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Friday
January 29, 1999
5
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... AND A BAG OF CHIPS
The Chamber Music Society of
Lincoln Center on campus is devoted
to the creation and subsequent perfor-
mances of chamber music.
The society consists of a nucleus of
artist members whom, in addition to
invited guests, unite to keep the perfor-
mances fresh for audiences. This con-
stant flow of new creative energy,
mixed with the experience of the veter-
an members, enables artistic director
David Shifrin to showcase concerts of
every instrumentation, style and histor-
,,jgal period.
To those without a compass in the
world of music, chamber music is most
easily described as a condensed version
of an orchestra. CMS violinist Paul
Neubauer cites the differences between
the two by creating a perfect analogy.
"Comparing chamber music to a full
scale orchestra, is like comparing a folk
singer to a full band ... there is no com-
parison. Instead of 20 violinists or 12
cellos for one part, there is one desig-
nated performer for each musical
piece. Replacing a whole chorus is one
individual singer." This down sizing
renders a much more intimate experi-
ence for the audience.
There are also other advantages, as
Paul explained, "One is not better than
the other, it is simply a matter of pref-
erence. However, when working with a
smaller group of performers, an atmos-
phere of democracy tends to replace
that of the conductor, who is usually the
dominating force during a perfor-
"rtance. People will hear it in a different
ianner. However, that is not to say that
one is better than the other"
For the first time, Swedish singer
Anne Sofie von Otter will collaborate
with CMS to present a program of
'songs and chamber music written by
Scandinavian composers. The mezzo-
soprano is a distinguished singer, who
has been affiliated with some of the
world's finest conductors. Her talents
have landed her in opera houses all over
the world, including London, Berlin
and New York. Notone to sit still, she
also revels in an illustrious recording
career.
The critics have nothing but compli-
ments for the world-renowned von
Otter. Opera News dubbed her, "The
mezzo that has it all - musicality, lan-
guage sensitivity, narrative urgency, a
voice that holds a. seemingly infinite
variety of color and mood." The New
York Times adds, "Her dusky-toned
voice is rich, even and flexible; more
important, she is a marvelous musician
Actress
cooks up
lead role in
'All That'
By Chris Cousino
Daily TV/New Media Editor
"I wanted to burn the falafel hat;' says cute, dark-
haired Rachael Leigh Cook of the looming, floppy, felt
appendage she dons in "She's All That."
With or without her falafel hat, however, things sure
are happening for the petite 19-year-old actress whose
previous roles were largely incarnations of famed liter-
ary denizens from "The Babysitters Club" and "Tom
Sawyer"("Tom and Huck").
In addition to starring in "She's All That," Cook
attended the Sundance Film Festival last weekend to
screen the premiere of her new indie film, "The Hi-
Line" which she co-stars with her 25-year-old actor
boyfriend, Ryan Alosio.
Yet shmoozing with the Robert Redford camp in Utah
isn't the biggest attraction to her busy career. Today, she
braces herself as a nation of teenagers and 20-some-
things flock to local theaters and watch her headline a
wonderful cast in a charming performance as misfit
Laney Boggs in the cute high school romance "She's All
That."
Cook has a large bill to fill to prove that she truly is
all that. But she isn't worried in the slightest.
"I'm just kicking back waiting for things to pan out;'
said the down-to-earth actress.
And things are happening for Cook, who is a member
of a fresh crop of young '90s actors and actresses,
including her "She's All That" co-stars Freddie Prinze,
Jr. and Matthew Lillard.
"They're calling us the New Brat
Pack" says Cook, "but the truth is,
there is even more of us then there
were them. They all have great
careers now, they all made great
movies then."
Respectfully referring to the
original Brat Pack, a term coined to
describe a group of hot, young '80s
stars including Demi Moore, Rob
Lowe and Molly Ringwald, Cook a
has much endearment for these Cook and Freddie
actors and the now-classic John
Hughes films they took part in,
such as "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles" and
"Pretty in Pink."
"She's All That" works very much within this John
Hughes high school genre and Cook feels, "that's what
really drew us to this project. I love those movies. A lot
of the rest of the cast really liked those movies."
Cook shares a similar warm feeling toward her own
entry to the genre.
"It's just a really nice movie with a good heart and a
good message and it's just funniy," Cook said.
While critics will be apt to make comparisons to the
Courtesy of Miramax
Actress Rachael Leigh Cook puts the white hot "She" action Into "She's All That," a teen comedy opening at
Briarwood and Showcase today.
influential predecessors, Cook admits that "She's All
That" isn't trying to copy the previous films.
"Well, you can never replicate or anything, we're all
just trying to make a good movie that we thought people
would like" Cook said.
Only time will tell what the box office and moviego-
ers have to say about "She's All That."
"A good thing about this movie;" Cook said, "it really
respects its audience and it caters to them."
Cook's character, Laney Boggs, is a high school out-
sider disgusted by clicks and popularity who, over the
course of the film, is wooed by high school demi god
Zack Silar (Prinze, Jr.) and thrust into the spotlight of
teen popular awareness. How does Cook feel about
being a champion for every con-
fused, high school, Holden
Anne
Sooie vwon
Otter
Mendelssohn
Theater
Tonight at 8
who shapes
phrases with
such a clear
sense of struc-
ture and direc-
tion that she can
take such daring
liberties with
'timing and
expression dd
Paul adds
that, "Her beau-
tiful voice and
intimate knowl-
edge, of the
works' that she's
Caufield misfit?
"Laney's viewpoint is like, she
wouldn't want your sympathy. She
doesn't want to be pitied by anyone.
She's an outcast by choice. When
popularity comes knocking at her
door she runs, kicking and scream-
ing," Cook said. "I'm like her in the
beginning because I can be kind of
defensive and keep to myself but I
think we're all kind of like that
sometimes."
Hi-Line" premiere at Sundance, she stars in another
soon-to-be-released independent film with Elijah Wood,
"The Bumblebee Flies Anyway," an upcoming guest
role on "Dawson's Creek,' and a commercial for the
Partnership For A Drug-Free America program.
Many projects in the world of Hollywood leave Cook
little time for college life. But she bears no qualms about
it.
"I don't think I want to go. I don't wanna be like, a
drama major. If I ever go to have another math class, I
think I'll just have to shoot myself in the head," Cook
said.
Surprisingly enough, both of her parents attended the
University of Michigan. Maintaining a fervent blue and
gold pride, the Cook fancily celebrates Christmas every
year with a stringent U-M reminder. "We still use foot-
ball socks they found on the field as our Christmas
stockings;' she explains.
Her rising career allowed for little time in high school
as well and she never danced the night away at a prom.
But in "She's All That," Cook is sure to dance away with
the hearts of many, with much aid of the strong cast
which includes Kevin Pollack, Kieran Culkin, Usher
Raymond and Academy Award-winner Anna Paquin.
"Everyone was really nice;" Cook said, "There wasn't
a bad apple in the bunch. It was a really diverse cast, I
mean, I never thought I would meet Lil' Kim;' referring
to the young rapper who also has a starring role in the
film.
With such a wide array of talents to work with, Cook
shines in the scenes she shares with Pninze Jr., best
known for his work in the teen horrors, "I Know What.
You Did Last Summer,"and "I Still Know WhatYouDid
Last Summer."
Prinze, Jr. and Cook both starred in the independent
film, "The House of Yes." As "She's All That,' is their
second film together, what does that say about the
future?
"Like Tom Hanks Meg Ryan thing," Cook said,'"hell,
who knows? It's such an incestuous business."
Courtesy of Miramax
Prinze, Jr. are all that.
performing is clear evidence that she's
studied them, and has therefore'
become very comfortable with them.
In addition to her genial personality,
she is a pleasure to work with?"
With the addition of von Otter's
unparalleled talent to tonight's line-up,,
it's a sure bet that they Mendelssohn
Theatre will overflow with talent.'
-Ticketsfor Anne Sofie von Otter are
$18, $26, $30 and $32.
UMS Box Office: (734) 764-2538.
While growing up and working
with a lot of different actors, Cook feels she has gained
much useful wisdom for a young woman of her age.
"People who don't wanna be friends with you cause
they're dorks, you don't need them. They're just idiots,
and who wants to be friends with them anyway. If it
means you gotta hang by yourself for a while, so be it. I
mean you've seen the people like prom king, star quar-
terback. They work for used car dealerships at best. It's
no big deal. So life goes on."
And Cook's life is proceeding at full pace right now.
In addition to the release of "She's All That" and "The
Comedy offers 'Sutra' for a two-night stand
A *By Jenny Curren
Daily Arts Writer
This Friday and Saturday, frazzled students can
frolic with glee to the U-Club to watch members of
the Comedy Company impersonate transvestite
postal workers giving snorkeling lessons. That is,
only if the innovative audience decides they will.
That is the great thing about a Comedy Company
performance: the spectators run the show.
In case the audience breaks into a chaotic frenzy,
unable to control its newfound freedom, the Comedy
Company has kindly prepared various sketches that
showcase the talent of the its team of writers.
The director, LSA junior Josh Firosz, and assis-
tant director, LSA junior Jeffrey Wank, also con-
'tributed heavily to the script writing process, which
was complemented by the actors' brainstorms. The
sketches will be evenly balanced with a number of
improv comedy games that allow audience partici-
pation.
The opening skit, "Komedy Sutra," features a
diverse collection of couples at a grouptherapy ses-
sion, attempting to put the "humor" back into their
relationships.
Comedy
Company
The U-Club
Tonight and
Tomorrow at 8
The sketch highlights the
oldest and youngest members
of the group, Engineering
junior Eric Mutchnick, clock-
ing-in at an ancient 25 years
old, as a perverted single man,
and bubbly LSA first year stu-
dent Mindy Raf, as the inor-
gasmic wife of a hillbilly,
acted by LSA junior Brian
Goodman.
Other sketches include the
reinterpretation of the civil
rights movement had a bunch
of math geeks replaced the
Black Panthers, and a predic-
The show' producer, LSA senior Erica Hermatz
thinks the improv part of the performance is a great
way to complement the scripted segments, because
it gets the audience more involved. The group's vet-
eran, LSA senior Cody Ryder, commented, "there's
more improv in this year's show than ever before."
Improvisational antics will include such classics
as "Party Quirks," in which the audience decides op
a particular attribute for the cast members, and one
unsuspecting cast member plays the party host who
must guess what they are.
The company also plans to treat the crowd to its
vocal stylings with an ad-lib song.
The Comedy Company has provided many a guf-
faw for the University community, but it is the per-,
formers that claim to receive the most personal ful-
fillment from their participation.
LSA junior T.R. Pierson cited the group as a
unique experience in his life, commenting, "The
Comedy Club has allowed me to travel to many
great places, like the Union."
tion of futuristic medicine, once Y2K reduces hospi-
tal computer systems to monkey-powered garbage.
INTERESTED IN A
CAREER IN PUBLISHING?
An editor from Detroit-area reference publisher The Gale
Group will be on hand in the Michigan Union's Pond
Auditorium on Monday, February 1, at 6 p.m., to talk about
careers in publishing, as well as educational oportunities at
the University of Denver Publishing Institute. The Institute is
a gradlate level nroeram that offers four weeks of summer
The UM Dept. of Theatre and Drama
presents the
Mosalc Youth Theatre of Detroit
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