ARTS
TheMichigan Daily Thursday, April 14, 1988 Page 5
Jonathan
Richman:
Still
a
cute
goofball
Bill Downey, Doug LaBrecque, and Ty Hreben (left to right) play three sailors on 24-hour leave in
Leonard Bernstein's 'On the Town.'
By V.J. Beauchamp and
Robert Flaggert
Jonathan Richman, a man still
caught, fixated at age 13. Cuter than
you can stand. Endearing as all get
out. Grating, even, for the uniniti-
ated. A cult hero. Yep, Jonathan
Richman and the Modern Lovers will
be in town tonight, flooding the Ark
with two shows sure to be full of
their playful antics and plenty of
their heart-warming lovin'.
Does this make any sense?
Should it make any sense? Rich-
mond is just so silly. Silly and sin-
cere and completely unslick. But this
is his beauty. His goofball attitude
and playful lyrics are matched by no
one, and his humor is of the caliber
of Bozo. He writes songs (and then
performs them) like "When Harpo
Played His Harp," a touching little
tribute to the lyre-strumming Marx.
He sings odes to ice cream men and
croons about the beauty driving
around with the radio on. He wrote
"Pablo Picasso," for heaven's sakes.
It's life with an optimistic child's
outlook; everything is wonderful,
let's eat ice cream.
Sure, he's been called a wimp,
and Creem Magazine called the
Modern Lovers "dorks on the
march." But what do they know?
Certainly he's not for everyone. Es-
pecially the humorless. But for
goofy, bubbly rock and roll, this is
mighty swell. Why not let a rock
musician tickle your funny bone for
a change? Why ya being so serious,
anyways?
Since forming in the early '70s,
Jonathan Richman and the Modern
Lovers have released ten albums and
toured extensively, carving out a
niche for themselves which is more
concrete than that of almost any
other band around. All three of the
'U'
Musical
Theat
a
night
By Lynn Gettleman
What do you get when you com-
bine bright lights, New York City,
and three young sailors on 24-hour
leave during the war in '44?
You get a night On the Town -
the fast-paced musical created by the
music of Leonard Bernstein and the
lyrics and script of Betty Comden
and Adolph Green. Presented by the
* Musical Theatre of the University's
School of Music, On the Town will
be performed this Thursday through
On the To
Sunday at the Power Center.
On the Town is no ordinary mu-
sical. In fact, due to large choreo-
graphical and orchestral demands, it
is rarely performed. You would think
that most university productions
would shy away from such a chal-
lenge. However, according to direc-
tor Brent Wagner, it is a challenge
the University is well equipped to
accept.
"The University of Michigan's
School of Music is able to produce
I this work because of the many disci-
plines - including theatre, dance,
re does
awn'
and the orchestra program - operat-
ing under the schools'auspices," says
Wagner. "We (the Musical Theatre
Program) chose this musical because
of our belief in doing unusual works
of high artistic merit."
Wagner also states that
"performing On the Town this year
is a particularly special way of hon-
oring Bernstein's 70th birthday with
his earliest score, which has become
a classic of the American stage."
Not only did On the Town launch
Comden, Green, and Bernstein into
See Town, Page 8
Jonathan Richman performs at the Halfway Inn in 1985.
Lovers, vocalist and guitarist Rich-
man, guitarist Brennan Totter, and
drummer Johnny Avila grew up in
the '70s underground scene, forming
a solid base for the '70s/surf/goof
music they play.rThe current tour is
a promotion for the aptly named
Modern Lovers 88, their most recent
release. 88 shows their humor still
intact, and ranges from the Buddy
Holly does reggae sound of "African
Lady" to the surf-party style of
"California Desert Party."
So bare your funny bone, and
open your heart, for Jonathan Rich-
man and the Modern Lovers are sure
to bring a smile to the lips and joy
to the heart of all.
JONATHAN RICHMAN AND
THE MODERN LOVERS make
whoopie tonight at the Ark.
Showtimes will be 7:30 and 10 p.m.
Tickets are $10.50.
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The Universityof Michigan
iceof
Financial FA LL & WINTE R 1988-89
Aid APPLICATION DEADLINE
2011 Student Activities Building FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1988
To ensure priority consideration for financial aid* for the coming school year, continuing students
must submit complete application materials by the priority deadline. A complete application
consists of a 1988-89 Office of Financial Aid application form, the Family Financial Statement
11
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