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Page 8 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 21, 1988

RC

offers

mod Moliere

Inventive Tartuffe mocks modern evangelism

Tlte cast of the School of Music Opera Theater's production
pf Gianni Schicchi moved many in the audience to laughter
.3Ith their excellent performances.
Tears, laughs
marked Puccini

In the last sequence, (the monk and
the nun) are both overcome by their
desires; they hurl their clothes on
the stage, and after the last article of
clothing hits the floor, a Bible lands
on the top of the pile - a perfect
and realistic sham.
BY MATTHEW ZACHARIAS
God, it's too bad Moliere could not have been
around to view Louis Charbonneau's production
of Tartuffe. Hypocrisy, religion, and lust are the
original roots to Moliere's play, but Charbon-
neau adds some contemporary spice to the Resi-
dential College Players production by making the
main character a TV evangelist.
So now we have an evangelist, hypocrisy, re-
ligion, and lust, all of which obviously go hand
in hand. The result takes a serious stab at mod-
ern-day religion with a biting, humorous deliv-
eryThe central character, Orgon (Stephan
Vernier), is a vulnerable individual who comes
under the most influence of the hypocrite Tartuffe
(John Marshall) though he faces the opposition

of his entire family - all who see through
Tartuffe's false sincerity. Vernier conveyed the
image of the ultimate believer - at times con-
fused and convincingly lost, ready to swallow
any load of Tartuffe's cunning lies. Marshall
snidely showed how a real evangelist might con-
duct himself behind the scenes - like a true
snake.
Orgon's overriding interest in Tartuffe out-
weighs all other interests - even the sickness of
his own wife, Elmire. His obsession deepens
further, as he wants his daughter Mariane to
break her engagement with her lover Valere to
marry Tartuffe. Beth M. Armen, as Mariane, was
a smash as the whining, nose-picking child
caught between her father's relentless wants and
her true desires to marry Valere.
Director Lou Charbonneau, who also played
Orgon's level-headed brother-in-law Cleante, dis-
plays Orgon's sole faith in Tartuffe as a parallel
to the people that worship Jim Bakker and
Jimmy Swaggart. Another invention of Char-
bonneau's were the acts of the monk and nun se-
quence; they reinforce the absolute downfall of
the religious empire. The scenes are separate
from the story and supply hilarious scenarios

with the monk making passes at a nun in a
church pew, chasing her as she runs and screams
trying to escape his sexual thirst. In the last se-
quence, they are both overcome by their desires;
they hurl their clothes on the stage, and after the
last article of clothing hits the floor a Bible lands
on the top of the pile - a perfect and realistic
sham. Another hilarious detail of this sequence
was the B-movie chase music, which was cheesy
and most fitting.
Missy Beth Hart is effective as the sassy maid
who is always trying to get her two cents in even
though no one really listens. Kristen Hill, as
Elmire, displays herself well as the wife with
common sense who seduces Tartuffe to help
convince Orgon that his religious idol is crooked.
Also noteworthy was Mike Cronin as Valere, the
role of the unwanted future son-in-law.
Charbonneau contained the elements of sar-
casm, humor, and realism all wrapped up in the
frame of Moliere's Tartuffe. The originality of
the project should keep one aware of Charbon-
neau's future work within the Residential Col-
lege, for his recognition as an artist is well de-
served.

BY MARY BETH BARBER
ANP LEAH LAGIOS
Although many people may doubt
that an opera could ever move them
to anything but an Italian-English
dictionary, the School of Music
Opera Theater production of Puc-
cini's Suor Angelica and Gianni
Schicchi moved an entire audience to
extremes of sadness and hilarity
wNiEin a single evening.
n Under Jay Lesenger's superb
directing, Suor Angelica enraptured
the audience, taking them through a
tumult of emotion. The opera is set
n a convent outside Florence. Sister
n elica, distraught over the news of
4er illegitimate son's death, drinks a
6d63idly potion; realizing that because
she took her own life she will be
condemned to hell, she begs for the
Virgin Mary's forgiveness. A miracle
happens, and as she dies she is lead
iato Heaven by her son.
As the curtain rose, the audience
vas presented with a breathtaking set
apd the smooth angelic voices of the
chorus of sisters. The interaction be-
tveen the nuns was charming,-
evoking some appropriate laughter
ftom the audience.
Pamalyn Lee was very sensitive
and convincing in her role as Sister
A ngelica. The cast was double-cast,
nd as evidenced a dress rehearsal
earlier that week, Julie Wright, the

other Sister Angelica, was equally
convincing. Their passion conveyed
when asking for the Virgin's forgive-
ness was quite touching. Also
powerful in their performances were
Lenora Wesly-Wright and Christina
Dominski, playing the Princess. Evil
and scornful, their rich voices carried
doom throughout the scene.
While Suor Angelica was
dramatically moving, Gianni Schic-
chi was equal in its humor. Greedy
relatives of a dead man are upset that
nothing was left to them in the will.
With the help of the scoundrel
Gianni Schicchi, who impersonates
the dying Buoso, they plot to write a
new will with a lawyer who is
unaware of Buoso's death. But they
didn't expect Schicchi to be as
devious as they were; instead of
giving the important property to
them, he gives it to himself.
The cast was animated; everything
down the their facial expressions was
hilarious. Gianni Schicchi's imita-
tion of Buoso had the audience
laughing, and he was excellently
villainous as he tortured the family
by leaving everything to himself
while they couldn't do anything.
Not all of the humor came from
the script - a great deal came from
superb directing; for example, the
cane fight between Simone and Zita,
the two aged relatives, was funny,
the mad search for the will, and the
See Gianni, Page 9

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The Calendar
of The University of Michigan

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The calendar combines meeting, lecture, workshop, and conference announcements
with other events happening each week on campus. It is based on The University Record
calendar, and is open to all University sponsored groups and organizations recognized
by the Michigan Student Assembly. Items must be submitted in writing by 5 p.m. the
Tuesday before publication. Address all information to: Marcia Bennett, publications
assistant, University Record, 412 Maynard St. Asterisk (*) denotes events to which
admission is charged.
MONDAY
NOVEMBER 21
Integrity--Lesbian-gay male community open house, 8:45 pm,
Canterbury House, 218 N Division. 665-0606.
Tae Kwon Do Club--Mtg, 6:30-8:15 pm, 2275 CCRB. Begins
welcome 662-8637.
-Archery--Mtg, 7-10 pm, Coliseum (corner Fifth & Hill). 764-4084.
.-Tau Beta Pi/Eta Kappa Nu/Pi Tau Sigma--Math & Sci Tutoring,
8-10 pm, S Quad Dining Hall; 8-10 pm, Bursley Rm 2333; 7-9 pm,
Mary Markley Lib; 7-11 pm, UGLI Rm 307. 764-6250.
Zen Buddhist Temple--Course, S Murray, Intro to Zen Meditation,
6:30-8:30 pm, 1214 Packard Rd. Reg req. 761-6520.
Computing Ctr--Courses in 3001 SEB: Microsoft Word Review Lab,
8:30-9:30 am; Microsoft Word Advanced Formatting & Glossaries
(Macintosh), 9 am-noon; Microsoft Word Advanced Formatting (IBM
PC & Compatibles), 10 am-noon; Microsoft Word Print Merge (IBM
PC & Compatibles), 1-3 pm; In 4003 SEB: Monday Programmers'
Sem, 7-9 pm. Reg req. 763-7630.
Faculty Women's--Drop-In- Lunch, noon, Mich Union Univ Club.
764-2539.
LSA/Rackham/German Lang--Lec, S Gilman, "Nietszche's Rhetoric:
Reading A Rhetoric Rhetorically," 4:10 pm, Rackham E Conf Rm.
*HRD--Wkshp, "Career Planning Part II: Networks & Career Choice
Implementation," 3-5:30 pm, 1111 Kipke Dr. Reg req. 764-7410.
*ICLE--Video Course, "Employment Law In Michigan: Six Issues For
General Practioners," 9 am-4:30 pm, 1020 Greene St. Reg req.
764-0533.
Ctr N East & N Afr Stds--Brown-Bag Lee, J Kolars, "Water Use
* Thronuoh The A ge In Anatoli. " noon .Lne Ha11 Commons.

Career Plan & Place--Wkshp, "Writing Your CIF," 4:10-5 pm,
CP&P 764-7460.
Univ Lutheran Chapel--Prayer study & fellowship, 7:30 pm; Choir
rehearsal, 8:45 pm, 1511 Washtenaw. 663-5560.
Senate Assembly--Mtg, 3:15 pm, Rackham Amphi.
Chem--Sem, V Pecoraro, "Structurally Diverse Manganese Complexes:
From Voodoo To Oxygenic Photosynthesis," 4 pm, Chem Rm 1200
TUESDAY
NOVEMBER 22
Lesbian & Gay Rights Organizing Committee (LaGROC)--
Mtg, 8 pm, 3100 Mich Union. 763-4186.
Zen Buddhist Temple--Chanting svc, 7-8 pm, 1214 Packard Rd.
761-6520.
Wels Lutheran Campus Ministry--Study/Discuss, Basics of
Christianity, 8-9 pm, Mich Union. 662-0663.
Tau Beta Pi/Eta Kappa Nu/Pi Tau Sigma--Math & Sci Tutoring,
7-11 pm, UGLI Rm 307. 764-6250.
Archery--See Nov 21.
TARDAA--Mtg, 8 pm, 296 Dennison. 763-0800.
Christians In Action--Rally, 8:30 pm, Mich League Rm D. 973-
6675.
*CEW--Job Search Skills & Strategies Wkshp, 7-9 pm, 350 S Thayer
Reg req. 763-7080.
Computing Ctr--Course, dBASE III Plus, 8:30 am-12:30 pm, 3001
SEB Reg req. 763-7630.
EECS--Sem, N C Gallagher, "Properties, Applications & Short Stories
On Median Type Filters," 4:30 pm, EECS Rm 1200.
Engr--Sem, J Vandermeer & V Terpstra, "Technology & The Third
World," 3:30-5 pm, 1005 Dow Bldg. 764-8482.
Geological Sci--Coffee & cookies, 3:30 pm; Lec, J Ruiz,
"Geochemistry Of The Lower Crust Of Mexico," 4 pm, 4001 CC
Little.
*HRD--Wkshps, "Writing It Right Pt III: Putting The Word On the
Page," 8:30 am-noon; "Advanced MBTI For Managers &
Supervisors," 8:30 am-4 pm, 1111 Kipke Dr. Reg req. 764-7410.

Lord of Light Lutheran Church--Bible study, 6:30-7:30 pm;
Worship, 7:30-8 pm; Choir, 8-9 pm, 801 S Forest. 668-7622.
Tau Beta Pi/Eta Kappa Nu/Pi Tau Sigma--Math & Sci Tutoring,
7-9 pm, Mary Markley Lib. 764-6250.
Tae Kwon Do Club--Mtg, 6:30-8:15 pm, 2275 CCRB. Begins
welcome 662-8637.
Indus & Oper Engin--Sem, WS Marras, "Towards an Understanding
of the L51S/ Motion Component in Manual Materials Handling," 4
pm, 241 IOE Bldg.
Guild House--Faculty Brown-Bag Lunch, noon; Beans & Rice Dinner,
6 pm; Discuss mtg, 8 pm, 802 Monroe St. 662-5189.
Counsel Svcs--Dissertation support grp, 8:30 am, Mich Union Rm
3100 764-8312.-
*HRD--Wkshps, "Office Communication. Skills Pt IV," 8:30 am-noon;
"Personal Financial Planning," 5-7 pm, 1111 Kipke Dr. Reg req.
764-7410.
U-M-Dearborn--Gay & Lesbian Alliance nrtg, "Coming Out," 8:30-11
pm, Gabriel Richard Ctr. 593-5390.
Chem--Sem, E Swayze, "Recent Progress In The Asymmetric Synthesis
Of Amino Acids," 4 pm, Chem Rm 1300
THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 24
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 25
*Exhibit Mus Planetarium--Show: "The Christmas Star," 2 & 3
pm, Exhib Mus 4th fl.
Women's Crisis Ctr/Lesbian Progs Ofc--Women's Tea, 5:30-7
pm, 306 N Division. 761-9475
SATURDAY
NOVEMBER 26
*Exhibit Mus Planetarium--Shows: "Holiday Skies," 11:30 am;
"The Christmas Star," 2 & 3 pm, Exhib Mus 4th fl.
*Intercoll Athlet--Ice Hockey, U-M vs West Mich, 7:30 pm, Yost
Ice Arena.
SUNDAY
NOVEMBER 27
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