SOUTHEAST'S LATEST PLAY `PLAIN FUN'

"I know I can stand here watching you try to destroy everything I've ever wanted in my life, wanting to smash your face with my fists because you won't make the slightest effort to opt for happiness and still know that I love you.... If you're stupid enough to throw someone sensational like me aside, then you don't deserve as good as you've got!"

Blazingly played by Abbie Crites, a senior from Wheatland, Wyo., Jennie Malone sets about being one of Neil Simon's "strong women" in "Chapter Two," University Theatre's current offering.

"Chapter Two" opens tonight at 8 at the Forrest H. Rose Theatre, Grauel Language Arts Building~, and will play again Saturday night, as well as Feb. 26-29.

The two-act comedy runs slightly longer than Simon's usual fine froth, but it has more substance, and filled as it is with the ~playwright's inimitable~ sharp but succulent dialog and intriguing twists of plot, who's counting?

The "you" whom Jennie is addressing is recently-widowed George Schneider (whose emotional struggles and mercurial mood changes are strongly portrayed by Alden Fie~ld, a sophomore who is anything but sophomoric from Sikeston~).

George is caught between a rock and a hard place he can't bring himself to let go of Barbara, a shining ima~~~ge taken by death after 12 years of a "beautiful" marriage, but he deeply loves and needs Jennie, who's just emerging from a painful divorce but is s~trong enough and wise enough to know that she must be herself, not some smudged carbon copy of Barbara.

Bringing the two together initially is George's older brother, Leo, whose genuine and sincere devotion to George is in pointed contrast to his own "Ready Freddy" attitude toward one-night stands; Leo is played by Jay Cross, a senior from Pittman, Ill., who uses body language to particularly fine effect in interpreting both sides of Leo's personality.

Kara Cracraft, a senior from Cape Girardeau, brings sauce and spice as well as sympathy to her role as Faye, Jennie's friend, who becomes well, almost the target of one of Leo's conquests. Or is it, perhaps, ~the other way around?

Despite the fact that all four students have had considerable stage experience, "Chapter Two," dealing as it does with such deep adult emotions, is fraught with pitfalls even for so-called professional actors. It is much to the credit of the director, Dr. Robert W. Dillon, that the cast acquits itself admirably in illuminating and conveying an understanding of the range of human needs and foibles.

The comedy's set is typical of many Simon plays two New York apartments side-by-side, reflecting clearly in decor and ambience the personalities of their occupants. In this case, the des~ign is by University Theatre's Technical Director-Designer~ Dennis C. Seyer (now in London for the semester), executed by student Dan Stevens. Sharon Wickerham has done the makeup design and costume coordination, and Ann Trimberger the sound design. Scott Hamann is production stage manager.

"Chapter Two" is another show University Theatre can add to its long list of pieces of theatre that are both instructive and enjoyable and just plain fun! for students and general audiences alike.

Some lines to listen for:

"Life was so simple when we were kids. No matter how much trouble you got into outside, when you got home you always got a cupcake."

"Endings are just beginnings backwards."

"Well, yes, in a manner of speaking, we are in the same boat.... But we don't necessarily have to paddle together.... I ~think we have to go up our own streams."

"This is our life now, George, and the sooner we start accepting that fact, the sooner we can get on with this marriage,"

"You know, we may have one of the most beautiful marriages that was ever in trouble."