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Trustus' 'Talk R; given five star ra By TOJO Dai/ Assistant features editor il V? W What makes a talk show? The host, of course. And what makes a talkshow host a hot item? ip Repugnance, rudeness and offense. ?^ IT The more of these qualities a talk /gfeP I show host has, the better the ratings. (fc Talk Radio, written by Eric Bogosian and now playing at Trustus theatre, i i U^r ?*ves Pu^^c an inside-the-mind view of just such a person. "Night Line with Barry Champlain" is a local talk show at a Cincinnati radio station. The play opens on the eve nf the show's national dehnt Rarrv Chamnlain played by Doug Williams, is a man totally immersed in his own ego. His advice is accepted with utter blind faith by his audience and he shows his appreciation by berating, belittling and even hanging up on many callers. All the characters, both on and off stage, were exceptional. The callers were all realistic and the actors were obviously in touch with the script. Though there was relatively no action on the stage, the dialogue provided all the color and vibrancy that any running, jumping or dancing could muster. The audience members were held captive on the edge of their seats as they followed the serrated-tongue-wielding Champlain through phone call after phone call, abuse after abuse. Brian Riley, Trustus' technical director, developed an effective radio station set. The lighting and sound cues were skillfully executed, creating a trouble-free acting environment. The off-stage phone callers created definitive personas with every different character portrayed ? no small feat considering that each cast member had to give life to as manv as six or seven senarate entities. There has been a recent rise in the popularity of pudknocker know-it-all mudslingers in our country. Was it the election? Perhaps the lack of ozone is at fault. Or maybe it's the Geraldo Donletterney Jr. show. Where does the popularity come from in a game that the object is to take whatever makes a person happy ? be it religion, chemicals or coagulants ? and twist it until it makes him unhappy? Has there been a decline in morals, or has there perhaps been an actual rise in consciousness, making such insipid talk shows seem only more so? Who is to say? I am only glad that plays such as Talk Radio exist. Talk Radio is a well-written, realistic comic drama. It masks potent social commentary in light comedy that is easy to sit through. The show did not drag at all, and I was in fact quite surprised at how the time flew by. If you can scrape up the dough, go see Trustus' Talk Radio. Tickets are $5 and $10 on weekdays, $6.25 and $12.50 on weekends. Call 254-9732 for information and reservations. fi Chamber orchestra s< ogens with Bach, Dv From staff reports conduct the orches T T"? LO T\ l-O T1 TTCC f likc nacn: L/vuraK.: inc uol periuriu wiui com Chamber Orchestra, which consists Rudge in the "Cc of student musicians, kicks off its Violins." season tonight with selections from "This should be these composers' works. The con- evening," Portnoy cert, which is free and open to the selections are two ol public, will be at 8 p.m. at Ebenezer of his works, and t Lutheran Church, located on the cor- of the most gloriou ner of Richland and Sumter streets. ever written." The orchestra will perform Bach's The USC Chamb "Brandenburg Concerto No. 3" and received much critic "Concerto for Two Violins" and state. Dvorak's "Serenade in E Major." For more inforn Music professor Donald Portnoy will concert, call 777-42 klnkot the copy cer USE KINKO'S IN THE RUSSELL H.OUSE 9AM - 5PM Weekday Coupon Half Price Copies with this coupon Tuesday thru Thursday at Russell House Kinko's Only L - FAST & CONVENIENT FOR STUDENTS A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A d :$2o 2 "Immediate Cash 2 $20 With This Ceu T New donors or any donors that haven't ( % in 30 days can earn $20.00 on first dona appointment necessary, but processing is fastei 9 Columbia Plasma Centei 1916 Tayor Street |$20 254 6683 or 254 6684 adio' I Queen Ida & Bon T tmg Zydeco rhy I0W By DONNIE CORNELL Staff writer Queen Ida and her six-piece J . backup, the Bon Temps Zydeco Band, performed an enjoyable blend of cajun, blues and jazz referred to as ! "zydeco" that kept the audience moving from beginning to end Thursday night at the Carolina Coliseum. Zydeco, created by the cajun community, is upbeat and danceable. Queen Ida, armed with an accordion and a strong, rich voice, did it justice. Not long after the show began, the audience was clapping and stomping to the zydeco rhythms. A third of the way through the performance, a few brave people ventured onto the floors beside the stage to dance. It wasn't long before the floors were filled with dancers young and old. "I didn't know you could do that kind of thing with an accordion," junior David Chandler said of the performance. The Bon Temps Zydeco band, consisting of guitar, accordion, bass, fiddle, drums and washboard, strongly complimented Queen Ida. Hej son was the accompanying accordion player, and her brother "Chilly Willie" played the washboard, an instrument characteristic of the AfroAmerican blues. Fiddle solos added a touch of bluegrass while the electric t guitar added a touch of blues rock. Their whole zydeco sound rested on a smooth rhythm section. 'Nutcracker jason CwMa orak * J | tra and also will ( ^ ^ :ertmaster David mcerto for Two : a very exciting l said. "The Bach \ I the most famous 1 he Dvorak is one 1 [ s romantic pieces \ I >er Orchestra has :al acclaim in the lation about the 80. ? TIGERB1 Thursday, N< , 7:15! Pep Rally Begins < in front of Ri sponsored by P Alpha Chi Omega, Paid for, in part, by Si 60A? fi | Come O "FEEL TH pon.J donated f ition. No 0 r with one. Don't F about the Carolina/Cl Tuesday, Wednesday, a week Russell H ' SM{ emps Band thm keeps en J J f" ^^bS^hBk fi | s HK 1 B I W M J I I- 1 ^mp jjk |^hK| i ras jj^B ^Hf mm ? 1 1 MM j / I Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zyde< cert was part of CPU's Cultural Series Queen Ida has been a several-time Grammy nominee and has made appearances on Saturday Night Live, Music Television and at the Monterey Jazz Festival. She has ' to open a By SUSAN NESBITT Features editor A traditional holiday treat comes a bit early this year when The Nutcracker, presented by Ann Brodie's Carolina Ballet, opens at The Township Saturday. Performances will feature the Columbia Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by U$C pusic professor Donald Portnoy. Tickets to the show, which begins at 8 p.m. Saturday and will be performed again at 3 p.m. Sunday, are on sale at the Columbia Music Festival Association. Admission is $12.50 for adults, $6.50 for students. Any remaining tickets will be available at The Township one hour before the performance. Call the CMFA at 771-6303 for more information. The Township has much more in store for the rest of this month. Un Nov. 21, the World wrestling Federation presents Superstars of URN'88 Dvember 17 3m Dn Greene Street issell House hi Kappa Psi, and WYYS-FM. tudent Activity Fees. n Out & [E HEAT" 7or get emson Blood Drive & Thursday of this ouse Ballroom idience moving all night ^j- 1 - / LIBBY RUCKER/The Gamecock co Band set toes tapping in the Carolina Coliseum Thursday night. The con. The next show in the series is to take place February in the Koger Center;. several records on the market and her f.... 7"1 own cookbook. cultural series i The performance was sponsored \ by the Carolina Program Union as part of the 1988-89 Cultural Series. t Township Saturday Wrestling, featuring Randy "Macho 777-4280 for information. Man" Savage and Andre the Giant. You've read this far; here's the Call The Township's box office at reward. UB40 will perform at The 252-6530 and watch The Gamecock Township Nov. 30. Information for more information about this about time and ticket prices is not yet event. available. Watch The Gamecock for On Nov. 22, the S.C. Philhar- updates, monic Orchestra will perform, conducted by Einar Anderson and featuring pianist Jonathon pason. Contact the SCPO at 771-7937 for more information. Nov. 25 brings a concert by Lit- Y tie Feat, produced by Cellar Door. John Kilzer will open the show. Tickets are on sale at The Township V box office, Taylor Street Pharmacy \ v T and all usual Township outlets. Call \\ f 252-6530 for information. Jt 1 On Nov. 28, the Chamber I Theatre will give a special morning I 1 performance for students. Call (/ IX \ 1 -800-225-7988 for more J j\ information. J j 1 On Nov. 29, the USC Sym- ?\ phony Orchestra will perform. Call OPEN DOOR j Health and Wellness Programs nrpcpnts f? Indoor Fun and Fitness Wednesday, November 16, 1988 Time: 10:30 to 2:30 pm I i Place: Green Street Drawings: 1 - Wind Trainer - Retail Value $70 Donated by: Tri-City Bicycle Center 2 - T-shirts Information on: wind trainers, aerobics, and other alternative exercises will be available. -Percent body tat measurements conducted Also: Get Your Great American Smoke-out survival kit here! ?