Wednesday, May 21, 1997 - The Michigan Daily - 11
Shocking death in season finale stuns 'X-Files' viewers
By Kiran Nandalur
Daily Arts Writer
Although the Fox drama "The X-
Files" had its peaks and valleys during
its fourth season, the season finale had
to shock and mystify even the most
ardent of fans. The internationally
popular program starring FBI agents
Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), a
eptical and objective medical exam-
er, and Fox Mulder (David
Duchovny), a psychologist obsessed
with finding his "abducted" sister and
a greater truth, will leave viewers
guessing until next season's premiere
in September.
Sunday's episode fittingly changed
its opening phrase from "The truth is
out there" to "Believe the lie," as all of
Mulder's work to find proof of
extraterrestrial existence was shown
be futile. His apparent progress was
emingly the result of a complex
conspiracy by the Department of
Defense to divert attention from dark-
er but more mundane secrets.
Appropriately, Mulder became disillu-
sioned as his entire reality was likely a plant by the two agents to
destroyed. The level-headed Scully bring out or stay ahead of the conspir-
reported these findings to an FBI ators. Look for the paranoid Mulder to
commission and to the surprise of take a more covert and aggressive
everyone, ended position in the
by announcing the future.
self-inflicted death REVIEW As for the health
of Mulder. of Scully, a myste-
Followers of the The X-Files rious cancer has
show are aware Fox entered her blood-
that the reports of Fx stream, and she
the death are false Sundays at 9 p.m. has started to feel
since Duchovny the mental effects
has reportedly signed up to be in "The of an impending death. Will Mulder
X-Files" movie next summer. become a solo act? There have been
However, his role in the show may rumors of contractual problems and
change drastically next year. The body ego clashes with the producers; thus,
found in his apartment could be a she could become a casualty in the
clone created via a process similar to search for the truth. The reports, how-
the copying of his sister, Samantha, on ever, have likely been intentionally
a Canadian farm. It also could have leaked to throw off obsessed fans.
been a shape-shifter like Eddie Van More probable is a scenario where
Blundt or the alien bounty hunter, Mulder or Asst. Director Skinner
characters introduced in earlier (Mitch Pileggi) gain some leverage
episodes. Considering the complexity over the mysterious government agent,
of the show and the fact that Scully Cancer Man (William Davis) and
identified the body, the corpse is most obtain the cure.
A n o t h e r
unknown factor
entering next season
is Cancer Man's
relationship to
Mulder and his role
in the disappearance
of Samantha.
Speculation
abounds that
Mulder is his son,
which explains the
agent's fortunate
survival in compro-
mised situations.
Others believe that
Cancer Man is his
sister's father, and Techno queen Gillian Anderson and "Red Shoe Diaries" host
he took custody of David Duchovny currently star in "The X-Fiies" ... but will
her on the fateful they be on the show next season? The truth is out there.
day. An extreme
view is that the often-confused Mulder many possibilities. Producer Chris
is delusional, and in his neurotic pas- Carter has created a phenomenon by
sion for an explanation, he created false continually enticing the viewer into a
memories to cope with the trauma. convoluted world where the truth
The most exciting aspect of "The X- always manages to escape those who
Files" is that the ambiguity leaves so seek it.
'Better Living' presents humorous look at family problems
14y Joi Danielle Price
For the Daily
A dysfunctional family might be
expected to display elements of insani-
ty. "Better Living," the black comedy
by Canadian playwright George F.
Walker, pushes
familial insanity to
its limits. The result ; P F
is a hilarious group /
of irrational charac-
rs who take them-
selves incredibly Truebloc
seriously and allow Ticket'
us to laugh at them.
It is the seriousness with which the
cast delivers these nutty people that
makes the current local production of
the play work. Under the direction of
University Professor John Neville-
Andrews, the Group Theatre of
A"ichigan continues its Michigan pre-
iere of "Better Living" at the
Trueblood Theatre this weekend. The
seven players include two more
University faculty members, guest
B
od
:s y
artists and three University BFA stu- Two of the most notable perfor- made even stranger whe
dents. Together they give a well-crafted mances come from University students. father, Tom (portraye
yet frightening picture of a disorderly Standing out right next to the more Woods) returns home a
family. experienced professional actors is absence. His leaving spa
Looking in at the Quinns, the audi- Alison Fisher (Mary Ann). Her neuroses the household insanity a
ence learns about the unique problems and fears of the world remain fresh and to set it right. Instead,.h
and situations of real throughout the entire play. things worse. This dos
each character. A Stephanie Bernstein delivers a solid per- leads to a second act that
E V I E W small performing formance as Gail Quinn, the teenage grave than the funny, f
t i venue gives daughter. Despite moments near the act. This change unfort
Setter Liing onlookers the feel- play's begining that seemed to lack vari- some wishing that the,
May 21-24, 8 p.m. ing of inclusion in ety, Ms. Bernstein creates a dynamic been smoother. Con;
Theater, Frieze Building the madness. The and interesting character. Kudos to Josh becomes difficult to laug
$12; $7 with student ID wacky but well- Parrot for stepping in as Junior, Gail's
meaning matriarch boyfriend, after another actor's illness. r -- - - - - - -
of the household is portrayed by Gillian His performance is not quite what it
Eaton, a veteran of the Royal might have been if he had been playing
Shakespeare Company stage. She offers Junior from the start, but he does a fine
a wonderful degree of commitment and job.
sincerity to the character's truly unique The strange world of the Quinns is ; * ,
view of life. Eaton makes Mrs. Quinn's1 J /
efforts to dig new rooms of the house
under the garden and call upon dead 1
spirits come from a shockingly real"t
place, and they are ridiculously amus-
ing. e%"
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n the missing
d by Leigh
fter a 10-year
arked some of
nd he intends
he only makes
wnward spiral
is much more
ast-paced first
unately leaves
transition had
sequently, it
h at the humor
that comes creeping back toward the
resolution.
"Better Living" is a pleasurably
nutty show to watch. The Group
Theatre designers set the environment
for the Quinns' world admirably. The
Quinn home looks appropriately
neglected - right down to the tinsel
from Christmas past. "Better Living" is
a worthwhile trip and offers a great
opportunity to get away from os own
crazy lives and laugh at problems much
greater than we could imagine.
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