ARTS
Paae E
Thursday, March 28, 1985
The Michigan Daily
'Falstaff' set to unleash a
operatic extravaganza
By Jeffrey Seller
M arch 21, 1985.
The Power Center Rehearsal
Hall, hidden away on top of the
theater's parking structure, explodes
with electricity, excitement and the
shared anxiety of many; opening night
for the University of Michigan School of
Music production of Verdi's Falstaff is
just one week away. Here, a
conglomeration of directors, stage
managers, and performers are
bringing to life the opera which has
been their labor of love since January.
At the helm of this rehearsal is stage
director Jay Lessenger, formerly of the
New York City Opera. Tall, thin, and
not without patience or a sense of
humor, he stops and starts the action
frequently, jumping out of his chair to
show the diverse cast, young elemen-
tary schoolstudents and experienced
graduate students alike, his intentions
through physicalizing the desired ac-
tion: one moment he jumps over the
title character, Falstaff, like an eight
year old girl, then next he chastizes
Falstaff like an Elizabethian knight.
His energy and dedication is constant,
and the pay-off is a spirited, positiver
cast that responds to his every wish.
Indeed, his fervor radiates to all who
are lucky enough to watch him direct in
action, or, at best, hear him speak as he
enunciates, a mile a minute, hist
feeling about the-character Falstaff,i
the opera Falstaff, and the art wherein
it lies.
Based on Shakespeare's play, The
Merry Wives of Windsor, the opera
depicts the frolicking experiences of
Falstaff, a former member of the royal
court. "As a somebody who used to be
important, he's an object of derision,"
states Lesenger. "He's gotten fat and
disgusting, but he doesn't see himself
as gross."~
"He constantly reinforces his image
of himself - he's not stupid, he's just
self involved," he adds.
"He's lost touch with reality so won-
derfully, it makes him very funny - he
sees the world as he wants to see it, not
as it really is!"
What makes Falstaff so endearing,
says Lesenger, is Verdi's obvious affec-
tion for the character. "He never allows
the character to become negative."
"No matter what happens (whether
he is tortured, trampled, or thrown in a
lake), Falstaff lands on his feet. He still
comes up fighting, (and) that's
ultimately his redeeming quality."
"Falstaff is an enormously enter-
taining opera, full of strong visual
images and kinetic pictures," boasts
Lesenger. Further, he adds, "the score
is effervescent - so inventive and
joyful."
"It contains a multitude of ideas -
gasps, hiccups and burps are indicated
in the music, but not obtrusively. The
musical indications are always clear."
As an opera stage director, Lesenger
is extremely mindful of the music
which provides the vehicle for his form
of theatre. "You have to respect the
music; you must have a sense of the
music as well as the text," says
Lesenger. "The music is making a very
strong statement."
Lesenger is encouraged by what he
sees as a good opera department that
continues to grow. This is reflected in
the improving productions as well as
the improving ticket sales, he madds.
Further, he asserts that student per-
formed operas, like Falstaff, are ap-
proachable for those who have not yet
experienced the art form which many
find intimidating. "We can depict
things more accessibly," says
Lesenger. "The University is a great
place to tryout an opera like Falstaff
- it's approachable, and it's full of
great tunes!"
Falstaff will be performed March 28,
29, 30, at 8 p.m. and March 31 at 2 p.m.
at the Power Center. Tickets are
available at the PTP ticket office in the
Michigan League. For more infor-
mation call 764-0450.
Pictured from 'Porky's Revenge' are four boys, four shots, and a porkster.
Be kosher, don't see Pory 's
By James Mayes
I have seen Porky's and Porky's II, so
when I was given the opportunity to
review "Porky's III" I jumped at it. All
right, maybe yawned; but I was deter-
mined to go into the movie with an open
mind, no matter what .everyone else
said.
After seeing Porky's III, titled
Porky's Revenge, I really couldn't tell
who Porky was getting revenge on: was
it those idiotic An~gel Beach flunkies
(led by Dan Monahan asPee Wee);
Porky himself (a touching, but
masochistic idea);(or could it have
possibly been on those hopeless
Porkyites who constantly insist on
throwing their money away on films
like this?
No matter which, one thing is very
clear, when I left the movie I felt very
much like someone had just avenged
themselves on me. A movie of this
nature only needs to make you laugh to
be good.
Unfortunately, Porky's Revenge
combines no plot, very little acting,
bare asses and breasts, and naked
stupidity to make a "zany comedy ex-
travaganza" which makes you laugh
once in the approximate 2 hour and a
half (seemingly days) of showing.
If you are interested in the laugh and
you have seen the previous two movies,
then picture Tommy and Ms.
Balbricker in bed together; you've had
your laugh so send me the $4.50 instead,
of giving it to the theatre. If you haven't
seen the two previous films, don't feel
bad, just stick a knitting needle through
your palm and you'll get the same sen-
sation.
This whole series is obviously a vic-
tiro of sequelitis, a strange and sadistic
tendency characteristic of some film-
makers who try to make more and
more money by dragging the name of a
good film through an endless array of'
roman numerals. What's worse is that
the first Porky's was no gem to star
with. Maybe some day filmmakers will
learn not to parade these endless
sequels before us, or perhaps someone
will find a cure for sequelitis. More
likelywe are goingto be subjected to
"Porky's IV...."
For those of you who still insist on tor-
turing yourselves by seeing this piece of
"filmwork," don't look for'an original
ending to Porky's Revenge; you'v
already seen it in Porky's. y
In this day and age of T-shirts and
slogans, I'm waiting for the shirt which
reads: "I almost laughed at Porky's, I
almost yawned at Porky's II, and I
almost threw up at "Porky's III."
SUMMER CAMP POSITIONS STILL
AVAILABLE AT TAMARACK CAMPS
Bunk Counselors " Specialists in Waterfront, Crafts, Nature,
Photography, Video, Computers, Horseback Riding, Song Lead-
ing * R.O.P.E.S. Course Instructors " Trip Leaders * Unit Super-
visors " Secretary " Food Service Staff Nurse and Clinic o
Assistant " Social Worker e.Bus Drivers.
Some positions available as trip leaders and counselors
at Camp Kennedy, Agree Outpost and Teen Adventure
Trips. Also opportunities to work with emotionally im-
paired children at Silverman Village.
FINAL U-M INTERVIEW DATES
APRIL 2 AND 17
SIGN UP CAREER PLANNING AND PLACEMENT
Tamarack is the Jewish residents camp agency sponsored by
The Fresh Air Society of Metro Detroit since 1903
Chamber classics!
By Neil Galanter
E VEN WITH the abundance of good
Bach, Scarlatti and Handel that
we have been hearing lately, a change
of pace is a welcome, and at the
Kerrytown Concert Hall this evening, a
young group of musicians will perform
chamber music of everyone but the
three above-mentioned composers.
The group calls themselves "The
Chamber Players" and they are made
up of two violins, those being Robin
Mayforth and Kay Stern; a viola who is
Anna Kruger; a cello, Laura Sewell,
and a piano, Laura Kargul. The Cham-
ber Players was formed and brought
together in Minneapolis, Minnesota by'
the cellist of the group, Laura Sewell.
They made an auspicious debut in
February at the Ordway Music Theater
in Minneapolis and the group hopes to
eventually settle into the label of the
Twin Cities' full-time resident
professional ensemble.
One member of the group, Laura
Kargul, is a doctoral student here at the
School of Music. She has studied with
Theodore Lettvin, and Leon Fleisher
and she is currently artist in residence
at Albion College, where she teaches
and performs frequently. In addition t
her activities at Albion, Kargul has per-
formed extensively throughout the
" Great Lakes Region and also abroad in
France and Switzerland.
Since Kargul is an artist-in-residence
at Albion College, the college is spon-
soring a Michigan Concert tour for the
Chamber Players, and the concert this
evening at the new Kerrytown Concert
Hall is part of their tour. The Chambe
Players are the only group which
being considered for the position o
resident chamber ensemble at the Or-
dway-Music Theater in Minnesota, an
the concert tonight is a fine opportunity
to hear an exciting new ensemble that
is rapidly achieving prominence.
Instead of a Baroque bill of fare, we
will hear music of Mozart, Beethoven
and Schumann. The G Minor Quartet of
Mozart, Beethoven's Quartet for two
violins, viola and cello in A Major, and
The Schumann Piano Quintet, (whic
combines the entire force) willlA
covered and there is no charge for ad-
mission to this event. It's 8 p.m. at
Kerrytown, which is located at 415 Nor-
th Fourth Avenue. If you have any fur-
ther inquiries you can call the concert
hall at 769-2999.
Ulrich's Annual
Inventory Sale
Involving every item in our store except textbooks.
Special prices on calculators,
computers and computer products.
__Sale Ends Saturday, March 30th
20% OFF
All Michigan
Items
4
Adults
Sweatshirts
Jackets
Sweatsuits
T-Shirts
Jogging Suits
Children
T-Shirts
Jogging Suits
Jackets
Jerseys
Sweatshirts
...just to mention a few.
Miscellaneous
Glass sets
blankets
Hats
Flags
Thermos bottles
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