The Michigan Daily - Friday, November 1, 1996 - 7 RECORDS Continued from Page 6 Susanna Hoffs Susanna Hoffs London Records Let's face it, the Bangles were ahead of their time. More than just a guilty pleasure of the '80s (though they remain that too), the third all-female band to hit the American Top 40 pro- vided an organic sensibility amidst the layers of synth-pop that their contem- poraries were recording. The honesty and emo- tion of their finest moments like "Going Down to liverpool," "If She Knew What She Wants" and "In Your Room" foreshadowed many '90s stars (a certain verti- cally challenged { 22=year-old Canadian who sings something ,out living and learning comes to$ mind). And even Susanna Hoffs burr at their most commercial ("Walk Like an Egyptian" and "Eternal Flame") they were head over heels above the hordes of Madonna imitators that used to rulethe charts. So it comes as no surprise that on her first disc since 1991, Susanna Hoffs should stick with the formulas that worked for her when she sang for the Bangles. All of the old charm is still SECRETS Continued from Page 5 that are touched upon in "Secrets and Lies "the sincerity of the movie is quite remarkable. This is a testament both to the adroit direction of Leigh and the skilled actors, who convincingly pre- sent the feelings of their respective characters. Especially noteworthy are Jean-Baptiste and Spall, playing similar roles as two people whose agreeable natures cause them to suffer the most. In many ways a throwback to the here - clever melodies, infectious rhythms. witty lyrics and that unmistak- able voice that first captured us more than 10 years ago. And yet she doesn't just do the retro thing - the disc has a maturity and depth that the Bangles often lacked. "King of Tragedy," "Beekeepers' Blues" and "Grand Adventure" are all intriguing looks at consuming one- sided relationships. Ranging in per- spective from curiosity to anger, "Falling" is about as compelling as a simple love song can be, and the auto- biographical "Eyes of a Baby" is Hoffs' own becoming-a-mother opus. Covers of the Lightning Seeds' "All I Want" and Stealers Wheel's "Stuck in the Middle with You" are tastefully done as well. Only "Weak With Love" disap- points - we real- ly don't need such a beautiful melody and arrangement to be wasted on another lament on the death of John Lennon (though at least an eternal flame. this won't cause him to turn over in his grave like the Cranberries' take on this overused musical subject did). He'll probably just squirm a bit. In short, while Susanna Hoffs' new disc doesn't break any new ground, it'll warm up your cold winter night and have you singing along, which is what good rock 'n' roll is really all about. __ Mark Feldman Basement Arts presents Saroyan masterpiece By Christopher Tkaczyk For the Daily While in high school a few years ago, Cadi Sutter read William Saroyan's play. "Hello Out There," and became enchanted with the brutally emotional love story that it weaves. It stayed in the back of her mind, and now, years later as a senior bachelor's of fine arts perfor- mance major, she is again fac- P R ing the tale as she prepares the H play for production at H Basement Arts. In an interview with The Saturd Michigan Daily, Sutter Arena Th explained that Saroyan, an Armenian American playwright, wrote the play in response to the poetic language of George Bernard Shaw. Saroyan's work is filled with poetic dialogue, which sets the passion and conflict between its main characters. The short, one-act play tells the story of a man condemned to prison for rape who falls in love with a female prison worker. Their love affair is the main conflict of the story, as it is quite uncertain whether or not it is truly based on love or merely an attempt E ay ea of the desperate criminal to win the trust and care of the questionably gullible woman. However, more trouble arises when it is known that the rape victim's husband is on the prowl, looking for the rapist and the revenge that is owed him. Fully intent on reach- ing his goal of revenge, the husband adds to the sus- penseful backdrop of the play, creating an even deeper con- V I E W lict. The prison is set in a Texas Out There town, not particularly known for Friday at 6 p.m. and its population or class. In a at 6 & 10 p.m. at the word, it is a location where the ter. Admission is free. morals of the local society are not considered to be model. By planting this love affair in the back desert of the Texas sand, Saroyan is not only able to show how this rela- tionship is an oddity, but how it has the possibility of happening in any of the backwoods found all over the country - it is a story that could occur in our own backyards. Sutter relayed that this show is about how love can be found in all the wrong places. "It demonstrates how something within something bad becomes something good," she said. Love found within the reaches of evil may not always necessarily deliver a positive end, but this production attempts to show how such things are possible. Whether the romance brings happiness or despair, the buildup to the end of the show looks to be excit- ing, given the complications surrounding the rela- tionship. To be able to bring the production closer to the audience, it will be performed in the round -- something not often attempted in Basement Arts' productions. Because of the simplicity and length of the play, the scenery is minimal, which helps present the reality of the show's emotions to the audience. Sutter urges that people should experience her pro- duction. "I want to start a theatrical revolution. I want to create good theater, and I want people to see it. When theater is free as well as entertaining, there is no excuse not to come. With two performances on Saturday evening, there are ample enough times to see this show," she said. Promising to be suspenseful as well as emotional, "Hello Out There" deserves some priorital attention. Free theater is something that is hard to find. And when drama is of good quality, it's a shame that any- one would pass it up. 1 2 2 1 omm"Wommulown" ns 8 '80s when films about dysfunctional families were rather popular (i.e. "Ordinary People" and "Terms of Endearment"), "Secrets and Lies" is a pleasant alternative to most of the rub- bish that currently plagues our theaters. While cynics may dismiss it as a bit too wishy-washy or too feel-good, others will bask in its sincerity, or in its lack of excess. And, despite the misleading publicity that makes it seem otherwise, the refusal of director Leigh to use cheap plot devices to convey his mes- sage separates this movie from others with similar themes. The University of Michigan School of Music Sunday, November 3 Campus Symphony Orchestra Bundit Ungrangsee, conductor " Sibelius: Symphony No. 6 " Boccherini: Cello Concerto, first movement Soloist Emmanuel King, Campus Symphony Concerto Competition winner " Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture Hill Auditorium, 8 p.m. Thursday, November 7 Arts Chorale Hugh Floyd, conductor Music of Handel, Martini and Howells, as well as Israeli and Scottish folk music Hill Auditorium, 8 p.mn. Jazz Combos Rackhamn Audtorium, 8 p.m. All events are free and wheelchair accessible unless specified otherwise. For weekly events listings, call the Music Hotline, 763-4726. The School of Music is located at 1100 Baits Drive, North Campus. htt p://www.dmband.corn YIu've got a kot to grin about when you use AT&T or an AT&I Utniversal MasterCard" Like an AT&T True Rewards' Member Benefit Card. Just flash it and: SSam Goody Musicland gives yoU a 5o discount on CI)s and cassettes. * "TCBY"' Treats gives you a freebie after you buy two. e BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO" makes your third movie free when yOU rent two* *Amtrak lets your companion travel for 2"5% off. But True Rewards is just one part of our special college package. Here are some more: I Ai&I True each' Savings A&T w)rdNet'Service 1F Unhiirsal Master(ard- To sign up for the AT&T True Rewards' Program, call 1800 654-0471 >'/