Palomar College
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35 No!_21_
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Disabled gypsy clown brings smiles
Will Geer festival continues tonight A smorgasbord of one-act plays is currently being presented during the Will Geer festival at the Palomar College Theatre. Performances will continue tonight and tomorrow at 7:30p.m.
By Betty Hollman Making people happy is what Alice Rejniak is all about. Her Carmen Miranda headpiece, rhinestone eyelashes, and flamboyant frippery all help to create her laughable clown character of Gypsy+ Do. Rejniak or Gypsy+ Do, as she prefers to be called, will be appearing here June 2 at 12 noon in P-32. The show, which is being sponsored by the Undefeated Club, will focus on building the self-esteem of handicapped individuals.
The unique quality of the festival is that each performance is different from the others, so that at each night's presentation audiences will see different plays. Tonight's fare will include "God" by Woody Allen 1 "The Loveliest Afternoon of the ¡ Year;' by John Guare and "Something I'll Tell You
Dancers show variety of styles
As director of the Sunrise Handicapped Theater Guild, Rejniak is familiar with the problems of the physically disabled. She places little emphasis on the fact that she suffers with birth defects which for three years kept her confined to a wheelchair. Concentrating on the positive is the thread that runs through all her original productions. That upbeat outlook is obvious when she explains the title of her current show. "I call it 'Oh! D-ahle! Whoa!'If you put a nice big X over the 'd' in disable what you have is 'is able'. I just shortened it to make the D-ahle. The 'Whoa!' is saying you can't keep able people down." Clowning began for Rejniak ten years ago when she was working as a nurse. "One of the things that bothered me about being a nurse was I never had enough time to give personal comforting care to patients. There was a call inside me that said these poeple needed someone to give them laughter, music and touch. So I just began being that person." Her painted-on grin grows larger when she adds, "To me the clown is still a nurse, but mynursingis being done through clowning." Gypsy+ Do is the newest member to her family of clown personalities. This whimsical little charmer was born while Rejniak was attending a class in clownology at San Diego State. "We had to come up with a new image and style for the class." Waving one of her many scarves she says, "I saw Rita Hayworth as a gypsy and just loved her part. So I decided that for my own fantasy I would combine the gypsy and the clown." She admits that being a free spirited gypsy while clowning has added new dimension to her personal life. "I've never worn jewelry, but Gypsy+ Do does and now so do I. My way of dressing has even changed. I feel free to wear less conservative outfits~ Taking her laughter to all who need it, she clowns in hospitals, convalescent homes and with the handicapped. This summer she has been asked to be the official greeter clown during handicap days at the Del Mar Fair. A big dream of the small five foot clown is to build a mobile theater for the handicapped. The theater would introduce the handicapped to the stage and the general public to the physically limited person. "I believe that theater is therapy for everybody, With music and clowning comes laughter and the opportunity to put down your weariness for just awhile." This bright and sensitive lady of mirth makes it all the easier to believe that laughter is indeed the best medicine.
CLOWNING AROUND- Gypsy+Do (alias Alice Rejniak), will appear next Wednesday, June 2 at noon in Room P-32. The event is (Photo by v. Knox) being sponsored by the Undefeated Club.
Liter.ary magazine goes on sale Webster's definition of BRAVURA: a bold attempt or display of daring; brilliant technique. BRAVURA is also the title of Palomar's annual literary magazine. Published through the joint effort of the students and faculty of the English, Art and Graphic Communications Departments and funded by the ASG, it is on sale now in the bookstore ($1.10) and the
English Department office ($1) The magazine (in it's new full color cover designed and illustrated by Kim Fraley) is comprised of short stories and poems written by students. Though the vast majority of material is from students enrolled in creative writing courses, Linda Byrd, editor-in-cheif, said she " ... would like a greater spectrum of students to submit material for publication"
Dances ranging from a variety of styles including ballet, jazz, modern and tap will be performed by the Workshop Dancers in the Palomar College Educational Theatre, June 4 and 5 at 8 p.m., with a matinee June 5 and June 6 at 2:30p.m. The dances are pieces choreographed by students and teachers and are being presented by the Palomar Speech/Theatre Department. Some of the dances scheduled in ballet are Festival of the Dragon, Shadows, Dreams, Trio Fiasco, Trio Fantastico, Music Box Dancers, Fulfillment, Spring Offering and Renaissance Suite. Jazz pieces to be presented are City of Life, Flame Thrower, Mack the knife, Bette Davis Eyes, Struttin', Whhhiz, Tap Solo and Jungle Romp. In modern daJlce Sides of Catherine will be performed with by Manheim Steamroller. Tickets are available at the Palomar Theatre box office, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The tickets are $2.50 for students, senior citizens and staff and $3.50 for general admission. For more information call 7441156.
Tuesday" also by Guare. "God" directed by George Karnoff is a comedy in every sense. Viewers can expept the unexpected in typical Woody Allen style. Ominous circumstances abbund as a romantic tryst develops in "The Loveliest Afternoon of the Year". Gare' s other original play is directed by Philip Drenth. The play, entitled•'Something I'll Tell you Tuesday," revolves around a woman who realizes that she is getting old. This is a serious play flavored with bits of comic relief. On May 29 theatergoers will view Robert Anderson's "Double Solitaire." Also included will be the "Interview" by Jean-Claud von Italle. "Solitaire" is a surrealistic and futuristic play in which you can rent-a-family. "Double Solitaire" concerns an older and a younger couple renewing their marriage vows. The real essence of the play is that everybody gets tired of having sex with the same person every night. From the trilogy of plays "American Hurrah" by von Italle, "The Interview" speaks out against war and religion, and makes a statement that no matter who you are, you can't change the system ,you can't win. The annual Will Geer one-act play festival allows drama students to chose and direct a play.
Plantetarium presents shows Eyes on the Universe will be the featured lecture every Wednesday evening throughout June in the Planetarium. The scheduled topic is telescopes. Planetarium performances are offered to the general public and admission is free. The evening performances begin at 7 p.m. with a concert under the stars. At 7:30 p.m. the monthly program starts, followed by telescopic observations and/or a special film in the Planetarium at 8:30p.m. Reservations for the June 2, 9, 16, or 30 showing are desirable, particulary for large groups. To make reservations call Ext. 744-1150 or 727-7529.
Payment expected on veteran debts
NOW SHOWING - Art created by Palomar students is currently on display in the Boehm Gallery through June 12. Gallery hours are:
Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The above is a work of Mark Ryden. (Photo by Susan Greene)
The VA and the Department of Justice have begun a joint, nationwide effort to collect debts owed by veterans who attended school under the GI Bill. Most of the monies owed to the agency stem from educational overpayments while the veteran was in school or from defaulted education loans. The VA's aim is to collect debts of under $1,200 in instances where the veteran has not made any repayment arrangements. Debts in excess of $1,200 are being referred to the Department of Justice for collection. Furthermore, legislation is now being considered in Congress which would allow the government to report the names of the delinquent debtors to commercial credit rating bureaus. The legislation would also permit the government to withold wages of federal employees who owe monies for education and loan payments.