ARTS Page 10 -Thursday, July 7, 1983 The Michigan Daily Theatrefest off to a great start 4 By Ellen Lindquist T HE GREEN, blue and red stream- ers festooning the Power Center were not put there by vandals. They symbolize the University Theatre Department's summer Theatrefest, a series of three plays - Scapin, Fifth of July, and Company. "We wanted to decorate the 'great grey whale,' as we call the Power Cen- ter, where the plays are being held," said Dianne Cenko, of the Professional Theatre Program. "Just to give it a festive air. Before the play each night (starting at 6:30 p.m.) we also have musicians, jugglers and dancers out on the green in front of the Power Center." Scapin, an updated version of the Moliere farce, ran from June 29 to July second. The Fifth of July, which opened on the sixth of July, will run until the ninth of July. Fifth of July is set on the fourth of July, 1977, when several post- 1960s Berkleyites, including one Viet- nam veteran without legs, reconvene in the innocuous town of Lebanon, Missouri to rehash old times and talk about the future. It is a comic-drama by Lanford Wilson. Company, the third play of the series, A1 ARBOR INDIVIDUAL THEATRES . 2 5th Ave of Lb"r y 761.9700 $2.00 SHOWS BEFORE 6 p.m. ANN ARBOR LATE SHOW FRI & S NIGHT ALL SEATS $2.25 is the 1970 Stephen Sondheim Tony award winning musical about a quin- tessential New York bachelor whose friends encourage him to marry. It will run from July 13-16. Professional Theatre Program associate director Lindsey R. Nelson said that each play of the repertory presents a different theatrical challenge. "It was very challenging for Scapin director Mary Kelly, a Univer- sity faculty member, to update the play," Nelson said. Kelly transposed much of Moliere's lines, which Cenko called boring, into modern-day street slang. The whole play takes place in a New York city playground, rather than Moliere's Naples, where preppies and purple- haired punk rockers on rollerskates assemble with old men and the rap- scallion Scapin who creates mischief in all of their lives. "We used a very novel approach in terms of music by blasting it from ghet- to boxes," Cenko said.- "Fifth of July, is challenging because of the age of the people playing the par- ts," Nelson said. "The student actors don't remember the '60s as well as director Christopher Connelly does.; Connelly must bring this reality to the Spectacular By Leizer Goldsmith ARARE SUMMER concert will occur tonight at the Second Chance, with Robert Palmer heading the bill. Palmer, whose rock music has often embraced elements of Reggae, Funk, Calypso and New Wave, is making his first American tour in several years. He is promoting a new, largely synth- pop album entitled Pride, and a single remake of The System's "You Are In My System." Palmer is a veteran per- former, but he has never quite landed in the American mainstream. His career began with a Lowell George-influenced record Sneaking Sally Through The Alley in 1974, and his biggest hit to date was a cover of Moon Martin's "Bad Case Of Loving You", in 1979. Nona Hendryx will be opening the show, hot off the heels of her biggest hit 1 to date, "Keep It Confidential," and her second album, Nona. Hendryx is r probably best remembered for her in- 1 volvement in Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. That group, which was later renamed LaBelle, scored its biggest hit s with the raucous"Lady Marmalade" in t 1975. 4 Gwendolyn Ricks, Pauline Gagnon, Marie Robert, Jan O'Connor-Maier, Lundeana M. Thomas, Ellen Boyle and Douglas Sills make great company. actors so they can recreate the flavor of New York apartments and restaurants reminiscing about the '60s. I think with the use of scaffolds and platforms we've created a very lyrical, poetic to suggest the New York city skyline." play as a result," Nelson said. "Company is a challenge for director "There's also tap, jazz and other for- Gary Garrison," Nelson continued, ms of dance in the play as well as a ten "because it is a musical and musicals person orchestra," Nelson said. are always a challenge. In terms of the "we're very happy with the theatrefest set, we created the effect of different so far," she added. SUmmer double-hill 4 I DAILY- - (PG) 1:00 3:00 5:00 7:00 9:00 o th frck... BURT REYNOLDS is DAILY- (PG) 1:30 3:30 5:30 7:30 9:30 BUY YEUR. YEA RBOOK TODA Y -----, Robert Palmer is joined by Nona Hendryx tonight at Second Chance. Since the demise of LaBelle in the to Nona as "the best pop-funk record late seventies, Hendryx has been living since Prince's Dirty Mind," and in New York, and carefully developing although that might be an her reputation as a songwriter and solo exaggeration, there's no doubting that performer. She released a commer- Hendryx is a gifted performer whose cially unsuccessful rock record in 1977, star is on the rise. and a string of influential New Wave singles, including "Bustin' Out," prior Look forward to an exciting evening to the release of Nona. at The Chance, and by all means, get Rolling Stone magazine has referred there in time for the opening act! Bars and clubs Joe's Star Lounge (109 N. Main; 665- JOES) George Bedard and the Bonnevilles The play rockabilly on Thursday while the Sun Messengers bring the sound of the big band to the scene on Friday.Rock takes over on Saturday with Cult Heroes and continues on Sunday with Violent Femmes, a new sound from Milwaukee. Mr. Flood's Party (120 W. Liberty; 995-2132) The Pulsations pump reggae and funk on Thursday. On Friday and Saturday see Alberta Adams in per- son with the Crosstown Blues Band. On Sunday it's Bob Cantu and the Blues Nuts providing a full evening of professional blues. Second Chance (516 E. Liberty; 994- 5350) Veteran rock n' roll artist Robert Palmer brings excitement to the stage on Thursday. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday rock along with Toby Redd. Rick's American Cafe (611 Church; 996-2747) On Thursday and Friday get into the funk spirit with Astralight. The Blue Front Persuaders offer hyperkinetic blues and swing on Saturday and Euthanasia rocks hard on Sunday.