SIN Entertainment
A Female
Perspective On
An American Bu alo
JULIE SMITH YOLLES
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
ndrea Lauren Krass, a 24-year-old Wayne State University theater ma-
jor, first performed with her Barbie dolls at her Southfield home.
"I was always the actress in the family and always overdramatic
— as my mom tells me," reminisced Krass. "I always was the one to
get all the attention."
Now, the attention focused on Krass is for her twist on the role
of Bobbi in An American Buffalo, which runs through this week-
end at Wayne State's Studio Theatre. The story of a planned, but failed bank robbery
of American buffalo-head nickels, American Buffalo (1975) marks playwright David
Mamet's first major success. The play centers on characters in an underground world
working within society, but against that society's socially accepted goals. It was re-
vived with Al Pacino on and off Broadway and proclaimed as "the best American play
of the decade," by the New York Times.
Typically performed as a three-man play, An American Buffalo, under Heather
Lechner's direction, features Krass in one of the title roles.
"I chose to make `Bobbi' (Krass) a woman (the character is the male Bobby in the
original), because today's women are an integral part of the business community in
some positive and negative ways," said Lechner. "It (Bobbi's role) offers us some com-
pelling dynamics within the play itself, exploring the relationship between men and
women in the workplace as bosses, colleagues, confidants and suppliers of livelihood
... I do not think casting a woman in this role is so strange. Besides, have you not ever
met a woman who scared you just a little?"
To prepare for the complex role of Bobbi, Krass did research on heroin addiction,
including speaking to several recovering drug addicts, watching documentaries and
attending a drug rehabilitation recovery group.
"Heather's a nontraditional director," said Krass. "She's helped me with my mul-
tifaceted character, whom I see as a tough cookie on the outside. Inside, she's just
mush, a little girl." •
The dark side of business and character power wars are revealed in David Mamet's An American
Buffalo featuring Andrea Lauren Krass of Southfield, Keir Cutler and J.D. House.
Quilt, through December 10;
Painting With Fire: Pewabic
Vessels in the Margaret Wat-
son Parker Collection. Pot-
tery, paintings and lithographs,
through Jan. 7. University of
Michigan Museum of Art. (313)
764-0395.
The PaineWebber Collec-
tion of Contemporary Mas-
ters.
Collection includes
es
approximately 70 paintings,
sculptures. and works on paper.
Through Dec. 31. The Detroit In-
stitute of Arts. (313) 833-7900.
Thomas Cole: The Voyage
of Life features a series of four
paintings from the American
artist. Through April 14. The De-
troit Institute of Arts. (313) 833-
7900.
Aspects of Realism. Michi-
gan-area painters find their ex-
pressive voices in realism.
Through Dec. 15. Henry Ford
Community College. 5101 Ever-
green, Dearborn. (313) 271-2750.
Nature Observed, Nature
Interpreted. 19th century
American Landscape Drawings
and Watercolors. through Dec.
3 1_, :cThe Detroit Institute of Arts.
(313) 833-7900.
Gifts of Clay Holiday
-
% An American Buffalo will be performed at Wayne State University's Studio
Theatre (downstairs at the Hilberry). Showtimes are at 8 p.m. tonight and Sat-
urday, Dec. 8 and 9, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10. For tickets, call (313) 577-
2972.
Show. Through Dec. 31. Pe-
wabic Pottery. (313) 822-0954.
COMEDY
Kenny Rogerson. Through
Dec. 10. 8:30 p.m. Mark Ridley's
Comedy Castle, Royal Oak. (810)
542-9900.
FAMILY
Waginogan: The Gathering
Place. A replica of an Indian
"gathering place" has been cre-
ated: Through May 5. 1-4 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays. Cran-
brook Institute of Science. (810)
645-3224.
Wild Lights. Through Dec.
30. Animal theme displays in
lights. 5:30-8 p.m. The Detroit
Zoo. (810) 541-5835.
Babes in Toyland. Pre
sented by The Bloomfield Play-
ers Youth Theatre. Through
Dec. 10. 7:30 p.m. Lahser High
School, Bloomfield Hills. (810)
433-0885.
FILM
Festival of Animation '95.
Fourteen recent. short animated
films. 7 and 9:30 p.m. The De-
troit Film Theatre. (313) 833-
2323.
MUSIC
Sugar Blue. 8 p.m. 7th
House. 7 N. Saginaw, Pontiac.
(810) 335-8100.
The Tim Flaharty Trio with
Nancy K. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. The En-
voy Cafe, 33210 W. 14 Mile Road,
West Bloomfield, (810) 855-6220.
Oakland University Com-
munity Chorus. 8 p.m. Oak-
land University's Recital Hall.
Rochester. (810) 370-3013.
The John_ Denomme Trio,
Jazz. 7 p.m. Borders Books and
Music, Novi. (313) 347-0780.
CALENDAR page 82
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