TheMchigan Daily - Saturday, August 3,1985 - Page9
ow's the time for medieval merriment
By Ron Schechter
T ODAY MARKS THE beginning of
the 16th Annual Ann Arbor
Medieval Festival. Billed as "a
movable feast of drama, dance, and
diversions," the festival will take
place today at West Park and
tomorrow at the Arboretum, and will
move to the Music School grounds
next weekend. In recent months local
entertainers, both amateur and
professional, have worked arduously
to prepare this ensemble of theatre,
Sonic Youth
to mangle
airwaves
H ARDCORE NEVER really had
to be defined as "playing fast
and kicking ass." That's where Sonic
Youth comes in. When they started
playing in the early 80's they were
thrown into the musical melting pot
with all those other bands. But they
r really didn't fit in. Sure, they played
loud but if you listened carefully you
realized there was more to them.
In a way, Sonic Youth (and their
fellow New Yorkers The Swans) were
actually the most hardcore of the
bands in those days. They are not
slaves to structure. They are not
slaves to ritual. The presumed har-
dcore bands put up walls, Sonic Youth
breaks them down.
They make whatever sound they
like. It's always changing, always
fresh and inspired. Sometimes they
play out of tune and sometimes they
music, dance, and crafts from the
medieval peried.
The schedule of events includes a
number of theatrical productions,
which, aside from providing comic
entertainment, are authentic
representations of medieval drama.
While some of the plays are 20th cen-
tury imitations, others come straight
from the 14th and 15th centuries. For
instance, The Second Shepherd's
Play, performed by the Young
People's Theatre, will appear exactly
as it did five hundred years ago in
Wakefield, England. The Tragic
History of Romiet and Julio, a parody
of the Shakespearian tragedy, on the
other hand, is a recent creation
loosely based on a trilogy by Roc-
cocio, a medieval Italian writer. The
most unusual, and perhaps the fun-
niest play promises to be The
Peculiar Story of Jacob And Esau, an
original puppet play featuring (are
you ready for this?) 15-foot-tall pup-
pets.
Music will also be an important
part of the festival. The Early Music
Ensemble and the Ann Arbor
Musicum Collegium will play authen-
tic medieval music on traditional in-
struments. In addition, a concert of
Madrigals will be performed on
Saturday, August 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Pictured is a reenactment of a medieval era jousting match. The 16th Annual Ann Arbor Medieval
the Music School recital hall. Festival also features theatre, music, dance and crafts from the medieval period.
Although the entire festival is free, a
three dollar donation is requested for toward authenticity, the participants host of heralds, minstrels, fools, cour- tributing a relaxing setting for the
this special concert. will feature the same kinds of produc- tly kings, and courted ladies. Says spectators, the outdoors provides the
The festival's entertainment ts as medieval craftsmen displayed. producer Kathy Millar, "there are actors, dancers, and musicians with
schedule also includes dance; the Ann Included will be presentations by lace plenty of damsels in distress and what Millar calls a "low pressure per-
Arbor Morris and Sword team will makers, jewelers, potters, and dragons to slay. All of your childhood formance situation," allowing them
perform precision dancing with sticks engravers. And besides browsing fantasies are acted out in one fell to experiment with new techniques.
and swords in an artful interpretation through medieval wares works up an swoop." The Medieval Festival runs today
of medieval jousting. appetite, food booths, serving from 1-5 p.m. at West Park, tomorrow
Next weekend a crafts fair will be traditional dishes, will cater to Millar adds that a significant from 1-5 p.m. at the Arboretum, and
held on the Music School grounds. hungry visitors. aspect of the festival is the fact that it August 10-11 at the School of Music
Consistent with their inclination Finally, the festival will include a takes place outdoors. Aside from con- from 10a.m. to7 p.m.
i
play instruments they have never "
played before. But they always r s:e a a co r u s
sudavr h a Knopfler, Dire Straits: The saga continues
provide a subversive loud and brutalO r e
sound.
Their new LP Bad Moon Risin' (continuedfromPage8)
(Homestead Records), named after the role MTV plays, especially as ad- probably chosen for the U.S. tour will rr.
the Creedance Clearwater Revival vertising for people who have no probably be consistent with those he
song, is a mixture of their brash New talent. As if to be strikingly has used for his live shows in the past.
York City street mashing with what hypocritical, a video to this song was Bets should be placed on the ap-
they depict as the Southern wasteland. released. pearances of the following:
The cover reaffirms this vision. It And there you have it. Five albums John Illsey - Bass Guitar. He's
features a scarecrow with a pumpkin in seven years. Admittedly not the the stocky, curly haired guy who's
head that's on fire against a backdrop output rate of the Beatles or even Slim been in the "band" as long as Knop-
of the Manhattan skyline. Sonic Youth Whitman, but Knopfler's got a fler has.
juxtaposes the two sides of the coun- legitimate excuse: He's done so much Terry Williams - Drums. For-
try that have been historically at od- work for others, both production and merly with Rockpile, he handled the
ds. session, that, comes a Friday night drumming on the dancE-P and the
TheLnhe probably doesn't have time to call last LP (replacing Pick Withers) and
the songs feature distorted and his grandparents. has played with the group extensively
chimimg guitar locks weaved He's played guitar for Bryan Ferry, in concert. Williams was also on the
together. Within the same cut there Steely Dan, and Bob Dylan; live LP Alchemy.
are calm interludes abutting intense Hal Lindes - Rhythm Guitar. A
white noise. The lyrics paint a Aoed am s fr BobiDylan Tnd pretty boy who sends the girls
S t of n AerianAztec Camera; writtsn music for Tins"
pathetic picture ofTurner (Pvate Dancer); jammed swooning, he has also played with (he - .
wasteland, yet a love for it. You can with Tony Levin of King Crimson, (group live (he appeared on Alchemy)
never tell what's going to happennext Omar Hakim of Weather Report, and and he played some rhythm guitar on '
and that makes for intense and Sting; and written, arranged, and the dancE-P.'
pleasurable listening indeed. produced three movies soundtracks Alan Clark - Keyboards. A Steve -
Live, it promises to be something (Local Hero, Comfort and Joy, and Nieve type who also came out of the
special. Cal.) Alchemy shows, he has been given all
Sonic Youth will perform with Rites And if you've read this far and you sorts of odd work by Knopfler, in-
of . Spring and Laughing Hyenas still haven't gathered that Dire Straits cluding a job on the Dylan Infidels
tonight at the Hungry Brain's current is in tawn, you're quits stupid. And if album.
location at the Polish Vet Hall in you do, in fact, qualify as stupid by Mark Knopfler - Lead Guitar,
Detroit. The show begins at 8 p.m. that definition, you can keep it to Vocals. Looking not unlike Mr. Potato
They will also play at Traxx in Detroit yourself as long as you now realize Head, Knopfler will be the center of
Monday night with the Tar Babies. that they'll be playing at Pine Knob on attention as true Dire Straits fans
Sunday night. bask in his overwhelming godliness Dire Straits, featuring the overwhelming demigod talents of Mark Knop-
-Richard Williams The musicians,. that, Mark Jas, during the show. ,. j fler, appears Sunday night at Pine Knob beginning at 8 p.m.