0 0 0 W. v w w w eitr Assured comed London ssurance University Players Power Center 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 11 By Emily Montgomery F OR THEIR contribution to the campus-wide Victorian semester, the University Players will present Dion L. Boucicault's 1841 comedy, Lon- don Assurance. Director Richard Burgwin describes the play as "energtic, witty and lots of fun," with sentiments surprisingly significant to a modern audience. Boucicault, who "borrowed" from such greats as Congreve, Farquar and Sheridan for most of the plot structure of LondonsAssurance, has managed to revive a sense of humor and clever whimsey that had been missing since the Restoration comedies. According to Burgwin, Assurance is the most "outstanding comedy of the 19th century." Although the U-players will be using an adaption, by Ronald G S fest lolanthe The Gilbert and SullivanSociety Lydia Mendelssohn Theater 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 11 By David Grayson THE UNIVERSITY Gilbert and Sullivan Society will present the spring half of its always eagerly awaited semi-annual productions this week. The operetta lolanthe , con- sidered one of Gilbert and Sullivan's finest collaborations, and promised to be a night of splendid music and song, assuredly awaits any interested stage lover as this season's celebrated per- formance. The story involves a half-mortal, half-fairy shepherd named Strephon, who is in love with a young ward of the Chancery, Phyllis. Denied permission to marry Phyllis, Strephon pleads assistance from his fairy mother Iolan- the, who has just been released from a 25-year exile for marrying a mortal. Unfortunately, as Strephon speaks to his mother, who being a fairy has the eternal appearance of a 17-year-old beauty, Phyllis spies them and misin- terprets their meeting as a romantic encounter. When the Peers and the Lord High Chancellor refuse to accept the fairies explanation in Strephon's defense, they Eyre, of the original script, Burgwin assures that there are "no substantial alterations" from Boucicault's master- piece. London Assurance is a comedy of manners. It deals with the universally important topic of relationships. The main character is Grace Harkaway, a passionless young heiress, who has resigned herself to a life of marriage to a rich old fogey by the name of Sir Har- court Courtly, literally old enough to be her father, in order to ensure her right of inheritance. Enter Harcourt's son, Charles Cour- tly. He meets Grace and instantly, staying true to his name, sets about trying to "court" her. In order to lure his father away from his new love, Charles asks a friend of his, Lady Gay Spanker, a strong-willed woman, to pretend that she is interested in Sir Harcourt and to keep him busy while he, Charles, talks to Grace. The real fun begins when Lady Gay's husband, the usually passive Dolly Spanker, overhears Harcourt and Lady Gay planning to elope, unaware that it is all just a trick. He becomes so enraged that he challenges Harcourt to a duel and from there, one can only guess what will happen next. The U-player's cast is comprised of all students, concentrating in theater and drama. The character Grace will be portrayed by Margaret Massman and cast in the role of Sir Harcourt Courtly, interestingly enough, is her cast a spell making Strephon a member of the House and allowing all proposals made by him to be passed without ob- jection. The operetta continues in enchanting mayhem and ends, like all Gilbert and Sullivan's works, in total bliss. As with most of the Society's produc- tions, there will be several faces familiar to the true-blue, die-hard members of the audience that refuse to miss a UMGASS show. Such notables as John Alexander, Beverley Pooley, and Steven Krahanke will be seen in the roles of Lord Chancellor, Lord Mountararat, and Strephon respectively; furthering the noton that an individuals's association with UMGASS is terminal. Iolanthe will be directed by another long-time UMGASS enthusiast, Mary Locker, who has been with the Society for the past 12 years. Besides performance, publicity, and technical duties, Locker directed the very suc- cessful production of 'Rudigor" three years ago. Though still defending "Rudigor" as her favorite G&S work, Locker joins the critics in saying, "though some of Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas may have more beautiful music and one or two others may be more funny, Iolanthe is probably the best combination of the two working together." According to Locker, the audience can expect a very traditional staging of Iolanthe, but with a very stylized and highly choreographed approach. Every prop, movement, and line shall tie together, allowing a high level of refinement while removing any ex- cesses. There should be a strong sense of magic and enchantment throughout the evening as both Locker and choreographer Diana Hunt have spent time researching various material con- cerned with fairyland environments. Brave from Page 4 to play in that city and The Serfers were one of very few bands that did all originals. By the end of the year and a lot of warming up for bands like X, Fear, and the Plugz, and almost all of the punk bands passing through Tuscon at the time, The Serfers went to L.A. In February '81 they became Green on Red, and came out with an EP of the same name. It was financed by a friend just back from the Peace Corps and Cacavas' inheritance after his father died. The EP made it to the playlists of a few college stations, and that was about it. Green on Red's second record came about in 1982, after the band started going to paisely underground bar- beques with other L.A. bands like Dream Syndicate and Rain Parade. The Drea heard a sti pressed it label. I Ressurect word is, if From tli with Slas Dream S3 Gravity T video of th with Isaa apple, see benefits at Speakin becoming great new rule of thi Slash in th seen at J Violent F Lobos, ar Ryders ha the past y Plan 9, the derful, wo Joe's is of noise, to and the SONY S London Assurance: Victorian vaudeville husband, Stephen D. Smith. Richard Schmidt plays Charles Courtly and Jeff Schneiter is Dolly Spanker. The part of Lady Gay will be played by Marisha Czernik, who is due to graduate, along with fellow cast members, Don Rice and Gregg Henry, at the end of this term. However, this will be a gladal, subdued atmosphere, much different from UMGASS's last production The Sor- cerer, in which special effects played a significant role. Two sets, one for each act (designed by Steven Krahanke) will place em- phasis on elements common to each. "We want to visually exemplify the similarities between the Fairyland and the Court of Peers," Locker.says. For those unfamiliar with UMGASS and its 38 years of productions at the University, it is a group that demands both attendance and appreciation from London Assurance is a play that is promised to be funny at least, but predicted to be hilarious. Tickets are available at the Professional Theater Program Ticket Office in the Michigan League Building. For more infor- mation call 764-0450. Group rates are available. any individual believing that he or she contains any cultural sense. There is a universal appeal to all ages in every Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, along with an uncanny sense of humor and some simply delightful music. It is usually the rule that most of the Society's performances are sold out (or close to it), and Iolanthe appears to be no exception. So all of you fanatical Gilbert and Sullivan fans, or anyone, for that mat- ter, wanting an essentially risk-free night of good to great entertainment, had better have tickets in hand-ASAP. Green on Red: Colorful tunes Iix:01 . f 1 iw Ary shop IL- Th e lady with a past invites you to shop... " custom jewelry " remounts " complimentary engraving -16 Nickels Arcade Ann Arbor, Mi. 48104 665-0551 "Where quality is a tradition ... not a goal." CELLAR DOOR presents .. at the fabulous exTkelu 962-0045 SAT., MAY 5-8 P.M.-$12.50 ... And coming to 0koad(nC m t ieatke 965-5563 SAT., APRIL 7-8 P.M.-$11.50 THURS. APR. 26-8 P.M.-$8.50 "She's So Unusual" SAT., APRIL 28-8 P.M.-$9.50 SAT., MAY 26-8 P.M.-$9.50 Tickets for all shows available at all Ticket World locations Walkman 10 ................. Walk man F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Walkman F5 ................. TCS-350 Stereo Recorder .... RADIO SALE PRICE SRF-5 with headphones...... AM Stereo w/headphones.. 6500W Short Wave .. .... ..... D11W Clock Radio ........... 9650W Table Model ......... 7740W AM-FM Portable .... SUZUKI POWERED SPEAK Regular $99.95, NOW ANN ARBOR MUS b IF- 336 S. State St. Iolanthe: UMGASS is havin' a gas 12 Weekend/Friday, April 6, 1984 - S Week