? i'4.. t1'z.. ,z....... 7A..,M... Hear something extraordinary Variations on the Ordinary is a recent anthology that celebrates the work of nine Detroit-area writers. These writers will be reading from their text tonight at 7 p.m,, Barnes and Noble, 3245 Washtenaw. The show is free, For more information, call 693-7344. Page;9 Friday, October 13, 1995 'Oh Coward,'you'd be proud Musical Theater Program scores a success with witty revue *. y Jessica Chaffin For the Daily The Musical Theater Program's splendid production of "Oh, Coward!" is a vibrant comic revue of selected Oh Coward! Lydia Mendelssohn Theater When: Tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets: $16, $12, $6 students at League Ticket Office. Call 764-0450. songs and scenes from the works of Britain's most infamous talent, Noel Coward. The show, which was originally de- vised by Roderick Cook in the early '70s, has been completely revamped by director Brent Wagner and musical di- rector Jerry DePuit. Coward is most known forhis rapier sharp wit, to use an overused phrase, and deservedly so. Short narration and scenes from some of Coward's finest plays - notably "Hay Fever" and "Private Lives" - have been interspersed to enhance Cook's original revue and to weave the biographical structure of the play to- gether. These additions also serve to underscore thetre engpussense ofbit- ingcharismawhi rmeatesCoward's work. DePuit has craftily rearranged the score in order to accommodate the vast but not overwhelming cast of 18, which has been expanded fromthe origi- nally intended cast of three. The revue's biographical structure encompasses the many themes and stages of Coward's multifaceted ca- reer. The first act finds the cast in the chic casual attire of the 1920s and '30s, touching on such grand themes as the music hall, the wild '20s, travel and the English family album. Coward never misses an opportunity to send up the raucous and edonistic spirit of the times. The usic hall sequence is won- derfully done in true vaudevillian style exemplified by such numbers as "Wharf Ho, Mrs. Brisket" and "Men About Town." Perhaps the most hilarious numberof the production, is a scene from "Hay Fever," where Coward's clever mas- tery of otherwise mundane conversa- tion and the English upper class obses- sions with manners and boredom are made hilariously absurd. The travel sketch is a humorous vision of crass tourists - replete with Ambervision blue blockers. Coward, however, proves he is no stranger to sentiment with his gently nostalgic tribute to Englan o- tably in the beautiful subtle concl ion to Act One, "London Pride." Act Two finds the cast in the glamor- ously lush evening attire of the '30s, exploring the themes of relationships, the theater, love and fashion. "Design For Dancing" is a smoothly choreo- graphed and on erfully entertaining number lows the audience to overhear snippets of conversation at an extravagant party. Wagner includes the superbly done balcony scene from "Pri- vate Lives," as well as a cleverly origi- nal BBC radio setting for Coward's decidedly more bawdy rendition of Cole Porter's "Let's Do it." Both the singing and acting of this The cast performs the first act finale, "London Pride." "Oh Coward!" plays through Sunday at the Mendelssohn Theater. production were superb, surmounting riod mannerisms and dialect with style taming evening that should not be the considerable obstacles of both pe- and grace. In all, a glamorously enter- missed. S l trange Days indeed I my RlE y Aluna For the Daily Imagine having a contraption that al- lows you to recapture the best nemories of your life. It could also place you in another person's shoes, letting you live through their experiences, if only for a short time. In the cyber-thriller "Strange Days," ex-cop Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes) peddles such a potentially addictive de- vice on the black market. During the final days of the 20th century, the gadget, known as SQUID, is the drug of choice. Users merely get "wired" to the appara- tus, pop in a "trode," close their eyes and transport themselves to an alternate world. With racial tensions and urban chaos plaguing 1999 Los Angeles, clips of past real-life experiences seem like the best way to escape reality. 4 Nero, theself-proclaimed"SantaClaus ofthe subconscious," explains SQUID to aman eagerto understand its effects: "It's Strange Days irected by Kathyn Bielow with Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett At Briarwood and Showcase not like TV but better, it is life." If anyone knows about the power of "playback," it is Nero. He not only enjoys selling the dangerous product, but he also relies on it to create his own warped reality. Besides blurring his fantasies with reality, Nero lives vicariously through the actions of others. Whether they include sex or vio- lence, he considers the clips relatively risk-free comparedto doingthe real thing. Alone in his gloomy apartment, Nero gets his fix by viewing his collection of clips featuring his ex-lover, Faith Justin (Juliette Lewis). Obsessed with Faith, Nero sets out to win her back. Despite the infectious hedonism of life on the fringe, Nero ironically proves to be a hopeless romantic. No one realizes this better than Max (Tom Sizemore), his consoling best friend. Yet no matter how cruelly Faith spews out rejection and disgust, Nero keeps coming back for more. Enter Lornette "Mace" Mason (An- gela Bassett), Nero's trusted confidante and limo driver. Without her strong presence and secure moral footing, Nero would probably lose his mind. When Iris (Brigitte Bako), Faith's best friend is brutally raped and murdered by a playback fiend gone psycho, Nero real- izes that Faith may be next. With Mace at his side, Nero gets closer to the killer and his insane motives. Director Kathryn Bigelow ("Point Break") pre- sents the graphic clips from the killer's point of view, which magnifies the shocking nature of his disturbed mind. As Nero gets tangled up in the love triangles that emerge, Nero never loses sight of Faith, at least until Mace shakes up his soul. After he finally exhausts her patience, Mace tells Nero, "Memo- ries are meant to fade. They were de- signed that way for a reason." Backed by James Cameron's ("True Lies") slick script, Fiennes infuses Nero with enough edgy emotion to make you care about his fate. In addition, scene- stealer Michael Wincott plays Faith's paranoid boyfriend Philo Gant, a man with way too much time on his hands. Lewis milks Faith's scathing anger for all it's worth, especially in her Courtney Love-esque renditions of P.J. Harvey songs. The booming soundtrack gets a bit overwhelming at times, considering the in-your-face, fast pace of the film. While Lewis merely takes on her "Natural Born Killers" look-how- bitchy-I-am-now persona again, Bassett provides a refreshing change by carry- ing a strong black female role. The one- two punch of Fiennes and Bassett sparks one of the film's most triumphant mes- sages. Afterblindly trusting people who he thought cared about him, Nero looks at where the love really resides. His revelation that daydreams cannot re- place real life (better late than never) is a good way to start off the next century. Take a bite out of Jawbreaker and Jawbox If you've been having some jaw problems recently, try checking out Sunday's Jawfest at St. Andrew's Hall with Jawbreaker, Jawbox and Engine 88. This hardcore/punk show will break your jawbonel Gliman Street vets Jawbreaker's first major release "Dear You" hit stores last month with Its hard-hitting potent punk anthems. Songs like "Save Your Generation" and "Jet Black" will have your teeth chattering with glee. Jawbox will be just as biting with their great dissonant D.C. hardcore sound and harsh melodies. Don't miss this Jawbreaking event that Is almost as comy as this preview. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are only $6. I 15th at Liberty 71-9700 4 STUDENT W/LD.$4.75 EVENINGS BARGAIN MATINEES!,!-06p. ALL SCREENS STEREO 1 I HEROES Bring in this ad, and receive one I 1 ~ FREE 20oz DRINK!I SCARLET LETTER with any popcorn purchase a - - -- expires: November 3, 1995 I I Angela Bassett tries out her very realistic Ralph Flennes puppet. TH w The Department of Philosophy The University of Michigan announces iE TANNER LECT HUMAN VAL 19%5-96 Henry Louis G .E.B. DuBois Professor ties Chair of the De Afro-Amer Harvard ENLIGH TE AU: oN BUR GHT Friday, 0 P.M. Ra rium 915 on Street SY' ON THE LECTURE lm--,f6A~ofiafo [.i- - I