The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 03, 1991, Page 5, Image 5
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
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Diversified Curriculum - specia
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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)?
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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 *
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The group ZZ Top (above and below) performed at Carolina Coli
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Dates and Location
The LawPrep classes: Monday and Wednesday evenings, June 3-July 17, from
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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!