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IJttleW, By Karen Moody Gamecock Staff Writer The lights dimmed iust as I was fumblinc desperatly for a pen. My hands grasped the familiar round shape and I leaned back with a sigh of relief, prepared to enjoy the play ? and enjoy it I did. The play was Workshop Theatre's new production of the Louisa May Alcott classic, r :**i? ti/?? ? jlviiiitr rvuiritzri. The opening scene introduces us to the four March girls. First there is Meg, patiently knitting away and dreaming bashfully of a lovely home and a loving husband. Second, there is Beth, sitting quietly in her corner striving to bring peace to her rambunctious sisters. Then there's Amy, sitting on the window-seat and busily sketching, trying very hard to act grown-up and forget that her nose was cruelly disfigured by sister Jo when Jo dropped her, as a baby, down the coal shuttle. Lastly, there is Jo, always moving, full of energy and desperately trying to cling to her tom boy childhood. The play moves on from this opening scene, introducing the rest of the characters very quickly. Unfortunately, for anyone who has read the book Little Women, the play alters the sequence of events. For example, mention is made in the play of Laurie shortly after Meg and Jo recieved an invitation to the gardener's party. While in the book, the March girls didn't even meet Laurie until the gardener's party. However, it is impossible to expect a play to be able to follow explicitly a book of some 800 pages. The quickness with which we are introHnrpH tn thu? rharartpr*; upfv; ?i? in volved right away. One instantly wants to learn more about these people, and this desire is quickly granted. All of the performers in this play are excellent, however, as in most really good plays, there are some outstanding actors. Milena Herring as Jo is very good. From the very first line, she captures the character of Jo, and she keeps her. She has you believing that she truly is Jo. Shp is also a nrofpssional and I mean this as the highest praise. Miss Herring made a few mistakes at the beginning of the play, but she kept going, and, when at one point wmmmmmm Wonder celebrates the 'sec omen9fe she remarked on one of her mistakes, made the remark as Jo. Not once did break character. The bieeest surorise to mp nprsonallv to find the name of Bill Mould, directc the South Carolina College and a profe of French here at the university, listen the program as Professor Bhaer. Mould was absolutely great as the somewhat absentminded Gerr , professor, who is deeply in love with Jo afraid to show it. He has the character d pai, complete wun an extremely convm German accent and continental F clicking. Mould as Professor Bhaer really priceless, at times tender, sad, wistful, and at others exurberantly ha] but always warmly human. The best actor, however, was Holmes, Jr. as Laurie. Mr. Holmes trayed Laurie as a young man in s pants, as well as a young man proposin his wife, with great believability. He superb. The delivery of his lines was alv different, yet always just right. He Laurie as I'd always pictured him ? i yet sensitive and always eager to help. The character of Laurie has a great m of the comedy lines in the play, and Hoi delivers them right on time. Yet, he is ; to act seriously as well. One of the scenes in the play is Jo's rejection of La as a husband. Herring and Holmes compliment e other's acting beautifully. Holmes mana to capture Laurie's feelings of hurt anger without falling into the trap overacting, Herring plays off his respor perfectly. She is understanding vet willing to let Laurie have the luxer> wallowing in self-pity. There was one other scene that 1 fo particularily good ? Beth's death sc< The acting in this scene was convincing, the lighting was what made it so effectiv< f As Beth talked about life and the surel her approaching death, the lights got sc and darker. Finally, only one light was a C rv/\f oU/\tnrt D/\iU I tvi C* opvi iUUl OI1WW1I Ull CV-IIJ WII UUIII. 11 ill her face radiant as she spoke about God her life. When she finally left the st; going to her room to die, the lights nc jj? P|B| There's a contempora: taking CHA1 a revelation your favorit K last few yea 8ot them far 3 Foreigner sound, neith Styx and Ka riuueu uugu ^ar8a>n bins filled with s r?ck I've ev *.Mr J version of th Now, for r megastars i ^8^ *or ^ie ^rst Beatles cha like(* them around with production I the Eagles a UII^ will/ iur\* Wonder h respected g probably fc power by no out. But nc career on ti Journey Thr :ret ' fe' matures < she she was >r of ssnr i on shy, nan but own cing ^|ggg leel- M' was EjgSfM and Jim nKwIa was jfov ->x\Jlk y ach iges and of ises not r ?f B|s|Spipltt und ?ne. but Thf* n 1 v y ? K ly of quite regained their former bri >fter was a beautiful scene, and very rr left, Little Women is a thoroughly lade play. Bette Herring directs her and great skill. All of the acting was age, the set was good, and the costi ;ver magnificent. tevie Wonck on 'Secret L By Steve Prazak Gamecock Staff Writer wonderful thing happening to some o ry music's popular artists: they an SICES! If that doesn't seem to be much o to you, take a look around and see wha e bands and artists have been doing thes< rs. The answer: the same old thing tha nous in the first place. will never change from their successful er will the Atlanta Rhythm Section. Botl insas know that if they drop their cliche is progressive sounds, they'll be in th< ; in no time. ELO's first five albums wen iome of the most inventive and tastefu er heard. Now they're just a lame duel eir former selves. easons unbeknownst to me, some of thes< ire wavering from their standard style: time since the Beatles. Remember, th< nged and developed constantly and w< just fine. Fleetwood Mac are playinj some different sounding tunes and nev :echniques. Those laid back L A. types ire also molding some new ideas. But th< is the cake has got to be Stevie Wonder. las been labelled everything from th od of the music industry to a genius. H iels that he has accumulated enougi w to put out whatever he feels like puttin; >w Stevie Wonder is putting his entir 10 linf* via n ni>w Hnuhlp alhnm paIIpH , ough the Secret Life of Plants. I i IP V-SI I a&^aB iiy ** m ?T *f v ^^^^gag0pK' ast of Workshop's 'Little Women' gnmess. n ine play will be held over loving. formances will be at 7:30 on enjoyable 7:30 on Dec. 8, and at 3 on I> cast with evening curtain was cho< very good, children could come to the pi imes were urge anyone who enjoys good Little Women, or likes both, to ;r takes char ife of Plants' Practically all vestiges of disco and s< gone. In their place are instrumentals lush that they resemble a rain iungle. that one hears music that is so vivid th f conjures up visual images. The Secret 1 J is an album to be seen and heard. f t Wonder hasn't completely abandoned 3 though. His current single, "Send One Y t unfortunately along his previously timental lines, sporting a rather predict The disco influenced stuff here m? familiar beat and some electronics, bu 1 un-disco melody line featuring all kin i instrumentation. ? The pressing of Secret Life is rather 1 mnct Mntnu/n rplpacpc arp A rasspflp v 1 be a better choice. However, the cass< c give you the chance to see the superb gr album jacket. If the album's artwork do you, then maybe the flower scented insid 3 If you've already bought the Secret J s and like it, there are a couple of oth< i utilize similar musical ideas and insl ; One of them is Popol Vuh who are a ( v whose records can only be found at stoi imports. Jade Warrior is another incarnation intarnolinn Tkio n_:i' l i niv^k voimg. i ma iyvu-iiuiii DrillMl tJii extraordinarily wide variety of music tj e national heritage of numerous countries e h I hope this review doesn't scare yoi g think that The Secret Life of Plants is o a * ^ iciuainouic aiuums ui nit; year an \ deserves your attention. C'mon kids, s never hurt anyone, now did it? ing Dec. 7-9. PerDec. 7, 3 and ec. 9. The 7:30 >sen so that lay. I strongly theatre, loved see this play. ice ml music are so thick and It isn't often at it actually Afe of Plants his old sound our Love," is overtly senable melody, lintains that t with a very ds of unique shoddy, like ersion would ?tte wouldn't anhif??s nn thp esn't intrigue le will. Life of Plants ?r bands that trumentation. jJerman band res that stock you may find ind plays an aken from the i away, but I no of thp most d one which i little culture