The White Falcon - 23.07.1971, Blaðsíða 9

the National Theatre and Munici-
pal Theatre. Founded in 1965 by-
Kristin Magnus and Halldor Snor-
rason, its original purpose was
to travel throughout the country,
producing children's plays and
other traditional entertainment.
For the past two years it has
gained new meaning as a summer
entertainment principally geared
for transients.
The designer is Molly Kennedy.
She has had experience in adapting
and translating Icelandic plays
and has published poetry in both
the U.S. and Iceland.
The two principal actors are
Kristin Magnus, already mentioned
as one of the founders, and Aevar
R. Kvaran, a leading man with the
National Theatre. He is also a-
dept at translating and directing
and has his own drama school.
The program commences with the
retelling of a visit to Iceland
in 1814. This is followed by an
account of an Icelander's journey
to Copenhagen.
The third story is a classic
of Icelandic literature known in
English as "Simon and the Seal."
It could be thought of as an Ice-
landic "Faust." The story that
follows gives a very accurate de-
scription of life of the old Ice-
landic farm stead.
Following the intermission, the
second half of the show starts
with two fairy tales, one of a
ghost and the other of a troll.
There is also a short skit as an
example of Icelandic theatre. Two
short numbers finish the show.
Between the readings and acts
a trio of Icelandic folk-singers
provide a pleasant interlude with
Icelandic folk songs.
The show is on Monday through
Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. at the
Glaumbaer Theatre in Reykjavik.
The cost of this two-hour show is
215 kronur per person.
*«
Vd
For the past two weeks in Rey-
kjavik, the Summer Theatre has
been presenting a Kvoldvaka. The
most interesting aspect of this
to members of the defense force
is the fact that the entire pro-
duction is in English and is es-
pecially oriented to the foreign
tourist.
What is a Kvoldvaka? It is an
old Icelandic form of entertain-
ment which has been modernized
and adapted to the stage. It
consists of folk singing, story
telling, and a little acting, all
combined into a cabaret-style
stage presentation to give an ac-
curate picture of old Iceland.
While many of us are a little re-
luctant to submit ourselves to two
hours of that "litatshure" stuff,
this show is far more entertain-
ing than academic.
The Kvoldvaka originated in
the Viking days and the style
lives today,if in a somewhat more
limited amount, as television and
movies have made their toll on
this ancient practice also. It is
an evening spent around a hearth
telling stories, singing songs
and reading from the old sagas.
The Summer Theatre that is
staging this production is a small
group of professional actors from
WHITE FALCON
9