Israel Phitha
OT hestra

"Instead, he was inebriated with his
own success and then made mistakes."
Fascinated by this story, and eager
"to understand this genius," Kaufman
spent two years reading every court
transcript, archival information and
every book written by and about

Wilde.

The result is a merging of art and
history. Actors, sitting in a row at a
table weighted down by books, narrate
the trials. They offer perspective,
advice, colorful quotes and detail.
With a cast of nine, Kaufman "takes
the audience on the journey I take in
trying to recreate history.
"There are as many stories of the tri-
als as there are people who were there. I
wanted to create an event that dealt
with the reality that history has many
different versions," Kaufman said.
In the true spirit of the Tectonic
Theater, (tectonic translates as the sci-
ence and art of structure), Gross Inde-
cency not only tells a compelling story,
"but asks the questions of how theater
[of the stage and of life] works," Kauf-
man said. In doing so, it forces viewers
to ask questions about themselves, life
and art.

Photo by Marty Sohl

• 5

ubin Mehta conductor

he strings quivered with energy, the
brasses surged gloriously, the orchestra
created a spacious sound that envel-
oped the listener in a colorful, resonant
landscape." (New York Newsday) Under the
leadership of the venerable Zubin Mehta, the
Israel Philharmonic celebrates the 50th
Anniversary of the founding of
modern
state of Israel.

turday, January 10

8 p.m.,

Auditorium

PROGRAM:

T. Avni
R. Strauss

Beethoven

Communion (1991)

Till Eulenspiegels lustige
Streiche, Op. 28

Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major,
Op. 55 ("Eroica")

UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY

of the University of Michigan • [Inn Arbor

"Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of
Oscar Wilde" continues its New York
run.

"I think this is why the work has
created such a stir," Kaufman said,
adding, "It's all quite compelling. This
is the story of a man unjustly sent to
prison. A fire extinguished way before
his time. This is a new opportunity to
hear him talk to us, to say, 'My God,
look at what we've lost.'"
Kaufman smiles and laughs, 'It's a
pretty Jewish sentiment, no?" 0

Call (212) 420-8000 for informa-
tion and tickets.

734 7642538

■

anmaaN s fl

4IN

■

Outside the 734 and 313 area
codes 800.221.1229
http://www.ums.org

.111,1

etiltural affair,

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