~'. 5 Greene performs! 58 Greene, A's own multicultural a cappella group, will color the Power Center with its tunes tonight. Singing everything from '60s folk to 90s R&B, the group is sure to provide a hip-swingin', lips- movn, foot-tappin' good time. The performance will begin at 8:30 tonight. Admission is $8 and tickets can be purchased through the Michigan Union Ticket Office. Friday October 17, 1997 5" Poundstone brings zany humor to Hill 'Gift of Fear' sheds new light on emotion: By Laura Layfer For the Daily Paula Poundstone recalled that, as a kding comic stepping off the !eyhound bus in San Francisco, she felt like Dorothy leaving gray Kansas for the colorful land of Oz. "From the moment I arrived I knew that it was the PR perfect place for Pa me to be; it just felt right," Poundstone said. Whe "stand-up comedy renaissance of the early '80s" as Poundstone referred to it, made the West Coast the Emerald City for those such as herself, trying to break into the world of comedy. In a recent phone interview with Poundstone from her home in Los Angeles, she was as at ease talking about herself as she is onstage - and just as funny. Poundstone said her unique form of ick-witted, interactive type of com- came about purely by accident. "I would write down on little pieces of paper everything I saw or did that I thought had humor in it, and at the end of the day, I would have thou- sands of little pieces of paper." From these, Poundstone would write pages of comedy routines that would go unused once she got on stage. "I tried to stick to these routines but two things j uld happen. First, one edits different- n front of a crowd depending on the responses, so I was always improvising, and the other thing is that most times I would simply forget and would have to -work the crowd. My memory is so bad I get lost a block from my house," she said. Poundstone quickly learned to improvise her routines, and found to her delight that "what was not by design turned out to be the best part of the night." Since then, it has become not only her trademark, but what she loves best about perforining. This relaxed, go- with-the-flow atti- I tude for which REVIEW Poundstone is so ula Poundstone famous has Saturday at 9 p.m. allowed her to Hill Auditorium engage her audi- $16; call 763-TKTS ence with a certain intimacy. On stage, her interaction is like being invited to an informal party with Poundstone as the host. She called her style "great thera- py" because it forces her to stand in front of a group of strangers and say what she thinks in a candid and honest manner. Where most comics have a collection of one liners that they use, Poundstone allows the crowd to help her ensure that each show will be special and that no two are alike. Occasionally, Poundstone admits that her mind will wander to thoughts grander than standup routines, often viewing the world of sitcoms as where her career path is heading. She has attempted various types of televi- sion art forms, branding herself as the "queen of the two-to-three episode television show." However, it is never too long before she finds she misses her true passion, and has to "renew her vows with stand-up comedy." Poundstone got her start in Boston in 1979, in front of open mikes at comedy nights in numerous clubs. Waitressing gave her an opportunity to practice comedy while making enough cash to support herself, and for a time, it even Paula Poundstone brings laughs to Hill Auditorium for Parents Weekend. brought her to Ann Arbor, where she did both at several local clubs. Since then, her career has definitely been on the rise. Poundstone's achievements include two Cable ACE Awards, an American Comedy Award as Best Female Stand-Up, a local Emmy award as producer and star of a special piece for PBS and her own comedy series on HBO and ABC. Poundstone also headlined the White House Correspondents Dinner in '92, and she appeared at the Comedy Hall of Fame Awards in '94 and '95. Poundstone served as official corre- spondent for "The Tonight Show," dur- ing the '92 Presidential race and even performed in her own HBO comedy special: "Paula Poundstone Goes To H arvard." Poundstone brings her particular brand of humor to Ann Arbor for Parents Weekend tomorrow night, and her performance promises to be a hit. One can only imagine the top- ics of conversation on which Poundstone will find to prey with both students and their parents in the audience. One thing is for sure, however: For Poundstone, there is "no place more like home" than on the stage. The Gift of Fear Gavin de Becker Little, Brown Fear, as always, seems like an emo- tion that every person would desperate- ly like to avoid. But just as pain is a warning signal that tells our bodies that something is wrong, fear is also a signal that warns us of danger. In Gavin de Becker's incredible guide, "The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals that Protect Us from Violence," the expert on violence teaches us how to learn how to use fear to protect ourselves. De Becker has long established him- self as the world's foremost expert on predicting violent behavior. His person- al brushes with violence at an early age have allowed him to create a firm that advises prominent politicians, celebri- ties, corporations and law enforcement agencies on analyzing threats and pre- dicting which of the possible threats hold substance. In "The Gift of Fear," de Becker uses his aptitude to show readers how to hone their intuition into a skill that could save their lives. The author teaches strate- gies such as PINS (pre-incident p indicators) to teach people ~ how to evaluate a situation that- could escalate into" an immediate threat. De Becker explains how fear is our first response when our minds feel that something is wrong. Too many people dismiss this emotional response as just silly anxiety or an overreaction to the situation. But to truly protect yourself, de Becker reveals that it is necessary once fear sets off the signal that something is wrong for the individual to analyze the situation to determine whether a threat is present. Reading certain aspects of a person's behavior such as forced teaming, provid- ing too many details and ignoring the word, "No;' are all tools that are useful in telling whether a person has sinister inten- tions toward you. But no matter what, the bottom line that de Becker stresses is to listen to your intuition - whether it comes as a nagging feeling, persistent thoughts, anxiety, hesitation or gut feel- ings to judge a situation or person. De Becker uses real-life stories that he has encountered through his clients to illustrate dangerous situations and the necessary reactions. The skills that de Becker teaches in "The Gift of Fear" are invaluable and are guaranteed to be applicable in all walks of life. Though most of the dan- gers de Becker deals with are directed toward woman, men will definitely benefit from learning the gift of fear. Like animals who rely on their instinct to survive, we must also use our gut feelings (in the form of fear and intuition) to survive. With so many threats to our personal safety in today's At more than 500 pages, "Key Witness" is equal to about 20 pouids of top-quality filet mignon. It's axhearty all-meat-no-filler cut of courtroom drama that will satisfy the appetite of even the most compulsive glutton. "Key Witness" is the newest novel by J. F. Freedman, the author of the best- selling novel, "Against the WiT." Freedman proves himself to be a wizard at creating a rich, compelling narrative. that unfolds like a motion pictute before a reader's eyes. With "Key Witness,'. the genre of legal thrillers is taken to a ne'w level. Freedman, unveils --the goods tha leaye =- no doubt ttyt he can ably hold his own in the cornpa- ny of John Grist~n who has, until recenftly, held a monopoly in this genre In "Key Witness,"Wyatt Matthevis is a well-known corporate attorney who has made a name for himself by win- ning multimillion-dollar settlements. Feeling the need to justify his purpose in life, Wyatt decides to work pro bono for the public defender's office against the wishes of his bosses and his wife. Not long after he begins his new job,as a public defender, he finds himself defepd- ing Marvin White, a young black man accused of seven brutal rape murdr:.' {. The hardest thing about legal thrillers is finding a fresh new way to present. the story. Freedman does this perfectly with "Key Witness." The novel man- ages to avoid banality by providing a gripping, breathtaking story that is incredibly real. The major theme involves justice being carried out within the boundsof the law. While often the outcome'ofthe law isn't always clear-cut as to whether justice has been served, Freedman rais with it through an riveting story tat 11s0 impossible to put down. Every single page of -"Key Witness" grabs the reader with a vise- like grip that refuses to let go.'F'rcm Wyatt taking on the case, through t1e investigation of the crimes and the attempt to clear Marvin, to the final verdict, "Key Witness" is a tightly- bound package of stunning court- room drama at its best. - JuliaShih Key Witness J. F. Freedman Dutton k.; w . . world, we need every tool we can possi- bly get to protect ourselves. And according to Gavin de Becker and his quintessential guide, "The Gift of Fear,' our greatest weapon is our instinct. -Julia /h - . Electric Ani Difranco to grace Hill with unique blend of sounds By Anders Smith-Lndall Daily Arts Writer For a quarter of a century, music fans and press alike have expended immense quantities of ink and hot air playing their favorite parlor game: Name the *xt Dylan. In response to that question, Steve Forbert's name came up regularly; Bruce Springsteen was a popular choice; even Steve Earle before he ended up behind bars (and maybe even again now that he's out). The tag of "Next Dylan" often seemed the kiss of death for . the artist upon which it was P R bestowed - never could one ful- fill the seemingly unrealistic expectations that that lofty stan- dard conferred. &Now, amidst all the acclaim for Ye real Dylan's new album, the parlor game has receded into the murkier depths of our consciousness. And this is a shame, for today, like perhaps never before in the quarter-century that the question has been posed, a new contender for the hal- lowed mantle not only exists but outright asserts her- self. That's right, herself. The next Dylan is no reticent, rumpled and raspy middle-aged guy - she's a confi- dent, style-conscious and sweet-singing woman of 27. r name, of course, is Ani Di Franco (performing on unday night at the Hill Auditorium). Of course, there are many more differences between them than just their voices, genders and ages. Dylan, the poet laureate of the baby boom generation, conjures microcosmic and often abstract milieu populated by mythological characters and aswirl with his tortured fantasies; DiFranco speaks frankly and directly, usually in pointed terms and delivered in the second person. Dylan espouses social criticism, political commentary and personal insight tangled up in metaphor; DiFranco dress issues of love, identity and beauty via poetical- simple bluntness. Dylan croaks and growls his way through his songs; DiFranco uses her voice like a musi- cal instrument - and plays it with startling range and ease. Dylan has spent much of his career proudly shun- ning his fans, even while on stage; DiFranco reaches out to them and makesher music inclusive and interac- tive, allowing her admirers the opportunity to connect and thus gain a sense of kinship with the performer and identification with her music. But for all that they lack in common, they share Ouch as well. DiFranco has revitalized folk music for m t the youth of the "'90's just as Dylan did in the Greenwich Village scene of the early '60's. DiFranco, her lyrics simultaneously depicting her struggles with self-affirmation while embracing the ambiguities of her identity with an aggressive confidence, has pro- vided a particularly eloquent voice for young women -just as Dylan articulated the confusion and confi- dence of the burgeoning youth counterculture of his era. Musically, DiFranco has stretched the confines of folk, imbuing it with a punk aes- thetic and, more recently, inject- E V I E W ing a healthy dose of funk-inflect- Ani DiFranco ed guitar and hard-edged hip-hop beats into her previously all- Sunday at 8 p.m. acoustic attack - in the process Hill Auditorium alienating many of her traditional $22.50; call 763-TKTS folkie fans, just as Dylan did when he plugged in an electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival three decades ago. And recently, DiFranco's open affair with her drum- mer, Andy Stochansky, has prompted harsh criticism from a small but vociferous core of lesbian fans who feel betrayed in a manner similar to Dylan's hippie fol- lowers who felt insulted by his contempt for them, a situation that came to a head when he refused to per- form at the Woodstock festival. For all of these reasons, DiFranco is a worthy heir to Dylan's crown of thorns - and, indeed, has arguably already taken possession of it in the eyes of younger generations. In some ways, DiFranco has even surpassed the example of Dylan - for instance, for all of his anti- establishment lyrical bluster and real rejection of main- stream culture, the fact remains that Dylan has always recorded for a major label. DiFranco, on the other, has always practiced what she preaches: All of her albums have been released on her very own independent record label, Righteous Babe Records. Even in today's show- me-the-money TV culture, DiFranco has steadfastly ignored the lavish courtship of corporate monstrosities out to exploit her talent for their financial gain. But this has not hindered her artistic development - her most recent offering, a 2-CD live album titled "Living In Clip;' released earlier this year, is her eleventh record, including last year's "More Joy, Less Shame" EP and a collaborative LP with legendary activist and folk bard Utah Phillips, all of which have been released on her very own label, Righteous Babe. Eleven records, each marked by both stylistic experi- mentation and increased cohesion, all on her own Ani DIFranco will play Hill Auditorium on Sunday night. record label - not bad for seven years' work. And she's not floundering financially, either - in fact, she's prospering. Thanks to collaborations with independent manufacturing and distributing companies that reduce production and overhead costs and a marketing strategy that largely eschews video and radio promotions, the average cost per CD produced by Righteous Babe is less than $4. Between direct sales (at concerts and via mail- order) to fans and wholesale to record stores, DiFranco has sold about half a million albums, averaging $4.25 net profit from each. Since she owns the label, this $4.25 profit is hers - making the $1.25 per unit sold that the typical major-label artist earns look paltry in comparison. But DiFranco could care less about the bottom line. "My problem with guys who run the music industry is that their only priority is to make money," she told the Los Angeles Times last year. "That's not what drives Righteous Babe. For me, it's about art and politics." Still looking for the Next Dylan? Look no further than the Hill on Sunday night. DiFranco, with her potent combination of art, politics, fervent indepen- dence and damn good music, has a righteous claim to that title. '+ , .' The University of Michigan School of Music Thursday-Sunday, October 16-19 Theatre and Drama Production The Marriage of Bette and Boo by Christopher Durang Directed by Jerry Schwiebert Trueblood Theatre, Thur.-Sat., 8p.m.; Sun. 2p.m. Tickets: $14; $7 students (313) 764-0450 Thursday-Sunday, October 16-19 Musical Theatre Production Sweeny Todd by Stephen Sondheim Directed by Brent Wagner Choreographed by Linda Goodrich Mendelssohn Theatre, Thur.-Sat., 8p.m.; Sun. 2p.m. Tickets: $18; $14 (313) 764-0450 Friday, October 17 Chamber Choir Jerry Blackstone and Theodore Morrison, conductors Michelle Beaton, accompanist Anton Nel and Martin Katz, guest pianists " music of Lauridsen, Ligeti; Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes Hill Auditorium, 8 p.m. Saturday, October 18 Contemporary Directions Ensemble H. Robert Reynolds, music director " Music of Montague, Stucky, Lindroth and Welcher I Recycle the Daily./ I~~ ~ I 1E1W 0% FAT SEfficiency is our goal. 6 .. s 6d