Tuesday, April 2, 1574 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Five Tuesday, April 2, 1 ~74 THE MiCHIGAN DAILY - - _ . Bessie Jones, friends make an unforgettable visit to the Ark Two Gentlemen of Verona' is true musical Elizabethan fun By JOAN BORUS Bessie Jones is a powerful, unforgettable pres- ence, both as a performer and as a person. Her two sellout performances last weekend at the Ark serv- ed as ample testimony of this. Wearing a long flow- ing dress and a cross on a heavy chain, Bessie, accompanied by her granddaughter Georgette and a friend, "Sister" Bessie Berkes, captivated their audiences with haunting reminders of a past era in America's history. Originally from Albany, Georgia, Bessie now makes St. Simon's Island her home. The island is one of the Georgia Sea Islands, a network of is- lands off the Georgia and Carolina coasts. Popu- lated largely by descendents of former slaves, these islands have retained much of their slave and African heritage. Bessie speaks a dialect called Gullah, which, combined with her rambling style of conversation makes it hard for a person unfamiliar with it to understand. Nevertheless, that didn't prevent any- one from experiencing the warmth and richness of the many different aspects of the Georgia Sea Is- land culture which the program entailed. Not only did the Singers perform spirituals, but they also told folk tales and demonstrated games. The latter proved to be one of the high points in the program, with the group inviting audience participation. Another aspect central to Bessie's performance is the deep religious faith that permeates the Is- land culture. The religion of the Georgia Sea Is- lands is a dynamic, involving form of Christianity TELECAST TONIGHT: that centers upon congregational participation. Concentrated in little "praise houses," where all can and do respond when a member prays aloud or sings, this "shouting" style has its derivatives in churches throughout the South. This side to island culture came out in full force in a prayer meeting conducted by Bessie the fol- lowing Sunday morning at the Ark. Stressing that she and "Sister" Berkes were only "teachers" as opposed to preachers, the service was neverthe- less, a complete and joyful experience. Bessie is something of an expert on folk reme- dies, stating that she first learned how to make pills and formulas for her grandfather, who left them for her to finish while he worked in the fields. One of her favorite medicines, and one that she uses herself, is a mixture of pulverized oyster shells with ocean water. According to Bessie, this is good for cleaning out the body and is especially good for pregnant women or anyone in general who suffers from backaches. If you haven't seen Bessie yet, it is highly re- commended that you take the time to see her on her last remaining day here. Those who do see her will have the opportunity to talk to a remarkable women with a remarkable background. The chil- dren's concert at the Ann Arbor Community Cen- ter and Project Community (625 N. Main) at ten this morning is highly recommended, as she is especially good with children. You will probably get a chance and have the space to participate in some of the games that will be demonstrated. By BOB SCHETTER The touring production of Two Gentlemen of Verona, a musical adapted from Shake- speare and presented by the Professional Theatre Program (PTP) at Power Center this weekend, was true to the origi- nal Elizabethan spirit: fun for both the actor and audience. Because of poor casting and "self - directed" acting, how- ever, the musical's characters were reduced to mere stereo- types. The story centers upon the es- capades of two young gentlemen: Valentine, played by Carl Scott, and Proteus, played by Jose Fernandez. They differ on their attitudes towards life. Valentine goes off to Milan to seek fame and fortune, while Proteus falls in love with fair Julia, played by Carla Manning. By the end of the play, roles have been reversed, with Valen- tine falling love with the Prin- cess of Milan, played by Rozaa Wortham, and Proteus becoming a sexist swine, leaving Julia pregnant and procurring Silvia, the Princess, for himself. All ends well, however, with Proteus getting his just deserts and mar- rying Julia. As a modern version of the play, everything is updated. The music is rock (by Galt Mcdermot of Hair fame); themes are mod- ern (sex, war, woman's rights, gay power), and even the scen- ery is unconventional, with lad- ders and platforms replacing theJ more formal decor of Elizabeth- an theater. Poor acting mars Kim Fried- man's touring production. The actor's antics are never con- vincing. Gestures proved mean- ingless and certain crude re- marks came off as just that, Carl Scott, Valentine, is the prime example of self-directed acting, that acting in which the actor portrays the character through superficial motions rath- er than feeling. The characterizations of Speed and Launce, servants to the Two Gentlemen were greatly disap- pointing. In New York, Launce was played by a tall human rub- ber band, a freak in every way. His counterpart, Speed, was freak in the Cheech and Chong tradition. Together, they were stupendous. In this weekend's show, Nick de Juria and Charlie Rodriguez just made the roles trite. Still, the musical had saving graces. Jokes, staging and cos- tuming were exactly as in the N. Y. original. Dancing and singing were superb. The chorus numbers were vital and ener- getic, clearly the highpoints of the show. The touring production, despite many flaws, could not under- mine the spirit and joyfulness with which Two Gentlemen was written. UNIVERSITY DANCERS at POWER CENTER Fri., April 5; Sot. ,April 6; Sun., April 7 at'8 P.M. Daily Photo by STUART HOLLANDER Bessie and , friends Special Matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 3 P.M. EVENING PERFORMANCES $3.00 MATINEES $1.50 Tickets available at Power Center Box Office 124 P.M. An Oscar scoreboard: Pick the winners By DAVID BLOMQUIST The 1974 version of that last treat remnant of the golden age of Hollyw6odthe Academy .Awards ceremony, will be tele- vised live tonight from the Doro- they Chandler Pavilion in Los An- geles at 10 pm on channel 4. To help guide you through the maze of nominees and categories, here's your official Daily Oscar scdretard - including our own fearless picks, indicated by as- terisks. My the best entries win. Best Flm "Azeriean Graffiti" (Univer- sal) "Cries and Whispers" (New Welid) "The Exorcist" (Warner Bro- thers) "The tng" (Universal) (*) "A Touch of Class" (Avco- Embassy) It's almost a coin flip between giants Exorcist and Sting. I'll go with Sting to win, but I won't be surprised if Warner's super-chill- er pulls off the big one. Best Actor Marlon Brando, "Last Tango in Paris" Jack Lemmon, "Save the Tig- er" Jack Nicholson, "The Last De- tail" Al Pacino, "Serpico" Robert Redford, "The Sting" (*) This looks like Robert Red- ford's year to win the gold sta- tue, even against a list of espe- cially strong competing per- formances. Jack Nicholson, though, is a possible dark horse. Best Actress Ellen Burstyn, "Exorcist" (*) Glenda Jackson, "Touch of Class" Marcia Mason, "Cinderella Liberty" Barbra Streisand, "The Way We Were" Joanne Woodward, "Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams" Ellen Burstyn gets the nod from this list of Oscar old-tim- ers. Either Jackson or Mason, however, might be able to pull out a win in this always volatile category. Best Supporting Actress Linda Blair, "Exorcist" (*) Candy Clark, "A m e r i c a n Graffiti" Madeline Kahn, "P a p e r Moon" Tatum O'Neal, "P a p e r Moon" Sylvia Sidney, "Summer Wish- es, Winter Dreams" The only obstacle between Linda Blair and the Oscar is a, complaint filed with the Screen Actors Guild claiming that a vet- eran Hollywood stunt lady, and not Blair; appears in many of Exorcist's more difficult scenes. The battle appears to be subsid- ing in Blair's favor; still, it might scare away some voters, giving Tatum O'Neal a shot at the award. Best Supporting Actor Vincent Gardenia, "Bang the Drum Slowly" Jack Gilford, "Save the Tiger" John Houseman, "The Paper Chase" (*) Jason Miller, "The Exorcist" Randy Quaid, "The Last De- tbil" Veteran producer - director Jon Iouseman is the leading contender' in a list of surprising- lv good candidates. Jason Mil- ler's Exorcist performance is a second possibility. Best Director George Lucas, "American Graffiti" Ingmar Bergman, "Cries and Whispers" William Friedkin, "The Exor- cist" (*) George Roy Hill, "The Sting" Bernardo Bertolucci, "Last Tango in Paris" .Best director' may well be the most unpredictable category of the night. Pushed up against the wall, I'd pick William Friedkin to win for Exorcist - but this cate- gory could easily go to any of the five nominees. Best Foreign-Language Film "Day For Night" (Italy- France) (*h "The House on Chelouche Street" (Israel) "L'Invitation" (F r a n c e- Switzerland) "Turkey Delight" (Holland) "The Pedestrian" (West Ger- many) r SAT., SUN., & WED. AT 1, 3 5, 7, & 9:05 THURSDAY & FRIDAY at 7 pm. & 9 p.m. WINNER Best Foreign F ILM ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION TRUFFAUT 'S FOR 603 E. Liberty DIAL 665-6290 Open 12:45. Shows at 1 . ;57 a o m. TONIGHT!-TUES., MPM NOMINATED FOR 3 ACADEMY AWARDS! GLENDA JACKSON and GEORGE SEGAL in A TOUCH OF CLASS A sophisticated comedy with MORE than "A Touch of Class" 7 & 9 p.m.-only $1 AUD. A, ANGELL HALL COMING THURSDAY-BELMONDO in Godard's BREATHLES. NEXT TUESDAY-Bergman's SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT the film upon which A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC IS BASED. Tickets for all of each evening's shows on sale outside the auditorium at 6 p.m. APR. 2-FIRST CAMPUS SHOWING! Michifish performers swi a 'street beat' I By BETH NISSEN The University of Michigan Mieoifish swam their way through another synchronized swim' show last Friday at the Margarat Bell :pool. The show, nganed "Street Beats" gave a watery world - wide tour using streets and the actions on them as a conecting theme. Most of the anbers used the same basic synchronized pool moves and the au4ience spent a g e4 tegl of the show applaud- ing feet, legs, arms and hands rising out of the water in unison. There were eight numbers that looked like Busby Berkeley extra- vagAn as with water wings and four numbers consisting largely of masses of bodies folding into geometric patterns. The more creative swims in- cluded "The Carnaby Beat," a three person num'ber that led to the best synehronization of any :nurnber in the evening. "tight frights," done in the dark, was one crowd favorite. Two battery -'powered bicycle lights were strapped to each girl's cap and were flashed off afd on, creating a startling headlights effect. "The Vagabonds" at least tied for crowd favorite, with a group of Barnum and 1i$4ey-dressed clowns perfering incredible gy nmastie stunts off the high div- ing board to the especial delight of tbo children. "path of Discovery," a co-ed duet, use4 some lovely posed ballet effects, but mostly looked like two kids playing Flipper. A group co-ed number, "The Street Rumble" suffered from physical strains as one poor male struggled to heft his part- ner into the air. The solo swimmer in the "On Broadway" number was particu- larly uninspired, but can be cre- dited with smiling so much her teeth were chlorine-bleached. I was apparently one of only a handful who found the sing- ing and guitar - playing Masters of Ceremonies' pre-number in- troductions as flat as matzoh. The rest of the audience clapped in unison when the duet sang. There was the usual amount of audience gasps over the ma- rine gymnastics and ability of the gitls to hold their breath, all surface together, and switch pat- ters so dramatically underwater. Several appreciative male members of the audience whist- led wolfishly when the girls re- surfaced topside, but overall au- dience admiration was registered in frequent applause. To produce a show of this length and quality, the swimmers must have had to practice until their body turned pruney. The individual numbers may have lacked choreographic inno- vation but the water medium was used imaginatively. SHOW TIMES Mon.-Say-., 7:15 & 9:00 Sun., 5:30, 7:15, 9:00 I A I , I U I tersiaa1 HOUSE OF IMPORTS 25% OFF ON OUR ENTIRE SELFCTION OF ORIENTAL RUGS -NEW AND ANTIQUE- * BEAUTY 0 INVESTMENT. EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY-MAJOR EVENTS COMMITTEE is pleased to announce the only Detroit area performance of THE TEMPTATIONS with special guest stars ' Tower of Power in Bowen Fieldhouse April 5-8:00 p.m. TICKETS: $6.00 (reserved) , I I WINNER OF 10 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS icluding BEST MOVIE I "THE ST NG" '_i GO WILD-STREAKERS Y2/off on TUES. If yoyr professors knew you were going to see this they'd tell you to stop learning. Don't be surprised when you see them there. TUESDAY-Modern Languages Aud. 3 $2 ($3 off reg. price) WEDNESDAY-Natural Science Aud. shows each day at I t ..4 t I I .