RTS 'Havoc' copes with reality By NICOLE BAKER Although there isn't a happy end- ing, "Cry Havoc" doesn't need one, it is about war, and how people cope with that reality. IN rcn unviiIr nrY irILL i -Eli m Cry Havoc Arena Theatre March 31, 1994 Basement Arts' production of Alan Kenward's "Cry HAvoc" was stirring as well as poignant. Utilizing the tal- ent of its all female cast, they created a production that centered around the differences of individuals, and how those differences affect the way people deal with extraordinary situations. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the play occurs in an under- ground bunker in the Philippines. Eight volunteers arrive on the front to help, Doc (Jennifer Pennington) and her assistant Smitty (Christina Traister). Together, these dynamically dif- ferent women must face the reality of the war and their own private de- lmons. Each one approaches the war from a different perspective, chang- ing forever over the course of the next few days. The twists and turns that occur as they confront not only themselves, but the spy in their midst, kept the audience on the edge, guessing. Noth- ing is clear cut anymore, as they face the war, and find the strength in them- selves to survive and stay sane, and for one of them it becomes impos- sible. Pat (Mandy Siegfried), was the epitome of the arrogant, brash, tom- boy, hiding her fear behind cynical remarks and jabs at Smitty. Oddly it is the tension between Pat and Smitty that creates a sort of dark humor, as the two perform a female rendition of the "odd couple," ex- changing barbs from the beginning. Ironically it is Smitty who de- fends Pat the strongest, and is reluc- tant to suspect her as the spy, despite the evidence against Pat. Traister is perfect as the cynical Smitty, who refuses to allow anything to stand in the way of her work, and runs roughshod over the new volunteers. Her gruff, tough-as-nails attitude is her way of keeping them at a dis- tance, so she can protect herself emo- tionally. Pat, however, is cleared as Connie (Lauren Odar) was revealed as the spy. Connie swung from an incapable, over-sensitive push-over to a cold- hearted and vindictive spy. Her trans- formation from the hapless female who couldn't stand the blood and violence to ruthless killer, was almost like seeing a split personality. In the dramatic and bittersweet ending, they are captured and killed, by the Japanese. Each resigned to the fate that awaits them as they walk out the bunker doors. The poignant and compelling na- ture of Kenward's words would have been enough to override any glaring faults, however, they were accentu- ated by the talented and provocative performance of the entire cast. The set was simple bunkbeds, a table and chairs, yet the simplicity and roughness of the set enhanced the idea of a bunker, as well as the use of the old brick walls that were part of the old building. The lighting, sound and effects were well timed and use- ful in establishing action, and didn't seem to miss a beat. "Cry Havoc" was, in a way, a study in the fear and demands of war, explored from the female perspec- tive, in which everything is turned upside down. Ironically the things that seemed impossible and scary to the volunteer became the things they clung to, seeking solidity in their topsy turvey world. It was the story of dynamic and diverse people coming together in a situation designed to destroy people's sanity, and how individually they learn to cope and survive. i$3 Tupac Shakur's b-ball troupe gets set to hoop it up in "Above the Rim." S leek 'Rm'scores ,points Beastle Boys Some Old Bullshit Grand Royal / Capitol Based on this compilation of singles and EPs from the early '80s, it doesn't seem at all likely that the Beastie Boys would become one of the most innovative, influential groups of the past decade. Aside from "Cookie Puss" - a prank phone call set to a beat - there isn't even a glimmer of talent on any of "Some Old Bullshit." Despite the fact that it isn't really all that offensive or funny, "Cookie Puss" does show the beginning of their path to glory. "Pollywog Stew," on the other hand, is a limp 10-song hardcore punk EP that is shockingly dull and inept; "Check Your Head"'s "Time for Living" demolishes any of these tracks. At least the Beasties ,0were considerate enough to title the album accurately; wait for the new "Ill Condition," set for release in May. -- Tom Erlewine Iron Butterfly Heavy & Metamorphosis Rhino Ah, musical beauty has been re- mastered and reissued. Iron Butterfly's first and third albums are finally available on compact disc. While famous for their hit "In A Goddadavida," the Butterfly's other work has for the most part been drift- ing into obscurity because of unavail- ability. But no longer. "Heavy" is more than 26 years old, but remains accessible. One could hardly listen to the intonations of the chorus of "Gentle as it May Seem" ("Come here woman") without being reminded of Scorpion from Mortal Kombat. And the theme of police brutality in "You Can't Win" is as '90s as Ice- T. Of course, the album has its own merits as well. The bass-heavy rock 'n' roll with melodies is purely from the past, but has lost nothing with the passage of time. And you can't find any band today that uses a keyboard nearly as well as the Butterfly uses an organ on "Heavy". "Metamorphosis" is a much mel- lower album than "Heavy," and it is disquieting to listen to the two con- secutively. Where "Heavy" was very '60s, this album has the taint of the '70s, but plays surprisingly well. It is a kind of mellow evolution for the band, as the album title indicates. As for the remastering, the CD is louder than the vinyl version. The percussion is crisper, and there is less time between songs. Unfortunately, the bass is less natu- ral sounding and the art loses quite a bit in shrinkage.. These negative aspects are mini- mal, however, and the fact that you get background notes about the al- bums with the new CDs more than outweighs them. Altogether a fine project. - Ted Watts By CHRIS LEPLEY There's a new trend developing in Hollywood - a new genre to bring an old genre into modern times. Although the classical Western isn't dead and gone (not judging by the success of FILM REVIEW Above the Rim Written by Barry Michael Cooper & Jeff Pollack; directed by Jeff Pollack; with Duane Martin, Leon, Tupac Shakur and Marlon Wayans. such films as "Tombstone," "Unforgiven" and "Dances With Wolves" at least), it has donated many of its conventions to the burgeoning genre I like to call the 'Sports Epic.' Sports films are nothing new, ei- ther, but they are enjoying a growth right now, led by basketball films like "Blue Chips" and "White Men Can't Jump" and including football greats like "The Program" and "Rudy." Just like the Western,the sports film makes things easy for the audience, diluting complicated gray areas of character motivation into the simple proposi- tion of 'us against them' and in the less introspective of those films, the good guys always win. The protagonist might be torn be- tween the easy route to success and the hard road to honor, but they al- most always choose that hard road. In "Above the Rim," Duane Martin (who played a season for the New York Knicks) is Kyle, a young star on the Monarch High School basketball team who wants to be a star at the expense of his team spirit. . The film centers around the Shoot Out basketball tournament, a salute to the Rucker tournaments started in real life New York. Kyle is torn between playing on his high school's entry in the tournament, The Bombers, and playing for the neighborhood drug dealer's team, The Birdmen. Birdie (Tupac Shakur), the aforementioned drug dealer, tempts Kyle with money, loose women and liquor in the hopes of securing his help in the Shoot Out. Wrapped around this rather obvi- ous plot is a pedantic morality tale designed to make Kyle's own story more poignant. Shep (played by Leon) is the tried-and-true reflection char- acter. An ex-high school basketball star who feels responsible for the death of his best friend and has never played basketball since, taking a job as a security guard instead. TonyaPinkins's Mailika is a strong and determined woman who knows exactly what she wants. When Shep asks her if she ever dreams about running away, even if it's only her head that does the running, she gives him an unequivocal no. The only ques- tion raised by the strong-armed ma- triarch convention in these kinds of films is where do all these admirable mothers come from, when all of the other women are portrayed as unin- telligent and overly promiscuous? Tupac Shakur plays Birdie with slick style and a serial killer's know- ing leer. His cocky attitude is high- lighted by the knife scar running down one side of his face. Marlon Wayans also appears in the film as Bugaloo, a character which was probably con- ceived as merely comic relief, but into which Wayans manages to inject some fresh insights. Bernie Mae (seen in "House Party 3" and "Mo' Money") makes an appearance as a homeless man named Flip who loses his life at the end of Birdie's razor blade, and Eric Nies (the buff guy from the first "Real World" who now hosts MTV's "The Grind") play Montrose, who hardly has any lines so we don't have to see Eric try to act! Yeah! With its sleek production values, black-clad smooth-talking villains and killer basketball footage, "Above the Rim" is a film definitely worth wast- ing your time on. If you have time to waste, that is. ABOVE THE RIM is now playing at Showcase. ZW r ?Pause NEW RELEASES IN-STOCK7( RECORDS I"E 1140 SaothUnirersitytT M O R W «An e1meCae (AboveGood-time Chadef's)AtAbr I80 4/f/94 i ..ame, ___ ONEWEEK-ONLY| - ANY (single dis $9.99 and U) PINKL SIC LOsHE DIVISION BELL CCtockd SAUSAGERIDDLEs ARE ABOUNAlTONIGHT (members of Primus) sale price ends: 411/94 $9.99$ .99casse lassicalxsesandlassicalCsried RELEASE DATES SUBECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE S15,199 $9.99 & ss The Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives is looking for energetic, reliable, and highly motivated students for its: 1994 King/Chavez/Parks Career Exploration Summer Institutes Program Mid-June g August,1994 Program Description: Students hired will supervise high school students from southeast Michigan who reside on campus for one week visits, during which times these 10th and 11th graders will attend workshops, presentations, mini- lectures, field trips, etc. The emphasis is on the student exploration of his or her career interest.