ARTS_ The Michigan Daily Monday, November 13, 1989 Page 9 7 '{ 1f1 r ..V ':'r":' I ' 1 Jethro Tull: It bites Although Ian Anderson did his best to entertain Saturday's audience, Jethro Tull basically disappointed their Ann Arbor fans. The show be- gan with the members backlit, play- ing behind a screen; it promised to be fun. Unfortunately, this didn't amount to much as Jethro Tull lacked their old creativity. t Bites opened the show by play- ing a few releases from their new al- bum, Eat Me in St. Louis. The guys in the band threw the audience into hysterics when they immersed them- selves in the music by throwing their heads back and forth and falling on the stage. A typical opening band, It Bites had one of those lead singers that makes the viewer turn off MTV. With his unkempt, long, blond hair and black-and-white checkered clown outfit, the lead singer was almost cute as he sang hard rock love songs about his little broken heart. The keyboard player talked to himself and clawed at the audience. Finally, Ian Anderson led Jethro Tull (two guitarists, a keyboard player, and a drummer with an ex- treme personality) onto the stage. Anderson started by playing and singing into his famous flute (which had a microphone inside) while danc- ing around the stage. The band members, although be- ginning to show signs of aging, seemed fit as they danced around with Anderson. All five men were dressed in Old English style clothing which complemented their antique- looking instruments. It's not the fault of Jethro Tull that the concert was disappointing. The 1irge number of speakers in a such a small auditorium as Hill made the music so loud that most people covered their ears to hear bet- ter. The flute and acoustic guitar could barely be heard over the ob- noxious screeching of two electric guitars. Also, their newer songs, which filled most of the program, were dis- appointing. They resembled heavy metal noise instead of the classic Jethro Tull sound we've come to love. The audience craved old tunes and even though they did play fa- vorites such as "Aqualung," "Locomotive Breath," "Oh, God!," and "Thick as a Brick," these weren't enjoyable due to the terrible acous- tics. There were, however, some re- deemable moments during the two- hour show. The use of colored lights contributed to the music, and the old organ-like keyboard actually had steampipes that whistled during a few selections. Also, five people dressed in white, wearing white masks and miners' hats with bright lights, roamed the stage spotlighting Anderson from time to time. Perhaps it would have been best if Jethro Tull left the public spot- light while they were still unbeat- ably hot. -Lynne Cohn Fond memories of Yesterday What would our lives be like without memories, those cherished glimpses of experience that inform Torya Beard as Babs provides some welcome comic relief to Fanshen Cox's Laverne in Long Time Since Yesterday, a well done University Players production. our being and guide our moments on this earth? Memories can serve as blissful reminders of past chapters of life, but they can also taint the reality ,of the present, allowing a static vision of a changing world to dictate one's attitude. In P.J. Gibson's ex- traordinary drama Long Time Since Yesterday, presented by the Univer- sity Players in the Trueblood The- atre, past confronts present in a moving revelatory exploration of five college friends who convene to share the loss of a former classmate. Under the direction of Charles Jack- son, the young female ensemble stylishly and intelligently handles the emotional crests of Gibson's provoking script. Gibson's play of the hidden struggles that these women, known in school as the "Rainbow Six," have had to face to secure their rung on the social ladder does not so much draw conclusions about the circumstances surrounding Janeen Earl-Taylor's suicide as it explores incidents in these women's lives. By witnessing conversations and subjective flashbacks, the audience becomes the objective eye, sifting the truth from the five converging viewpoints. From the first scene of a young Janeen and her best friend Laveer Swan (both played with a shy hon- esty by Mershon E. Dye and Tashia Munson) reading from a book the girls call "erotica," the action is sharp. These are bright, well-edu- cated little women in navy school uniforms who are just beginning to learn about life and love. Dye gives Janeen a prudish excitement that complements Munson's "ahead of my time" self-assurance and mis- chievous grin. Even in childhood, it is Laveer, or "Lavie," who impels Janeen to follow her own feelings with "Who cares about being re- spected?" and "I stay 'on punish- ment' but I also have fun." From childhood, the scene changes to the living room of a well appointed early 20th Century home with its wooden stairs, bookcases and parquet floors. The five actors enter the Earl-Taylor home solemnly, each carrying a red flower and a memorial prayer card. They walk silently through the room, each deep in her own meditation. Quickly, the group comes to life as they drink, eat and share vital scraps of their own lives as well as memo- ries of Janeen. The play's two main characters, an older Laveer and Panzi Lew Mc- Vain, are the source of intense con- flict. The cause of Janeen's death is perhaps hidden somewhere in their stories and revealed through flash- backs in both of their minds. Fan- shen Cox's Laveer is a relaxed, See REVIEWS, page 11 A Tribute To The Black Panther Party Mon. Nov. 13, 7pm Hutchins Hall rm 100, Law Quad Film: Black Panther, a documentary Keynote speaker: Ron Scott, former Detroit Black Panther Also, Michael Dawson, professor in the Center for African and African American Studies sponsored by UCAR ant the BakerMandefa Center JULIE HOLLMAN/Daily Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull: Are you hiding your flute, or are you just happy to see the sold-out crowd at Hill Auditorium Saturday night? Only his tailor knows for sure. G Ll "~f ''9 '4 l ~.,,,,, STUDENT EMPLOYMENT Now Hiring Full Time & Part Time! eFlexible Hours * Competitive Salary* *Cash Tips Daily " Free Parking " DOM CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GRADUATE PROGRAM We Invite Chemical Engineering seniors and those In Chemistry or related majors to apply to the M.S. and Ph.D programs in Chemical Engineering. Assistantship and Fellowship stipends up to $18,000 are available now and for Fall 1990 for study In biotechnology, composite materials, polymer science, and other "high-tech" areas of Chemical Engineering research. For information and application materials contact: Dr. B.W. Wilkinson, Coordinator of Graduate Recruiting Department of Chemical Engineering Michigan State University East Lansing, Ml48824-1226 (517) 355-5136 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY MSUIs an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer STUDY FOR ONE YEAR OR FOR ONE OR TWO TERMS IN IDEAL FOR STUDENTS! *PART TIME CLERICAL* *RETAIL CLERKS " CAKE DECORATORS* 2111 Packard 668-6058 300 S. Main 761-7532 UNION Arts & Programming presents weaters at wholesale prices "°s= heavy & lightweight ski sweaters 100% virgin wool All handmade Over 15 styles 010 FORD NOW Several colleges of Oxford University have invited The Washington International Studies Cent- to recommend qualilied students to study for one year or for one or two terms. Lower Junior status is required. and graduate study is available. Students are directly enrolled in their colleges and receive transcripts from their Oxford college: this is NOTa program conducted by a U.S. Col- lege in Oxford. A special summer session is directed by WISC. INTERN IN WASHINGTON, LONDON ON SALE @ nrc1? (euse RECORDS 1140 S. University YOU WILL LOVE THIS MUSIC! IF YOU DON'T, They Might Be Giants The Embarrassment The Ordinaries Glass Eye Rage to Live Otis Bali Freedy Johnston The Brothers Kendall Brian Dewan Luka Bloom Blanca "Flystrip" Miller Bill Drummond