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My eerie Valentine
Wanna explore the darker side of Valentine's Day? Then come to the
Michigan Theater's special screening of Fritz Lang's classic
"Metropolis," a futuristic drama set in the year 2000. Live music will
accompany this rare treat. At the Michigan Theater, 7 p.m..
Wednesday
February 14, 1996
11I
Love is not lost on 'Labor'
show is a perfect cure for valentine blues
By Tyler Patterson
PFor the Daily
It's Valentine's Day and you've
finally found yourself a date. Years of
missing out on this special holiday
have only made you appreciate the
prospects of this year a little more.
u've got the fancy box of choco-
es, and you've picked out some-
thing impressive to wear. The only
problem is: what do you do? Or maybe,
the problem is you don't have a date.
romantic relationships."
Jones chose "Love's Labor's Lost,"
because she said it was one of
Shakespeare's plays that is not done
very often. The topical references, she
explained, as well as the extreme depth
of the dialogue and language make it
difficult for a director or producer to
digest. Forthe audience, however, there
aren't so many problems. "Just watch
and enjoy," she said. "Whatever atti-
tude you bring into this play you leave
with."
Essentially, "Love's Labor's Lost"is
about four sets of lovers. The King of
Navarre and three of his lords, attend-
ing his retirement, have sworn an oath
to each other. For three years, they shall
remain faithful to their studies, adhere
to a strict diet, and most important,
avoid contact with any women. Trouble
arises, however, when the Princess of
France, with three ladies, visits the King
on an official visit.
Always looking to spruce up a com-
edy, Jones decided to cross-gender
some of the roles. The four couples
remain "heterosexual," as she puts it,
but some of the other roles have been
mixed-up. "It's like a lighthearted situ-
ation comedy," she explained. "A
Hugh Grant feature film. Never a dull
moment. Not one moment where you
say, 'Oh, I'm bored. I'm looking at
the scenery."'
In talking about the show, Jones
never failed to mention the effort put
forth by others. Her co-director,
Natalie Peterson, was the subject of
quite a few compliments. "Natalie's
been fabulous; an incredible scholar
of Shakespeare, and she's done mar-
velous things with the actors." Com-
paring her role to that of an acting
coach, Jones lauded Peterson's abil-
ity to relate to the actors.
Another perk of the show is that it is
in the Basement Arts. If you haven't
seen theater there, you're missing an
integral part of the theater business.
Shows are a little more raw down there.
Not a lot ofmoney is spent on fancy sets
and high-tech lighting equipment.
"You're working with nothing," Jones
explained. "No budget, no money. No
support from existing tech shops." The
hardships make it a risk, but the results
pay off in the end. "Watching these
actors deal with their roles, experiment
... I've never had a more talented
group." The trials of such a troupe can
only lead to a purer form of entertain-
ment.
So in planning the perfect evening
with that special someone, be sure to
keep in mind "Love's Labor's Lost."
It fits every budget, unless of course
you're required to spend your money,
and there's plenty of time after the
show to do other things. (It is, after all
at 5 p.m.) And what better way to get
the romantic juices flowing than with
one of the greatest romantic comedies
of all time?
And, if you're dateless on the holi-
day of love and you're looking per-
haps to end the bluesy funk that's
kept you down this year, what better
way to spark a new and romantic part
of your life than with a lighthearted,
no-holds-barred sex romp written by
the master.
Maybe for the first time since how-
ever long you choose to remember,
you don't have someone lined up.
What do you do? The answer to both
these questions is simple: You go to
the Basement Arts production of
"Love's Labor's Lost," one of
*akespeare's most classic comedies.
The show is free, and considering it
was written by the master bard him-
self, you're guaranteed to laugh.
Margaret Jones, whose previous di-
rectorial challenges include last
semester's "Eatmore Cafe," promises a
lighthearted and deliciously romantic
show. "It's a sex romp. Battle of the
Sexes," she explained. "All about power
d control and how we use that in our
Ann Arbor's Viola Peacock plays at the Blind Pig tonight.
Spend Valentine's Day the Viola way
By Heather Phares
Daily Arts Writer
Viola Peacock is one of the busiest
bands in town. Not because it is playing
every night and at the studio all day, but
because like most aspiring musicians,
for now they've got to keep their day
jobs.
VIOLA PEACOCK
Where: The Blind Pig
When: Tonight. Doors 9:30.
Tickets are available at the
Michigan Union Ticket Office.
For more information,
call 996-8555.
Michael Loncar, Viola Peacock's
guitarist, singer and songwriter, is aTA
in the film department of the Univer-
sity, and drummer Jayson Tolzdorf
works at Prism Productions and plays
in another band, Gondolier. How do
they balance perspiration with inspira-
tion? "It's not easy," Loncar admitted
in a recent conversation. "We make
our songs pretty simple and don't prac-
tice too often!" added Tolzdorf with a
laugh.
But that's part of the beauty of Viola
Peacock's songs - their simplicity
makes them sound effortless. From
their earlier, effects-laden material to
their newer, pared-down work, the
group creates a minimal beauty that's
as refreshing as it is reflective. Slightly
distorted guitars and understated per-
cussion lay the frame forsliding,tremu-
lous guitar lines and plaintive singing
on songs like "An Angel a Week."
Loncarcites "Codeine, Bob Dylanand
Yo LaTengo" as influences, and espe-
cially in the band's new material, this
mix of folky simplicity and artiness
stands out.
This new material includes such
poetically titled tunes as "The Big Slip,"
"Downtime" and "Gael." These will
appear on Viola Peacock's new, as yet
untitled album, which the group is in
the process of recording and mixing.
About Viola Peacock's new direction,
Loncar said, "The sound on the new
songs is more stripped-down. There's
less of that wash of distortion that's on
our earlier stuff."
Part of Viola Peacock's new sound
can be attributed to Tolzdorf's joining
the group about a year ago. "I think he's
a much betterdrummer than who we had
before," Loncar said."I would think that
even if he wasn't playing in this band."
He has plenty of experience with play-
ing this kind of music; his other band,
Gondolier, is "kind of similar to Viola
Peacock, but it's more intense, more
dramatic,"Tolzdorfsaid. "There'smore
shifts dynamically," Loncar added.
As for Viola Peacock's technique for
achieving that effortless, floaty sound,
Loncar said, "It's a collaborative pro-
cess. I'll come up with a song and then
we'll work it out as a band until we have
something everybody's pretty happy
with."
Something that all of Viola Peacock
See VIOLA, Page 12
Various Artists
BET's 15th Anniversary Music
Celebration
Rhino Records
All right. Let me collect my thoughts,
because this CD has me so hyped about
the old school I'm breathing hard. What
if I just started rattling off some old,
OLD, OLD school hits like Patti
LaBelle's "If Only You Knew" or
Marvin Gaye's "Sexual -Healing" or
Kool & The Gang's "Celebration"?
Were these songs not dope? Are these
songs not still dope?
You know those songs you've for-
gotten completely about, but the mo-
ment a few chords are hit, you can't
help remembering instantaneously?
Remember Rockwell's "Somebody's
Watching Me"'? What about the Lionel
Richie/Diana Ross duet "Endless
Love"? Or what if I hit you with the
Commodores' "Nightshift"?
music continues down that ancient-
school road with Aretha Franklin's
"Freeway of Love," Al B. Sure!'s "Nite
and Day," Cameo's "WORD-UP" and
the O'Jays' "Lovin' You"?
This is no joke; this is God Himself
bestowing upon black-music lovers
that which we most certainly are not
worthy to behold. Celebrating its 15th
anniversary, Black Entertainment
Television has decided to give us the
present.
Stuff I haven't heard in years is now at
my finger tips -- I must be dreaming. I
can thump Earth, Wind & Fire's "Let's
Groove" or the Dazz Band's even more
upbeat "Let It Whip" until I keel over.
Following the progression of black
R&B and pop into more recent years,
CD 2 also features more recent hits like
Vanessa Williams' "Save the Best for
Last," R. Kelly's "Your Body's Call in"'
and Boyz I Men's "I'll Make Love to
You."
Picking from amongst all the greatest
See RECORDS, Page 12
Go to the late show ...
, were not giving away tickets to the Letterman show. But this might be an even better opportunity. The Daily Arts section
tes you to win two free tickets to one of the best films of the year. Miramax Films' "Georgia," starring Jennifer Jason
Leigh (pictured, left), Oscar nominee Mare Winningham (right), John Doe (of the band X), Max Perlich and John C. Reilly will
finally be making its way to good ol' Ann Arbor. There will be a free screening at the Michigan Theater late Friday night at
11:30. Only people with passes may attend this special screening. To win a free pass that will admit both you and a guest,
just stop by The Michigan Daily (420 Maynard St.) and come to the Arts office on the second floor. If you can tell us the
name of at least one other film that featured the amazing Jennifer Jason Leigh, we will hand you over a pass - for FREE.
Stop by Wednesday or Thursday between 12-6 p.m.
Al B. Sure is back in style.
I know I have your rapt attention
now.
What if I told you all those songs -
and more -have been placed together
on one CD? What if I told you that with
this CD canbe found another CD whose
***** ... Classic
****k ... Excellent
*** ... Good
** ... Fair
* ... Poor
Zero ... A Bomb
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