18 -The Michigan Daily - Friday, December 10, 1993

Hornback is Dickens for the holiday

BY WILL MATTHEWS
When Danny Glover and Felix Justice read from
the writings ofLangston Hughes and Martin Luther
King, Jr. last year at Hill Auditorium, those who
werepresentfortheirpassionate readings witnessed
the immortality of words and wisdom. Glover's
passionfor Hughes' poetry made the words breathe
with alifeand energy thatextends beyond Hughes'
death - life made eternal and passed on in art.
And now, in aseason ofholidays, Professor Bert
Hornback of Bellarmine College in Louisville,
Kentucky resurrects Charles Dickens, in the way
Hal Holbrook spewed life into the anecdotes and
characteristic aphorisms of Mark Twain.
Inspired by Dickens, who himself conducted
popular reading tours of his work throughout Brit-
ain, the United States and France, Professor
Hornback tours reading from "A Christmas Carol"
and excerpts from "Great Expectations."
"(Dickens) writes well enough that the novels
... tell you how to read them out loud, and they are
wonderful to read out loud because of that," ex-

plained Hornback. "Youdon'thave tomake things
up. (The novels) tell you the pattern as well as
Mozart's score tells you how to play the music."
Hornback, a Dickens scholar who taught En-
glish here for 28 years, has been reading as Dickens
for 19 years, with over 300 performances. Hornback
first became Dickens in 1976, touring all over the
United States. Like Dickens on his tours, Hornback
travels with a reading lectern, and a replica of
Dickens' red velvet-covered reading desk.
"I like the values (Dickens) argues for and stands
for. I like that he writes so wonderfully well,"
Hornback said, noting Dickens elements of social
criticism and observations of social injustice.
Hornback becomes Dickens with a beard and
costume, and apparently is Dickens. "I have to do
what he does, use his language ... when I'm asked
questions I try to respond as he would have re-
sponded ... By now I'm pretty comfortable with
playing him, and soIlet him say whatever he feels
like saying."
As a writerfor theMichiganesian wrote in 1985:

"The audience knew that Dickens was really Dr.
Bert Hornback ... but that didn't spoil any of the fun.
The question that loomed was if Hornback actually
knew he wasn't Dickens."
"They lost nothing, misinterpreted nothing, fol-
lowed everything closely, laughed and cried, and
animated me," said Dickens in 1853, "tothat extent
that I felt as if we were all bodily going into the
clouds together."
Hornback tends to feel the same way about the
literature and its presentation. "I enjoy it for some of
the same reasons he did," explained Hornback. "It's
wonderful fun to be that close to an audience ... to
get an audience to respond to the things that are
going on."
Professor Hornback will be readingfrom
Dickens tonight at8 p.m. at the First Congrega-
tional Church, at 1:30p.m. Saturday at the
University Hospital, and at 8p.m. Saturday night
at the First United Methodist Church. He will
also be reading at Concordia College, in Ann
Arbor, on Sunday at 3p.-m.

SCHINDLER'S LIST

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Surfs Out
Sorry to spoil your weekend, but not only has the scheduled Butthole
Surfers concert with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones at the State Theater for
tonight been cancelled, but the St. Andrew's Hall show featuring Flipper,
Feisty Cadavers and Horse on Thursday, December 16 has also been scrapped.
Ticket refunds are available at the point of purchase.
P-Funk All Stars
Although those old Parliament/Funkadelic albums are great, to really
understand why George Clinton is revered by about 80% of the hip-hop, rock
and R&B community, you have to see him perform live. Fortunately, you'll
haveyour chance next Saturday night.OnDecember 18,Clinton bringshis P-
Funk All-Stars (featuring Parliament and Funkadelic) to the Majestic Theater
(call for ticket prices and showtimes). In concert, the dazzling instrumental
prowess of P-Funk is breathtaking. Without a doubt, it will be one great,
groovin' time and you'll get funked up more than you ever thought was
possible. It's the perfect holiday treat for nearly any music lover.
Pop-Punk and Rock & Roll
Tonight, head down to the Blind Pig for a double-dose of power-pop punk
and rock & roll. Seattle's latest buzz band, Flop, bring their zippy, melodic
punkrock(sortoflike Buzzcocks play bubblegum) to town, supporting their
major-label debut, "Whenever You're Ready." They will be opening up for
localheroesTheHannibalstonight.Ticketsare$5anddoorsopenat9:30for
those that are 19 & over.
If youstill haven'tsatiated your appetite forlive, blistering rock& roll after
Friday night, check out the Laughing Hyenas at the Blind Pig on Saturday.
"Maximum Rock N Roll" said they "Could very well be the best band on
earth;" they were only slightly exaggerating. Tickets are $5 in advance and
doors open at 9:30.
50 Cents Per Band
ComeDecember17, nextFridaynight, you shouldprobably be in the mood
to unwind and blow off a little steam before you take off for vacation or take
that last exam. There's no better way than heading down to the Unitarian
Church on 1917 Washtenaw and catchaplethora of local bands. Starting at
5:30PM,eightbands-Cockfight, Corruption CommitteeBarbed Wire Play
Pen, IxCxSDD, NadsatNation, Morsel and CivilDisobedience-willplay
their hearts out and you can see it for only $4! That's only 50 cents a band, so
there's no reason not to go. Unless you really have to study for that blasted
Shakespeareexam.
Holiday Movies
Besides "Schindler's List" (left),"In theName of the Fatherand "Heaven
and Earth," the panoply of Yuletide film releases look fairly hoo-hum this
holiday season. Whoopi's "backinthe habit"with an inane sequel to the inane
original "Sister Act."
Wayne andGarth lookpoisedtobreakall sorts ofbox office records once
again, but their chemistry may appearabit datedif not all together tired. Julia
Roberts makesherfirst silver screen appearancesince"Hook"in "Tlei Pelican
Brief," based on John Grisham's best selling thriller. Everyone knows Julia
couldn't actherway outofa garbage can, and "Brief'mightfollow closely in
the inauspicious footsteps of Grisham's first big screen adaptation, "The
Firm.
Finally, Kurt "Big Trouble in Little China" Russell and Val "I can't act"
Kilmer team up in "Tombstone."Actually, the long-awaited western is a total
farce. In 1946, Henry Fonda and Victor Matur starred as the original Wyatt
Earp and Doc Holliday in John Ford's brilliant "My Darling Clementine."
Today, their infamous roles are reprised by two has beens who haven't even
pretended to give credit where it's due. Nonsense.
ChristmasChleer u
The Ann Arbor Film Coop is celebrating the mirth and merriment of
Christmasalittledifferentlythan mostareusedtothiSyear.Checkout"Black
Christmas" tonight at7:30 & 9:30 in MLB 4. The 1974 B-film starsMargo
Kidder as collegestudentstalked byacampuspsychoIt seems everyone else
has gone home for Christmas. As if that wasn't enough, the coop will also
screentheoriginal10mniute"Rudolphthe Red Nosed Reindeer"immediately
beforehand.

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Steven Spielberg's highly anticipated "Schindler's List" will open in
exclusive markets on December 15th, before its national release in early
January. The film, which stars Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and Ben
Kingsley, concerns consummate playboy and Nazi Party profiteer Oscar
Schindler (Neeson), who sacrifices his fortune in order to save 1,300 Jews
from extermination in occupied Poland. Based on a true story, "Schindler's
List" promises to finally legitimize Spielberg's status as a dramatic auteur.
Make this a part of your must see holiday movie list. It promises to be well-
worth your time.II

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Happy



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The Office of

Academic Multicultural Initiatives
is now taking applications for

Student Program Hosts
for the KIngIChAve/Prks
College Day Spring Visitation Program

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Application deadline
Friday, January 14,

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1994

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