Play pays tribute to photo legend
Sean Smith
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Penrose's "The Angel and the Fiend" is an interesting performance, particularly in its structure. It is a reading of numerous narrations by Lee and close people in her life such as her husband, Roland Penrose, and her once lover, Man Ray. All of this is done in front of a projection of various photographs through Lee Miller's life. The intriguing part about this was how the photographs were the catalysts for story progression as opposed to the actual words spoken by the actors. It proves as the most honest way to approach the amazing and almost unbelievable life that Miller led.
The photographs also covered two ends of her photographic styles. There was much of her early surrealist work that portrayed her artistic side, but then the audience was presented with her WWII photos that show some of the most gritty and honest depictions of concentration camps and the devastation Europe faced in the wake of the war.
"The Angel and the Fiend" featured Drexel Players' Melinda Glass, Matthew Flocco, Jules Victor and John Turnbach.
Penrose elaborated on why he enjoyed Drexel students do the reading and said, "The thing is, I particularly like it when it is played in places like this - university settings. It is actually designed for this. We probably do about eight performances a year."
Penrose is also a noted art lecturer. He is director of the Lee Miller Archive and Roland Penrose Estate. He also oversees the Farley Farmhouse, the art-filled farm on which he spent his childhood, where he showcases Miller's and other artists' works.
The photographs also covered two ends of her photographic styles. There was much of her early surrealist work that portrayed her artistic side, but then the audience was presented with her WWII photos that show some of the most gritty and honest depictions of concentration camps and the devastation Europe faced in the wake of the war.
"The Angel and the Fiend" featured Drexel Players' Melinda Glass, Matthew Flocco, Jules Victor and John Turnbach.
Penrose elaborated on why he enjoyed Drexel students do the reading and said, "The thing is, I particularly like it when it is played in places like this - university settings. It is actually designed for this. We probably do about eight performances a year."
Penrose is also a noted art lecturer. He is director of the Lee Miller Archive and Roland Penrose Estate. He also oversees the Farley Farmhouse, the art-filled farm on which he spent his childhood, where he showcases Miller's and other artists' works.
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