ARTS The Michigan Daily Monday, March 19, 1990 tI h 'eview Frank theater * challenges Once again Performance Network has managed to challenge our play- going minds by presenting a theater production that differs dramatically from the plays most of us are accus- tomed to seeing. Frank's Absurd Repertory Theater Company (F.A.R.T. Co.) recently made its de- but as an ensemble with a thought- provoking production. Immediately upon sitting down to watch A Syn- thetic Circus, we are accosted and insulted in the prologue Offending the Audience, by Peter Handke. First they yell "There will be no play here tonight!" and "You are un- der review by us!" and then we are called every name in the book, in- cluding ass kissers, small timers, scum of the melting pot, fuddy dud- dies, potheads, atheists, dirty Jews, napalm specialists, fuck offs, farts, hemorrhoid sufferers, communists, nihilists, and even... thingamajigs. But then the message begins ito permeate as their rage subsides and we are simply called "fellow human, beings." In this prologue they chal- lenge us not to blink our eyelids of swallow or shift in our seats or even... breathe. We become aware of the rawness of our senses as the audience joins the actors in the spotlight of this dark eerie theater. What follows is a series of pieces by absurdist play- wrights that question our humanity and the world in which we live. We sit before these actors and are scruti- nized as they, in turn, reveal their own vulnerability. In the end the point is not whether we've reached any conclusions but rather that our thoughts were stirred. A Synthetic Circus pays tribute to leading nihilist Samuel Beckett, whose "Act Without Words I" fea- tures a man endlessly trying to reach the unreachable, symbolized by a bottle of blue liquid. F.A.R.T. Co. successfully interprets Beckett's simplicity in a humorous but sad mime in which a man repeatedly reaches for the bottle, falls down, gets up, wipes himself off to begin anew but never gets that damn blue liquid. (Does Godot ring a bell?) Another one of the short plays is Jet of Blood by Antonin Artaud, whose two lovers boldly proclaim, "I love you and everything is won- derful!" Their joy is then interrupted by a nuclear holocaust, presented in the Theater of Cruelty tradition. The group abounds in talent and ingenuity, from the cool profession- alism of Mitchell Roberts McElya to the fresh spiritedness of Tanya Krohn who, at 14, shows powerful potential as a member of Ann Arbor theater. In one evening we, as an au- dience, become active members in this circus of absurdity, leaving our minds not "offended" but challenged. -Marisa Anaya ACME Ensemble does Chekhov It is undeniably a challenge for any group of actors to take on Chekhov. This has been said by the biggest names in theater. It is ad- mirable that the ACME Arts Ensemble was willing to take on such a giant as Three Sisters and, apart from a few loose ends, they did fairly well. Individual performances were var- ied. At times characters were quite good at carrying the comedy and tragedy simultaneously, the aim of Chekhov's plays, but at times the performance was so shallow it seemed an injustice to Chekhov's characters. The one character who carried all the others through their inconsistencies was Irina, in an ex- cellent performance by Rebecca Novick. She was perfectly cast, am- bivalent and believable. As Masha, the one married sister, Alexa Eldred was excellent in the first and fourth acts, but wavered into an extreme caricature of Masha, bitchy and bed- room-eyed, in the middle of the play. Most of the other performers en- tered as caricatures of themselves as well, consistent with the first act of the play - yet the characters overdid it. Particularly responsible for this defect was Daniel Herman as the doc- tor Chebutykin, who, in creating his apathetic character, went much too far, to the point where I didn't care about him any more than he did about himself. One of the largest mistakes made on the part of director David Leicht- man was to trust his production to the Ronald Hingley translation. To choose a text that had been update l and translated into 20th century American English colloquialisms and that altered Chekov's character names so as to be easier to pro- nounce was a bad idea and insulting to the audience's intelligence. It did not sit well with the costuming or Arthur Miller props, which remained true to the period. The performance was a little sloppy, with lines lost because of bad blocking or mumbling, yet the real feeling of the show came through, and the last act was in- tensely affecting. One of the best points of the production was that, although it was at times overdone, the comedy was brought out of the tragedy, a difficult feat and unusual among productions of Chekhov. -Beth Colquitt WCBN revives long lost art form Turning the dial through all fre- quencies it becomes obvious that ra- dio drama is an almost extinct art form, so it was a particular pleasure to hear a production of Arthur Miller's The Pussycat And The Ex- pert Plumber Who Was A Man on WCBN Friday night. This was Miller's first sold work, a short radio play performed by the Columbia Theater Workshop in 1937. The Pussycat is about as funny as Arthur Miller gets (and that's say- ing something). In this work there are already certain themes which are PERSONAL * * ATTENTION: Supreme Course Tran- scripts, the LS&A lecture notetaking service, has the following notes avail. at Alpha- graphics Printshops at 715 N. Univ.: Anthro 61, Bio 100, Bio 224, Bio 325, Class Arch 222, Comm 103, Econ 201, Econ 202, Econ 396, Econ 401, Geol 100, Geol 101, Geol 106, Geol 107, Geol 110 Geol 112, Geol 113, Geol 115, Geol 125,1-list 110, Hist 160, Iist 161, Hist 333, Hist 366, Hist Art 272, Physics 125, Physics 126, Physics 140, Physics 240, Physiol 101, Poli Sci 140, Poll Sci 353, Poli Sci 396, Psych 170, Ps ch 171 Psych 331, Soc 467, Soc 468. Call 663-681 for info. COME AND EXPERIENCE the friendly, professional atmosphere at the Village Apothecary. 1112 S. University. DIAL A JEWISH STORY. Another project of the Chabad House. Call 995-5959. EASTER, WHAT'S IT TO YOU? Informa- tive Bible Studies will be offered at several locations on the UM campus to help you un- derstand what Easter is about. No pressure. Call 663-0483 for details. I AM A BUSY PROFESSIONAL, eclectic U of M grad. Call 557-8860. Kristine, Katie or Janice. I've got Kristine's necklace but no address. Send her address to Joe C. PO Box 5839 Key West, FL 33045. STRESSED?? T a therapeutic massage!! Debra K Rosek, CRT 663-7547. There is no music, yet I dance. MUSICAL MDSE, STEREOS, ETC. HERB DAVID GUITAR STUDIO 302 E. Libert . 665-8001. Lessons, voice, piano, recorder, dulcimer, banjo, pop, folk, blues, rock, & classical. Page 7 Soloist competition rewards new talent by Sherrill L. Bennett NO matter how large the hall, there's always something very personal and intimate about a lone musician playing for an audience. It's like watching a pottery expert with delicate precision spin a mound of clay into a work of art; the creative process is revealed, but not demystified. The musician's clay is musical notes on a page, and with fluent, velvet hands, he or she communicates a mood, an emotion. Audiences are bedazzled and bewitched by the technical prowess and expressive vision of the soloist. The soloist him/herself gets to satisfy a basic human desire: showing off. In the music world, there is an overabundance of showoffs. Musicians must compete vigorously for their right to center stage. It's in the heat of such competitions that some of the finest performers have been discovered. Tonight, Ann Arbor concert goers can witness the final stages of a competition in search of talented young musicians with professional "showoff" potential. Finalists in the National Concerto Competition, sponsored by Seventeen magazine and General Motors, will perform a concert accompanied by the University Symphony Orchestra conducted by H. Robert Reynolds tonight in Hill Auditorium. The three finalists, one in each category (piano, violin and cello) will be players who have risen to the top after many preliminary competitions and musicianship tests involving thousands of competitors from all over the country. Each of the three will receive a $5,000 scholarship donated by General Motors, and the grand prize winner will be awarded a solo performance with a major symphony orchestra - a real career launcher for a young musician. Pieces to be performed include the Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello, Op. 33, the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor and the Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 64. All great showoff pieces for great showoffs. TIE NATIONAL CONCERTO COMPETITION FINALIST CONCERT will be held tonight at 8:00 p.m. at Hill Auditorium. Admission is free. CLASSIFIED ADS STUDENT SERVICES BETH'S COMPUTER TYPING N. Campus 930-6679. FOR ALL YOUR WORD PROCESSING NEEDS, call Janet at 763-8913. JOAN DEMETRAL M.A. Counseling Serv 2520 Packard, Ypsi. 434-1666 Sliding scale Achieve Your Maximum Score with EXCEL -6 Class Sessions focus on the actual Exam - Video-taped Lessons for Additional Practice - Quality Instruction with Affordable Tuition Classes for the April 21st GRE begin: Sat. Mar. 17th Test Preparation 996-1500 1100 South University THE WORDWRIGHT **Word processing/typing/editing. Papers/reports/dissertations/resumes. Laser printing.* *662-8977. SUBLET !!!!4 BEDROMMS. 4 Parking spaces-on GREENWOOD!!!! $1332 May-May. Dish- washer disposal, washer, dryer, secunty alarm. 449-2985. Prefer ladies. 1 BDRM APT for 1 or 2. May-Sept. Fum, 7 housesfrom Rick's, air cond, parking, lndry, disposal. $500/neg. 995-9819. 1 BDRM APT for 1 or 2, May-Aug, newly renovated on S. Univ., 5 mm. from every- where, Indry, A/C, disposal, 662-1711. 1 BDRM. APT. SPR/SUM fum. 1 blck from SAB prkng rent. Negot+elec. 747-6370. 2 BDR BI-LEVEL APT for 2-3 on Church. Fully loaded $800/mo. May-Aug 662-3793. 2 BDRM, BI-LEVEL APT. 3 people. GREAT LOCATION! Crnr State & Hill. May-Aug. Air cond, fum, balcony, dishwshr, disposal, prkng. Rent neg. Call Jen 769-1890. ASAP ROOM in new home, share w/2 fe- males. Huge & airy, must see. $400 mo. till Sept. 665-8937. EFFICIENCY on N. Campus. Furn. Free phone, cable, all util. pd. Avail April-Aug 10. 300/mo. Neg. Call Dawn 930-2648. GREAT EFFICIENCY 5 MIN from campus 320 TH'OMPSON. Fum- A/C ,Microwave new carpet, Avail. immed. $380+elec.769-953. GREAT SINGLE ROOM May-Aug in 3 bed 1 1/2 Bath duplex 1 block from ยง. Univ., CCRB, CC Little. Female, non-smoker. Rent neg., Robin 747-8104. HUGE SINGLE in 2-bdrm apt! Cable, a/c, close to Union! Avail. Sp/Su. Rent is nego- SUBLET SUBLET MAY-AUG. 2 Bdrm., parking, heat/water. Call Matt @ 994-6385. SUBLET MAY-AUGUST. Large, furnished, bedroom in spacious house. Rent negotiable. 663-5993. SUBLET MAY-AUG, 1 bdrm. in 2 bdrm. apt., A/C, fum parking laundry, storage great location. $ 2J/neg. emaes only.(Tal Susan 668-4021. Leave message. SUBLET ME NOW - MAY - AUG. Great room in a great house. $200/mo./neg. Free ldry., pkg., furn. Krissy 665-2411. SUBLET: 1 BLOCK from Campus. I room in house. All utils. incl. $147, 747-9731 SUMMER SUBLET Avail May 1, Lg 1 bdrm for 1-2 people in 2 bdrm apt,2 blocks from An gell Hall. Inc:microwave, fum., fire- place, A Call Jackie 668-6504. SUMMER SUBLET- 5 Bdrm. house on Prospect. Price negotiable. 763-2801. SUMMER SUBLET- fum. 1 bdrm. for 1 or 2. Convenient Packard loc., incl. patio, A/C, pkg., $475/mo. Call 662-0543. SUMMER SUBLET 904 Packard! Large 4 bedroom house or indv. rooms. Laundry, parking, large kitchen, great location! Prices negotiable - call 747-9362 now! SUMMER SUBLET May-Aug. 2 bdrm. A/C, fum., laundry, pkg. Near med. ctr. Big living rm. Balcony. Best offer 761-3283. SUMMER SUBLET Avail May 1, Lg 1 bdrm for 1-2 people in 2 bdrm apt,2 blocks from An gell H all. Inc:microwave, fum., fire- place. A Call Jackie 668-6504. more seriously and explicitly dealt with in his later stage plays. The story deals with Tom Thomas, a mere house cat who decides to run for public office. He becomes mayor and then runs for governor using blackmail to claw his way up the political drainpipe. A nihilist, Tom knows that everyone has at least one BUSINESS SERVICES FAMILY CARE in my SE Ann Arbor home. Licensed and responsible. 971-3868. GOING PLACES $118 ANYWHERE IN THE USA ON NORTHWEST airlines! Bring yoEr NWA voucher and AMEX card. CallRE NC TRAVEL, 665-6122, ask for Ann or David. EUROPE SPECIALS: Amsterdam fr. $449;Frankfurt fr. $449; Glasgow fr. $469" London fr. $379; Paris fr. $469. International Student/Faculty cards $10. Eurail Flexipass fr. $198.aREGENCY TRAVEL 665-6122. Ask for Dan or Deb. FOR YOUR LOWEST OVERSEAS AIR- FARES ask for Student Travel Network, 800-369-1929. ORIENT SPECIALS: Bangkok fr. $967; Hong Kong fr. $887; Osaka fr. $919; Seoul fr. $865' Singapore fr. $999- Taipei fr. $845. REGENCY TRAVEL 665-61 22.Ask for Dan or Deb. RIDE IN STYLE & PAY LESS than the De- troit Airport commuter van for groups of 3-7. $40 ea. way - door to door limo. REGENCY TRAVEL 665-6122. Ask for Vivian or David. SPRING FEVER? WINTER BLUES? Get away to a log cabin in the woods. Sleeps 2-4. Boats & canoes included. Outdoor hot tub option. $38-58 nightly. Reduced weekday rates. 616-276-9502. STUDENT TRAVEL BREAKS at STAMOS TRAVEL For best Euroean/Gece airfares. We're at Kerrytown Ma . Call us *663-4400. TICKETS WANTED: GRATEFUL DEAD TKTS. Sat. 3/24 & Sun. 3/25 Albany shows. Please call 747-6931. skeleton in their closet and that ev- ery human being is vulnerable be- cause their worth is only measured by the nice things other people have to say about them. Tom, superbly played by David Perrine, comes across as an unholy mixture of Adolf Hitler, a David See REVIEW, page 5 GREEK GAB GREEK SOCIAL CHAIRS: Take advantage of our spring specials! Great Formal Ideas plus lots morel The Cloz Co. Call Jon 994-4045. DON'T GET STUCK 4I Get rid of your house or apartment in The Michigan Daily Summer Sublet Issue on April s. Deadline to place an ad: March 2S $29 per ad TYPING PROFESSIONAL, quick & reason- able. M-F, 9am-6pm; S-S noon-8pm. Close to campus. Christine at 99-9645. TYPING/ EDITING 761-8842 YPS WORD PROCESSING PROFES- SIONAL Service on Campus. Open Evenings & Weekends. Term Papers, Cover Letters, n"ela''p- 747-7470 Early Classes begin Thurs. Mar. 15th & conclude before finals. Next classes begin Sat. April 14th " Learn to Anticipate the Exam's Thinking " Improve Your Reasoning & Formal Logic Skills " Develop Comprehensive Exam Strategies " Review Videotapes for Additional Practice Achieve the LSAT Score You Need with EXCEL EY44T5EL61 SW Test Preparation 1100 South Univesity ROOMMATES ABOUT 1 BLOCK from UM. Tower Plaza, female to share for Fall/Winter. 482-1908. tiable! Call Cheryl at 996-5896! INCREDIBLE SPRING/SUMMER APARTMENT! Newly renovated hu e bal- late sleepers, you'll never have longer thancoyoeloigSuhU N o a~itoeE~ l JAJA~JA~E 5 minute walk to class! Call 930-0518 ask for Dan or leave a message. MAY-AUG large sg rm in 3 bdrm house on campus State & Ann, rent nego. + electric; MUST SEE! Veronica at 747-7935. MAY-AUG SUBLET Huge room 12' ceiling & bay window sunny. Kitch. & bath. Iblk. from B-school. Women only call anytime 747-8516. MAY-AUG SUBLET. 3 bdrm 2 bath 3 ter- races, air cond, laundry, arkmg, dishwash, furnished, new carpet. Near campus. Rent neg. Call anytime 930-0479. ONE bdrm. apt. for Spring/Summer. Great ADVERTISER PHONE for two people. Behind Sou Quad. I'll take the best offer. 995-2260. PRIVATE ROOMS in large house close to campus- hardwood floors, washer/dryer, ADRS dishwasher & parking- $250/NEG./May Aug. M/F welcome. Ca Dave at 764-4810 SCENIC LAKE APARTMENTS. 1 bdrm. STUDENT I.D. NUMBER INVOICE ap. to sublet, 8 months left on lease. $389/month. No security dep. Avail. 3/1/90. Call 677-0929 or 422-8141. SP/SUM SUBLET. Furnished house. Incl. We Can Help DEADLINE: MARCH 28 parking, kitchen, laund , dishwasher. Rea- sonable rates. Call 764-0745 anytime.C a SP/SUM SUBLET 2 bdrm. bi-lev w/balcony, You Help Publication: April s dshwshr, a/c, prkg, $600/mo. 663-4226. SP/SUM SUBLET half block from Ricks. 2 Bdrm, 3 car pkg. 1212 Willard 994-4068. SPR/SUMMER SUBLET. 3bdrm house, 110 White. Great location ple of room, TO PLACE A SUMMER SUBLET AD: SPR/SUMMER MODERN 2 bdrm.apt. close * Mail in or bring in person * Help the Homeless: to central campus, pkg. launrv new kitchen, A/C. Rent reasonable. 930-05b7. to the Student Publications For every 3 cans of SPRING SUBLET!! Beautiful five bdrm. Building, 420 Maynard, Ann fo yubrii n, house on Greenwood. Just renovated, all new furnishings, laundry. Judy 995-5575. $Ar #MIe i offt SPRING-SUMMER SUBLET. Great loca- tion, 4 people needed, $150. Call now! 995 * as h, money orders, orjL. price of your ad 1184, fumished, balcony, A/C & more!!! :n h ecks only (Limit cans. $3