Tuesday April 20, 2004 arts.michigandaily.com * artseditor@michigandaily.com OfTd~msa ' ' , . .. a a fi 4 k a R x 7B Courtesy of New Line If he had a gun, he'd be more accurate. 'Lord' top of the fims By Andy TaylorFabe Daily Arts Writer TONY DING/Daily It's acoustically perfect: You can hear the power tools all the way in the back. MOVIN' Although comparisons to "Harry Pot- ter and the Sorcerer's Stone" are inevitable, a more apt parallel to Peter Jackson's triumphant epic "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" is "Star Wars;' for both films are about the ultimate struggle between good and evil. Although no movie can perfectly adapt a book, especially one as painstakingly ON UP HILL AUDITORIUM RENOVATIONS COMPLETE By Alexandra Jones Daily Arts Writer For a year and a half, Hill Auditorium was an eye- sore and a headache for University students, faculty and administration. The beautiful red and tan mosaic that lies between the building and North University Avenue had been covered with tarps, bricks, chunks of insulation, dust and debris. A tall chain-link fence and contractors' trailers surrounded the site. To make matters worse, the University Musical Society had difficulty finding large venues for world-famous musicians. Academic ceremonies like convocation had to be held elsewhere. The School of Music's large ensembles were forced to relocate concerts to less- than-ideal settings like the Michigan Theater. Hill Auditorium, dedicated on June 25, 1913, was in dire shape before the renovation. The brick pattern that lies in front of the building's stately white columns was faded and damaged. Aesthetically, Quinn Evans repaired and reworked the brick mosaic, cleaned and replaced exterior doors, windows and let- tering, and repaired or replaced roof tiles. Band-O-Rama, an annual fundraising concert that features the University of Michigan Symphony Band, Concert Band and Marching Band, had to be elimi- nated in 2002 and 2003. Symphony Band concerts. featuring the music of John Phillip Sousa and George Gershwin were held in Michigan Theater to substitute for Band-O-Rama, and the Collage Concert was relo- cated to the Power Center. But the scheduling problems and ugly construction are finally gone. At 1:00 this afternoon, Hill Auditori- um's status as a historic site will be reaffirmed by an unveiling ceremony. Speakers at the ceremony will include representatives from Quinn Evans Architects, the firm that oversaw the renovation, School of Music Dean Karen Wolff and UMS president Ken Fischer. The auditorium will be open for self-led walking tours until 7:30 this evening. "You've got a great hall that's large. It's half the size of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Avery Fish- er Hall (the former home of the New York Philhar- monic);" said Fischer. There's no question that Hill is a hallowed site for the performing arts. Musicians, like vocalists Jessey Norman, Cecilia Bartolli and Enrico Caruso, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and bandleader and jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman have performed there. Leonard Bernstein conducted the Vienna Philharmonic on Hill's stage during his 70th birthday tour. He chose to play only three American cities: New York, Washington D.C. and Ann Arbor. There's definitely something special about Hill Auditorium. Fischer said of the renovation, "There has been interest in renovating Hill for a long, long time, and it was simply a matter of when the University felt it had the resources to be able to do the job. "So they're handling the renovation in several phases, and this first phase is the renovation and restoration of the hall as we know it now. The next phase of renovation will be, we hope, a backstage addition." This addition will accommodate visiting artists as well as School of Music bands and orches- tras that regularly perform concerts. "Anyone who has used Hill Auditorium knows that the backstage needs major expansion and improvement," Fischer explained. First phase of the Hill renovations began on May 13, 2002. It was estimated that the renovation would take 18 months to complete and cost $38.6 million. To begin the process, the University secured the expertise of Quinn Evans, an Ann Arbor firm that specializes in restoring historic buildings. The firm has worked to maintain and preserve structures like the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall, George Washington's boyhood home and parts of the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University. Here at the University, it has worked on the Detroit Observatory, the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, and classrooms in the Law School. Some of the renovation's more practical changes include an increased number of restrooms, from 14 to 22 for men and from 10 to 30 for women, as well as one unisex restroom. Sound and light locks have been added at the entrance of the auditorium from the lobby. Sound locks will keep noise from the lobby and the sound of traffic out of the performance space, and light locks will prevent light from opened doors during daytime shows from seeping into the auditori- um. "If someone was walking around in the lobby, you could hear a clip-clop sound inside the auditori- um," said Wolff. One of the most pragmatic - and most anticipated - additions to the historic performance venue is the installation of an air conditioning system. Electrical and ventilation systems have also been replaced. The most important renovation, however, is the addition of ramps and elevators. Until now, the stage had been only accessible via stairs; artists, audience members and students receiving degrees if they need- ed wheelchairs or other assistive equipment could not easily get onstage. The auditorium's new design includes ramps on either side of the stage so that any- one can easily enter the stage area. Additionally, the mezzanine area was only accessi- ble by stairs. For the first time in Hill's existence, attendees who experience difficulty climbing stairs can access the balcony area via elevator. Seating for audience members with wheelchairs had also been problematic in the past, but seats have been created on both the main floor and the mezzanine to accom- modate those with assistive equipment. Though the changes in seating have reduced the number of seats to 3,710 from 4,169, Fischer thinks that the loss in revenue is worth it. "I applaud the University for their overall policy of inclusion and diversity," he said. Another practical feature Hill lacked was a conces- sion area. The University worked with Quinn & Evans to create a snack bar in the lobby in hopes that concessions will create a mor. fun experience. "More and more people are looking at concertgoing as a social experience. They want to meet with their friends, talk about performances - and now they have a place to do that right in Hill Auditorium" Fis- cher explained. Concessions will be served at both the Elizabeth E. Kennedy Lower Lobby and on the mezzanine level. While students, faculty and administration alike are excited about the modern adjustments made to the facility, many are still unsure of what Hill will sound like now that changes have been made. The final acoustics test occurred this morning. Wolff explained, "The architects were careful not to change Hill's signature sound. There was a bounce- back coming from the back of the auditorium, but acousticians believe that this problem has been remedied." School of Music alum Corynn Eggener said, "I always loved (Hill's) clarity. It's so big and resonant, it has a presence of its own." One of her favorite memo- ries of Hill was waiting in line overnight for the UMS Half-Price Ticket Sale. "That was one of the coolest experiences of my undergrad. We played Scrabble." Director of Bands Michael Haithcock, who con- ducts the Symphony Band, summed up his feelings about the new Hill: "I hope it sounds exactly the same. It's glorious. The resonance in the hall is almost perfect." -Jan. 8, 2004 elaborate as J.R.R. Tolkien's three- volume opus, "Fel- lowship" comes close, and stands out as one of the best films of the year and one of the best adaptations of all time. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellow- ship of the Ring New Line Cinema Thousands of years ago, in the realm of Middle Earth, the dark lord Sauron forged many rings of power for the peo- ples of the world, but he also made one for himself that controlled all the other rings and gave him the power to rule the world. The ring, which holds all the strength and evil of Sauron, has an intoxicating power over anyone who tries to use it. But the ring has been lost for roughly 3,000 years, until a Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) finds it in a cave in the Misty Mountains. Years later, when Sauron discovers that the ring is being kept in the Shire (the home of the three-foot-tall Hobbits), Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellan), a powerful wizard and friend of Bilbo, decides action must be taken, entrusting the ring to Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), Bilbo's nephew. Along with fel- low Hobbits Sam (Sean Astin), Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), Frodo begins a long journey to destroy the ring in the fires of Mount Doom, where the ring was forged. Frodo and his hobbit companions are joined by Gandalf, the Elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), Gimli the Dwarf (John Rhys- Davies), the ranger Strider (Viggo Mortensen) and Boromir (Sean Bean), son of the Steward of Gondor. They have much help along the way, from all manner of creatures, such as the elves, including Arwen (Liv Tyler) and Gal- adriel (Cate Blanchett), a powerful witch who resides in the woods. This film has the rare quality of being able to completely draw you in from start to finish. Despite its near three- hour length, it is a riveting narrative that will make you crave a second viewing. Part of the reason for this is the intense reality that is given to the various land- scapes, from the peaceful and hidden Shire to the dark and foul realm Mordor, the home of Sauron. Every craggy tree, misty river and winding mountain road has a vitality to it that sucks you into this fantasy world and wraps you up in every sight, sound and smell. The action sequences - with raging battles between elves, men and the slimy and evil Orcs - are breathtaking, and the computer graphics used to simulate both the battle scenes and the fantastic battlefields are almost flawless. The acting is top notch with no weak link. Ian McKellan is perfect as Gandalf, a kind and wild-haired wizard who has a dangerous and powerful side that is always close to the surface but hidden. His face holds years of distress and hardship as well as wisdom. He has the ability to laugh with his eyes, and he is able to show fear without losing his Merlin-esque air of mystery and strength. Another high point is Christopher Lee, who plays Saruman the White, a powerful wizard who was once Gan- dalf's superior but has joined forces with Sauron in the hopes of increasing his own power. Lee, who is most famous for his Dracula movies of the 1970s, is unbelievably creepy with his gaunt face and severe dark eyes contrasting with his bright white hair and cloak. The hobbits provide comic relief that is blended flawlessly with the action. Merry's and Pippin's antics, many of which are not in the original text, are a welcome addition, and Sean Astin's fiercely loyal Sam is his best role since the inhaler-toting Mikey of "The Goonies." One of the most difficult undertak- ings in the movie is making all the actors look like the characters that they are supposed to be, for Dwarves are short and stout and Hobbits are even shorter, yet non-little people play all of these roles. A combination of camera tricks and stand-ins are used to provide this effect, and only occasionally is it noticeable. However, you will most like- ly miss these flaws, as the film is fast paced and has no moments that lack momentum and allow you to notice imperfections. One thing that people unfamiliar with the "Lord of the Rings" books should know is that the quest to destroy the ring does not end with this film. Instead, "Fellowship of the Ring" has more of a "The Empire Strikes Back" type ending, leaving questions unanswered and fates uncertain. The story will continue with "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King," which will be released in December of 2002 and 2003. -Jan. 7, 2002 SHORT DAVE MAITHEW$ BAND LIvE AT FOLSOM FIE LD BOULDER, COLORADO RCA RXcoos Let's start off by setting things straight about the popular Dave Matthews: He is a semi-talented songwriter and a competent performer but his personality is just annoying as hell. That pseudo-stoned 35-year-old frat boy bullshit - well, it's just plain stupid. But more than even Dave himself, its DMB fans that are irritating. Tight-clothed females ages sixteen to twenty-two aid their baseball-cap-donning boyfriends are the only peo- ple who can possibly find Dave's shtick endearing or humorous. If those fans aren't nauseating enough, Dave also attracts plenty of young wannabe hippies (the ones who wear patchwork clothes but still shower regularly) and Christian teens who wanna rock but not so hard as to upset their parents. All that said, let's get down to Dave's latest release. Live ai Folsom Field - recorded' at the home of the University TAKES of Colorado Buffalo's football squad - includes twenty- one tracks spread over two-and-a-half hours for an average of seven minutes per song! Needless to say, the band can't keep its shit interesting for 150 minutes. One can only take so much acoustic gui- tar-violin-saxophone-whatever jamming before boredom sets in and you have to start playing Nintendo. DMB include plenty of the, uh, "classics" in their set like "Crash Into Me," "Recently," "Two Step" and "Ants March- ing," but none of 'em are any good. There's also some newer stuff including "Bartender," "Everyday" and "Dig- ging a Ditch." None of those are any good either. When you get down to it, I guess what I'm trying to say is that this record just isn't any good. Dave's songs are all middle-of-the-road pop-rock shit, and the jams are mind- numbingly long. Now that I think about it, maybe I do hate Dave Matthews completely. * - Joel Hoard -Nov. 19, 2002 26th Ann Arbor Antiquarian Book Fair' Sunday, April 25th 4 11-5 $5 Admission * First Editions " Americana *"Old & Rare * Thousands of Books K. in All Categories and Price Ranges Have You Graduated .. . From Your Szc-W Cu -sent i