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War plays with incoi llheaterl Itiil r-^ _ J * ' i-teview By H. H. CABANISS Staff Writer Tracers and Waiting for the Pa rade, two war plays featuring some of the undergraduate acting talent from the Department of Theatre, Speech and Dance opened this past weekend at Longstreet Theatre. To varying degrees, both plays lack a dynamic, a depth not of energy but of stasis, which manifests itself in consistently overwrought and overplayed moments. In both plays the directors pursue presentational acting styles but at tempi 10 simultaneously indulge in sentimentality, the result being hyperactive but ineffective climactic moments. Waiting for the Parade, by John Murrell, is a tremendous challenge for such a young group of actors. The play is a story of five women , on the Canadian homefront of , World War II over a six year per- | iod. The stilted writing, particularly in expository segments forwarding time, give the actors a se- ' ries of difficult monologues to ^ imagined characters. ' The direction focuses too much on the overall energetic quality of ' the performance, in effect whitew- : ashing the entire production with * that quality at the expense of detail. 1 Margaret's first prayer scene and Catherine's drunk scene illus- i trate the problem. In the first ; scene, one of Mr. Murrell's well- 1 crafted moments is squashed by i the inattention of its internal ( rhythm and Ms. Senter's lack of preparation (here I must elaborate r ? preparation involves in this case t an internal knowledge of very spe- 1 Go out with f each other, name, addrej others. On a first d public place. I Safety yOU pjan t0 ^e that others knc NETWI A CAROLINA C( Auditions 1991 April 20 or 27 ; USC Bs For more informatio * * * * * I COLLEGE GR Put your education to Lawyer's A "The Career ft at The National Center foi Oldest and largest graduate lev? the Southeast Employment assistance - over 1 have hired our graduates 3 month day program with housinj 7 month evening program Diversified Curriculum - specia tions, or Real Estate and Probat the Practice of Law" Meet with our re] Tuesday, April 9 Contact College Placement Of Call or write for a free brochur The National Center for ] 3414 Peachtree Rd, NE j 800-223-2618 In Georgia, Please send me information about a ? Name Address . City State College ?? Yr. C Phone (day) (eve)? np M fljjf ; y% ?v m m < > m M^Mi I 4:1 ' u^H m Mil.? I fl ^Rj&JbI L& 8 fl j tj^^H h : 1 iMl ^r VMMP M| y ^B|^ -Sfl e ^wHig V^| iJr jtfBHfl 1 'traced' nsistency cific images important to the scene, for example clear images ol her sons and her God). In the second, the drunk scene degenerates into sloppy slapstick, and even the one quiet moment taken is affected with gesticulations directly at odds with the moment. The hard work put into this production shows, which is exactly the problem. Every bit of energy and thought put into this production is necessary, but it is only th beginning of the process; eac character must have detailed, ver specific desires and must pursu them; otherwise, as here, there ex ists no momentum to carry the au dience from one moment to th next. Tracers, written by the eight actors who originally performed the play, involves eight men serving ir Vietnam. This is a stronger production in some ways. The scenes involving the entire cast, including the battle and training scenes, are well choreographed and controlled. Although not quite as offensive as it has billed itself, the play does work with subjects of sex and drugs candidly, and there are vivid descriptions of the carnage of battle. This production does have some Df the same problems as Waiting For the Parade including a lack of attention to detail. The director leads the audience inexorably toward some final moment, without stopping to smell the corpses, so to speak. A little patience and less Fear of losing the pace would greatly improve this production. The design team of Beaman, Intemann and Booraem should be applauded for their fine work in X)th shows, in particular Mr. Beanan's creative use of the stage hyIraulics in Tracers. Tracers and Waiting for the Paade run on alternate evenings hrough April 7 at the Longstreet "heatre. riends and keep track of Don't broadcast your >s or plans in front of late, plan to meet in a Let people know where i and let your date know >w. Stick to your plans. Telephone fin If 252-8393 Ullll 24 Hours DQUETTES * Dance Line I it 10:00 am * irids j in call 777-4278 * aduateT work - become a ssistant >r the 90's" Paralegal Training il ABA-approved program in ,000 employers in 38 states g available lize in Litigation, Corporae - including "Computers in preservative i, 9am - 5pm fice for an appointment e and more information. Paralegal Training \tlanta, GA 30326 , caU 404-266-1060 areer as a Lawyer's Assistant Zip jlrad The group ZZ Top (above and below) performed at Carolina Coli K SMI I bbwkiubiW 1-ftnaQ99-ATF>? ^w W ' X JIM I I L *,'. Riverbend Apartments Located 5 minutes from USC *Spacious 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Units 4 BEDROOM *Tennis/Volleyball Courts unit available *2 Swimming Pools for lease on "Laundry Facilities April 6. Only *NiSht Securi(y $600 per month. "Competitive Prices ivu itiveruena Lirive West Columbia Call now 794-2948 RIVERBEND Midlands p An intensive seuenA # Technical rkbbcNTS ^ course to CollGgG prepare you for law school // iW Pt F P " tinuing Education at (803) 732-0432 x \ What ia LawPrep ? t\ <&* \ LawPrep is a breakthrough in legal education. This seven-week \ f X \ course helps to ease the trasition from familiar college teaching (TTt'C \ methods to the sometimes intimidating Socratic method used in al? most all American Bar Association accredited law schools. PpNr ? Who should enroll in this program1 I\ 77te LawFrep program is designed for: ^J Anyone considering or planning to attend law school ? College students who are pre-law majors Paralegals and law firm employees who desire further education MBAs and graduate school students in law-related fields Business people with an interest in the law Dates and Location The LawPrep classes: Monday and Wednesday evenings, June 3-July 17, from 6:30-9:30 pm All classes will be held in the Continuing Education Center on Harbison Campus. Fees The LawPrep program fee includes classroom instruction, textbooks and writing instruction. Cost for entire program is $695. For More Information For additional information on the LawPrep course, call (803) 732-0432 or 1-800-359-PREP. ZZ brings rock home to crowd By ERIC GLENN Staff Writer I hope Holderman didn't mismanage too much money because Carolina Coliseum is in need of a new roof. ZZ Top and their opening act Michelle Malon and Drag the River blew the old one off Saturday night Like a lot of people, I walked into the concert wondering if it would be any good. I was pleasantly surprised at the promoter's choice for a replacement of The Black Crowes, who were fired after criticizing the tour's sponsor, Miller Beer. When it was announced that Michell Malon and Drag the River were ?he replacements, I was skeptical. I had never heard of this group and thought it might have just been a desperate act that got them on the tour. I have never been more wrong in my life. This group played some good rock 'n' roll. The lead singer has a voice the likes of which I haven't heard since my Dad played Janis Joplin. I' Then ZZ took the stage. This is what a rock concert was meant to be. Just two hours of good, solid music. They have a mix of blues and just ass-kickin' rock 'n' roll. TL^.. ?1 I - 1 --1 - .*! -f -t - ' i i ? 1 incy piaycu a guuu seiecuon 01 meir oia wonc ana new songs lTom their album Recycler. | The set was a surprise. It was a junk yard with cranes, magnets and $ even junked cars. About halfway through the concert a crane came ? down and picked up the two guitarists and dropped them in a compac? tor. A few moments later they emerged in two junked cars, which they ? drove around the stage. All this added to the performance. C o o All in all this was a good concert. It showed what a guitarist, a bass ^ player and a drummer can do. Real rock doesn't require a synthesizer and half a string section. These guys have been playing for years, they know what a crowd wants and they know how to give it to them. s Eric Glenn/The Gamecock DON'T CHICKEN OUT. excuses ex)n1 save l ives. moot > does vve are naving a ineme ana ariworK coniesi. entries aue Dy April 8th in the Campus Activities Center Lower Level Russell House. Winner will be announced at the Premier Party on April 11, at 4:30 in the Golden Spur. For further information call 777-5780. Name Phone (#) Address Student (#) Idea: SL-888 ^ #^ampoo/cut/style color (frosting or~ 0 ^ perms highlighting foil or cap) ^ spiral perm waxing | pedicures manicures (tips) A A off complete $r A A off all chemicalS A cut & style (men & women) OoV/vF services -# WALK-INS WELCOME .||00 ' 631 Harden St. J 799-0234 c . Top 10 USC Homecoming Themes: 1. Bert and Ernie Go To USC 2. Generic Homecoming 3. Rappin' Carolina 4. Stop Into Carolina 5. USC: It feels Good 6. Where's the Queen 7. Paradise Under the Carolina Lights 8. Cock-A-Mania 9. Gosh I'm glad I'm Not At Clemson 10. Disco Infermo Got a better idea? USC Homecoming wants to know!