JET

JEWISH ENSEMBLE THEATRE
1991 Pulitzer Prize & Tony Award Winner

Lou's openness has its appeal,
and it stands in stark contrast
with Roy Cohn, the closet homo-
sexual. Until the end, he main-
tains that the definition of a
homosexual is a man without
clout. "But I have clout," he
shouts, and no one can dispute it.
He also has AIDS, and no one can
help him. The characters that
pepper the story are mostly gay:
the brilliantly wrought Roy Cohn
spouts jaded truths and obscen-
ities; Lou's boyfriend, Prior, an-
nounces he has AIDS; a young
Mormon discovers he is not the
heterosexual he thought he was.
Sundry others complete the
menage.
Several stories intersect as
Kushner uses his eccentric char-
acters to create a dream collage.
In fact, the play is more a crazy
quilt of images and ideas than it
is a play. Like Wendy Wasser-
stein, Kushner's contagious hu-
mor keeps him afloat. He is
irresistible despite his obvious in-
ability to keep his play focused.

Subtitled "A Gay Fantasia on
National Themes," the play's the-
atricality is often self-conscious.
Indeed, "fantasia" is a bit of a ruse
to mask the flaws of a play that
doesn't always know where it's
going. Still, there are scenes of
rare power, and they are spec-
tacularly realized. The acting is
superb.

Angels In America
fares better.

Note that this Angels in Chica-
go is the uncut version that pre-
ceded Broadway. The New York
version, the one that won prizes,
is shorter. The playwright has
probably done his play no service
by indulging in the restoration of
scenes that may best have been
left out. The play is protracted.
Still, it's worth seeing, and it runs
through December. ❑
Rachel Feldbin Urist is an Ann
Arbor freelance writer.

U-M Music Society
Plans Arts Programs

When the Whirling Dervishes of
Turkey come to Ann Arbor's Hill
Auditorium Nov. 4 at 8 p.m., they
will bring with them an Islamic
tradition which has endured for
over seven centuries. The extra-
ordinary celebratory perfor-
mances of the Dervishes unite
classical Turkish music and
movement into a seamless and
other-worldly experience. The
Dervishes' Hill Auditorium per-
formance is part of their first
United States tour in 15 years.
On Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. Dr. Jester
Hairston will lead the UMS
Choral Union, Thomas Sheets,
music director, in Ann Arbor's
Hill Auditorium for a special pro-
gram — "A Celebration of the
Spiritual." Dr. Hariston has
molded the history and trans-
mission of African-American
slave songs, spirituals, and gospel
music in the 20th century, and
continues to be a driving force in
communicating the power and
message of the music.
The University Musical Soci-
ety, together with University of
Michigan Hillel and the Jewish
community of Ann Arbor will wel-
come Tnuatron, a dance troupe of
30 young Israeli women aged 8 to
18, drawn from primary, junior
high, and high schools in Tel Aviv,
to the Michigan Theater, 603 E.
Liberty Street, on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.,
as part of the Mid East/West Fest
International Community Ex-
change. "Tnuatron" is a play on
the Hebrew words for joy, move-

ment, and theater, all of which are
encompassed in the colorful pre-
sentations of this innovative
group, which makes its American
premiere.
For ticket information, call the
University Musical Society, (313)
764-2538.

Guild Stages
`Fantasticks'

St. Dunstan's Guild of Cranbrook
will open its 1994 season with
The Fantasticks Nov. 11, 12 and
17, 18, 19. Curtain time is 8 p.m.
in St. Dunstan's Playhouse on the
Cranbrook grounds, 400 Lone
Pine Road between Woodward
and Telegraph in Bloomfield
Hills. Call the Guild, 644-0527,
for reservations.

Meadow Brook
Hosts Storyteller

Storyteller Jackie Torrence, win-
ner of five Parent's Choice
Awards, will open the "Saturday
Fun for Kids" series at Oakland
University's Meadow Brook The-
atre Nov. 5 at 11 a.m.
Reservations and ticket infor-
mation are available through the
Meadow Brook box office, (810)
377-3300.
Jackie Torrence leads her audi-
ence into a world filled with gi-
ants.

LOST IN

At so

"...Rating **fit (Hearty

-A, .

Reed Johnson,

Cheers)..."

Detroit News

..JET cast shines... Henrietta Hermelin Weinberg's portrayal is exemplary..."
Sally Dubats, observer & Eccentric

by NEIL SIMON

Directed by Evelyn Orbach

NI

...Orbach sows the most wonderful casting with young actors...

Lawrence DeVine,

Detroit Free Press

...Orbach managed to pull out some wonderful performances, but
special commendation has to go to actors playing Arty, Jay and Bella...
Mary Anglin, The South End

66

NI

NOW Thru November 13

TICKETS

(810) 788-2900 or 77 CXMIZASTM7, (810) 645-6666

Aaron DeRoy Theatre

Jewish Community Center • 6600 W. Maple Rd. • West Bloomfield
Senior, Student and Group Discounts Available • Hearing Assistance Devices Available

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