8 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 8, 1993 'Godot' definitely worth the wait By ROBIN BARRY The R.C. Players' production of "Waiting for (odot", directed by Peter Campbell, had it's first couple of runs this weekend in the R.C. Audito- rium. Campbell's cast and crew certainly had some tough shoes to try on. ^ m, t T m 7 Waiting For Godot The R.C. Auditorium November 5, 1993 "Waiting For Godot" has been criticized and acclaimed in many different countries. Since it's premiere in Paris, in 1953 it has met with a great deal ofcontroversy. Labeled avant-garde, absurdist and existentialist, "Godot" has quickly become a classic. It's found it's way into the curriculum of English and theater classes of all sorts. These might seem like some fairly intimidat- ing credentials. Also, "Godot" isn't typical entertainment. It does not rely on some sort of oversimplified plot. It doesn't really tell a story. The action of the play does not culminate to form some sort of conflict followed by an expected resolution. Instead, "Godot" raises some fundamental questions about existence. It forces one to look inward for conflict and resolution. The play actu- ally centers around the idea that nothing of conse- quence ever happens, and that nothing really changes anyway. This could pose a problem. How do you get an audience to sit through a play in which nothing actually happens? Well, Peter's cast and crew pulled it off beau- tifully. The cast, composed of four men and a boy, seem to truly enjoy doing the play. They seem immersed in it. It does not appear to be so much a performance as a personal exercise. They really seem to understand Beckett's text, and do a nice job translating the words into a physical reality. They appear to be very confident and comfortable with their portrayal. These actors also work very well with each other. Jason Winslade and David Gordon play the vaudevillian bums, Estragon and Vladimir. Mix- ing drama with comedy in a shameless manner, these two contribute some powerful moments to the play, as well as some ridiculous ones. One particular moment, where their comfort and confidence came in handy, was when Vladimir threw a hat which struck the tree, making all the leaves fall off. Instead of ignoring this freak accident, Winslade and Gordon incorporated it into the comedy of the play, giving the tree a good long stare and then shrugging as if to say, 'What are the chances?' It was truly precious. They were very well prepared. The sadistic Pozzo, portrayed by James Ingagiola was charmingly pompous and a joy to watch. Jim Burch who enacted the part of Pozzo's servile counterpart, Lucky, was very convinc- ingly pathetic as a 'menial'. When he's finally made to speak he's a dynamic force to be dealt with. The boy, played by Tilman Walsh, gave a fine performance as the messenger of Godot. The actors seemed to take possession of the entire theater. The use of space was impressive and very physical. Although this is a very philo- sophical and thought-provoking play, the audi- ence was certainly given something to watch. It was quite entertaining. The cast would come and go as they pleased from any direction. When the boy, for example first enters, he comes from the back of the theater. The audience hears his first timid, "Sir?" and is caught by surprise, just as the actors on stage are. Peter's utilization of space was very effective and forced the audience to become more involved. Beckett's "Waiting For Godot" may have pre- sented quite an intimidating challenge to Peter and his crew. However, they overcome this chal- lenge and present a terrific piece of entertainment. The play is also running this weekend, same times same place. Instead of paying six bucks to stare at a movie screen, you might think about getting some very live entertainment. 'Cat' fails of the roof with a thud i y i The long awaited "Robocop 3" finally hit theaters last weekend. Oh joy! Worthless 'Cop' By KAREN LEE There is no question that Tennes- see Williams' dramas are often diffi- cult to perform. They can be histri- onic at times, plus the author has a tendency to repeat himself. "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is no exception. The play, which deals with two struggles, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof Ann Arbor Civic Theatre November 4, 1993 for an inheritance and for a marriage, becomes shrill at times; plus, since there are two characters who have virtually act-long monologues, it is inevitable that they will repeat them- selves. All the same, I love Williams, and thus was sorely disappointed with Ann Arbor Civic Theatre's produc- tion of "Cat," which will be running through November 20. There were, of course, a few good performances. Charles Sutherland as Big Daddy Pgllitt, the family patri- arch who is unknowingly dying of cancer even as he is celebrating his 65th birthday, was an imposing pres- ence. I was glad to see that Sutherland didn't play the character as all bluster and crudeness, but that he allowed the audience to see his deep fear at the thought of dying and his glee at being told that he is not (naturally, a false diagnosis). Troy D. Sill and Tim Henning, in the roles of Reverend Tooker and Doc Baugh, two guests at Big Daddy's birthday party, did not once break character, clearly giving these relatively minor parts the same attention they would have given a lead. It's too bad that the same time was not devoted to the roles that deserved it, or, at least, it didn't appear that it was. Chris Korow, who played unctu- ous older brother Gooper, was fine in his smiling meanness; however, Wendy Wright, in the role offGooper's equally unctuous wife and apparent baby factory, Mae, started off shrill and went up from there. By the third act, I had to cover my ears every time she spoke. Big Daddy's wife, Big Mama, as acted by Julie Devine, was just silly. Granted, silliness is a major compo- nent of the character, but she is also supposed to be equal parts pain, from enduring a marriage for 40 years to a man who doesn't love her, and, by the end, dignity. Devine and director Anne Kolaczkowski Magee, though, didnot take advantage of what Williams' script had to offer, and thus gave us a woman who was purely one-dimen- sional. It's too bad that the same time was not devoted to the roles that deserved It, or, at least, It didn't appear that It was. But the biggest disappointments were John McGowan as the younger son, Brick, and Cassie Mann as his wife, Maggie. This is by far the most interesting plot line in the play, one in which Maggie desperately attempts to save her marriage when Brick takes to alcohol and silence after his best friend Skipper's death; Maggie sus- pects the two men might have been in love with each other. But Mann, McGowan and director Magee did not raise the stakes high enough to make for compelling drama. Mann was supremely unfocused, which, with as much speaking time as the character has, cannot happen; it did not seem to particularly important to 0 By CHRIS LEPLEY Let's all have amoment of silence for the death of yet another potential cult film series. "Robocop 3" is a film so unworthy of its predecessors that it doesn't even get a subtitle. Why not "Robocop 3: This Time He Flies With Truly Awful Special Effects" or even "Robocop 3: This Time He Comes With A Built-In Can Opener Just Like Spam?" The possibilities are endless. Peter Weller took the high road and decided to cut his losses by not Robocop 3 making a third outing as the metal Directed by Fred Dekker; written by behemoth Robocop. Robert John Frank Miller and Fred Dekker; with Burke fills those size 13's about as Robert John Burke, Nancy Allen and well as anyone. It's not like grunting Rip Torn. and ordering people around isa stretch for an actor, but it'd be nice to see some effort once in awhile. Burke tries, but there'snot much meat on this bone. Nancy Allen returns as Robocop's partner, Anne Lewis, proving some people's careers would be much improved by their own deaths by fire. Once again, Lewis does nothing but stop a few bullets and weep and beg Murphy (Burke) to remember his human side (which he does much too often, subject-0 ing the audience to annoying sound effects and melodramatic crap). In this last installment, Robocop becomes disenchanted with the corporate hell-hole that futuristic Detroit has become and throws in his lot with a group Why not 'Robocop 3: This Time He Flies With Truly Awful Special Effects' or even 'Robocop 3: This Time He Comes With A Built-In Can Opener Just Like Spam?' of rebels. If only the filmmakers had taken the rebels from "Demolition Man" complete with Denis Leary as the leader and transplanted them to "Robocop 3," then it might have been exciting. As it stands, the rebels are a big group of bad actors, and that's all. And they also suffer from 'cute kid' syndrome in the person of Nikko (Remy Ryan), a pre-pubescent computer hacker who man- ages to get ahold of Ed 209 (from the first film) and wreaks havoc throughout Detroit with it. Robocop has become a Disney franchise in too many ways. One of the biggest problems with the film is its lack of believability. That might sound like an obvious statement, but the filmmakers didn't even bother to check out what modem Detroit was like before they made this movie. Supposedly set in a futuristic urban warzone, the film (shot in Atlanta, by the0 way) looks about as dangerous as Traverse City after dark. Detroit had worse riots than these during the '60s, making "Robocop 3" look more like a documentary than a fantasy. "Robocop 3" is rated PG-13, and if that doesn't tip you off that the days of good 'ole Paul Verhoeven-esque gore are gone, then let me warn you - there is not enough pure splatter to justify the utter stupidity of this script. ROCO't)P 3 is nlavino at Showcase. Cassie Mann was a disappointing Maggie in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." her that she be able to convince her" husband to sleep with her again. The actor who plays Brick has a harder job, because, while he doesn't say much, he has to allow the audi- ence to glimpse the pain over Skipper's death and, yes, the love, both brotherly and the more romantic kind, that he felt for his friend when he was alive, and which he feels now. But McGowan only gave us surface emotion, not allowing any turmoil to be seen, so when he lashed out at Maggie or Big Daddy, it was notclear as to where such anger was coming from. That was, in essence, what this production of"Caton aHot Tin Roof' was about: all surface and no sub- stance. Willliams deserves better. I ~7~z~c BONE Continued from page 5 steely, sometimes tortured, some- times enraged stare never loses its potency. Arlis has had it rough and just wants to live his life with no surprises stocking candy machines and counting quarters. With Ryan, it takes a few minutes to remember that she is not a dis- placed character from a Nora Ephron movie. After the initial shock of see- ing her pop out of a cake dressed more like Madonna than one would ever expect, the chemistry between Ryan and Quaid keeps things rolling. The relationship that Arlis and Kay have, though far from traditional fairy tale proportions, seems like it could really turn out splendidly if for no other reason than that they are both really messed up. Ryan's role is strengthened by pairing roughness with a more sensitive, almost mater- nal side that brings out Arlis' own vulnerability. She is also given most of the film's funnier lines, which help to dispel the gritty, sweaty, tension- filled seriousness that can be a real drag. Granted, the predictability of cer- tain major plot twists could be irritat- ing to some people, but the story as a whole is kind of interesting and there is a realistic, honest feel to the film that makes it more effective. *N FOR JUNIOR NURSING STUDENTS A NURSING EXPERIENCE AT MAYO FOUNDATION HOSPITALS - ROCHESTER, MN Here is your opportunity to work at Mayo Medical Center for the summer. Summer IIl is a paid, supervised hospital work experience at SA NN A R OR 2 5th AVE. AT LIBERTY 761-9700 THE AGE OF INNOCENCE (PG) - Fri, Mon, Wed, Thurs: 4:00, 7:00,9:50I 3 ~Sat, Sun, Tues: 1:00, 4:00,7:00,9:50I THE JOY LUCK CLUB (R) - Fri, Mon, Wed, Thurs: 4:15,7:15, 10:05 1 Sat, Sun, Tues: 1:15, 4:15,7:15, 10:05 BARGAIN MATINEES $3.50 BEFORE 6PM I ISTUDENTS WITH ID $4,00 EVENINGS 8 1 FRn vni1IR I I I