Frazier has provocative role

By Peter Bellamy

David Frazier's portrayal of a destructive bisexual in "Butley” at Cleveland State University's Studio Theater tomorrow night should be provocative.

For an interpreting the character of the vengeful Butley, Frazier will be. borrowing heavily from the personality and experience of a university professor whose career has paralleled Butley's.

"Like Butley he has been both a heterosexual and a homosexual," Frazier said. "Like Butley he left his wife and family for a male student lover and lost him, too. He is charming, but has never made a satisfactory adjustment to life.

"There are many Butleys in this world and I have seen their like at almost every university faculty party I have attended. The first time I read the role I hated it and swore I'd never do it. The second time I read it I was fascinated."

This engrossing play by Simon Gray, a professor of English literature at the University of London, will require Frazier to be on stage at all times, wear dirty clothes, gutter reject shoes and wipe his hands on a banana peel.

"Butley" won the London Evening Standard's prize as the best play of 1972 and Alan Bates' portrayal of the title role earned him a Tony Award for best performance by a male actor on Broadway in 1973. This will mark the first time the play has been seen in Cleveland.'

I saw Alan Bates' performance on Broadway and, like thousands of other present and former college students, recognized that I'd met Butley types in the halls of ivy.

Director Joseph Garry hopes that this will be the first of a number of Studio Theater productions at CSU. He and

David Frazier

Frazier have been involved in many plays and musicals as director and actor.

They include "Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris" and "Con versations With an Irish Rascal.”

Frazier appeared under Garry': direction in “French Feelings" for the Playhouse Square Association, in "Th Birds" at the Play House and in produc tions at CSU and Baidwin-Wallace Colleg They collaborated in the writing of "Story Theater" at the Play House.

"The cast of 'Butley' reminds me of old home week,” Garry said. “Mário Murray, who played the role of the wife in ir

'All the Way Home,' which I diife it

1963 as a student at B-W, will play the role of Butley's wife.

"Kathy Wasil, who played the role of the countess in 'Madwoman of Chaillot' for me at CSU in 1966, will also be in the cast as will Richard Warswick, box office manager for the Play House Square As sociation.'

Rave reviews of "All the Way Home' which persuaded Garry to seek a career in the theater rather than in law.

"Butley" will play in the 88-seat Theater at CSU tomorrow through Sunday and April 27 through May 1st.