-ARTS

The Michigan Daily

Wednesday, October 21, 1992

Page 5


A play to
leave you
mthe dark
by Melissa Rose Bernardo
When I first heard about the play
"Black Comedy," like many people,
I thought of two things. It was either
a play with an African-American
cast, or it was some sort of supernat-
ural witchcraft spook. Producer
Darla Miller of the Dexter Com-
munity Players (DCP) explained that
"Black Comedy" really refers to a
power failure.
"Black Comedy" is about the
misbehavior of a group of people
who wind up in the same place at the
same time. The trouble begins with
Brindsley (Tice Aten), a not very
well-to-do young man who is dating
a young girl named Carol (Kerry
Waggoner). Like many young suit-
ors, Brindsley wants desperately to
" win the approval of his beloved' s fa-
ther, the Colonel (Jerry Klein). To
impress him, Brindsley single-hand-
edly steals the furniture of the rich
art dealer next door.
Ironically just as the Colonel
shows up, the power goes out (hence
the name "Black Comedy"). Thus
begins the endless parade of misun-
derstood people and mistaken iden-
tities
"There is a lot of groping around
and tripping over each other," Miller
remarked.
Although the bulk of DCP's
shows have had more than 15 cast
members, and "Black Comedy" has
only eight, there is 'just as much
energy and motivation needed to do
(this show) as in a large show,"
Miller said. Miller is teamed up with
director Joy Dennis for the third
time, which she is very excited
about. "I have a great respect for Joy
as a director," she said. "She really
has the ability to bring out the best in
her actors."
The Dexter Community Players
began in 1981, sponsored by Dexter
Community Education. The group
puts on three productions per year -
two small-scale productions and one
large summer musical. The late Russ
Ogden, a frequent reviewer of local
theater, hailed their productions as
"perhaps the best community theater
offerings seen in many years of re-
viewing."
DCP is taking a chance on this
show by award-winning playwright
Peter Shaffer. But it's not only be-
cause they have never produced a
one-act play, or because the show is
done completely in the dark. To add
another twist, the show will be
staged in the round. At times the ac-
tors will even be moving throughout
the audience. Miller feels, however,
that DCP's reputation, their past
productions, and their talented
members will make this "exper-
imental" production a success.
BLACK COMEDY will be presented
October 22, 23, 24 at 8 p.m. at Wylie
Middle School. Tickets are $8 and
can be purchased at Dexter Real
Etate in downtown Dexter. Call
426-8387.

Classifieds
-read them Daily

The subtle dullness of life

by Camilo Fontecilla
"A Tale of Springtime," a chapter
in Eric Rohmer's film series dedi-
cated to each of the four seasons, is a
good example of how controversial
minimalist film really is. There are
no breathtaking shots and no life or
death situations, but throughout the
film there is a constant suggestion
that the most important things in life
may pass us by simply because we
A Tale of Springtime
Directed and written by Eric Rohmer;
with Anne Teyssedre, Florence Darel,
and Hugues Quester
discarded them as trivial. This is
essentially a very melancholy film,
an extremely realistic proof that
sometimes the brain will overcome
the heart. All this makes it tread a
thin line between subtlety and
tediousness.
The story spans a little over a
week, and follows Jeanne's (Anne
Teyssedre) rapid attachment to
Natasha (Florence Darel), starting on
a Friday night at a party that both
young women long to abandon.
Jeanne, incapable of sleeping at her
bo friend's nartment whipe he is

her father's vacant room during the
weekend.
As their friendship flourishes,
Jeanne learns about Natasha's family
tangles and her hate for her father's
current lover, Eve (Eloise Bennet).
As fate has it, or perhaps through
Natasha's doing, Jeanne and
Natasha's father, Igor (Hugues
Quester) develop a mutual attraction,
which they eventually have to work
out in the light of the existing cir-
cumstances.
Jeanne is a natural thinker, and
although thought is what excites her
the most, it also causes her to live
her life under the constant auspices
of rational approval. She is a des-
tined mediator, and her grasp on re-
ality prevents her from letting loose
to instinct. Apparently content but
deeply unhappy, Jeanne clings to a
friendship that may bring her life out
of mediocrity.
Natasha is possessed with a
pubescent effervescence, and finds
in Jeanne an anchor of security for
her somewhat chaotic life. Her mood
swings are unpredictable and usually
harmful to those around her, but it is
the only way she knows to release
the brimming frustration in her.

Igor, an unlikely suave lover,
lures young women to him through
his maturity, but plays his cards dif-
ferently for Jeanne. Quester is so
normal looking one keeps wondering
how he got such a flame as Eve until
he begins applying his personal
magnetism and intelligence to the
new challenge, Jeanne.
The technical simplicity of the
movie reflects the status of the indi-
viduals that move through the story.
These are characters that live in en-
closed spaces, and their intimacy
sometimes becomes stifling. In one
scene Natasha praises the wall
around their country house garden,
appreciating the privacy it grants.
The "external" world is revealed
through shots of the streets of Paris,
seen only through a car window;
through a mountain view that turns
out to be drowned in fog; and at the
party, where everyone seems
strangely distant and unimportant.
Since the rest of the world is appar-
ently inaccessible, all that the film
offers is its characters, and whether
you like it depends on how much
you appreciate the subtleties of life.
A TALE OF SPRINGTIME is play-
ing at the Ann Arbor 1&2.

This writer has a first name...
Oscar Hijuelos, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, "The Mambo
Kings Play Songs of Love" (1989), continues the tradition established by
such American writers as Thomas Wolfe, John Dos Passos, and Ralph
Ellison by creating his own unique vision of America. These writers
established what America was to them and their generation. In "Mambo
Kings," Hijuelos considers coming to a greater understanding of his own
place, culturally and spiritually, within a diverse and sprawling country
as well as numerous personal questions. Hijuelos' new book, "The
Fourteen Sisters of Emelio Montez O'Brien," is set for a March, 1993
release. Thursday is a rare opportunity to listen to one of America's
most talented contemporary writers. Oscar Hijuelos will be speaking
and reading from his work at Rackham Amphitheatre Thursday at 5 p.m.
Brit popsters score In


by Bryce Kass
In their native England, the
House of Love are worshipped by
both fans and critics like some
manna from rock heaven. In the
United States, the London-based
threesome has yet to even dent the
college charts, and the last time they
House of Love
Babe Rainbow
Fontana
played Detroit, I was one of about 25
people in attendance. However, their
latest effort, "Babe Rainbow," is
sure to get them noticed.
"Babe Rainbow" is an improve-
ment musically and lyrically. The
jokey name hints at the reason why
this album succeeds so well. If Guy

Chadwick (who writes both the mu-
sic and the lyrics) has come off as
self-conscious, cynical or cold in his
earlier work, now he simply seems
confident.
Chadwick doesn't want the lis-
tener to think about the song.
Preferring ambiguity to clarity, he
wants you to close your eyes and
wrap yourself up inside a blanket of
sound. He understands that words
can be instruments: it's not the
meaning of words that matter, but
the meaning of the sounds of words.
The actual instruments on "Babe
Rainbow" are impressive as well. In
addition to the pounding drums and
jangly, shimmering guitar work that
have become the House of Love
standard, this time out Chadwick and
the boys also experiment with sitars,
tablas and female bacxing vocalist

away, and having lent her own
lodging to her rather camped out
cousin Gaelle (Sophie Robin), ac-
cepts Natasha's invitation to occupy
the States
Andrea Heukamp. The result is a
much fuller sound and a much more
complete album, combining ele-
ments of both Manchester retro-funk
and shoe-gazer "dream-pop."
Nevertheless, for all their tradi-
tional British pop sensibility, the
House of Love unquestionably re-
main a band in a category all their
own.


I

STUDENT ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER

i I

HOUSE OF LOVE will be ap-
pearing at St. Andrew's Hall in
Detroit tonight along with Catherine
Wheel and Ocean Colour Scene.
Tickets are $16.25 at Ticketmaster
(p.e.s.c.) Doors open at 8 p.m.

A Unique opportunity to:
" strengthen leadership skills " coordinate and present workshops
" gain practical experience in organizational development
" consult with student organizations e earn 3 credits
Informational Mass Meeting* Wed. October 28,1992
5- 6pm at 2429 Mason Hall. Refreshments will be served.
Applications are now available at the SODC office-2202 Union, and
are due Fri. Nov. 6 by 5:00pm. Questions? Please call 763-5900.

I"I

Lwax 4Zma
RESTAURANT - BAR & GATHERING PLACE
OPENING SOON
SIN

TAKE IT TO THE MAX!
MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY
AWAITS YOU AT OUR NEW
RESTAURANT!
Our Managers are professionals at making sure...
The Atmosphere is always fun,
The Food is always fresh,
The Service is always good,
The Schedule is always set and
The Training is designed to let you shine!
ul h/oy , ~e
it you are an energetic, enthusiastic
team player looking for a fun,
fast-paced environment then come join
our OPENING TEAM!
The following positions are currently availible:
* Hosts/ Hostesses - Fry Cooks

The Investment Banking Division
of
Goldman Sachs & Co.
cordially invites the students
of THE UNIVERSITY OF-MICHIGAN
to an information session on careers
in Investment Banking.
We encourage all majors to attend!!!
Monday, October 26, 1992
MICHIGAN UNION
KUENZEL ROOM
6:00 p.m.
Party at Pizzeria Uno to follow