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Download PDF - University of Idaho Library

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••When gypsies and a fur coat meetBring out all the flattering superlatives and apply every "est" one <strong>of</strong> them to "TheLiving Corpse," presented at the <strong>University</strong> D ecember 15 and 16. If this wasn't the bestplay produced on the campus in many years, it will do handsomely as a substitute.When Leo Tolstoi, philosopher, novelist, and dramatist, wrote "The Living Corpse"(also known as "Redemption"), he left a masterpiece for all time. When the play waspresented in its motion picture version several years ago, it was heralded as the best R ussiandrama to find its way to the screen up to that date. With this outstanding structure onwhich to build, the <strong>Idaho</strong> dramatists turned out a highly creditable piece <strong>of</strong> work. Thecampus production had a special significance, too, as it marked Fred C. Blanchard'sinitial bow to an <strong>Idaho</strong> audience as an actor.Portraying the character <strong>of</strong> Fedya, the truan t husband, who becomes "the livingcorpse" because his existence makes life unbearable for others, Blanchard, the director,surpassed himself as an actor. l n the play, we saw him sometimes as a man drunk withthe love <strong>of</strong> a gypsy girl, again as a man sinking to the depths, once as a man who hasreached the depths, then as a defiant, pitiable figure standing before the power <strong>of</strong> theR ussian "double-eagle," and, at last, as a desperate man who takes the only way out to doTn an underworld dive ... "T'm dead, dead, and far beyond your power,"' says Blanchard hcforc the Magistrate •..The living corpse is no more•••••• *

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