The Michigan Daily - Friday, November 4, 1994 - 9
4VIAGNAPOP POPS INTO THE PIG
Suj ective interpretation
of Shepard's 'Icarus'
By SHANE MICHAELS
Remember read ing George
Orwell's "Animal Farm" in high
school? If you took itin at surfacelevel,
it was a story about a bunch of animals
on a farm running around talking to
each other. But thank goodness for
high school English, where we learned
that not everything in good literature
canbeinterpretedliteraly. With amore
subjective interpretation. "Animal
Farm" went from a children's story to
a powerful statement about tyranny.
A subjective interpretation can also
be used to make sense of another piece
of literature: "Icarus's Mother," one of
Sam Shepard's most problematic plays,
that will be given another chance this
week from a Basement Arts produc-
tion at the Frieze Building's Arena
Theatre.
The one-act play concerns a group
of friends who have gathered for their
annual outing to watch the Fourth of
July fireworks, The plot surrounds the
group's individual reactions to a pilot
flying a fighter plane through the sky.
Sound a little fishy? Basement Arts
director Nick D.F. de A bruzzo agrees:
"Michael Smith, the director of the
original Off-Broadway production ...
says right off the bat 'The show failed.'
Itleaves too much in the air; most of his
plays will tie things together more
nicely. This play has a lot of pitfalls,
which is why it's being done in the
Basement and why I needed to do this
play-because it helps me through the
directorial process with many more
questions than any other play would
(raise). I think that there are ways of
overcdming the problems."
To bring meaning to the play's oth-
erwise trivial plot, Abruzzo chose to
focus on the subjective meaning of the
text. "It doesn't tie together in a realis-
tic standing, so we're going to make it
surrealistic," he explained. "There ate
many definitions of surrealism so you
can approach it at any angle.
"But definitely surrealism is laying
out on the table all of your inner feel-
ings. Most of the time what surrealistic
drama is about is people who don't
really know how they feel; they're not
in touch with that, so they talk on a
surface level that is somewhat cover-
ing over what they feel - what they
really want. Discovering that is what
the play would be all about. The play
definitely bridges over into surrealism
or else it's just a very strange, absurd
play."
So just as Orwell's "Animal Farm"
went from talking pigs to a contempla-
tion of class struggle, a subjective in-
terpretation of "Icarus's Mother" takes
the play from smoke signals at an air
See ICARUS, Page iC
Yesss!! Those indie popsters that crank out sounds too good for most
people's ears, Magnapop, are back again to rock your world. Seems like
they've been touring incessantly this fall, first with quirky, punky, grumpy
reats the Fall, and now in heavenly conjunction with Sugar. Which truly is a
erfect match, for Bob Mould is not just Magnapop's biggest fan, but the
producer of the recent, underappreciated "Hot Boxing," the band's debut
album on Priority. 1993's self-titled collection of demos (some produced by
Mould and others by Magnapop's other famous pal, Michael Stipe) is also
worth a listen, if only for their simple-but-beautiful cover of Big Star's "13"
and the single "Merry."
Even better, though, is the privilege of seeing Magnapop live. When they
were at the Blind Pig last September, they represented the pinnacle of live
"alternative" music: solid songs played hard, loud and well. They bounce all
Sver the stage, filling up every available inch of space and decibel of sound
'44th their punk-pop presence. Guitarist Ruthie Morris lays down an
incredible wall of sound, while drummer David McNair and bassist Shannon
Mulvaney keep it all together. Above all of this floats singer Linda Hopper's
emotive voice, which can change from sweet and innocent to angry and
snarling in a breath. See 'em go snap-crackle-Magnapop with Sugar and
Velocity Girl (what a bill!) this Saturday at St. Andrew's Hall. Those of you
that are 18 and over call 961-MELT for more information. - Heather Phares
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Christ-Centered
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eE R k.I~iu UNA ERIC 0AM
ATTENTION
INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENTS
Perhaps your future lies in Canada...
CANADIAN IMMIGRATION OPPORTUNITIES for graduates
with advanced degrees and work experience in:
Engineering
Computers
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Sciences
Finance
And other Fields
Find out if you qualify. For free assessment, fax or send your resume
or call Paul Scott or Contact us by E-mail: rekjohn@inforamp.net
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BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS
CANADIAN IMMIGRATION LAWYERS
130 Bloor Street West, Suite 604
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1 N5
Telephone: (416) 960-8876 Facsimile (416) 924-2371
Rekai & Johnson will be at the Crown Plaza Hotel at 610 Hilton Blvd. on Nov.9 and 10.
Immigration seminars @ 9:30 am and 4 pm, personal interviews throughout the day.
Don't Overlook
STANFORD HOPKINS DUKE YALE PRINCETON UCSF PENN HARVARD
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WASHINGTON U.
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STANFORD HOPKINS DUKE YALE PRINCETON UCSF PENN HARVARD
STANFORD HOPKINS DUKE YALE PRINCETON UCSF PENN HARVARD
STANFORD HOPKINS DUKE YALE PRINCETON UCSF PENN H ARVARD
A Re al Standout
A representative will be available to discuss graduate opportunities at
Graduate and Professional School Day
Wednesday, November 9, 1994
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
University of Michigan
School of Music
Friday, November 4
Contemporary Directions Ensemble
H. Robert Reynolds, director
Opening concert of the Midwest Composers Symposium
" David Maki (University of Iowa): Full House
* Kevin March (U-M): The Cremation of Sam McGee
" Donnacha Dennehy (University of Illinois): Agnostic Refrains
" Robert Gross (Oberlin College): Moonbeams
" Stefan Freund (Indiana University): The Flextet
Rackham Auditorium, 8 p.m., free
Faculty Recital: Anthony Elliott, cello, and Anton Nel, piano
Anthony Elliott's faculty debut
* Nardini: Melody from Violin Concerto in E minor
* Locatelli: Sonata in D Major for cello and piano
* Martinu: Sonata No. 3 for cello and piano
" Rachmaninoff: Sonata in G minor for cello and piano, op. 19
Recital Hall, School of Music, 8 p.m., free
Friday-Saturday, November 4-5
1994 MIDWEST COMPOSERS SYMPOSIUM
Composition students from the universities of Michigan, Iowa, and
Illinois, Indiana University, and Oberlin College submitted the
works selected for performance on these five free concerts. All
but the first take place at the School of Music.
Concert I: Contemporary Directions Ensemble, Friday, see above.
Concert II: McIntosh Theatre, Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Concert III: Recital Hall, Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Concert IV: McIntosh Theatre, Saturday at 4 p.m.
Concert V: Recital Hall, Saturday at 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 5
Band-o-rama
The annual showcase concert for Michigan's acclaimed Marching
Band, Symphony Band, and Concert Band returns
Hill Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $7, $6, at Hill Box Office (9-5:30 Mon.-Fri., 9-7:30 Sat.)
Tuesday, November 8
Arts Chorale
Jonathan Hirsh, conductor
* Britten: Festival Te Deum and Te Deum in C
" Purcell: 0 Sing Unto the Lord
* English madrigals
" Arias and choruses from Handel oratorios
Hill Auditorium, 8 p.m., free
Wednesday, November 9
Guest Piano Recital: Mastroianni Plays Liszt
Thomas Mastroianni, Catholic University, American Liszt Society
All-Liszt program: pieces from the cycles Harmonies Poitiques et
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