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? n f/\ rl >vi n 4 TLMICB Willi ICBM1 for COK m m. . - A Nignt WTg^gThoward Staff Writer The 1981-82 University Theatre season begins with an intense and exhilarating production of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf, a choreo-poem by Ntazake Shange. Playing to .1 full LongstreetTheater, a cast of seven black women leaU the %iudience through a truly lyrical experience expressing a range of emotions. The play is a collection of monologues wound about a central theme. The stories are largely about being women and being black. Sometimes they tell of boundless joy and at other times they lament the difficulties of life, but at all times they reveal a sort of self-love and an inner strength. At any given moment one may find himself during the course of the action and some realizations may be alarming. Director Bette Howard, a black woman from New York, must be given a large portion of credit for the success of this show. Her combination of dance, movement, and song creates an extravaganza of feeling for the audience. Her casting is superb as Cheryl Annette Jeter, Olga K. McLeod, Shirley Mills, Renee Simmons, Rhonda G. Washington, Cynthia Velaquez and Vanessa G. Gordon perform with excellence both as an ensemble and individually. Playing theatre-in-the-round can sometimes be harrowing because of the proximity of the audience, but this cast uses this closeness to their advantage as they play up to it. Audience reaction is a major part in several scenes, and the attention never wavers from the stage. Rpcaiirp of thf> intpnsitv of this nrnHnrtinn it simnlv cannot be recommended for everyone. It has several "heavy" scenes which deal with abortion, prostitution, and total helplessness. The playwright does provide comic _ Alley Col By KATHY LEWIS Bowie's "Suffragette City" Staff Writer with current popular hits (Pat Benetar's "HeartRock 'n' roll is Alley breaker" and Linda ii *<:'s tune, as they proved Ronstadt's "Feel For rti the Golden Spur Wed- Me"), they managed to nesday night. Combining a work quite a bit of variety few older songs like David into their show. They also mHWBMK J Alley Cat performs HMMCTbbmmambwbwemmhl iiiiiiiiihimiiimi an win iimiiii i ? ! i nivu VHI9 r Of Risinq Ei p^^^pjfef^Mi^y JMBBr ^ K. I Bette Howard directs relief when it is needed, however, but her idea of women's self-respect is never lost, even in a hilarious performance Klf D/WIAA TUA A.? ? -i! uji nciicc oiiiiiuuiia. me uaiiaiiiuii limn GlllUUUU IU dllUllUIl is innovative and carried out flawlessly by the cast. This is not a comic look at black life, nor is it a soap-box for women's lib. The play is a look at humanity ai< feeling through the eyes of a black woman, who feels pain and joy just as everyone else does. It is a show bursting witJ hope and love. 1 Looks To Ti performed several of their Parker Conner feels one of own hard-driving songs. their best songs is "Tell Me Why," and their original Hanging on to the '70s work is certainly top-notch, rock beats, Alley Cat Although the crowd was manudoc t n nt/niH Nou/ nn? nnonln " VV V* V *"Vf? IIUl UVtil J llll^il CddlVC 111 Wave while still creating terms of size, the presence new sounds. Guitarist of a film crew from H.B.O. JBB3MbBkw ^ ^Pyglfi pi) ? < | { | tj Hg^^S ^y i||-Sr If I 11 i I I i % #nra rbbhO^^h i^^^^Hn^^iBns m \ us i i l * Jr KM u a j | P. JB HnHft'fl Hn If ffi S | f-w|8? jj^Wj^F^-^jW II ?H hH H> ; at the Golden Spur. I f 'rovides ! notions "For Colored Girls." IT PRESENTS mature situations and emotions, but if one approaches it with an open mind, much can be gained from this wonderful production. Wednesday night's audience obviously received something during the course of the performance, as they returned it to the cast by giving them a standing ovation. Seeing Colored Girls is a well-spent two hours, and the high quality of this show hopefully will be looked forward to with much anticipation. ie Future added a certain amount of bass player James extra pressure. Watkins. Benfield says the band THE COLUMBIA- based prefers an aggressive band is a "part-time" audience; not one that outfit; each member has a mauls the musicians, but davtirne iob and cics are one that gets into the music usually scheduled only on both physically and weekends, although there mentally. are always exceptions (like With the proven talent of the Spur appearance). its members, Alley Cat Having played clubs in hopes to produce original North Carolina, South material with a more Carolina and Georgia, they commercial image. They also ventured last summer feel vocal harmony in the 4 ? iU a M f A n ..a rft?Aiir\ ?o i rnr\f n oka IU IIIC ^dllUKeail IU1 a live- 5iuup lana^ui lain, auu die week tour of U.S.O. shows willing to work for the right for the military there. The image. husband and wife team of ALLEY CAT'S members Parker and Joanie Conner definitely have a collective originated Alley Cat. Other eye for the future and the members of the band are recordings and money drummer Vince Benfield, making concerts they hope guitarist Sid Gattis and lie ahead. Weekend entertainment FRIDAY, SEPT. 25 SATURDAY, SEPT. 26 Thrush at Dundee's, 2701 Rosewood Dr. ($2 cover charge); Wave at Bryan's Warehouse, 1310 Gadsden St. (no cover charge); Killer Whales at Greenstreets, OlfMKI rii'nnno Qf ( 40 pAi;or r?Vi a rein \ fhacoi"1 -WVif \JS M. WI1V/ UV| v yiJ VV/T VJL V11M & O ' ) V/I1UMVA at Zack's, 736F St. Andrew's Road ($2 cover || charge).