4 Page 8 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 17, 1986 'Knee By Noelle Brower More and more the general tendency in modern theatre today is to combine the various disciplines of dance, art, and music within the framework of what is considered a dramatic text. Robert Wilson's the Knee Plays , originally the entr'acte vignettes from his much larger production of the CIVIL warS, a tree is best measured when it is down, at first seems like a step forward in the progression of~ modem theatre until one realizes that it is missing one thing-the dramatic framework, the meaning. Although he has been a fixture of the theatrical avant-garde in Europe since the early '70s, Wilson has recently been lauded as the great white hope for the development of an American theatre. Wilson's theatre has been labled imagistic by )lays' plot jerks some because of his emphasis on a boat. The majority of the vig - the visual aspects of theatre rather nettes enact the voyage of the boat than the textual. (A recent Wilson as it drifts about and eventually collaboration was Hamletmachine becomes the symbolic book from which had a script of 7 pages and a the first sequence. In the last play, performance time of several hours.) a tree grows from the book and the This past weekend's production of play ends. the Knee Plays demonstrates this On an allegorical level one can philosophy. read (no pun intended) significance Relying largely upon Japanese into the Knee Plays . But its wor - theatrical traditions, the Knee thy intentions are sidetracked by the Plays' storyline progresses through overly simplistic scenario of a series of 13 individual pieces in Wilson. The scenic highlights of storybook fashion; a storybook, the production are to be in large with pictures yet, is even provided part attributed to Suzushi Hanayagi, within the program for the befud - the Japanese classical dancer who dled audience member to understand -brought traditions from Kabuki, the 'meaning' of the events Noh and Bunraku theatre to the onstage. (What if one had to do this Plays. Especially wonderful was for Hamlet !) The storyline is the use of a large, origami-like bird simple: A man sits in a tree and puppet, manned by three actors opens a book (the supposed book of underneath, whose bodily move - life in this instance). Then ment conjured the image of grace lightning strikes the tree and inflight. transforms it first into a cabin, then See KNEE, Page 9 take a day off from smoking . .. join the Great American Thursday, November 20, 1986 " 10 AM - 2 PM - "Fishbowl" " (Mason Hall) - University Health Service - Michigan Union near the Mug North Campus Commons If you smoke, donate a cigarette for a chance to win prizes. Non-smokers are eligible to win too, if they pledge to adopt a smoker and help him/her quit for the day. Thinking about quitting for good? "Say No to Nicotine"-University Health Service's six-session workshop to help you quit smoking meets Mondays and Thursdays, 12 noon-1 pm, for three weeks beginning December 1. Fee is $20. For more information or to register, call 763-1320. Prizes donated by: Cottage Inn, Afternoon Delight, Running Fit, Stein & Goetz Sponsored by the University Health Service Fine acting, but redundant themes, mar 'Livin" Fat. 'Fat' is diet of cliches Pianist Ochu plays, talks of world peace By John Ganun Classical pianist Mark Ochu will be appearing on Monday; November 17 in the Michigan Union Pendleton Room, presenting his lecture/performance titledThe Prerequisitesfor World Peace Found in Western Classical Music. With a repertoire ranging from Beethoven to Gershwin, Ochu intertwines the. progression of classical music with, progressive revelation in religion, two seemingly disconnected topics. The result is a previously unexplored concept that searches fore answers to world peace in music. Since his first concert in 1970 in Winsted, Minnesota, Ochu has been giving similar lecture-perfor - mance concerts throughout the United States and Canada as well as maintaining a private studio and studying with Gina Levinson of the Peabody Conservatory. Past con - cert topics include The Influence of World Religions on the Develop - ment of Western Music, which simlarly reflects his observations on music and religion. Ochu bases his ideas on the principles of the Baha'i Faith, a religion which stresses the oneness of mankind, abolition of prejudice, and the importance of world peace. His current concert program is structured in recognition of the 1986 United Nations International Year of Peace, which Baha'is consider a very significant event,. Through his, concert, Ochu presents ideas and prerequisites he has found in music that are necessary for a lasting peace in the world. The concert , sponsored by the University of Michigan Baha'i Club, begins at 7:30 pm, and admission is free. Questions and nswe rwill follow the presentation. 4 By Julie Brown Those of you who made your way over to The Trueblood Theatre this past weekend witnessed the production of Livin' Fat , a comedy written in 1974 by Judi Ann Mason- and directed by Lundeanna Thomas. Livin' Fat echoes the situation comedies of the '70s that we are all so familiar with, where each char - acter is portrayed with their emotions in full view (this being the very essence of the comedy). When the son of the Carter family stumbles upon a large sum of money, it exposes each char - acter's unscrupulous, yet honest beliefs of morality. The subsequent language and gestures of the characters are demonstrative of their very passionate feelings, which was played convincingly by all of the actors involved. It seems however, that in the transition between the script and the performance, the true-to-life exper - ience of this comic situation be - comes somewhat overdramatized. Though the players did perform with a tremendous amount of wit and emotion, there is a risk involved in creating stereotypical characterizations so as to be some - what offensive. While it is impo - rtant to create a true sense of being, overdeveloping the personalities not only endangers the audience's believability, it also ventures to misrepresent the actuality of these characters' attitudes and sensi - bilities. The situation in itself is replete in humor and feeling. And though it is necessary to remember that the situation is in essence, a comedy, it risks the progress of black status in America by overstereotyping what could have been conveyed in a much more subtle and effective manner appropriate to our time. 4 I Michigan Daily Classifieds 764-01557 FREE INSTALLATION TO Why play dominoes 4 WARM THOSE LONG WINTER NIGHTS ! 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