Page 8-The Michigan Daily- Monday, April 13, 1992
Reitman,
Grodin
. .
join the
doghouse
Beethoven
dir. Brian Levant
by Michelle Phillip
The state of the economy has put
Hollywood in dire straits. It's really
a shame that money-grubbing pro-
ducers like Ivan Reitman can un-
leash all kinds of crap onto an un-
suspecting public. But what's even
more of a shame is that Reitman can
waste talented actors. Whatever hap-
pened to the concept of the starving
artist?
Charles Grodin goes whoring for
dollars in Beethoven, the latest piece
of fluff from the Reitman crap fac-
tory. Grodin is George Newton, an
average middle-class guy with an
average family. One day, his chil-
dren find a cute puppy.
George doesn't like pets, yet the
kids beg and plead with him to keep
the puppy. George agrees, but only
until the puppy's rightful owners are
found. As you've guessed, Beetho-
ven stays with the Newton family
and grows happily into a 185-pound
St. Bernard.
After this (ten minutes of the
film), Beethoven collapses, because
every joke and sight gag revolves
around Beethoven getting into ev-
erything George likes. George likes
chocolate chip cookies; Beethoven
Student actors and playwrights
get their kicks in Playfest '92
by Rona Kobell
.6Sometimes you really need to hear that your work is
good. And sometimes you really need to hear that it
sucks," states senior Steve Kleinman, an actor in Play-
fest '92.
In a course titled Theater 427: Playwriting Towards
Production, student writers, actors, directors and pro-
ducers are the feedback they really need. This class,
which is co-taught by Theater professors Oyamo and
Kate Mendeloff, offers selected students a unique op-
portunity to put their words into action.
Prior to registration Winter term, many aspiring
playwrights submitted manuscripts to Oyamo. He chose
only seven students. In addition, the two teachers
sought seven appropriate directors. Other members of
the class are involved predominantly in acting or pro-
duction techniques, but each student invests more than
the average credit hour in the class.
Their concerted efforts paid off last week at Playfest
92, a week-long festival in the Arena Theatre. The pro-
gram showcased the final productions of the seven pol-
ished plays.
"The final product is about collaboration," explains
Mendeloff. "There is a lot of commitment on the part of
everyone involved." Senior Sara Margulus, publicity
director for the class, agrees. She says that the students
rehearsed their parts well into the early morning hours
on some days.
"This course takes dedication and commitment that
extends way beyond time actually spent in class."
Although playwriting and production encompass a
majority of these students' waking hours, they don't
seem to object. "It has been a lucky break," says senior
David Slater. "I'm glad I got Oyamo a script." Slater's
talent may gamer him another "lucky break" this fall -
the Buckham Alley Theatre in Flint is considering pro-
ducing his philosophical comedy Gods and Cats.
While Slater and other writers concentrate on one
discipline, other students fluctuate between acting, di-
recting, producing and technical work. Theater 427 has
allowed sophomore Jason Frank to combine all these ta-
lents. "This has been a great opportunity to see all facets
of theater production," Frank says. His own play, Pick a
Line, is about a recently deceased man who must
blindly choose, between one line bound for heaven and
another leading into Hell.
"(The Playfest) has been the highlight of my four
years," says senior playwright Will Curl with a smile.
Curl's Get Your Kicks hit the public stage last Tuesday.
The script, which is full of riveting one-liners by the
two main characters, tells the story of a young man
named Mike who becomes enchanted with the possibil-
ity of taking off to find perpetual bliss on the never-
ending highway known as Route 66.
The problem, as Mike's girlfriend (played excep-
tionally well by senior Jessie Bernard) explains, is that
Curl agrees that there is an
implicit tension in Mike's quest for
the nonexistent road, as well as in
the cultural manifestations of the
American dream.
Route 66 doesn't exist anymore. It has been replaced by
the choppy Interstate, on which you're "going, going,
going, and never getting anywhere you want to be."
Kleinman plays the non-practical Mike. His perfor-
mance captures the essence of the American dream and
one's inability to attain it. Although he seems at ease in
this role, Kleinman sees some tension between Mike's
ideas and his own. "Mike is fundamentally confused.
He wants to leave but he can't go alone. Alone is the
only way I would go," he says.
Curl agrees that there is an implicit tension in Mike's
quest for the nonexistent road, as well as in the cultural
manifestations of the American dream - the quin-
tessential "go West, young man" Westerns of the classic
Hollywood cinema.
"Mike is searching for the America that used to be
but never was," Curl asserts. "Route 66 may have been
the lifeline of America, but it was not the best of roads.
Mike has a romantic vision, just as many of us have a
romantic vision of America."
Will Theater 427 be the end of the road for Curl and
his fellow playwrights? Will their visions of success
dwindle, or intensify? Based on the arsenal of talent
students have displayed during Playfest '92, it is quite
possible that we'll meet them on a bigger stage some-
where down the road.
Oh Charles Grodin , how low you've sunk. You've acted with Bobby De Niro,
with Goldie Hawn. You coulda beena contender. Forget it now, you dog.
eats his cookies. George wants to go
to sleep; Beethoven is in his bed.
And on and on.
Actually, some jokes could have
been funny, but for some reason,
screenwriters Edmond Dantes and
Amy Holden Jones seem to think
that we won't laugh unless the dog
plays an integral part in the joke.
Beethoven does try to exhibit a
serious side. Dr. Herman Varnick
(Dean Jones) is an illegal animal re-
searcher, who wants to do testing on
dogs. Guess what? He wants to give
Beethoven his serum. But this side
plot doesn't add any depth to the
film. Jones's evil grinning and goofy
faces just compound the cartoonish
quality of the film.
A sad footnote: Beethoven is the
number three film in the country. I
guess Reitman's conspiracy is work-
ing.
BEETHOVEN is playing at Briar-
wood and Showcase.
who what where when
Ultimate rock 'n' roll bad-ass The Detroit Film Theatre's wards End (May 8-10, May 15-17),
poseurs Guns N' Roses have stiffed 1992 season is winding down. Some another E.M. Forster adaptation, this
Detroit once again, canceling the of the films of distinction comin' up time from James Ivory and Ismail
concerts scheduled for tonight and include Where Angels Fear to Tread Merchant, the team behind A Room
tomorrow night at the Palace of Au- (April 17-19), an E.M. Forster With A View. Call 833-2323 for
burn Hills. Apparently, Axl Rose, adaptation from the creator of times and info.
wanted for inciting a riot in St. Brideshead Revisited starring Judy We were just kidding about the
Louis, fled after several deputies at- Davis; Proof (April 24-26), an ac- exclusive Axl Rose interview. He
tempted to arrest him in Chicago. claimed Australian film. about a wouldn't really talk to us. In fact,
"They just don't fuckin' understand blind photographer and his erotic he's challenging music editor
me, man," Rose sobbed in an exclu- housewife; A Woman's Tale (May 1- Annette Petruso to an arm-wrestling
sive phone interview with the Daily. 3), another Australian film, Roger match in a sequel to "Get in the
"Nobody fuckin' understands me!" Ebert's favorite of. 1991; and Ho- Ring."
Student artists explore boundaries
Transcending Boundaries
Union Art Lounge
Rather than projecting teenage
angst and self-indulgent reflection,
the best of Transcending Boun-
daries, a student art exhibition in
the Union featuring photographs,
paintings, sculptures and multi-me-
dia projects, translates a feeling of
mature introspection. The works'
conflicts - and there are many -
range from architectural and physi-
cal boundaries to internal and emo-
tional divisions.
Repetitive themes include sex-
ism, prejudice, oppression, racism
and the all-encompassing unifica-
tion of people in search of peace.
Some students turned their art into
clich6d, not fully developed view-
points. The stronger pieces in the
exhibition focus on these themes as
well, but investigate the conflicts
behind these issues in greater
depth. They offer concise and
thought provoking insights which
lead the viewers to investigate their
own conflicts about these bound-
aries.
Karen Pearson's striking unti-
tled photograph of an androgynous
person who is smoking a cigar
tests stereotypically sexual roles.
Her accompanying explanation is
simple: "Am I boy? Am I girl?"
Pearson forces the viewer to exam-
ine what qualities of a person are
male or female; in what ways is it
taboo to break the social role? The
model, whose hair is shoulder
length, is an image of neutrality.
Similarly, Dennis Lembree's
painting "Nympho" investigates
the ambiguous issue of sensuality
and curves. Hints of body curves
are depicted by colored arcs across
a predominantly white canvas.
Lembree examines what it is about
curves that are sexual in opposition
to straight lines. His explanation is
equally concise; "Hide behind the
wall of tear / It is the eye of lust
not of fear." Lembree successfully
challenges the viewer to connect
his commentary with the piece.
It is clear that all of the students
have spent a lot of time and energy.
on their work. By creating some-
The stronger pieces in
the exhibition ... offer
concise and thought-
provoking insights
which lead the viewers
to investigate their
own conflicts about
these boundaries.
thing tangible, the artists have tran-
scended abstract concepts and
come a little closer to understand-
ing human nature.
Transcending Boundaries will
be exhibited in the Union Art
Lounge through April 18th.
- Erik Barmack
ii
0
NEED AN APARTMENT IN CHICAGO?
WE MANAGE OVER 2,000 APARTMENTS IN
CHICAGO'S BEST NEIGHBORHOODS
BEAUTIFUL COURTYARDS " VINTAGE WALK-UPS
ELEGANT HI-RISES
Studios from $350
One Bedrooms from $450
Two Bedrooms from $775
WE ARE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
READ THE
I
SUPERA PROPERTIES
312-549-8300
- . urn
CLASDS
STH AVE. AT LIBERTY 7619700
1$3 0 DAILY HWBERE6P
. ~ALL AY TUESDAY' *exceWon
SUENT WTH D. U5
WHITE MWIT R
ROADSID PROPHE S IR
yCOMBO COUPON!
Present this coupon
when purchasing
a large popcorn
and receive one
FREE LARGE DRINK
expires 4130192
CHICAGO'S
STUDIO
ADVANCED
PAINTING
INSTITUTE
The School of the
Art Institute of Chicago
celebrates its 125th
anniversary with the
introduction of a
summer painting
institute designed to
challenge advanced
students in an intensive
working environment.
Individual critiques from senior faculty help
each student confront the complex problems
facing artists developing their own personal
language.
Rigorous group critiques allow students the
opportunity to share what they have learned
and to develop a vocabulary for discussing
each others' work.
-Students are given their own studio space
For information
regarding four or eight
week nrograms for
0
El
-