' he was i),‘ As a gypsy, he shares the Hfierce Point of view of his Ramaany brethren,. Let the women. do 'he' work!: Friends occasconelty• chide Were for being In Marshal' Tito's, so- called "People's' ' Derrroceerv;"' and warn that lie may one .lay' get into serious' trouble' for pur- suing leis "reandemeceetie" atti- • tude regarding. work and women:. But Peter has a standard' come- back that •thwarts his, critics, • "So who's Marshal Tito?" he. says to them, • only been married= three times, I'hn a better' revolutionary- than he . • • Married al little oven six months; to' Ills' present wife,‘,Peter thinks that the is' a' good' one' — so' far. She is supporting Whir sir the style' iv which he is accustomed, . e • ... -• a • "Ts. IV true that wild' aniinals, in take, jiingle-won't harm you if yeti carry a torch?"' asks a reader:. It depends- my how fast you+ car=- ry itt. ISSUE 13' —. 1902' have sometimes -been guilty of criticizing doctors — after being, • kept waiting overly long in a doctor's office — but with. this opportunity of seeing the' hours. doctors put In and the wonder- ful work they ele„ f. feel I shall never criticize again,. There' is, no doubt a good doctor has to be a dedicated man to stand the pace_ . . • Incideattally,. I wish you could see the' chest of drawers in ney- room---41t 'looks ,in-are, like, a flor- Ist"s: shop.. Besides bouquets from family and friends,. two of the members from the W. I. branch to which I belonged before we' left the farm came in last night with a lovely chrysanthemum plant.. Possibly being remember,: ed by old friende is what one ap- preciates; most. • Well, I think PU draw this to- a close. Maybe next week I'll be writing from home. Whether that `will be easier or harder for Part- ner is a question! . In any case, I'm not making it' an issue, How 'long I stay is a matter for the doctors to decide. One thing I know — it would be quieter. BUSY WEEK FOR ROYALTY It was' a diVerting. far-flung, week for Britain' royal' family:, At - a' film preview of "West Side Story„' Queen; Elizabeth match- ed her' glitter' with that of glossy- domed actor Yhai Brynner, who, spear-headed' a delegation of' movie stars attending the, pre- miere. On a second 'theatre ex- cursion, the Queen registered amusement at a royally irrever- ent: revue called "Beyond the Fringe." In. Bahvia,, Elizabeth's touring consort blandly answer- ed' personal queetions. at a press conference.. Was, the Queen ex- pecting a baby this year? Prince, Philip: "No,, it is not passible."' Why wasn't. ace cameraman Lord Snowdon, .brother-in- raw, covering' the- tour? P'hil'ip: "Britain, is a d'em'ocracy. I get what phcrtographer. ,given." lVfearewhfree back in Parliament, a crimson-robed, miniver-collar- ed 'Snowdon. took seat in the Hbuse of Lord's,. Cost of the Tony mutfiti DRIVE W111-11 CARE! iiltUSH ,UP Ready for on orbit around Mirth, papier niche With:511 of cosmonaut Yuri Gdgariri Mstg d bruish-up by V ciregio, Italy, artist, Figure is port of One or thed oorilivot 'Mots, which lampoon current world 6Venti, . WOki..... 1 1 , MOTHERLY LOVE — titerndie, a ilw,c,err*.cri'cll diadrahundi court:lb:it resist "Paaaaiitegi klttehS," She adapt,exli theft akeir i I their mother was rani ever by a car. Air Traffic 'Booms Over North Atlantic • Air cargo more than tripled' and passenger and Mall SI;rvice across the North Atlantic Ocean more than doubled between 1957 and 1961. M;:rt) increases pre 0.Xpedtfild irt the future, There were 30,186 passenger flight-3 in 1961, Data ',rani leitthiotiorial Ale Trani, port Association: