Biographical 'Bully' to entertain, educate audience on Roosevelt

By MELISSA DUGAN
Collegian Staff Writer

Just another show at Eisenhower Auditorium -- with teddy bears being thrown at the audience.

Yes, teddy bears. But before checking to make sure this is a performance at a university and not a violent version of "Romper Room," take note of the title of the play -- Bully: An Adventure with Teddy Roosevelt.

At 8 p.m. today, the Center for the Performing Arts will present Bully, starring John Davidson as Theodore Roosevelt. The play, as its title suggests, is about the Big Stick adventurer himself.

"It's all about the life and times of Teddy," said Tracy Noll, sales director for the center.

During the biographical production, which is based on Roosevelt's own writings, Davidson will toss teddy bears into the audience. For those who do not catch one, bears will be on sale in the lobby after the show. Davidson will be available to autograph them.

The proceeds from the sale of the bears will go to The Theodore Roosevelt Association, an organization dedicated to promoting Roosevelt's ideals.

"His ideals of how self-government should work, morality in government and of how to conserve this country's natural resources should inspire us to keep making America a better place in which to live," Davidson said in a recent interview.

Roosevelt's ideals and eccentricities are the focus of the show, which aims to portray the 26th president in as realistic and entertaining a way as possible.

Realism abounds in the set design, which features -- in an attempt to re-create Roosevelt's big-game flair for decorating -- many animal body parts, real and fake, including a trash can made of an actual elephant's foot.

Except for these props, Davidson will be alone on the stage for the entire two-hour production.

The star of the one-man show has come to Penn State before, in a production of State Fair last year.

Tickets are $24 for general admission, $20 for students and $14 for children ages 12 and younger. For tickets or information, call the Arts Ticket Center at 863-0255.