No Money For Gordone

To the Editors of The Crimson:

Last weekend Black CAST, on behalf of the Harvard-Radcliffe Afro-American Cultural Center, was both fortunate and honored to have as its guest Mr. Charles Gordone--playwright, director and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in 1970. (Harvard Crimson, 9 November 1976) His workshop on Sunday and lecture on Monday were attended by perhaps 15 students who were most concerned with Mr. Gordone's thoughts in regard to the theater, to writing and direction and to life as he has experienced it--and the intimacy of such a small group allowed for much interaction and exchange.

In addition to the two scheduled events, Mr. Gordone spent no less than 23 hours talking to even smaller groups. He slept in students' rooms, ate in our dining rooms and felt very much a part of our lives. His attitude was overwhelming to us, for in but two days we felt as though we had known one another for years. The opportunity to meet and spend hours talking to the man who had written a play presented by Black CAST in the Loeb last year was extremely special. As the protagonist Gabe Gabriel, Mr. Gordone's alter-ago, I felt as though I had already known him--but the reality of spending time with him afforded more insight into the character than I had ever known before.

As Mr. Gordone prepared to leave, I realized he was under the impression that he was to receive a stipend (as do many guest lecturers) in addition to the travel and living expenses paid. Although the small amount which he had hoped to receive as remuneration for his time was certainly nothing more than a pittance, Black CAST, under the auspices of the Harvard Dramatic Club and Harvard-Radcliffe Afro-American Cultural Center, sadly could not even begin to afford to offer an honorarium of any sum.

Black CAST began its lecture series in an effort to fill a void--there is an interest in Black theater both at Harvard and in Boston which is not being met due to a lack of consistent offerings in the area. It had been the organization's hope that by bringing such notable figures as Charles Gordone to the Harvard community the void could at least be partially filled. Black CAST is most appreciative of the Office of the Arts's aid in this matter, but it is quite obvious that its grant alone cannot begin to pay anything more than partial expenses for a series involving several lectures. In an effort to supplement the grant, Black CAST has raised additional funds through social events and donations. Yet it cannot be overemphasized that these resources will not go far until the importance of such endeavors is recognized by the Harvard community at large. If there truly is a commitment to the theater here, especially Black Theater, it is seen only in the endless hours and energy put into productions for personal gratification and not for academic credit. We have already learned through the Ford Committee's findings that such a discipline should retain its non-credit standing at the present time. That stance has been accepted.

However, I cannot accept a lack of commitment. If the responsibility of funding must fall totally on Black CAST, the least others can do is offer assistance in fundraising techniques. Yet if such efforts to "teach" to "educate" and to "sensitize" are to ultimately benefit everyone--blacks and whites, students and faculty--it should not be a case where Black CAST is solely responsible.

The productions of Black CAST at the Loeb have, with little exception, been highly successful both spiritually (for reasons discussed earlier, the Black community is starved because of a lack of Black theater) and monetarily. However, by performing in the Loeb, the organization must surrender its profits to the Harvard Dramatic Club--another obstacle which makes our existence as a thriving organization rather tentative.

Last night, Mr. Gordone said to me, "People don't make money on love." My embarassment was shrouded with the realization of his words. Indeed, future lectures are threatened if we cannot pay for a favor--a two-day favor at that. The knowledge gained from Mr. Gordone was priceless and $100 could not begin to pay for that. He told us to forget about it, talked for three more hours, and at the end of the night, he asked us to send him a Harvard t-shirt for a souvenir.

He wanted something to remember all of us with, and I'm not quite sure I can forget about that. Brandon Balthazar '76-4