ARTS
The Michigan Daily
Thursday, January 29, 1987
Page E
Bernstein's 'Mass' for a blessed event
By John Ganun
For the past few days the stage of
the newly gilded Michigan Theater
has looked like a contrived scene
from a Hollywood musical:
dancers, singers, directors,
managers, technicians, and
designers all working in the same
place at the same time. For the for -
mal rededication of the Michigan,
Pennisula Productions has gathered
two choirs (totaling 77 members),
an orchestra which serves as a rock
band, blues band, and symphony
orchestra (another 45 artists), an 8
member dance company, 15
singing actors, and dozens of
technicians, directors, managers and
assistants to perform a piece not
widely known, Leornard Bernstein's
Mass.
Why a Mass for the rededication
of a theater? Well, actually it's not
a Mass. The subtitle defines it as A
Theatre Piece For Singers, Players,
and Dancers . Director Bob Chapel
explains, "This is a theatrepiece
that I want to treat, first and
foremost, as a piece of theatre. We
are not attempting to create or
The English Composition Board's
ACADEMIC
WRITING SERIES
presents
"USING COMPUTERS AS A
2 WRITING TOOL, PART I"
With the number of computers on campus
ever increasing, more and more students are
"writing" their papers on word processors.
Maybe you are one of them. But are you
really writing with a computer or are you using
your favorite Zenith or IBM PC as an ex-
pensive correctable electronic typewriter?
b
d The second Academic Writing Series work-
N shop of Winter 1987 will introduce students to
writing with word processors. ECB lecturers
Jan Armon, Emily Jessup, and Michael Marx
will conduct a hands-on demonstration of how
writers can easily use computers to assist in
planning papers, organizing a text, and revis-
ing effectively and efficiently. The workshop
will use Microsoft Word and Zenith PCs.
Enrollment is limited to 50 participants.
Please sign up in advance at the ECB,
1025 Angell.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29
4:10 - 5:30
COMPUTER CENTER
4th Floor, Undergraduate Library
recreate a Mass, but a story,
abstract as it is, about a young
man, chosen by his people to lead
them in their faith, who gets caught
up in the trappings and ritual of
that faith, and thereby drifts farther
away from the very people he has
been chosen to serve."
Beyond Mass being a theatre
piece, it is also the work Leonard
Bernstein created after Jacqueline
Kennedy Onassis requested he write
something for the gala opening of
the John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts Washington D. C.
To use Mass for the rededication
of the Michigan is a nice
idea-though it's not quite the
same event as the opening of the
$70 million Kennedy Center. Not
only is Mass an entertaining,
provocative show, but it is also
serving as a unifier of many of Ann
Arbor's cultural resources, in -
cluding the Ann Arbor Civic
Theatre, Symphony Orchestra, and
Cantata Singers, the J. Parker
Copley Dancers, and many area and
university performers. The number
and variety of performers involved
will inevitably draw a large, varied
crowd, but it would be hard to top
the crowd at the first opening of
Mass at the Kennedy Center on
September 15, 1971.
Mass drew a Who's Who
The Dept. of Asian Languages
& Cultures
Presents
A Public Lecture on
BUDDHISM
Bhavaviveka's Vision of Reality:
THE STRUCTURE OF A
BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHICAL
SYSTEM
by
DAVID ECKEL,
Associate Professor of the History of
Religion at Harvard Divinity School.
A specialist in Buddhist Philosophy, he
is the author of a study of the Buddhist
scholar Jnanagarbha.
When: Thursday, January 29
Time: 4:00 pm
Where: Lane Hal Commons Room
audience of Washington D. C.,
including President Nixon and, of
course, practically the entire
"Kennedy clan." The September 20,
'71 issue of Time quoted Mother
Rose Kennedy's impression of
Bernstein's work, "Jack would have
loved it," along with other mixed
views, including Alice Roosevelt
Longworth's (Teddy's daughter), "I
liked Hair better." The crowd, and
indeed the Kennedy Center itself,
attracted more attention than the
show itself.
All the hoopla did not
completely overshadow the
controversy created by Mass .
Bernstein's excellence as one of the
world's finest composers and
conductors is undeniable; in 1943
he became one of the youngest men
ever to conduct the New York Phil-
harmonic. In addition, he has
written the scores for several
Broadway hits, including On The
Town , Candide , and West Side
Story , and has enjoyed success
writing ballets as well as
symphonies. His views on the
Roman Catholic Mass are not as
popular. With his collaborator Ste -
phen Schwartz (lyricist of Pippin
and Godspell ), Bernstein has added
to the liturgy of the Mass his inter -
pretations, comments, and
questions, much to the like and
dislike of Catholics who question
any tampering with the sacred Mass
by someone who is not even
Catholic. With the added text,
Bernstein and Schwartz create a
story which reflects on, and is
reflected upon, by the traditional
Mass.
Bernstein's ingenuity in
creating a theatre piece from the
Mass is the work of a truly creative
man whose soul-searching has led
him to his own deep feelings on
what faith is. His work in Mass
reflects his concern for the lack of
faith in modern society. Chorus
member Jeffrey Donner, a priest and
theologian himself, finds
Bernstein's views very open not
only for believers, but also for non-
believers as well. "...He
(Bernstein) takes agnosticism and
atheism seriously; but in doing so
he wonders if there isn't something
of faith itself stirring in these
positions. Might they themselves
serve to protect something vital to
the experience of faith? Bernstein's
hunch is that they do."
The only obstacle for some
audience members to understand the
show entirely would be not having
a basic knowledge of the Catholic
Mass. While English is used for the
commentary and storyline developed
by Schwartz and Bernstein, the
actual Mass is sung in the orthodox
latin. One can easily comprehend
the story without knowing what a
Mass is, but without this
knowledge its significance cannot
be fully understood.
This mammoth production of
Bernstein's most daring creation
promises to be very good. It
unfortunately runs only three
nights, Jan. 29-31, and most of the
desired seats have been sold for all.
three performances. For more
information, call the Michigan
Theater Box Office at 668-8397.
'The Maids'refresh A
2
theatre
By Amy Koch
Art thou weary of the traditional
five-act, four-scene theatre that hatit
frequented Ann Arbor as of late?
What thinkest thou of casting aside
the burden of flowery soliloquies
and Shakespearean jargon for a tad
o' French existentialism? Yay?
Great! At last, Ann Arbor is
spicing up her theatrical menu with
productions that replace the
cumbersome theme of hubris with
more modern dilemmas and, thank
goodness, current speech'patterns.
Presently, such cultural savor
can be experienced at the
Performance Network's production
of Jean Genet's The Maids, a
complex, one-act play that premiers
this week. Cast members Elisa
Surmont, Maureen McGee, and
Johanna Borman will create the
whirl of unreality so accredited to
Genet's work. The plot, based on a
true story, revolves around two
sisters who work as maids for a
wealthy young woman. Night after
night they enact a chilling fantasy
ritual in which they murder their
The Mac Truck is Just Around the Corner......
MacTruck/Computer Weekend
Saturday, February 7, and
Sunday, February 8, 1987
The Michigan Student Assembly
is accepting applications for
&
Associate Treasurer
to conduct MSA's financial activities for 1987-88.
MSA has a budget of approximately $400,000 for four
programs: Student Legal Services, MSA, Ann Arbor
Tenants Union, and ADVICE (course evaluation guide).
Applications available: January 22
Applications due: January 30
Position starts: February 15
For applications and information contact:
MSA, 3909 Michigan Union. 763-3241
mistress. But one night their game
merges with reality.
The fact that this play has not
been performed in eight years hasn't
frightened director Shawn Yardley, a
University graduate. Dealing with
the difficult themes of unreality vs.
reality, identity, and false
reasoning, Yardley states . that
though the play has an "unusual
style" and the acting "a very
different emphasis", the challenge
of making this a success is very
attractive. Yardley will present
Genet's philosophy uniquely,
though she plans to stick to the
script. Because of the unusual
structure and symbolic content of
the play, she discourages actresses'
use of overt "psychological factors"
to convey their significance.
Instead, such a "meta-theatrical"
production requires the actress to
"go for the theatrical, fake, non-
realistic effect" by directing
questions to the audience and
commenting on their own character
through role reversal. In keeping
with the theme, Yardley has
constructed a box set of Paris in the,
late 40's. This setting is crucial so
as to contrast the reality of the set
with the unrealistic actions.
So, Fare thee well Ann
Arborites and get thee to the
Performance Network to face this
dramatic challenge!
Old Main Hospital
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Get your own:
lLv
U"S
If you really want to know
how to improve your grades,
your career, and your life
there's an upcoming lecture
you shouldn't miss.
Macintosh" Plus computer with
an 800K external disk drive and
Microsoft Word.. .......$1,420.00
Macintosh Plus computer with
a 20M SCSI hard disk drive,
(cable and terminator included)
and Microsoft Word...$2,120.00
An ImageWriteF' II printer, plus cable, can be purchased with either package
above for an additional $430.00. Not sold separately through this sale.
There is guaranteed availability of a limited number of systems at the MacTruck
prices plus the $50.00 late fee. Walk-in orders will be accepted at Photo and
Campus Services, 542 LS&A Building before noon on Friday, February 6, 1987.
For more information, pick up a supplementary information packet at:
*Any Computing Center public facility, such as UNYN, NUBS or the
Undergraduate Library;
: The Microcomputer Education Center, School of Education Building;
*Photo and Campus Services, LS&A Building;
" Campus Information Center, Michigan Union.
His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Founder
of the Transcendental Meditation Program
Dear Student,
There's something you can do for a
short time each day that will im-
prove every aspect of your life-
your grades, your future career, your rela-
tionships, everything-all at the same
time. What's more, it's easy to do. Over
1;000000 students have experienced the
benefits. And you can too.
You'll learn about it soon at a special
free lecture on the Transcendental Med-
itation technique. This lively, entertaining
talk may well change your life.
My name is Kevin Blair. I'm president
of the student government at Maharishi
International University, where students.
faculty, and staff all practice the TM
technique. I want to tell you three things
about the upcoming lecture:
iAt the lecture, you'll learn how the
simple, natural TM technique, which
is practiced 15-20 minutes twice a day.
brings profound benefits to mind and
body, and how these benefits automatical-
ly improve one's social behavior, school
and job performance, and much more.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
2 You'll also learn that more than 350
scientific research studies have been
improved comprehension,
concentration, and memory
improved academic performance
reduced stress and anxiety
increased happiness
improved interpersonal relationships
improved athletic performance
You can have these qualities growing in
Your life too, simply as a result of prac-
ticing the TM technique.
3 Finally, you'll learn that the TM tech-
nique doesn't just help the individual.
Research has shown that when as little as
the square root of one percent of the
population of a city or nation practices the
TM program and its advanced aspects, the
entire population becomes more orderly.
peaceful, and progressive. This brings
great hope towards solving the age-old
problem of world peace.
IT WORKS!
f you're wondering how one simple
technique can bring so many benefits
to mind, body, behavior, and even the
world as a whole, then attend the lecture.
The explanation you'll hear is at once
simple, scientific, and profound..
You'll hear, for example, about the unified
field of all the laws of nature as described
uvrks. I know from my own experien ce.
I've been practicing the technique ir 6
years, and it's made me more relaxed, yet
more dynamic and productive. As a result.
I'm enjoying greater success-both in and
out of the classroom!
That's why I'm urging you to attend this
fre lecture. If even ten percent of what I've
said about TM proves to be true, think
what it could mean for your achievement
and happiness for the rest of your life.
The date and time of the lecture are
given below. I hope you'll he there. And
don't hesitate to bring your friends: you'll
be doing a great thing for them as well!
Wishing you success
in all that you do.
Kevin Blair
President. Student Government
Maharishi International
University
ithe single most im-
.U portant part of being
a peak performer. It gives you the
ability to excel in an environment
of stress, to make rapid decisions
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