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Stage desi CURT AIX CAIJ.t Theater Rvvivir AMY SHANNON Features Editor FRANKENSTEIN OOP (out of five) Four gargoyle heads silently stared into the audience. Almost every seat in Drayton Hall was filled as the crowd waited for Theatre USC's Franken' yp. stein to begin. The opening scene flooded the audience with complete darkness before revealing a single shaft of light. Eveiyone's attention was drawn to the stage. The play began, the actors and actresses were introduced and the storyline unfolded as planned. But the part of the performance that stood i. i.1 i j:li i. j? j uut me must was uie mui euiuie set uesigii anu scenery. Creatively painted and constructed, each set was a presentation in itself. From the graveyard to the parlor room, the scenes were realistic and visually engaging. The costumes complemented the scenery and fit in with the time period of the 19th century. "Frankenstein achieves a technical level not often seen in our productions," faculty lighting designer Jim Hunter said. "From the machinery in Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory to pyrotechnics to the atmosphere that envelopes you as soon as you enter the theater." By far the most imaginative and interesting set was Frankenstein's laboratory. Heavy chains and hooks hung from the ceiling. Scientific instruments and gadgets were scattered around the room. In the middle of the laboratory, the operating table was surrounded by dozens of flasks and beakers, each filled with colorful bubbling liquids. Purple, orange, amber and yellow concoctions endlessly boiled inside their containers. It couldn't have been closer to the image that springs to mind when you think of a mad scien-x tist's laboratory. But the actual plot of the story might not be what you were expecting. "This is a very different Frankenstein," director Jim O'Connor said. "There will be no electric bolts sticking out of his neck. In fact, he's a very human creature who can't understand why people are so frightened of him and find him so ugly. "Everyone forgets that Frankenstein is the rv name of the doctor, while the creature is never ) ^ given a name," he said. it's not patterned alter tne classic DiacK ana white Frankenstein movie. Although some similarities can be found between the old Hollywood film versions and Theatre USC's interpretation, the play more closely follows the novel written by Mary Shelley in 1818. MMffMaEffllB Poignam, prcrfouod and po??rful. II* awcamoc " h> U?l MUdaWkM, ucn> MK n -amunvE rwoaiwces..a mnk, dramatic. oft i parfrcthr controllad norlc Hoffman ami Cruiar act up a mono. -am .tBDataaaa-w-fa OF THE YEAJt'S BEST. OuMin IktBan i performance Marata^utthrouthr mtt.>rv.?uti<r " ^ Come see what 01 zz~ student organize, ^ ^ have to offer y, m ? 9 For information call 1', 1 or stop by the Campus Activities C Sponsored by the Department qfStuder Division of Student & Alumni Servi * . S v; m ' >< 1 Ign enhanc Both the novel and the play question what I it means to be alive, to create life and to be a hu- I man being. Both works ask humans what right we have in claiming ourselves as "Creators," a question that remains contemporary in this age of genetic engineering and cloning. But in the theater version, there are several adaptations from the original text which keep >' VW the story moving from one scene to the next and help tie the plot together. One aspect of Shelley's Frankenstein that stays the same in the USC production is the cast of characters. Victor Frankenstein, played by graduate student William Kwapy, is portrayed as the selfish and self-centered person he was intended to be. Kwapy shows the audience Frankenstein's cowardliness in confronting his Creature and attempting to deny all responsibility. Truly in love with Frankenstein, despite his ^;; ;|| many faults, is his fiancee. Played by junior Land- ' 't say Wray, the fiancee seems genuinely concerned ^ for Frankenstein throughout the performance and supports Kwapy well. As Frankenstein's best friend, graduate stu- v m dent Walter Brandes takes on the role of Hen- > ry Clerval. Brandes personifies the essential rg friend who is alternately the voice of reason, the 8 easily persuaded, the eager side kick and the element of humor (remember the wall in A Midsummer Night's Dream). Frankenstein and Clerval team up to ere- I ate the Creature, played by senior Mike Colter. I Colter fits the role perfectly with his deep voice, height and toned physique. His "learning to walk" I scene is justifiably tedious. No one learns to walk j and talk in iust three minutes. As the Creature's only true friend, senior jjgj Matt Engle quite convincingly portrays a blind |||g cripple. If s hard to tell if he really is lame or not, > and his untimely death is a definite tragedy, ffl Rounding out the 12-member cast are two grave diggers played by senior Joshua Garden- ^ > v* er and junior Dwayne Spence, the dutiful nanny/servant played by junior Amy Dietz, and Frau * jr Muller played by graduate student Ellen Rosenberg. Professors Hunter Boyle and Richard Jennings also appear in the performance, as well as seventh grader Brendan Smith. Overall, the play flows along at a nice pace. ??? Scene transitions are smooth and quick. Although the performance wasn't superb, it T^e j was certainly an applaudable effort. If s definitely pjctuI worth seeing, especially if you're familiar with ^ gli Shelley's novel. ^ Audience reaction was mixed. Some gave _ the drama a standing ovation while others left omce the theater with unsatisfied looks on their faces, hour 1 Frankenstein runs through Sept. 28 in Dray- T ton Hall. Curtain times are 8 p.m. Tuesday <j,g o through Saturday and 3 p.m. Sundays. stude: ^ w Min. Age 18 Yean Wide Range of Cars, Ti Daily, Weekly & Monthl I i I nm rree Local ricK-up a l JL1119 I ?Competitive Low Rate; Week... 3^^ Wed.- Lfr] Thurs. |? Sept. Q 24-25 O mm Ob ipr 4 itions , tj out Becomi r^l ANDEA Who Needs Plasm Hemophiliacs, bu patients are peop plasma of donors Find out how yo W-j/ou li Professional mei Hours 8:30-6:3C enter. be a plasma d< ? ^ life is everyb CCS (803) 254-2 nwzmnim n ETC. es 'Frank? II I < m % II ? ;M 1 s f'l i Si I ifi ^111 y?^Wm . * fa-A IL - - ' '_"_ rrjmBpi- n A^f vg?. HHHBZil^HHP^' B ^Bii;;:,. ^Kll J[ ?^H < fe ^^^B^^^^aPBBaBB|BM||^^jsBWIBi^^r <&?& -;< * l|f|jfji| Jb9U? ^ ' iiwMMWr?H^Bp III) IJ?WW?" " ?? ?? ?<??l>?? H'^ ??"'ll ?"??' Ml Frankenstein household toasts happier moments I ed (left to right) are: Hunter Boyle as Lionel, Willii Eabeth and Amy Dietz as Justine. ickets are available at the Longstreet box The r from noon to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and one Approach - ,, , be the con >efore the show. ? , Dreher. icket prices are $10 for the general public, qu y senior citizens, faculty and staff and $6 for Oct. 26 at ] ats. Call 777-2551 for more information, able at the ANY 3 DAY RENTAL mmt f Sunset Blud. 739-2770 s No Credit Cards Needed rucks and Vans But Major Credit Cards Accepted y Rentals cash Rentals Welcome >elivery Over 400 Locations Worldwide 5 fjlM.1l * "* I riiUlAL, !ONUS ! b A Plasma Donor RN UP TO $165 PER MONTH a? rn victims, transplant and cardiovascular le who receive products made from the like you. u can earn an extra $1000 this month, iical facility and staff for your safety. IM-F 3NOR...BECAUSE ODY'S BUSINESS IN A 13 j ? ~Tho Ojally Souce BioMedical Center 280 215 Assembly St Columbia SC 29201 L131CJL11 I 111* II: :: l! | * / j j| .jjt |.jtMi&this*1S| t fis ^K*:* ;*J|| Hybrid! > :':- ^^111 wF ' H ^ M 9L *# ^ jfl V : : s-sSgjajML |fc J ifiiili I'Tiim T""'ir lit i "it ii -i "in SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK >efore the birth of the Creature. Eun Kwapy as Victor, Lindsay Wray iext production in Theatre USC's ing the New Millennium" series will ledy On The Verge, directed by Ann he Verge will run from Oct. 17 through Longstreet Theatre. Tickets are availi Longstreet box office. Under This Schol; Tired of hearing about all the : bachelor's degree? The Go] rising sophomores and junior mathematics, or engineering those fields and pursue a a teaching. 1997 Goldwater Wednesday, Sej Gresi For more information, call # Come and Ani Con You are cordia an information Date: Sept Tune: 5:00 PM7:00PM -9:00 Location:C If you have an contact Ki at (80C We looi seeing ? a Site of the Day igglM CONCERT CALENDAR Jeb Loy Nichols, TBA, Sept. ' 27, Manifest Discs and Tapes Steve Wynn, TBA, Oct. 1, Elbow Room The Rolling Stones w/ Blues Traveler, TBA, Oct. 10, Ericsson Stadium (Charlotte, NC) Hanzel und Gretyl w/ Sister Machine Gun, TBA, Oct. 11, Rockafellas Rotia or/ Rrnnlrs A Dunn, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 16, Carolina Coliseum Fleetwood Mac, TBA, Nov. 14, Charlotte Coliseum (Charlotte, NC) ETC. BRIEFS < Red Cross offers disaster courses The South Carolina chapter of the American Red Cross will hold disaster courses during the month of Sept. The next one is Local Disaster Volunteer. The class is scheduled for Wed. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Classes are free and open to the public. Call 540-1215 for more information. State Fair enters its 128th year The State Fair has something for everyone from bands to racing pigs. It will be held at the fairgrounds from Oct. 2 through the 12th. Governor's Cup held in Columbia You can run where the Olympians run. The 25th Annual Governor's Cup 8K and half-marathon is set for Oct. 18. The race starts in front of the State House and ends in the Horseshoe. Stop by the student life lobby to pick up a registration form. graduates: irships tor You! money available only after you get your Idwater Scholarship offers $7,000 for s pursuing degrees in natural sciences, who plan to earn a graduate degree in ireer in research and/or college-level Scholarship Workshop ptember 24, 3:30 PM. sette Room the Fellowships Office at 777-0958. m flore a career with DERSEN SULTING lly invited to attend i session to be held: ember29,1997 7:00 PM Undergrads *M Graduate Students apital City Club y questions, please m Leatherman )) 776-6411 k forward to you there! iiness attire flSjjKSSt -W