Pace aid Septeribice 30; 1979+ Sunday New’ ‘Oh What a tee War’ | : captures the humor and pathos of an era - By GREG STRONG Oh, What A Lovely War playing at the Studio Theatre, Presentation House, until October 7, is a satirical account of the First — World War that uses short sketches, comedy routines, period songs and costumes in a documentary theatre approach ‘that captures events during the war. It’s the same play which was so successful in England several years ago and from which an equally successful movie was made. The. social content and broad popular appeal of Oh, © What A'Lovely War made it an obvious choice’ for Summer. Theatre White Rock, a group which was formed only four years ago. The show was very suc- cessful in White Rock and was booked into Presen- — ‘ tation House so it -could have a longer run. “We thought it was a worthwhile thing to do,” said cast member AI Kozlik, one of the founding members of. the group, “and we wanted 4 balanced “season, a com- mercial season.” a Kozlik, who” ‘alternately plays . von Moltke, an Austro-Hungarian spy, a French poilu and a wounded ‘English tommie,_ will probably be best remem- bered for his extensive work with the Vancouver Playhouse. In Oh, What A Lovely War, he is joined by other Playhouse regulars from last season, Glenn MacDonald, Dermot Hennely and director Leon Pownali, with set designer Cam Porteous and lighting technician Jeffery Dallas who help to make. this production far from amateur although there are some» rough spots. - There are several awk- ward pauses, a few scenes whieh carry on too long, and some touches which show a director's unbridled~~ sen- timentality such as having 2 small child read statistics of war dead. in between the scenes. However, the energy and enthusiasm of the White Rock Players kept over- coming these obstacles. The most enjoyable thing about Oh, What A Lovely War is in its use of. all the’ marvellous period songs from the war years. The twelve member cast handled all the musical numbers very well and the play was worth watching if only to hear ’ some of these classics. Songs With the jingoism of Belgium such as Put the Kibosh on the Kaiser and the stoic heroism of Keep the Homefires Burning, as well IN A SCENE from ‘Oh, What A Lovely War’ playing » at Presentation House until October 7 are, left to right, Al Kozlik, Dermot Hennely, Paddy McEntee, and Glenn MacDonald. as the ever popular It’s A Long. Way to Tipperary will - be remembered for years because they so aptly describe an age. One of the most moving numbers in the play was a solo by Jan Ward who sang the poignant Adieu La Vie, Chanson de Craonne which expresses the great loss of the war. Combined with the songs were the short routines — sketches that captured the trench humour and pathos of the era as well as satirizing the inept Allied leadership. Old age security payments rise Increases in the Old Age Security pension, Guaranteed. Income Sup~ plement and Spouse’s Allowance, effective in October 1979, were an- nounced ‘recently by the Honourable Heward Grafftey, minister of state for social programs on behalf of the Honourable David Crombie, minister of - national health and welfare. The basic Old Age Security pension will rise to $179.01 from the present $174.82. The maximum Guar- anteed Income Supplement for a single person, or a married person. whose spouse is not a pensioner and 1401 hornby is not receiving a spouse’s allowance, will increase to $146.97 from its current $143.53. Added to the basic pension, this gives a person receiving both the OAS and the maximum GIS a monthly total $325.99. The maximum Guar- anteed Income Supplement for a married couple, both pensioners, will increase to $122.20 each from $119.34. Added to the basic pension this will give each married pensioner receiving the maximum GIS a total of $301.22, or $602.44 for the couple. The Guaranteed Income Supplement is paid to pensioners whose income, rattan s Come in and browse through our large selection of distinct les and accessories. This rocker shown Is just one of the many designs that we carry. finest quality apart from the Old Age Security pension, is limited. The amount of the sup plement varies in relation to income. The maximum Spouse's Allowance will increase to $301.22 from $294.16. The maximum Spouse's Allowance is made up of an amount equivalent to the basic Old Age Security pension and the maximum GIS at the married rate and is paid to persons between 60 and 65 years of age who are married to OAS pensioners and meet residence requirements. Entitlement to a Spouse’s Allowance, and the amount paid, is based on yearly income. THE WICKER PLACE Straight back rocker 5149°° finest prices st. van. 669-2145 In one scene, some Irish Grenadiers are killed in a. crossfire between English and German troops and met by a figure of death, a beautiful ballet dancer, Nadia Kalmanovsky, who does a graceful pirouette before the frozen figures. And in another moment of pathos, a blind officer, Duncan Fraser, whose burned face and hands are covered in bandages, is marched past a group of wounded soldiers waiting for transport home. Surely there, CABINETS BY: phehkene DEALERS FOR: JENN-AIR MOFFAT SUBZERO WASTE KING TOSHIBA THERMADOR CHAMBERS KITCHEN AID PANASONIC SCHREIBER could be no more eloquent spokesman against the futility.of war than this man ‘whose face and hands are - completely obliterated by white zauze. . Yet there was also a lively and irreverent humor in Oh, What A Lovely War. There are scenes like the opener - ‘where two different spies, Al Kozlik and that natural comic, Alec Willows, try to arrest each other in a restaurant and then settle for a bartender. On another occasion, a line of new recruits knock POLYMAR KITCHENS MOVED to our NEW LOCATION and 2500 sq. a of showroom 156W. 3rd 'St., N. Van * SPECIAL DISCOUNTS on CABINETS« *SALE ON ALL APPLIANCES« *SUPER SPECIALS ON MICROWAVES«x * DOOR OPENING SPECIALS x COMPLETE PROFESSIONAL REMODELLING SERVICE PLANNING — INSTALLATION COUNTERTOPS APPLIANCES ‘‘We do the Complete job’’ 15 YEARS OF KITCHEN DESIGN SERVICE MONDAY TO SATURDAY 9:30 - 4:30 986-3111, 987-5012 POLYMAR KITCHENS & BATHROOMS 156 W. 3rd St., N.V. %& Entrance and parking at rear each other down. while on bayonet practice in an at- tempt to follow their sergeant’s directions. But what’.was most im- pressive about the entire evening was that everyone in the cast of Oh, What A Lovely War seemed to be having a lot of fun on stage. It was the type of fun that an audience is invited to join in on. The enthusiasm of the ‘ cast and the intimacy of the Studio Theatre make for a pleasant evening’s en- tertainment.