Friday October 25, 2002 michigandaily.com/arts mae@michigandaily. com ARTS 5 'The Spirit House' a blend of mysticism and politics By Lynn Hasselbarth For the Daily To see a world premiere of live theater is like "breathing life into words that have never been heard before," said Johanna Broughton, executive director of Adam Kraar's new play "The Spirit House." An original story of inter- national politics and reli- gious mysticism, "The Spirit House" opened last Friday at the Performance Network and will continue through the month. THE S HoU Performance Oct.17 - $22.50 - 663-0 120 E. A story of an American family living in Thailand during the Vietnam War, the play is founded on religious superstitions and layered with politics, family conflict and adolescent coming-of age. The story begins with the expected uncertainty that comes with starting a new life far from home. To Miriam, played by Carla Milarch, Thailand is fascinating and romantic. She is enlivened as a woman and as the wife of a PIRIT powerful and successful JSE diplomat. Her husband Herbert, e Network played by David Wolber, rep- Nov 10 resents focus and consistency -27.50 amidst the hot tropical envi- 681 ronment of Thailand. Their Huron two children, Aurora (Katherine Banks) and Marty (James Frounfelter), find themselves in a magical land of spirits and legends. The family's servant and nanny, Pur- pang, played by Shelly Fager, informs the family of ancient stories and religious beliefs that become essential to the plot. Intrigued by Purpang's stories, Aurora pays homage to the ancient spirits, offer- ing gifts to the spirit house behind their home. These mysterious apparitions that Purpang speak of create a web of turmoil and suspicion that ultimately destroy this humble family. Through a creative combination of light- ing and set design the audience is drawn into the center of the story's internal con- flicts. Lighting that seems to always be a hue of sunset and fire, represents the heat and rage of Herb and Miriam's deteriorat- ing marriage. Throughout the play, there are insightful monologues in which Aurora stands cen- ter-stage with a single spotlight. This tech- nique seems to represent her isolation after an innocent love affair with Gary, the haughty teenage neighbor. As the fascinating story unfolds, the audience is lured deeper and deeper into Courtesy of Performance Network Carla Milarch, Katherine Banks and David Wolber in "The Spirit House." unknown territory. With a hazy background of palm trees and tangled vines, the audience is enveloped by the tropical environment and tension of the characters' relationships. By the end of the play one barely recognizes the characters one met at the onset. Written with passion and vigor, this play transforms the simple idea of an American family in Thailand, to a thickly layered story of how the spirits of one culture can seep into the skin of unsuspecting visitors. Though the story is told through the per- spective of Aurora in a series of stern monologues, Adam Kraar based much of the story on his own experiences. He pre- sented a time and place that was the back- drop of his own adolescence, Thailand in the mid-1960s. What he expands upon is the political and climate of the time and its effects on an innocent American family, and an inno- cent young girl. Kraar's intended to con- nect America's loss of innocence with that of Aurora's own pain and guilt from a young love affair. However, there seemed to be many more variables that dominated the story. Tc some, this may have made the play excit- ingly complicated. To others, however. "The Spirit House" may have contained too many themes within the two-hour per- formance. Courtesy of Performance Network Nick Yu and Katherine Banks. Jurassic 5 to transcend studio bounds and bring back hip-hop By Joseph Utman Daily Arts Writer Who cares about Jurassic 5? You haven't heard them on the radio, you haven't seen their videos on 106 and Park and you haven't seen their name while consulting Billboard's Top 10 lists. "You" is the average music fan. "You" is even the average hip-hop fan who's acquired his , taste from conventional media outlets like MTV. JURA; "You" should also be sure to check out Jurassic 5 at St. Andrews Hall tomorrow. St. Andr Touring in conjunction with the release Tomorrov of their latest album, Power in Numbers, $ Jurassic 5 provide both their devoted Clear C fans and the uninitiated with an opportu- nity to hear hip-hop in one of its finest forms. Con- trary to KRS-One's notion that "the real hip-hop is over," there is no better way to describe the music J5 makes. Six men who, by their own admission are "trying to take hip-hop back to its primitive state," J5 are a group reminiscent of old-school b-boys and hip-hop's playful roots. With tightly constructed rhymes, cre- ative beats, and unparalleled group chemistry, J5 seduces listeners with an energy and charisma that excite live audiences wanting to be thrilled by an exemplary effort. The quality of a J5 show is further enhanced by how easily their music translates to the live format. The group's first two works, an eponymous EP and the debut LP Quality Control, are distinguished by the group's harmonizing and playful interaction. In concert, these qualities of their music serve to humanize the emcees, transforming them from amorphous voices on a record into familiar friends on the stage. For instance, fans of the older "Con- crete Schoolyard" or the newer "If You Only Knew" will delight in the spontaneous harmonic variations offered by the group. Hip-hop fans can also anticipate a healthy display of DJ skills courtesy of J5's Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist. Whether in the studio or in concert, both men make the most of the venue. In the lab, the pro- ducers are able to weave together melodies and sounds into organized tracks. While all the amenities of the studio can't be brought on the road, neither must the constraints of making a coherent song. Resultantly, both gentlemen take advantage of this L S r lre ws X22 Ch. freedom and scratch their way into the favor of fans who are routinely impressed by how much can be done with two turntables and some records. The group's intelligent creativity further manifests itself and astounds the crowd as experimental songs like "Acetate Prophets" are recreated through efforts like the group's emcees spinning those colorful chil- dren's tubes meant to emit varying sounds based on how quickly they are spun. In sum, the group's fervor to per- SIC 5 form well - appearing in all its forms - endears J5 to its audience and does ws Hall not disappoint. at 9 p.m. As if seeing real hip-hop's champions z were not an attractive-enough prospect, annel fans will also want to be at St. Andrews tomorrow to see the Beatnuts and Ann Arbor's Athletic Mic League. The Beatnuts will no doubt perform fan favorites like "Watch Out Now" and "Off the Books" while also promoting their new record, The Originators. The Mic League will be at St. Andrews to establish themselves with a wider range of hip-hop heads perhaps unfamiliar with the talented magnificent seven. So, who cares about J5? Well, everyone should now. 'Starfox' changes series formula By Jeff Dickerson Daily Arts Editor Fox McCloud and his band of mam- malian minstrels step out of their polyg- onal spaceships and take to the ground in "Starfox Adventures," the latest installment in the "Starfox" franchise. Originally slated for release on the Nintendo 64, "Starfox Adventures" began as a 3D platformer called "Dinosaur Planet." When Nintendo realized the imminent demise of its sys- tem, it delayed the game, threw in the "Starfox" trademark and revamped the presentation of the game to make use of the more powerful GameCube. The first thing gainers will notice is the lack of flying missions, which have been thrown aside for "Mario" style 3D gameplay. Fox uses items he comes across to completemindless missions such as opening doors rather than skill- fully flying his Arwing. "Starfox Adventures" really isn't a "Starfox" game at all. Later in the game there are a few levels where Fox becomes the pilot once more, bringing the game back to its more traditional roots. Nev- ertheless, these moments are few and far between, leaving gainers in a dull some state of redundant gameplay. "Starfox Adventures" is not without its merits. The graphics are certainly impressive, from the colorfully detailed characters to the lavishly expansive landscapes of Dinosaur Planet. But what gamers are left with is an essen- tially hollow gaming experience that borrows more from "Super Mario 64" than its "Starfox" predecessors. STARFOX ADVENTURES For GameCube Nintendo Do you H ave Acne.' ¢ If you have acne you may qualify for an investigational study at the University of Michigan Department of Dermatology. ¢ You may also receive compensation for your participation. g If you are interested in participating, call the University of Michigan Department of Dermatology to find out more. A The number is : (734) 764-DERM Courtesy of Interscope J5 appears tomorrow in Detroit with the Beatnuts and AML M" Metro Connection Sedan Service We Provide Airport Sedan Service to andfromAl Cities Please call Toll-Free: 1-866-889-0400 Oa FRIDAY. N I H T FEATURING SALSA AND MERENGUE INSTRUCTOR