The Michigan Daily - Thursday, August 4, 1983 - Page 11
This Bo not a perfect ten
M USICAL TRENDS OF the '80s are
ever-changing and in order to
maintain popularity these days, artists
have to compete with the technical
sounds of synthesizers and the rhyth-
mic beat of electronic drums. However,
the taste for the simple rock and roll of
the American Graffiti era has prevailed
,and the legendary musicians of that
time can still enjoy popularity amongst
audiences with diverse taste.
One such legendary musician is Bo
Diddley, famous for such works as "Who
Do You Love?" and the "Bo Diddley"
beat. Diddley has been copied, praised
and plagiarized for his accomplishmen-
ts as one of the recognized 'original'
rock 'n rollers of the '50s, but as eviden-
ced by Monday night's performance at
Rick's, that legend should live in the
memories of those who have the ability
to appreciate it, rather than be marred ' .- "
by the performance of a man grown "
stale over the years. Admittedly, 30
years of rock 'n roll may leave one
bland, but Diddley seemed not to
recognize himself as a victim of this
circumstance.
The audience was enthusiastic Bo Diddley's familiar songs entertained the Rick's crowd Monday night, but
nonetheless. Old favorites such as desired.
"Mona" and "Bo Diddley" found the seemed more an improvisation than a Rick's has long been noted as being a
crowd screaming with enjoyment, but rehearsed number on the band- not-so-hot-spot for dance enthusiasts,
it seemed more out of appreciation for members parts. Ann Arbor rocker however, what the bar lacks in space, it
the songs themselves, rather than for Steve Nardella did a fabulous job makes up for in the closeness between
the performer. following Diddley's guitar beats with audience and performer.
But let us not overlook the superb his electronic acoustic guitar. Also of Diddley, strutting across stage spor-
performances of the local artists in- note was Mr. B's accompaniment on ting a large black hat ornamented with
vited to join in Diddley's jam session. piano. His boogie-woogie beats helped a turquoise medallion, was certainly a
And a jam session it was, for each song, liven Diddley's less-than-original sight to be seen and when Bo 'Pavarot-
lasting an average of 10 minutes, guitar repetitions. ti' Diddley reappeared for the encore
'Real Inspector' is frivolous fun
By Ellen Lindquist
T HE CRITIC criticized: many a play-
Iwright's dresm, is brought to life in
Tom Stoppard's revenge on reviewers,
The Real Inspector Hound. Director
Karen Smith has succeeded in creating
hilarious caricatures of theatrical
critics.
The Michigan Union Ballroom makes
for an intimate, comfortable at-
mosphere. While the critics are ac-
tually sitting on stage right in
auditorium chairs, they are in close
proximity to the audience. The effect is
a rare one, as the audience watches the
reviewers who in turn are watching
another performance.
Ironically, Moon (Matt Davis), who
spends the play plotting how to outdo a
competing critic, Higgs, never watches
the melodramatic cliche-ridden
English murder mystery - he stares
off in the opposite direction, muttering
phrases about the meaning of the play.
Birdfoot (Roger Kerson), on the
other hand, has his eyes rivetted on the
stage as he lusts after the actresses
with bird-like intensity. The contrast
between these two characters is en-
dlessly funny.
The play within a play is as much a
parody as the characterizations of the
critics, and the players go to all ends to
make sure the audience knows this,
speaking in drawling, bored tones,
dropping their rs and gesticulating all
too vividly. The effect is a play which is
so bad, so full of cliches, that it is
delightful in the same sense that a
campy horror film is delightful in its ex-
treme usage of poor taste.
Tracy Studerus, who plays Cynthia,
carries the play within a play well in
her powerful, although silly portrayal
of the unfortunate Lady Muldoon.
Studerus is well supported by Julie
Smith who plays Fellicity, her rival for
the love of Simon Gascoin ( Larry
Jones), the womanizer who speaks
through his nose throughout the entire
production. Also of note is Melissa
Green's portrayal of Drudge, the maid.
It is a shame that she doesn't have a
larger part.
The actors go through the last scene,
when identities are revealed and roles
are changed, with such rapidity that
one's head spins in trying to keep it all
straight. Eventually the playwright
kills the critics! What a slap... The ac-
tors do not let up as the confusion moun-
ts and the Real Inspector Hound is
revealed.
It seems that it would-be difficult to
go wrong with such a witty satire as
The Real Inspector Hound. The per-
formers go right with it - their re-
creation of the play seeming to share
in its intrinsic delight.
764-0558
his crooning, operatic "Bo Diddley,"
was appreciated by the audience that
waited nearly 20 minutes for his return.
Unfortunately, fancy dance steps and
slick outfits can't take the place of good
ole' rock 'n roll.
- Mare Hodges
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