U t tti qu~ Toto, we're not Cannes anymore! It may not be as popular as the annual event on the French Riviera, but the Ann Arbor Film Festival is sure to amaze with its annual showcase of independent movies. The fiesta kicks off tomorrow and runs through Sunday at the Michigan Theater. Look in this space each day for specific film previews. Call 995-5356 for further information. I Monday March 31, 1996 Theigar burns out Legendary entertainer George Bumns dies at age 100 BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - George Burns, the wry, cigar-smoking comic who played straight man to Gracie Allen for 35 years, then found new popularity when he won an Academy Award at age 80, died Saturday just weeks after turning 100. Pis career lasted more than 90 years, spanning vaudeville, radio, movies, television, nightclubs, best- selling books, recordings and video. He was the oldest actor ha d ever to receive an Oscar. But declining health ended Vd l hisperforming career after he e was injured in a fall in July been so b' 1994. The 100th birthday shows were canceled. More A nig t Wi remntly, ailing with the flu, Burns was unable even to be a Sharon St spectator at a gala in his honor a few days before he turned - George 100. 100th birthd1 He did put out a statement, saying, "What do you give a man who's been so blessed? Another 100 years? A night with Sharon Stone?" Burns' career was at a crossroads after Gracie -the ultimate ditzy comedian and the love of Burns' life - retired in 1958. She died in 1964 and he never remarried. *pe developed his own act as a single, starring in TV specials and playing Las Vegas with such discoveries as Ann-Margret and Bobby Darin. His popularity soared in the 1970s, with his Oscar for the aging vaudevillian in "The Sunshine Boys" touching off a string of movies, books and sold-out nightclub appearances. That movie role was followed by starring parts in m ro t lay the "Oh, God" series, "Just You and Me, Babe," "Going in Style," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "18 Again!" As the Supreme Being in the "Oh, God" movies, Burns wore baggy pants, sneakers and a golf cap. He said he was a bit nervous at first about taking the role "because I didn't know what kind of makeup he uses. Besides, he's bigger than Milton Berle, you know." But he decided, f y~ou"Why shouldn't I play God? Any- WhO S thing I do at my age is a miracle." Burns and Miss Allen were al- ready vaudeville partners when they married in 1926. They contin- ued working together for more than three decades, becoming one ofthe most popular couples in show busi- ness through a string of movie ap- Burns on his pearances, 19 years on radio and last month eight more years as stars of their own television series, "The Burns and Allen Show." He did two more television series after Gracie retired in 1958. "The George Bums Show" in 1959- 60, featured his son, Ronnie, and the other in 1964-65, "Wendy and Me," co-starred Connie Stevens. After Gracie's death, Burns adopted the role of raconteur, telling funny stories that he said began in truth and were embellished over the years. Using his cigar for punctuation, alternately taking a puff and flicking off the ashes with taps of his little finger, Burns was a master of timing and one-liners. On retirement: "I can't afford to die when I'm booked." On acting: "Acting is easy. If the director wants me to cry, I think of my sex life. If the director wants me to laugh, I think of my sex life." On why he was considered sexy: "I've been longer at it that anyone else." On age: "I've reached the point where I get a standing ovation for just standing." But it wasn't true; his output was amazing. In 1980 he recorded an album for Mercury- Polygram, "I Wish I Was 18 Again," and the title song became a hit single. He followed with the albums "George Bums in Nashville" and "Young at Heart." His books, some written with gag writer Hal Goldman, included "Dear George," "How to Live to be 100 or More: The Ultimate Diet, Sex and Exercise Book" and "Gracie: A Love Story." His last book, "A Hundred Years, a Hundred Stories," was published at his 100th birthday. Burns was born Nathan Birnbaum on Jan.20, 1896, one of 12 children. He left school in the fourth grade, selling newspapers to help support his family. In his teens, Burns began song and comedy routines in "lousy little theaters that played lousy little acts - and I was one of them." He said he was a bad performer for more than a decade. "Then I met Gracie." There were other memories of the past at one of his favorite spots, the Hillcrest Country Club, where he once shared a round table with some of the biggest stars in comedy. "They're all upstairs. All of them gone - Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Jack Benny, George Jessel, Lou Holtz. Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx," he said. The moment of reflectioi ended in a standard Burns quip: "I can't afford to die; I'd lose too much money." P' PHOTO George Burns amused audiences for more than 90 years with his witty straight- man delivery and cigar chompin' good times. 'U' production: A Dance' of delight By Tyler Patterson Daily Arts Writer I must confess. When I walked away after the opening night performance of "The Marriage Dance," an original play by Toby Leah Bochan, I was moved. This is a revelation for someone like me, because I am somewhat of a freak when it comes to live performances. I am usually not very con- cerned with a large part of the emotional aspects of theater. But not this night. The story centers around a psychiatrist, Isabel (Heather Guglielmettie), R EVIEW who is recently en- gaged and desper- The Marriage ately wants a Dance child. Her boy- friend, Paul (Jeff Arena Theater Bender), has other March 2, 1996 ideas. Principally, the play deals with how their wants and desires can test and affect a relation- ship. Part of the appeal of "The Marriage Dance" is that it was written by a peer and written well. You've got to pull for someone around your age who is attempting something so grand. The effect of the production was, to say the least, compelling. There were parts of the performance that were utterly powerful and on the whole anchored by some good performances - and some great ones. Much of the credit to the power of the production must go to director Roxy Font, an LSA senior. The scenes were laid- out so perfectly that I cannot imagine another way to do them. The show was performed "in-the-round" providing for some tricky blocking and stage design, but both were done flaw- lessly and without confusion. Contributing to the play was a live string quartet. This, without question, raised the performance to another level. Everything else was solid, mind you, but the music had a way of pulling you into the action. In particular, one completely compelling scene is the crisis point of the play, the point of no return. Here, a pregnant patient of Isabel's, Ada (Dana Dancho), goes into labor. The emotion of the scene was immediately intense. Dancho (who gave such a convincing performance that I wonder if she is not crazy in real life) was at her best. The actors were surrounded by walls of transparent white paper that gave a surreal effect. Things took a turn for the worse when it became apparent that Ada would die after the birth. The transition from the emotional high of a birth to the emotional low of death is devastating. The quartet's mimicry of a flat line after Ada's death only increased this effect. There were strong performances throughout. In particular, Bender and Gugliemetti worked well together. Bender made a solid character a strong one through superior acting, while Gugliemetti was at herbest during the emotional points ofthe play. Another noteworthy performance was that of Kim Gainer who played Isabel's best friend, Helen. She satisfied completely the depth of her character and was a joy to watch. In fact the only soft spot in the performance was that of Helen's husband, Gerald (Camilio Fontecilla). He seemed to get distracted by his character's drunkenness and at times missed the right delivery of his lines, often contradicting the emotional context. Still, all in all, I consider myself lucky. I saw the very first performance of a play with potential. Tonight, in my per- sonal collection of notes, I will write down, "Toby Leah Bochan, writer" and "Roxy Font." Because even if the play doesn't go anywhere after this, they will. I"olk group Altan wowed Michigan audiences with their cool songs and funny names. btan ibnns lIshfo tlnes to Ark & ihomas Crowley y Arts Writer Asked which of the songs on her band's new album, "Blackwater," are her favorites, the finest fiddle-playing chanteuse in all of Ireland, Altan's Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh half-jokingly responded: "They're all brilliant!" The truth is, she's right. One listen to Altan's sixth LP, or to any of the other critically lauded five is -ough to put even one unfamiliar with Seir music in the know. We may come to understand why the County Donegal- based six-piece stands a good chance of taking the torch from the Chieftains and be'i&ming the next Irish traditional music ensemble to hit it big internation- ally, Qne live performance leaves no ques- tiorT- Altan is no ordinary Celtic folk utfIt. The way things are going, they ve the potential to be absolutely huge 16world over. ..'.Altan features Ni Mhaonaigh and It'ian Tourish's dual fiddle attack, . ed by Daithi Sproule on guitar, Wiiot Byrne on accordion, Ciaran Cgran on the (originally-Greek) bqu'ouki and newest addition, Jimmy fIins, banging the bodhran. Together, they possess a tremen- ars knack for taking the age-old folk ngs of Northwestern Ireland rein- ced to modern audiences in =n's electrifying live perfor- t ces. These are. tunes that argu- Pi7strike the tympanic membrane as mrIessively as those of the last few decades' most dynamic rock 'n' roll F REVIEW Altan The Ark Feb. 21, 1996 insisting that we compromise our music in any way. They gave us com- plete artistic freedom." The importance of retaining this free- dom is crucial, especially for a group like Altan, whose records and live sets include a significant number of songs sung in Gaelic.. Commenting on the surprising but unquestionably positive manageabil- ity of their highlands, jigs, mazurkas and reels to appeal to those who may not have the slightest knowledge of the Irish language. "I think it adds a sense of mystery to the music. People may not always understand what it is I'm singing about, yet they still attach some sort of meaning to it and it becomes personal," Ni Mhaonaigh said. Her rendition of"Brid Og Ni Mhaille" for instance, showcases a timbre haunt- ing and sad, yet simultaneously sweet and soothing enough to tame the rage of Cuchulainn. As if that is simply not enough, one marvel sat Ni Mhaonaigh's fiddling, which distinguishes the music of her native Donegal from the song formats and repertoires of Westmeath or Kerry. "It tends to be a bit different in Donegal," said Ni Mhaonaigh, "more nimble, a more prickly style, whereas songs. Throughout the evening, the mem- bers of Altan made puns and engage in playful banter, building a friendly rap- port with their audience, priming them for the fast and furious numbers and breaking their hearts with the melan- choly ballads. Altan concluded its second sold- out show of the evening with an en- core so matched in excitement with the preceding set that they could have opened with it. One got the feeling that this was not merely another gig, but rather, one of the genre-defining musical acts of 20th century. The Irish folk group made history, as well as paying homage to it. Do ou feel like you have no voice in the University? The Michigan Student Assembly is looking for students to serve on campus-wide committees. Committees are comprised of students,-faculty and staff, and advise various University Departments. Most committees meet about once a month and require a commitment of one to twO years. POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Student Legal Services (3) 2 undergrad and I Law student Financial Affairs (2) 1 grad and I undergrad Student Relations (4) grad and undergrad Research Policies (3) 1 undergrad and 2 grad Recreational Sports (2) students University Library Council (1) graduate student (1) undergraduate student Distinguished Faculty Achievement Awards (1) student nanmich.p aRd Dacreh Antist Award (11 student t Y 19