34

opinion

Herald 6 lantern 23 December <1

(Bah, Humbug—it was excellent! R

E V I E W-

By Robert Shtle* BRMA - Two day* before Lower Cape May Regional High School was lo open with it* presentation of A Chrlatmat Carol: Scroofte and ■ Marley, the student cast in the role of' Bob Crachit Walked out oh the show With only four rehearsals remaining director Paul Mathis had to decided if he sltould cancel and open a week late, or go on as scheduled But Mathis - wno lives by the We can do anything philosophy* he knew the kids had the ability.to respond to any situation, like professionals He had watched them rehearse since October — slowly developing into the familiar Dickens characters The momehlum was there, the cast was at iU peak. The show had td go on And with the help pf teac?herj<*rry Gius — whd; portrayed Bob Crachit — the show opened Dec It as planned, bringing a taste of ole England to Cape May County A CHRISTMAS CAROL ScrimKe and Marley in the delightful adaption of the Dickens classic, as developed by Baltimore playwright Israel Horovitz.

Bob Shllti SCROOGE. Dave Cashmore. cower* at the sight of Marley** ghost. A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley was pi^sented by the students at Lower Cape May Regional High School on Dec. II and 12, and all it available seats were filled for each performance.

Every word is Dickens and all of the lovalable characters — Ebenezer Scrooge, the ghost of Jacob Marley. Tiny Tim, Bob Crachit and the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future — all are there tdspread their own way the true meaning of Christmas to those who wish to hear. As usual, the- Regional

students 'did- tin. excellent job. c Senior Don Cashmore of Villas superbly executed the portrayal of miserly old Scrooge. He held the audience in the palm of his quaking hand — drawing them along as he underwent the ordeal that transformed him from a heartless, •insensitive creature to a^nan attuned

to the needs of his fellowman. Anyone would be scared of Marley's Ghost, asplayed by senior Eric Simmons o£ West Cape May. His deep booming voice chilled the bones of many as he guided the audience along the path followed by.Scrooge. His excellent recitation of

some of Dickens more difficult pasages are especially memorable. Veteran student actress Christine Back, a junior from Cape May, chalked up a memorable performance as the ghost of Christmas Past. Her evident acting ability, coupled with her alluring beauty ranked her a “10” with the.audience. If anything at all can be said against her performance, it is that she is too attractive for the part. Jerry Gius as Bob Crachit did a fine joh — especially since he rehearsed with the case only about four tidies before the opening. But even teachers aren’t perfect. Gius acknowledged after (he show that he forgot a couple of his lines. The Spirit of Christmas Present, Earl Moore, also did an excellent job/ although he occasionally swallowed some of his words. Overall, his pertormance was quite commen-

dable.

And we can’t forget to note the excellent job of Robert Scales of North' Cape May who portrayed Scrooge'’s nephew. His - delivery of some of the longest and most important passages was superb. Others in the show;— all

of whom pprtrhyed Dickens’ characters in a way that would make him proud — werh Andy McGinn, Bob Axelson, Rim Coombs, Ken McrfonOugh, Bob Newkirk, Mary Beth Smiley, Kim Snedeker, Margaret Bright, Laurie Boyd, Ruthann Hysdn, Regina Hill and, Christine Harris. ' Costuming, lighting, ■scenery and makeup were sensational. Also the idea of using special on-stage seating for the audience to generate fnvolvemen! must be commended. You recall A Christmas Carol, it is the tale of a scroungy old miser who has no sensitivity for others (even during the joyous Christinas season). One Christmas Eve visited by the ghost of his former partner and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future -r- he is made to. realize that happiness isn't found in material and worldly wealth but rather in the joy, and love experienced thru relationship 'witp one’s‘fellowman. Its message is one of peace on eaYth. goodwill toward men. Reporter Bob Shite* has ma,ny amateur stage credits in his own right.-

reader's forum

Insist on the Gift of Life

So That’s How It AU Started! by Theodore Lederach The M>rald and Lantern had the courage to print about the root causes of dope in Cape May County school* (Reader's Corner Dec. 2J. Do you also have the courage to print the following? Why this controversy over evolution versus religion? Every biology student knows that life can only come from life Louis Pasteur proved this and founded the canning Page 3B Please A Second For Channel 12 by Harry Emerson Otto ’?:■ Congratulationsrto Jane Ann Cunningham for voicing her opinion (Give us Channel 12. last week's paperj •*' about the mediocre garbage whkh Channel 23 subjects us to. * f The time has come for us to taka petuor sword!) in hand, to prevent our area from becoming an intellectual

wasteland

I suppose we have Warner Cable to thank for the superfluity of sports and local news programs, which

pfovide no menial stimulation whatsoever, and it is un- klwwn _ con siatanUy undermines the moat dedicated

(air that (ine. aesthetic programs are offered elsewhere S efforts of church and home

by R. Leslie Chrismer

If inflation is our worst taxation and it is — most American citizens, including most of their political representatives, (and also most economists), refuse to face the fact that the main cause of inflation m our country's bloated military budget. Between a third to a half of our federal income goes to pay for past wars and preparation for future ones. (It is agreed that the veterans of those wars dcjfcfve all the benefits they get - and a lot more they don’t receive.) We now have enough arms to defend ourselves against all "enemies,” with enough weapons left over] in the form

viewpoint

Tune in—Turn on

by Jane Ann Cunningham

Anyone who protests about what Is being shown on television is accused of being narrow-minded, unsophisticated, a promoter of censorship, or worst of all, a follower of the Moral Majority. The concept of morality is

really taking a bum rap these days.

The millions who try to subscribe to rule* and standards of conduct and practice are belittled, ignored or ridiculed. For those trying to instill ethical principles in their children, television — the most persuasive instructor ever

at the.same time. (Downright frustrating is what it is.) None of my neighbors appreciate Channel 23, andlt goes without saying that until we get some satisfaction, financial vontributions to the station will be few and far between ‘ * •; •< II is paranoicto believe that a conspiracy has taken place to stifle growth and promulgate ignorance on our

island? , Harry E. Otto i* a Stone Harbor resident.

—

'V CAMS MAY cotjsnrv

pHhOtbH K»»») WftotMay Bv TW Sr*»»*p (nr par a Oort

ftaralfc

John II. Andrus II William J. Adams Ronnie Reina Dsrrell Kopp

Editor

Advertising Director General Manager . . Publisher

^ *'*• PmMW-Q" b« •*» fwoparty a* lha f'aawa Corp'tte

DEADLINES

News A Photos Thursday Advertisings Friday - 3 p.tn CbtsKled Advertising Friday-3p.m. I it7-3il* Eor »ews 6r AdvertisingInforraaflool NaMter par1lrlpat*a* »4vrrtHm aar tbr aaMHbm a< I Hr H KHALI) AND LANTKHN .ill Hr r«p-a.lhlr nr UnMw far mMafarai.Ua.. mhprlNU. tyMgra|*k*l rrran Hr. la a ay lacar. Tbr »4Mar rrarrvra IW Hgbt la r^p any Wirr or arlirlra aabaiMIr* far pa Mr a-

LANTERN

I grary WaOapaSay By Tbr S—warrCarpar aUaa

efforts of church and home.

^ The contents of many of the programs, especially (Soap operas, are bad enough. Now, even the commercials are giving subliminal messages. The Brooke Shields and the jeans commercials feturing young children mimicking adult hip-swinging ’come-ons’ are rather overt examples. But Cake the "downright-upright” wine commercial. Originally, the premise seemed to be that in this age of women's lib, it is okiy for a woman to ask a man, over for a drink. There wasn't any strong inference to the viewer that there was anything more to it than that. ]n newer commercials, there is a subtle hint that the wine is leading up to more. The obvious interpretation of many of the cologne (for woman and men) is the glorification of promiscuity. l THERE 18 ONE WHERE A career woman bumps into a male old friend on a flight of steps. After a dpeussion of old times and the cologne, the immediately saul "I guess J'll cancel my.flight tonight.” Where are all We female

ytttivists who protested about women being depicted as

only sex objects? A whiff of perfume, and even the most successful businesswoman will change her plant to spend the night with a man! Another shows a man in bed, answering a phone call from a woman who tells him he snored. His rejoinder is that she took all the blankets. She make$ a date with him for Tuesday. Obviously, this is no husband-wife duo. There are other commercials, all

following the general patlern?V

What effect does this constant bombardment'have on the minds of both young men and young women? Un- . fortunately, the moral virtues which uplift the world and its people aren't very glamorous. They don'tsell perfume or soap. The entrepreneurs who write television programs and commercials are reluctant to consider or mention .qualities found in most Americans — loyalty, responsibility, high ethical standards, honesty, patriotism,

respect and virtue.

JjTne Ann Cunningham of Avalon is former publisher of

the Herald.

of a nuclear bomb arsenal, to destroy the world. Like us, our "enemies" are saddled with military costs which are bankiruptimg them. WE SHOULD FIRMLY AND STEADILY press our representatives to vote for a substantial decrease in arms expenditure. The savings should be used for social ser vices — health, welfare, educatton, employment, environmental protection, public( transportation; and development of energy from the Spn, the wind and the tides. Such civic progress will strengthen our country internally and guarantee the patriotism of its people. What holds us ba6k? Ignorance, apathy, feXr and moral cowardice. Such an example of national ethics, realistic ffconomic practices and common sense for the public good has never been tried. It would not fail to‘be the solution to our pro-, blems, just as Christianity has not failed, if, too, has never been tried. As a great churchman once said, "It is we, we Christians, we Christian^alone, who are responsible for atheist communism. We had a burden to discharge in the world and Jesus Christ left hp room to wonder what it was. We failed. We said, and did not," THIS IS THE SEASON OF THE YEAR when we delight to give gifts — especially to children. There is sound evidence that about a fourth of the world's children are starving. What better gift can we give them than to insist that our country spend for food, not arms; for life, not death? The choice Has been before the world for 35 centuries in the words of the writer of Deuteronomy: / coll heaven and earth to witness against you this day. I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse:.therefore choose life. Will we — before it is too late? R. Leslie Chrismer is a Cape May City resident.