THE GREAT BUFFALO HOTEL

Powder River College, a small North Dakota Lutheran school, is the ninth place at which Nicholas Home has taught English. Married twice, drunk too often, perpetual foot in the mouth, wildly popular with his students, Home lives in The Great Buffalo Hotel, sleeping in a sleeping bag atop a billiard table (bad back). The administration is itching to find an excuse to fire him--after all, he's already taught Lady Chatterley's Lover this semester; what next? But then, in his cups one day in the Great Buffalo bar, Home suggests a pick-me-up for Powder River's economy, which has been wilted permanently ever since the interstate passed it right by: How about a 40-foot-high buffalo, a Mt. Rushmore-like attraction? The businessmen take him seriously and even contract him to do the building. And this proves to be a form of job insurance for Horne at the college, too: the businessmen make it known that Home should be kept happy while he builds their buffalo. Lots of irrepressible behavior is yet to come, Ginger-Man-style, along with an over-sentimental ending; but what originality is lacking throughout is made up for by Webber's relaxed, wry humor and sure, steady pace.