An Evening with Rassias

Right from the start it promised to be a weird evening. First and foremost, John Rassias was behind it, and of course he's that...well, he's that weird French professor who's always laughing and shouting and snapping his fingers at the kids and dressing up (and cross-dressing up, too) and breaking eggs on heads his head and others'.

And then, the thing was in Irvington New York. I mean...that's pretty weird. The Irvington Town Hall Theater was holding "The World Premiere!" of Rassias's first-ever play: Caleche, or Love andWomen in Eighteenth Century France (A Male Point ofView). It was billed as a comedy in eight tableaux, put on by "Ram's Horn Productions, Dartmouth College."

As we entered the theater we were greeted by Rassias himself, dressed in a ruffled shirt and knee socks pants too, of course. "Gimme the bod, big guy! Gimme the Bod!" Just as in a Rassias class, there were hugs and effusiveness and not a little embarrassment. But the man is just so real, so earnest, that the blushing fades to affection, and quickly.

Still...there would be plenty more blushing tonight.

Caleche, our program notes informed us, "offers an interpretation of love and a fresh appreciation of the roles women played in the literature of that turbulent period. The play is based on the novels or contes of seven of the most influential writers of the time." The play, as acted by Dartmouth students and recent Grads was about love, but the French being French, it was really about sex. So in a family magazine like this one I can't tell you too much about it. In the second act, Rassias (as Diderot) caught syphilis and started spitting up teeth, and the love-making techniques of 40 women, as described in the bijoux indiscrete tableaux, was something I'm not sure I wanted to hear.

All I can tell you for sure is, it was a weird evening, but an evening with certain grace notes. Rassias, coming down from the stage, shared his bouquet of flowers with those who had attended his world premiere. "Gimme the bod!" Rassias insisted a last time. One more hug; that has always been his way.

"Gimme the bod,big guy," saidRassias to ourreporter, who wascovering "TheWorld Premiere!"of the uninhibitedprof's first-ever play.