. THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Arts & Entertainm ent Friday, November 12, 1976 Page Five
VB
. s ..
fPTP's
By JOANNE KAUFMAN
IT'S HARD ENOUGH to find
an actor who sings; it is.
verging on the improbably to
find a singer who dances. But
to find an actor who sings and
dances is treading in the realm
of the impossible.
Well, multiply the impossible
by a baker's dozen, put it ont
the stage of the Power Center,
give 'it plenty of room, and
you've got the incredible cast
members of Don't Bother Me,
I Can't Cope. And, oh, how they
cope.
They cope from Charleston to
can-can to Calypso. And in case
we. didn't think they could do
it, they cope from sensual to
soulful to spiritual. Cope doesn't
ask questions, musical or other-
'Cope'
imately enough then, the caver-
nous Power stage held nothing
but two ladders and a scrim to
conceal-and occasionally high-
light - the excellent musicians
who served as accompaniment
to the ensemble.
Every so often the musicians
would overpower the singers,
which in some shows is a bles-
sing. But it would have been
the audience's loss to miss one
syllable of the multi-talented
Micki Grant's score. "Show me
that Special Gene" - a num-
ber the Woman's Movement
would be wise to take as its
anthem - and the title song
concerning the woes of raised
rent, analyst's bills, fatigue and
iunemployment were particular-
ly good.
I EXPECT THAT R.C.A. orl
-E
1
excels Tower of)
who in one number suggested
she miglht start a riot and in By SUSAN BARRY tourists who will soon be cor-'
another extolled her special The Tower of Babel, a newly ing by to view the Tower. Ink
brand of love-makiig, and let composed opera, opened its a particularly lovely quartet,
me re-mention Bill Dorsey, who first night of performance the mother, her children and
as the preacher could probably Wednesday to an enthusiastic Ezra kneel in a prayer express-
have gotten the audience to audience that filled the sanc- ing their faith that "God will
march on Moscow - or Jericho tuary of the First Presbyterian give us tomorrow."
Iabel': Innovative
fully woven into the script they glow as the pillars cave in and ' impressive was the perform-
seem more natural and the the building falls. The organ ance of the principals. Lauren
burlesque is amusing. But when pumps out loud menacing Rauch as Shem had a clear,
thrown out on their own like chords in a truly frightening high - pitched voice and such
"let's go hang around the effect. an innocent, uninhibited de-
hanging gardens," they don't The people cluster in groups, meanor that his performance
quite work. speaking. foreign languages and was extremely appealing. He so
1
wise, l e:ap Ces to i he y gue
the girl, do the townspeople Columbia has made a record
save the railroad, or does the of this show. But I would like
factory avert a strike. If you're to see a couple of engineers put
looking for "plot" you've come their heads together and come
to the wrong place. up with a visual recording. Fail-
ing that, someone ought to take
RATHER WE'RE TAKEN on is upon himself to knight the
a trip through Harlem where choreographer, Edmond Kres-
we see and hear how people put ley.
up with slum lords, and rat-in- The opening and closing num-
fested tenements: We hear bers featured Elijah Gill in a
someone (Billy Dorsey) sing dazzling series of arabesques,
"So long, Sammy" to a friend pirhouettes and seemingly back-
who has just died of an over- breaking bends. In the ensem-
dose; we watch a couple dis- ble no one was as much as a
cover each other - to the great shuffle-step off the beat, and it!
delight of the audience in was made beautifully clear that
"Thank Heaven for You." We movement begins not with the
even go to a Baptist church for feet but withnthe fingertips.
a sermon to end all sermons, Billy Dorsey's very robe in
and through it all, ghetto life, ."Good Vibrations" was an inte-
and life in general, goes on. gral part of the choreography.
The set designer was very Before beginning this review,
wise. He or she knew we would I vowed not to mention specific
be too distracted by dancers cast members. It would be
like Elijah Cll, Linda Griffin, grossly unfair since they were,
Sandy Gilfillan et al to pay at- uniformly excellent. Btu let me
tention to anything else. Approx- just mention Yvette Freeman,
if he wanted to.
MY ONE MILD complaint
about the show came at the
end when cast members came'
into the audience and requested
us to take our neighbor's hand.
Call me xenophobic but I didn't;
like it. We were then' asked toI
rise and hold our arms aloft. I'
suppose one could get into a
philosophical discussion about
audience involvment with the
performers and whether the line'
of demarcation between the1
proscenium or thrust and the;
auditorium should be crossed
but this is not quite the appro-;
priate forum. More to the point,'
the cast's entry into the audi-
ence rippled the smooth flow
of the performance andtcreated'
uncertainty about whether or
not the play was done. .
In spite of my own misgivings,
it was quite a sight to see jean-
clad, students and three-piece'
suited businessmen (who look-
ed very upeasy) standing with
clasped hands in the Power'
Theater. The move into the
audience may have beena way
of guaranteeing the cast a stand-
ing ovation. Not to worry; they'
would have gotten one anyway
complete with clapping hands,
stamping feet, and shouts of
"Encore."
As we left the theater my corn-
panion said: "you don't see this
play, you experience it." PTP,
why did you make it a one-
night stand?
Church on Washtena'w. ,Y' When the tourists finally THE TOURISTS leave and caring on Ezra for help. Ezra nlivened h character that
The opera begins with a arrived, they formed a children stream up the aisle answers that they have achiev his tragic fall was the most
dance expressing a vision charming chorus, extolling the with a rather cumbersome but ed their purpose and seen God dramatic moment in the pro-
Jabez (Alice Hinterman), a dubious virtues of viewing definitely appealing charm A -in his fury at their ignorance duction+
mute" orphan adopted by the "thirty-two, sights in seventeen puppet show is narrated by Ez- and deceit. The most noteworthy per-
wise patriarch Ezra (Stephen days." The scene is cleverly ra and creatively punctuated Following the departure of formance of the opera was that
Bryant). It is a vision of de- manipulated by Hannah, an by the orchestra. Although the builders, Ezra entreats God of Stephen Bryant's Ezra. Bry-
struction; and while the child ambitious salesperson with just a bit too distractingly long, for an answer 'to the confu- ant is currently working on his
Jabez is being comforted, Ez- many "fine gifts" to offer, in- the show within the show builds sion. This aria is the most mov- doctorate in voice at the Uni-
ra s grandson Shem (Lauren cluding her coy, lamentably un- the appeal of the young char- ing in the opera and highlights versity and has been an ap-
Rauch) appears to sing an in- married daughter Sarah (Sig- acter Shem. Bryant's rich, mature voice. prentice artist with the Santa
quisitve aria about the Tower. rid Johnson). This is the com- The children leave and the The entreaty is met with a Fe Opera. His interpretation
THE MORNING'S activity ic highlight of the opera. builders enter the Tower fol- curious response by Jabez a'd was given in a full dramatic
then starts as Hannah, enthu- Occasionally there are com- lowed by a group of their dis- the two, leave the stage. The ass ent a prevailing air
siastically portrayed by Gretch- ical lines that incorporate spe- satisfied co - workers. The chorus echoes the earlier ex- of'professionaism to the pro-
< Fycifically contemporary terms ancient - day agitators are clamation of faith that "God duction.
en Fogel, wakes her family$anit.dy agaor ae
and gets them ready for the in the dialogue. Where care- quickly set in their places by will give us tomorrow," and The highest acclaim of the
OWN=_---w their heartless overseer Caleb a mist rises over the empty evening, hoWever, must be ac-
(Gory Kettrman) who dashes remains of the Tower. The corded to Donald Bryant, the
ary hopes for labor reform. flute and harp perform a con- comnoser, and Travis Bryant,
a h f b ftemnlative duet that provokes the librettist. These two highly
cII i ii e it~ i1 Ie I EI(i King Obadiah, played with retributive thoughts as one gifted artists succeeded in
majestic charm by Charles gazes on the ruins. bringing to life an innovative
Friday - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Aud. 3 Brown, appears and engages in mileu. They turned what might
MLB, 7, 9:15: Arad. 4'MLB, 8, 10:15: It's a Gift, Old Arch. a duet with Caleb, planning IT IS CLEAR that a great have been another church pro-
Aud., 7 oily: Goin' to Town, Cad Arch. Aud., 9:05 only; their deceit in allowing the deal of care was taken in the duction into a work of more
The Start of Adele H., Angell Acd. A, 7 & 9; West Side workers to believe they were production of this opera. The long - lasting potential.
eStory, Nat. Sci. And, 7:30 & 9:45. building the tower to see God c tesde The sow runs throh to-
Saturday -- Truck Stop Women, Aud. 4 MLI3, 7, 10:30; when actually it is to be a d sBeierwaltes, appear authentic The shd rus thgh to-
Teenge D~l.?~ IB 4 ~:4: Te Lay Vni~hs, ld Ach. mnment of earthly power and; and consistent in design. The !night and I would highly re-
Teenage Doll, M11 4, 8:45,Thevahy Vanishes, clArch.mhl ei n set designed by Millie Daniel- commend attendance - if only
Aud., 7, 9-05: Paths of Glory, MLB 3, 8:45; Dr. Strange- re the fld on the c son and Travis Bryant, was to observe a truly impressive
love, MLB 3, 7,10:30: The Three Musketeers, Nat. Sci. pleted section against his will complicated and extensive as attempt at innovation,
Aud., 7, 9:30: The Story of Adele I., And. A Angell, 7 & 9. and the dramatic turning point !well as functional and capable#-.-.
occurs when the child falls of accommodating the various On July 19, 1962, Communist
S:nday -- Th Stranger, Old Arch. Aud., 7, 9:05: Ita- from the precipice. special-effects. ;
T rChief Jans Kndr w s eas stt
:
Ars1
By JIM STIMSON
ARS MUSICA will play its
first Ann Arbor concert
of the season tomorrow at 8:30
p.m., in St. Clair's Episcopal
Temple Beth Emeth at 2309
Packard.
Ars Musica (Latin for "Musi-
cal at..) isa 13-piece ensem-
ble that specializes in Baroque
music, and performs every-
thing on original or copied
Baroque instruments. The
group is based in Ann Arbor.
Headed by violinist Lyndon
Lawless, Ars Musica is begin-
ning its seventh season. This
year has seen it expand from
eight to thirteen members,
making it one of the few
groups In the world equipped
to perform authentic Baroque
music.
FEATURED in the
program will be an oratorio
dedicated to the bicentennial,
entitled The Temple of Miner-
va. The text is by Francis Hop-
kinson; a signer of the Declara-
tion of Independence, and the
music is by George Frederick
Handel, Michael Arne, Thomas
Arne, and Henry Carey.
Hopkinson adapted the music
to his verse in 1781 to bolster
bleak spirits during the Revo-
lutionary War. The oratorio is
an allegory centered about ti-
nerva, Goddess of Wisdom,
and the Geniuses (spirts) of
America and France. Four vo-
calists have been added to the
ensemble to perform the vocal
parts.
Other pieces on the program
include the Overture to Jeptha
by Handel, a concerto grosso
by Corelli, a flute trio by
PIeyel, and an oboe quintet by
J. C. Bach.
WHY PERFORM on baroque
instruments? Says Lawless,
"We aren't trying to re-create
an 18th century performance.
We're trying to find out where
Sculptor Dies
NEW YORK (UPI) -- Alex-
ander Calder, the international-
ly known sculptor and painter,
died here of a heart attack
yesterday. He was 78 years
old.
Calder came to New York
from his home in France in
September for the opening of a
retrospective show of 50 years
of his work entitled "Calder's
Universe" at the Whitney Mu-
seum of Art.
RE WAS best known for his
monumental steel sculptures
known as mobiles and stabiles.
[usica to play
the composer comes from, so of the instruments," Lawless
we aren't playing in complete This concert is the first in
ignorance of everything be- a series of four slated for Ann
yond the notation. The nota- Arbor this year. Tickets are
tion is very incomplete. still available for $4 at the
"We happen to like the sound Liberty Music Shop.
Dha BPsiFratern ty
PRESENTS
A pecial Midnight Concert
f WITH THE
FiYaiGd romberg Dand
maro and Iis Five Women, MLB 4, 7 only; Throne of
Blood, MI-L3 4, 9 only; Dairy of a Chambermaid, Aud. A
Angell, 7, 9.
All weekend -- Two Minute Warning, Fox Village (7("-
1300); Shot at the Devil, The Next Man, Burnt Offerings,
Silent Movie: The M,)ies, Briarwood (769-8780): The Ritz,
State (662-6264); Norman, Is That Yot?, Fifth Forum (761-
9700); Marathon Man, Michigan (665-6290); The Front,
Campus (668-6116).
-NN-.I-.-.---------------
TONIGHT in MLB!
ONE FLEW OVER
THE CUCKOO'S NEST
(Milos Foreman, 1975)
SUDDENLY the earth be-,
gins to tremble and the Tower
is bathed in an eerie orange*
l Thacuorchestra andwell-timed,- ed to be purging Stalinist lead-
and invariably achieved the ap- ers in the Hungarian Commu-
propriate intensity. But most niec party,
f
MLS 3-7 £ 9:15
MLB 4-8 & 10:15
Jack Nicholson won the Academy Award 'as McMurphy, a
free-spirited rouge who takes over the. ward of a mental hos-
pital by a felicitous combination of gall and ingenuity. Based
on Ken Kesey's celebrated novel, this film won five Academy
Awards, including best picture. Louise Fletcher.
7, 8, 9:15 and 10:15
Come early-we will start on time, $1.25
FRIDAY, NOV. 19 at Midnight
MICHIGAN THEATER
603 E. LIBERTY, ANN ARBOR
Advance Tickets $5.50. Day of Show $6.50
'TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE at Discount Records (both
stores). Aura Sounde & Schoolkids Records and in Ypsilanti
at wiere House Records.
(DOORS OPEN 11:30)
Smoking or Beverages Prohibited
141In o
Wre
psi
A W. C. FIELDS & MAE WEST Double Feature 1935
IT'S A GIFT7
(At,7:00)
W. C. Fields and Baby Leroy star in this lovely comedy about a hen-pecked
owner of a small town general store who decides on a "new" existence with
the gift of. a California orange plantation. "Priceless and classic comic
episodes"-N.Y. Times. Short: COPS with Buster Keaton.
GOIN' TO TOWN
(At 9:05)
"A good woman for a bad man," Mae West marries a dissolute blueblood in
Buenos Aires after being run out of the West. Snubbed by Newport society,
she crushes theni by singing the lead in a performance of Samson and De-
lilah. Short: Charlie Chaplin in EASY STREET.
SAT: Classic Hitchcock-THE LADY VANISHES
OLD ARCH. AUD.
CINEMA GUILD Admission $1.25
FRANCOIS TRUFFAUT'S 1975
THE STORY OF ADELE H.
screenplay by
WILLIAM GOLDMAN from his novel
produced by
ROBERT EVANS
and
SIDNEY BECKERMAN
SHOWTI MES
Friday: 7:00 and 9:05
Sat.-Sun.: 1, 3:05, 5:10,
7:15, 9:25
SHOWTIMES
7:00 and 9:00 P.M.
7-1 kUQU
II
I
mmor-