The Michigan Daily-Weekend etc.--January 28, 1993-- Page 3 'Antigone': just see it by Liz Shaw Ifyou haven'tread Sophocles' "Antigone" in your school- ing career, now is the time to do something about it. The Irondale Ensemble Project of New York is currently touring with the Greek classic, however it's with a twist that will not offend the average classics hater. Imagine clowns. The Irondale Productions team did, and they came up with their own avant-garde version of "Antigone" which received rave reviews in the six weeks it played at the House of Candles in New York City. The story of "Antigone" is a familiar one, depicting the tragedy of the struggle between the power of one conscience and that of the law of the land. It is a sad tale of a girl who wants only to bury her dead brother, who happens to be (by relation only) an enemy of the state. The trouble that ensues when she decides to defy the law and take his burial into her own hands comprises the plot. Despite the somber storyline, the Ensemble takes this tale and turns it into a three ring circus, complete with clowns, a ringmaster and blazing rednoses. This transforms the ancient land of Thebes into a circus-state rather than a city-state. In order to keep things moving, the Ensemble illuminates some of Sophocles' insights into the politics of every day life by including modern song and dance. The production, which premiered in New York in 1992, is directed by James Niesen, features original music by American composer Walter Thompson and choreography by Andrea Smith. Other than performances done internationally, this is the Ensemble's first move past Pennsylvania. To open its 1993 season, the highly acclaimed acting troupe is bringing its antics to Ann Arbor for the only Michigan performances. The local performances are part of a bigger tour covering many of the midwestern states; they hope to move on to the western states next. "We felt that we wanted to expose our productions to a broader forum," said Terry Greiss, an actor in the Ensemble who is also the group's Artistic Director. "We hope to be doing it with all of our plays from now on." When first starting out in 1983, the Ensemble worked in performing outlandish reinterpretations of the classics using unique forms of music and dance. They enhanced their studies using methods such as neutral mask theory and, as in "Antigone", clown technique. The Irondale Ensemble Project, now entering its tenth season, is essentially a research theater company which supports different educational programs through the use of experiential learning. The Ensemble, which consists of 15 members, goes into schools and prisons using different improvisational techniques to inform people about things such as AIDS, HIV and safe sex. The Ensemble has also- produced teaching workshops as well as a manual that is used throughout the New York City school system. ANTIGONE will be at the Michigan Theater January 29 at 1p.m. and 8 p.m. Matinee tickets are $5 with a student ID; evening tickets are $10-$15. Call 668-8397. "Serious drama" isn't quite as serious anymore with the Ensemble Project of New York's "Antigone." Droll trolis. take over the world, by Kristen Knudsen I can remember the day I bought ay first troll. It was August, 1991, and J was at Ohio's amusement park, Ce- dar Point. Upon entering a gift shop, I .was drawn to a small shelf of Good Luck Trolls. I picked out what ap- peared to be the cutest - a hot-pink- haired beauty with a yellow felt tunic. It was a Norfin Troll. Soon I became aware of a breed of Russ Trolls that were even cuter than my troll. These had more clearly de- fined eyes and wore clothing other than tunics. I purchased a tiny pink- haired baby troll dressed in a bib and diaper. Then, for my birthday, Christ- mas, and no occasion at all, the trolls startedpouring in. A"Troll Kid," whose body is made of soft fabric instead of plastic, a Lucky Lottery troll, the Santa troll. My collection grew, but over this holiday season, not even I was pre- pared for what I saw when I ventured into the mall. It was troll mania. In the department store I was struck by a set of "Bathing Trolls," a set of soap and sponges; in the camera store Inoticed special 3-packs of film which came with a free mini troll; in the accessory store I was horrified to find removable troll tattoos; and across the Mall in Mr. Bulky's, I entered what was pow officially called "Troll World." The store, once known best for its sales of candy, was now my troll head- quarters, and it was equipped for the job. Here they were, any troll I could ever have imagined - thousands of them. Punk rockers, doctors, cooks, 'sailors, skeletons (from Halloween), old men, Rudolph (as in the reindeer - red nose, antlers and all), Trolls From Around the World - priced between $4-20, depending on the size. Troll key-chains, pins, earrings, bracelets, necklaces. Troll playing cards, posters, 8x 10's. Acrawling, gig- gling, battery-operated troll named "*I I "Baby Giggles," mini toy cars with troll drivers, festively decorated troll bags to carry my troll purchases. A five-dollar set of "fun clothing and accessories" for my troll. A lim- ited, collector's edition troll for $70. There wereeven some leftoverban- ners from the big campaign, "Russ Troll for President." Everywhere I went I was bom- barded by trolls. Drug stores, hallmark shops, hotel gift shops, gas stations! Not just Norfin and Russ Trolls, either. AGFA trolls, Magic trolls, Treasure Trolls, Evil Trolls, Glo-Trolls. Flip- ping through the channels on TV I found a troll cartoon. And let's not forget that troll boardgame. I was not even free at the supermar- ket. Yep, right next to the fruit roll-ups, I was greeted by "Fruit Trolls." , Then, in addition to all of this, I was told of a life-sized troll at the Summit Place Mall, wearing a negligee and a whip. I don't want to know whose sexual fantasy this is. I realize that fads like these, for example, Ninja Turtles, Bart Simpson, Max Headroom, and the Care Bears, usually fade. But, like the long-living Mickey Mouse, the trolls have an ad- vantage: they were not created by TV, and their inventors seem set on per- petuating them. Will they live on? Idon'tknow. Butthey've had good luck so far. Listeners' guide to the Class of 1993 by Steven Knowlton The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in Cleveland, has inducted its Class of 1993 amid much hoopla and fanfare. These artists did contribute lasting works to the history of popular music, but sometimes, in times of adulation, it is forgotten that not every record is a mas- terpiece. Hence, wepresentthis guide to the Hall of Fame's best and worst, for 1993. RUTH BROWN Ruth Brown is a blues singer whose career began in the early 1950s. BEST: Brown's best early work, including her most famous hit "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean" is in- cluded on "Miss Rhythm." Examples of her fine current work are on "Free and Mellow" (1991). WORST:Brown has recordedmany versions of "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean," on live albums, with hornbands, in long improvisations. Most of these should be avoided. CREAM Cream was an English blues trio, starring guitarist Eric Clapton. They played from 1966 to 1969. BEST: Cream specialized in long jams, so their albums are important because greatest hits collections fail to capture their instrumental prowess. "Fresh Cream" (1966) and "Disraeli Gears" are their best albums, showcas- ing tightarrangements and strong tunes. WORST: "Goodbye Cream," their last album, was uninspired and boring. Many of their live albums released after they broke up are poorly played and poorly recorded. CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL Creedence Clearwater Revival was a San Francisco quartet that played southern rock so well that most fans didn't believe they were from Califor- nia. Their career extended from 1968 to 1972. BEST: Because Creedence's forte was singles, "Chronicle" serves as an excellentcollection of all their great hits and some well known B-sides as well. Theirbest albums include "Green River" (1969), "Willy and the Poor Boys" (1969), and "Cosmo'sFactory" (1970). WORST: "Mardi Gras" (1972) changes approach to a country band with three singers, and suffers for it. At all costs, avoid the live albums and compilations suchas "Creedence Coun- try" and "Hot Stuff," released by an insensitive record company. They offer only a few songs in poor packaging and bad pressings. THE DOORS The Doors were a Los Angeles pop band who thought they were psyche- delic, playing from 1967 to 1971. BEST: "The Doors Greatest Hits" gets all the famous numbers into one disc without adding any of the exces- sively long numbers that mar all the other albums. If you don't mind those, however, "TheDoors" (1967) and "The Soft Parade" (1969) are excellent ex- amples of the band's work. WORST: The Doors were atrocious live producing miserable concert al- bums. Also, the band recorded a few albums after lead singer Jim Morrison See GUIDE, Page 8 Eric Clapton's former band Cream is inducted into the Hall of Fame. patago nia° SYNCHILLA® CLASSICS The Synchilla® Snap T-Neck has seen most of the known world. It could well be the ultimate multi-purpose utility garment. 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