7 OCTOBER 1970 Captain Zommar, Potluck Coffee House

This columnist has decided to strike closer to home. During the last week, several events of note occurred that we witnessed. (This is not to exclude other events, but we didn't see them.) They just go to prove that there are hidden pools of talent around the old 'tute. To wit:

EXHIBIT A: Calvin Coolidge presents Thursday Evening featuring Captain Zomarr and the Galaxy Pirates quarter hour, was an auxiliary feature of the Mike Davis Radio Programme on WTBS a week ago Saturday. The show was a 40-minute comedy routine complete with commercials. It was put together by a large, somewhat more than normally batty group of M.I.T. students, and funny is just not a sufficient word to describe the roaringly humorous material presented. This show might have made radio history. Maybe it made radio a pickle. We aren't sure how to handle it. But neither was Mike Davis, it seems. The program was well worth the time, and should it return for a third ppearance we can hope for a little more advance publicity. (The author must admit knowing a few of the players, and thus may be slightly prejudiced.)

EXHIBIT B: (Note: This reporter had to leave before the second act last Friday, the singing of John Fagley. We'll try to hear him next time out.) Pope Pius XII is not only a new (?) group on campus, he was our 30th president, the Friday night audience of the Pot Luck Coffee House was told by Mike McClure, Mike Wildermuth, and Clark Smith, who compose the trio. The group did a stand-up singing routine, and came through well in the small Mezzanine Lounge, despite microphone problems. The group's repertoire was well balanced; during their first set they sang four ballads and soft tunes, four driving "pop tunes, and five gag tunes. The group's gimmick numbers are spectacular and include snappy choreography ("Duke of Earl") as well as dollar bill, comb, and kazoo ("Ladies"). But their talent on straight music is undeniable, both on copy songs and originals. ("She Knows: and "Psychic Players") Smith holds down the lead vocal chores, while Wildermuth (wearing a photie of an Indian village) and McClure (tastefully open collar) provide back up vocal and guitar, with occasional leads (including a ten minute Wildermuth solo spot). Technically, as good as any folk group, recorded or not, that we've heard.

EXHIBIT C: Then, of course, there was the M.I.T. Dramashop with a two-day series of two plays (one performance of each per night) last Friday and Saturday. (The Friday performance had filled the Kresge Little Theatre at least ten minutes before showtime, when we were turned away by the full house signs on the doors.) The plays were. "Picnic on the Battlefield" by Arrabal and "Under Plain Cover" by John Osbourne. The performances were crisp, and the sets were, as usual, well done. The special effects and lighting left nothing at all to be desired, and the director, cast, and crew are to be complimented on a very balanced presentation. What more remains to be said?