Page 8-The Michigan Daily- Wednesday, April 1, 1992 Let Foxfire help you remember your roots Foxfire, dir. Susan Morris Ann Arbor Civic Theater March 26, 1992 When I went to the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre's production of "Foxfire," I was struck with the large number of elderly people that were sitting around me. In retrospect, it doesn't surprise me at all. We all live pretty hectic lives at this University. Most of us are so used to being busy that we don't really think about it anymore; it's a part of the daily routine. Sometimes it takes a play like "Foxfire" to open your eyes and realize what's important. The play had a very small cast, but this, if anything, enhanced its effect. The two central characters were wonderfully portrayed by Nancy Heusel (Annie) and Robin Barlow (Hector). They truly stole the show as an elderly Theater review couple, reliving moments of their past life together and contemplating the debate between progress and tradition. Annie and Hector were characters that anyone could relate to - almost everything that came out of their mouths were things a parent or grandparent might say. Even as they spoke the lines, the voices of people in my own life echoed in my memory. In this way, the play avoided cliche; the familiar words made the production that much more real and intimate. Foxfire blended humorous elements with its drama; Jeff Magee stood out as the snot-nosed yuppie real estate developer Prince Carpenter who wanted to buy Annie's farm and make it a vacation spot. Wearing white patent leather shoes and a matching belt out to the farm, Magee nailed the charac- ter - he was strictly out for a buck. His materialism, though outwardly funny, raised some serious issues, and made viewers question what society has become in the last hundred years. Much of the humor stemmed from the dialogue between Annie and the ghost of her husband Hector. One really got a sense of the decades these characters spent together; they knew each other completely. Their intimacy came across with every line, whether they were moments of love or humor. At one point, Hector said, "If God had intended for man to fly, he would have given us wings." Annie pertly answered, "He didn't give us wheels, neither." Finally, there was some enjoyable music in the production. Michael Hough played Annie's son Dillard, who is a country singer. He sang and played guitar well, but in a concert sequence, where he played with three other musicians, his voice was almost completely, frustratingly lost. Foxfire was a slow-moving, subtle, warm production. If you want high- tension action, rent Terminator 2, but if you can slow down long enough to see this play, it might make you feel good for a while. Just sit back and let the play work upon your senses gently. Deccelerate for a couple of hours and walk at a leisurely pace on your way there. For this lesson, you won't have to take notes. Foxfire will play Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. this weekend and next weekend at the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre. Tickets are $7 (2 for 1 on Thursday). -Jenny "Jenitally yours" McKee I 7@ Oomph! Oscar sez, 'Let this Lamb lead the slaughter!' by Shirley "You gotta" Mader L .A. was astounded on Oscar night, and the Daily was there to capture the glitz. After Jack Palance stage-dived into the audi- ence (landing on Jessica Tandy, who exclaimed, "Why YOU were nominated, I'll never know"), Juliette Lewis (see above) won the award for closest resemblance to a character on Alien Nation. As if Warren and Annette weren't enough, Jodie and Tony (see above) chose their triumphant evening to reveal their plans for a divorce, then a baby, then mar- riage. Their love-cannibal is ex- pected next month - amazing how actresses manage to keep their figures! Mercedes Ruehl used her vic- tory podium to say, "HA!" to all the critics who scorned her, "... es- pecially the Michigan Daily," she shouted. "Now I have an Oscar AND a Tony! Don't criticize ME in your fashion column!" Jonathan Demme couldn't be reached for comment because he's still stum- bling through his Thank You's. But what about Barbra ... buh-buh- buh-buh Barbra? "Yes, what about me?" cried Streisand. Actually, we owe a hearty mazel tov to all the real Oscar win- ners and to ourselves - we were 100 percent correct in our Oscar predictions! Ha! (Check the Feb- ruary 20th issue). Best Picture Silence of the Lambs Best Director Jonathan Demme Best Actress Jodie Foster Best Actor Anthony Hopkins Best Supporting Actress Mercedes Ruehl Best Supporting Actor Jack Palance Best Screenplay Thelma and Louise, Callie Khouri Best Adapted Screenplay Silence of the Lambs, Ted Tally Best Score Beauty and the Beast, Alan Menken and Howard Ashman Best Song "Beauty and the Beast," Alan Menken and Howard Ashman i Student Soapbox THE UNIVERSITY, THE COMMUNITY AND HASH BASH: VALUES IN CONFLICT? Toby Citrin, U-M Member, Task Force on Alcohol & Other Drugs Helen Gallagher, Attorney Steven Hagger, Editor in Chief, High Times Dale Yagiela, Director of Growthworks Questions from the audience will be addressed. FREE ADMISSION! April 1, 1992 Wednesday 7:30pm Rackham Auditorium Sponsored by: Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs University Activities Center: Viewnoint Lectures COMEDY COMPANY H the b ghow imw 8:00pm Thursday, Friday & Saturday April2,3 &4 Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre $4.00 All tickets are general admission Available at Michigan Union Ticket Office 763-TKTS, or at the door For more information call University Activities Center at 763-1107 le dowear Look Your Best! " 6 Barber Stylists For MEN & WOMEN ! DASCOLA STYLISTS Opposite Jacobson's 68-9329 .- a d .x : r, , 6 f t '. ffi e' A t } a M" 9 q & s k "$ W, 4 F8 1.-1 .fV1 o% w. .. A .AA .,, w.