8 - The Michigan Daily -Wednesday, November 12, 1997 Motor City bows to Our Lady Peace By Colin Bartos Daily Arts Writer The ticket stub said "Everclear," and so did the main billing, but it seemed as if Our Lady Peace should have been the headlining act. In OLP's native Canada, they are huge, selling out arenas all over the coun- try. Stateside, however, suc- cess has been moderate, but RE Our 1 The highly unlucky Salinger clan now must battle Charlie's cancer in a series of "very special" "Party of Five" episodes. Salingers' 'Party' Our Lady Peace continues to1 Si win new fans with its friendly guitar rock sound and intimate song- writing. At first thought, you might not know who Our Lady Peace is, but if you think hard enough, you definite- ly have heard at least one of their six radio singles from their two albums, 1994's "Naveed,' and this year's "Clumsy." Between lots of exposure on Detroit radio and the fact that Windsor is just 10 short minutes from Detroit, Our Lady Peuce draws quite a crowd in the Motor'City. The sold out crowd at St. Andrew's was just as eager to see OLP as the "headliners" Everclear. As vocalist Raine Maida, guitarist Mike Turner, bassist Duncan Coutts, and drummer Jeremy Taggart took the stage, the crowd roared. Turner mentioned before the show, in an interview over a game of pool, that in Detroit, especially, "we can rely on the first record real heav- ily because it was supported so strongly. A lot of places in the States, we'll play 'Starseed,' and nobody knows it. It's kinda strange." OLP delivered a good mix, as promised, from both of their albums, which made the set all that more interesting. The opener and latest single, .t ; "Automatic Flowers;" got the crowd stirring early, as OP's big guitar rock only sounded more peppy and determined than on record. Maida's unique vocal stylings shone through brightly live, although it took hint a couple of songs to really let loose and get into the material. OLP fol- lowed up with SVIEA, Wtwo hits from their debut, Lady Peace "Naveed," and "Super-satel- Andrew's Hall lite," which Nov.&. 1997 built up momentum to an almost fever pitch. Right when the time seemed right to attack, they brought in their huge radio smash, "Superman's Dead," during which the crowd sang right along. It wasn't until two songs later,; though, when OLP dove headfirst into their tribute to younger siblings, "Clumsy,' that the band hit its pin- nacle.- During parts, Maida would stop singing and the crowd would contin- ue word for word for him. You know the whole band had to be playing up there with goose, bumps, as Turner said that "it's just luck" that OLP has even had some success in the States. The band finished up their very impressive, impassioned, energetic set with the single that put them on the map, "Starseed" and a rocking, unique cover of the Beatles' classic "Dear Prudence." After staying to see Everclear's lame, boring and uninspired rock star farce, Our Lady Peace's perfor- mance looked all that much better. I don't think anyone would have minded if Everclear was even there or not. You can bet next time OLP comes to Detroit, they will be the main attraction. e# G.I. Ellen sparred with cranky drill sergeant Louis Gossett on last week's "Ellen., 'Ellen' earns its sties By Sangeetha George proceeded by Ellen coming out in real For T1he Daily life. All these insights into Ellen's rdal A-ten-tion!!! Private Ellen's on life have served to color the show, mak deck!! Or at least she was in last ing it impossible, or at least very hard, 'Wednesday's episode of her hit show. to view it with the objectivity or respect Instead of the usual dynamic of her for her talents that her show formely L.A. apartment, or commanded. : her downtown For exam pte, bookshop, Ellen R E V I E W while there were was transported to many genuinely the setting of a Ellen comic moments 0 Civil War reenact- last weel's ment, in order to ABC episode, it ws spend 'quality Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. easy to read far- By Gabriel Smith Daily Arts Writer The Salinger family is definitely the opposite of the Bradys and the Cleavers. They have dealt with literally every problem life could throw at them. Ever since the family was orphaned, the "Party of Five" group has struggled with the trials and tribulations of sur- vival. Oldest member Charlie (Matthew Fox) is a semi- reformed philan- R derer who's trying to run a restaurant, be a father-figure and still enjoy his twenties. Bailey (Scott Wolf), a college fresh- man, suffers from alcoholism. Julia (Neve Campbell) is a married high- school senior with romantic debacles galore including an unplanned pregnan- cy. Finally, there are youngest siblings Claudia (Lacy Chabert) and Owen (Andrew Cavarno). Claudia is an eighth-grade violinist while baby Owen spends most of his time off-camera. After three years, the problems of liv- ing and survival should have subsided. But last Wednesday, the Salinger fami- ly was dealt their hardest debacle yet, when patriarch Charlie learns he is suf- fering from Hodgkin's disease, a form of cancer most prevelant in adolescents and young adults. This is discovered after Charlie col- lapsed during a racquetball game. Meanwhile, Charlie must struggle to tell his family at a time where little sis- ter Julia and husband Griffin are plan- ning a real wedding ceremony that will occur on tonight's episode. As Charlie remarks, "This is Julia's day." The six weeks of daily radiation will cause great turmoil to Charlie both physically and emotionally. Thankfully, according to producers, Charlie will not have to fight alone. The cancer will bring the family back i together. Julia will begin taking care of the family duties while Bailey will assume the majority of C'harlie's responsibilities at the restaurant. Claudia will attempt to help out wher- ever she can. but will feel left out. The Salingers are at their best when it comes to moving on. Several story- lines will be interwoven through the cancer plotline, while characters E V I E W will be developed further in an arty of Five opportunity to FOX show another side of themselves. Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Charlie's ex- fiancee is a prime example. Kirsten. who last Season suf- fered a nervous breakdown, will get a chance to repay Charlie for helping her through her tough times. But not even this storyline may be able to save this Generation X melodra- ma. "Party of Five" currently ranks 83rd out of television's 136 prime-time series. It also ranks 10th and 12th respectively in the 18-34 and the 12-17 demographics. Developed on a network that created "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Melrose Place," "Party of Five" contains realis- tically flawed characters fueling the fire for the 20-something and 30-something generation. It is a show that equally breeds hot-headed fans detractors. Fans seem to enjoy debating the merits of the self-absorbed family members as do the detractors. Still, this "Party"'s followers are extremely devoted. Soon however, those followers may dwindle if Party of Five does not show a glimmer of happiness. After three years, it is time for the Salinger family to run into a little luck. As for Charlie, the prognosis is excel- lent. Hodgkin's is a disease that can be cured if caught early. But can the low-rated show be saved in time for a fourth season? In the meantime; good luck, Salingers. You're going to need it. time' with her father, or in this case, General Grant. By transposing Ellen to a different situation, the show was able to take the pressure off Ellen's love life for a change, and show her in all her war glory as she fought a tentative battle of the sexes with guest Sergeant, Lou Gossett, Jr.., whose idea of equality was to give the women in the company a choice of two roles: nurses or prosti- tutes. This was of course, only for the sake of realism, a token gesture that Ellen derided by pointing out that the actual General Lee was not in fact Chinese, unlike his Los Angeles coun- terpart. Although she played Private Ellen in this show, for the last year or so, comic Ellen DeGeneres has been anything but private. Revelations have come thick and fast, with controversy about Ellen com- ing out on the Disney financed show ther into the inten- tions of the storyline: Was Ellen mk- ing some kind of comment on honi- sexuals in the army, or simply women in the army? Or was the storyline just that - a storyline? - Testing questions aside, the juxtapic- sition of Ellen and her rambling Wi against that of Gossett's quasi-farcica sternness was extremely funny. With an excellent take on "G.I. Jane", Ellen managed to show that one-handed pus- ups are naturally a woman's forth! Unlike "G.I. Jane", "Ellen" was inteb- tionally hilarious in its send-up of men's attitudes to women in the armed forces. If "Ellen" can continue to produce consistent quality episodes like tbe majority of this past one. then the she. will be back on top, judged solely for Ns entertainment value and not for the political correctness of its star. Hopefully, "Ellen" can return to is rightful three-stripe status. Civic Theater makes sweet music of 'Night' By Andrea Herzog For the Daily Madame Armfeldt tells her granddaughter that the night smiles three times, once for the young, once for the fools and once for the old. The Ann Arbor Civic Theater will attempt to make audiences smile with their pro- duction of Stephen Sondheim's PFR "A Little Night Music." The show features a brilliant Litt score characterized by light opera and chamber melodies, including a sweeping waltz. Tickets $16 a The light operetta work is the musicalization of Ingmar Bergman's movie, "Smiles of a Summer Night." It recounts the story of mixed-up and mismatched relationships. An 18-year-old woman is married to an older man and loves his son, a young man who is studying to be a priest. Her husband is still enamored with his former love, a woman who is having an affair with a count. The count's wife is the 118-year-old woman's best friend's sister. All of this confusion takes place in Sweden. The first act sets up these strange relationships. Anne Egerman is Fredrik's young wife. Fredrik's son, Henrik Egerman is attending a seminary to become a priest, but concurrently is taking out his sexual frus- trations with the housemaid, Petra. Anne and Fredrik have been married I imonths, but Anne is still a vir- gin. m tl Ar and Fredrik and Anne attend a play starring Fredrik's past love, Desiree Armfeldt. Desiree and Fredrik rekindle their romance, much to the dismay of Desiree's current lover, Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm who is cheating on his wife, Charlotte. He can tolerate his wife's cheating, but not his mistress'. Desiree's daughter, E V I E W Fredrika is in the care of her old mother, Madame Armfeldt. e Night Music The first act concludes with the Nov. 1323 climax of the Armfeldts inviting in Arbor Civic Theater the Egermans to a "weekend in $18: (313) 9712228 the country" at their chateau. The second act opens with the count and countess dropping in on this weekend gathering by surprise. Their servants even manage a tryst in the night amongst all the confusion. The inappropriate relationships all come to terms one night as the characters realize who they should actually be with, and these twisted relationships sort themselves out to make sense. Director Glenn Bugala wants his audiences to leave the show with a warm feeling and their thoughts focused on their own inner truth. "The show is about realizing who you're meant to be with, what's natural instead of who society tells you to be with," Bugala said. "A Little Night Music" is considered to be one of the best musical theater pieces of the 70's. It features the hit song "Send in the Clowns." The ballad is sung by Desiree Armfeldt at the moment when she realizes that her purpose in life isn't what she had originaly thought. It is a huge realization into her identity and her career. "A Little Night Music" is more mature than typical musical theater. The song lyrics read very much like dialogue. Sondheim has included an abundance of internal rhyme into his songs. There are also many pieces where several characters sing their stories simultanc- ously. The players will be accompanied by a seven piec orchestra to give the music more romantic appea. Bugala hopes that the technical aspects will be 4s beautiful as the music. "I want the lighting and scenery to give nature a more welcoming look than the harsh city," he explained. Fredrik and Desiree make "A Little Night Music." WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU MIX SEMICONDUCTORS Fabulous Frivous: Toronto's sons shine at Ark: By Stephanie Jo Klein Daily T\/New Media Editor if anyone at the Ark last Wednesday night was deeply saddened by the announcement that afternoon that R.E.M.'s drummer had resigned, it cer- tainly didn't show. Rather than distract- ed sighs, audience members rejoiced and let out wild cheers, stamping their feet and wolf whistling until Canadian folk heroes Moxy Frivous graced the stage. The full-capacity crowd was so jazzed up after a 45-minute opening performance by the Paperboys, a six- piece Celtic pop group, that they called for an encore. It didn't seem to matter that they came for Frivous - they just wanted and demanded lively musicality, which they got by way of the Paperboys' banjo, fiddle, maraca, accordion and guitar medleys of down 'n dirty bluegrass. But it was when the four prodigal Toronto sons emerged onstage that the crowd knew for sure that their musical needs would be met. As they barreled onstage with an intensity one might expect after drinking a case of Jolt, it was clear that the Fri-four had taken a week off from touring and were ready to truly entertain. It wasn't until after Moxy slammed their way through an a cappella "Get in the Car," bass-heavy and dark "Poor Mary Lane, and a sand-paper soft "Horseshoes," that they bothered to breathe and smile. R After the startlingly fierce beginning, N M lead singer and drummer Jian Ghomeshi wel- _ comed the crowd and set them at ease with a few silly. jokes, letting viewers know that the groupdidn't take itself too seriously. Ghomeshi, dressed in a vibrant orange t-shirt and tight brown cords, bopped all over the stage throughout the two-hour show with such a manic air that could only highlight the frivolity of the lyrics. On "The Kids' Song," guitarist/per- cussionist Mike Ford. bassist Murrav .E lo They proudly played a smug "Michigan Militia,'noting that the university oasis of Ann Arbor was probably the ogly safe place in the state to sing: "I hope you like the double-barrel, / I thinks it goes with your apparel." Although they continually provid their musical mastery by quickly swp@ ping instrumeits and keeping up thie V I E W pace, it was during the changes of page )xy FruvouS that Moxy Frtvis really showed their The Ark mettle. Donning Nov. 5, 1997 black derbies, tfie four men slunk around stage for a dark "Boo TrimO." Ford had the audience echo his eve A bark, coo or meow until breaking out into wild scat riffs. And the best perfr- mance of the night came as Matheson. blue stage lights shining oddly off hEis newly shaven head, crooned out a sim- ple, spare version of "Fell In Love." Even those who didn't know song names or words didn't vo home disa- Spring Break Acapulco " Cancun 1998 Las Vegas Denver - Florida Your ticket for fun! Nassau, Bahamas P-BiHF For more information call Tony Fayne at