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M presents J Second US play full o staff writer MARTHA WRIGHT Fans of USC's Theater South Carolina can purchase tickets to this season's second production, "Our Country's Good," which opens Friday at Drayton Hall. "Our Country's Good" promises to be, well, good. The play, a six-time Tony award nominee and Olivier award recipient, is the story of a group of British convicts imprisoned in an Australian penal colony. The convicts are under the leadership of Lt. Ralph Clark, a young officer who wants to stage the performance as a celebration of King George DTs birthday. Ben Fitch, a Master of Fine Arts student, will play the maverick officer who encourages the prisoners to transcend the limits of their physical captivity and embrace the high art of theater. "Our Country's Good" also brings other questions into the stage lights: How can national unity be achieved with diverse populations? Should criminals be rehabilitated or merely incar Victor Dean, LaShawn Banks, Ther Ben Fitch perform in "Our Country Yo\j aro mvifcd +< and TVw T1or, rrwe from Silver 1 Ksfi CONTACT LENS C NOV?M5?K 1: We offer eomrehenSi lenses ac eonreniently loeafe< Oaro\\na MaII111 35% OFF ?oinp|< KWGW WEDNESDAY * N0V18* DOORS 6:30*SHOW 7:30 ?? THEIR ffl/Jf A HARD AS I J C Theater f promise cerated? Are convicts and captors really kindred spirits? USC vocal coach Erica Tobolsk! and movement coach Sarah Barker have worked with MFA students on the special challenges of the production. The script requires the performers to master a variety of different dialects and accents. The actors, MFA and undergraduate students at USC, are directed by Robert Richmond of the Aquila Theatre of London. MFA costume design student Rebecca Dosen designed the costumes and distressed them to accurately portray wear-and-tear from the wilderness. Dramaturg Terry Donovan Smith researched 18th-century acting techniques, military drill and slang from the era to enhance the realism. "Our Country's Good" will run from Nov. 13 to 22. Shows are anticipated to sell out, a sequel to the success of the season's first play, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Curtain times are 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sundays at Drayton Hall. ... ? ' ' ' SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK esa "Jack" Baker, Alicia Atkins and 's Good." o o\jy~ Opc-n ttovSo ifc Show At A Pe-an (Pv'mby dollar Optical :linic/eye care 2 f?DN\ lO-t /e- CMO warn*;, oontaof \d cda^ct/* J or\ oampi/S m the fcy$te>ll h'O\J<& V5(o^ Ac> paiK of c^co; DRIVE FASTER ^ r .a. 9 BI-LO CENTER GRETLLE* ww^ejlaraoo^o^^^^^^^^^^w^pnisFcom^ **$&%!* miR?HGlNE$ :nc Unbent Elbow I staff writer RICKY DELEON There are distinctive differences be tween a band's sound on a tape or CI and the sound they make live. With th Tinbenders, there is a more powerfu simply contagious feeling that can b summed up by only one phrase: Tin bender fever. When we arrived at the Elbo\ Room, my friend and I took a quick sin vey of the small club. The club play host to video poker and pool tables, a well as the requisite bar, stage and sma dance floor. After a trip to two, single spaced restrooms, we made our way t a recently vacated table. Sitting dowr we noticed many things. For starters there were two larger restrooms by th bar. We obviously used the sardine ca restrooms for no reason. We noticed the lack of live music as in the absence of an opening banc The Murmurs, who were slated to b the opening band, were a no show fc unknown reasons. I have previously had the great plec sure of meeting lead singer Rick Hoc and drummer/backup vocalist Jon Ivei Both are great guys, and both were ei LIGHTS! CAMERA REACTION! staff writer EMILIE GREENE LIVING OUT LOUD (out of five stars) Holly Hunter, Danny DeVito ai Queen Latifah certainly sound like i unlikely threesome to star together a film. However, "Living Out Loud" an effective story of an unhappy, u per-class divorcee (Hunter) and tl improbable acquaintances which ull : mately change her life. The beginning of "Living Out Lou is disjointed, but interesting, prima ml 7 r i i 11 ym IW^AaatwrtourgOO per roam savtigsly Ml JKBSS^ 15 ^GAMnr^BP^AlJSB KAT R^fc' TUES Gattlo PAY World's l-iracsf Selection of frozen Pamir'iS Shop Now! Fabulous s< cocktail and eveninc S/jawfs, ?ays, a/7(/y eweJ DfVfHl If Hilt BOUTIO Bridal, Children's & Wome Mon.-Fri. 10am-7pm, Sat. 10am-6pm, Sui QUE lers fan tc loom exp thusiastic about the mounting success i of their project. : Before the show started, I was in troduced to lead guitarist and backup ' ? vocalist Johnny Drake. Although he 1 ' didn't say much, it was evident that he was also excited about the immense success awaiting the group. Within the growing crowd stood the backbone of the Tinbenders. Socializ- ! s ing among one another were family, s friends, associates and complete 1] strangers, but despite their relationships with the band, everyone was a o fan. Whether for one song or the com- 1 i? plete CD, everyone was supportive and 3, eager to hear the Tinbenders live. And e then the wait was over. | n Beginning with a powerful drum intro by Ives, each band member made % his way on stage dressed uniformly in ( I- a gas station attendant shirt with "Tin- , e benders" on one side and his name on : ir the other. ! Hearing the Tinbenders perform ig- ( l" nited the crowd into hysteria. Family k members and friends sang along with 3- Hack as others jumped to the music. l" Included in the concert were all the songs on the Tinbenders' new CD and ! ily because of the strength of the act- i ing. Judith (Hunter) is a nurse < whose marriage has just fallen apart; Pat (DeVito) is a divorced ele- i vator operator coping with his daughter's recent death. Queen Latifah is i _ much more of a supporting character 1 than the previews might lead one to < ^ believe, but she is convincing in her ! m small role. hi Holly Hunter is excellent, and her i is acting is so effortless that the audience P* doesn't even realize how significantly ie her character has changed until the ti- end of the movie. DeVito surprisingly i breaks out of his typecast and proves d" he has real dramatic talent. This DeVito is poignant and touching ? not IOXFAI The _ Carrmaian Hunger I *i' Wmmm Begins at USC Call 799-7363 or 779-0212 for more information BS233S9H i/p a o Oio* for your Tailg$fe> Parhj 'OWNTOWN PARK'N'RIPE election of , - iMiffiS . ^jvfe, f n's Wear f m x 1pm-5pm ;,/ ?:< . > ' "? ! ills of eiience eight other songs, promising the possibility of a follow-up CD. After Derformine the seventeenth song of the night, the Tinbenders left the stage, leaving the surging crowd yearning for more. After chants ofTINBEN-DERS!" poured through the Elbow Room, they returned to the stage in Hawaiian shirts. First, they cranked out classics by the Beach Boys and Three Dog Night. The BeeGees' "Stayin' Alive" wrapped up the performance, allowing the Tinbenders to return to the crowd who welcomed them with adoration and congratulations. After the show, I was escorted to the back where I met with the band. Incredibly eager, I enthusiastically shook hands with Hack, Ives and Drake, as well as guitarist and keyboardist Robbie Kelley and bassist Johnny Hancock, who provided bits of comedy onstage between performances. Each band member stayed busy the entire night, spending time with their fans and celebrating the release of their CD. Watch for the Tinbenders to appear live in local cities such as Greenville and Charleston. I strongly recommend attending a show and catching Tinbender Fever. at all the comic we are used to, and the change is refreshing and nowerful. o - ? o X The directing is admirable. Several times during the film we are shown Hunter's character imagining what she would like to have happen, just as the scene cuts to what actually occurred. These fantasies are unobtrusive and telling instead of distracting. Even the voiceovers are fairly necessary. Overall, Hunter and DeVito give fine performances to endearing characters. By and large, this movie is one ' of the more well-done and hopeful movies currently in theaters and should leave a mature audience seeking a mature drama satisfied. I/ICARC Tuesday, Nov HUNGER B/ come and experience Performances by I $3 for students - $5 1 Wednesday, No DAY OF Give up your lunch and that money to Oxfam / to help fight wi SIGN UP at the tables halls this Donations will be acc who don't have INTERFAiTH HUNG CEDVI 12:30-1:00 Rutl , m *tht if|irjpr i .1 m a "Beethoven sonatas with commentary," Ian Hobson, pianist. 7:30 p.m., Nov. 11-12, Roger Center. $12 adults, $7 students for each concert. "Guster w/Train," Nov. 11, Music Farm (Charleston). $5. "Chamberlain," 8 p.m., Nov. 12,27/58 Club (Rosewood Drive). $5 at the door. Doc Severinson and his Big Band, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 17, Roger Center. $22.50 adults, $12.50 students. USC Jazz Combos, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 12, Recital Hall. For ticket information, call (803) 777-4280. "Our Country's Good," by Timberlake Wertenbaker. Nov. 13-22, Theatre USC. For ticket information, call (803) 777-2552. "Vivaldi's Four Seasons," 9:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., Nov. 13, Roger Center. For ticket information, call (803) 777-5636. "South Carolina Trees and Forests," until Dec. 5, South Carolina State Museum. For more information call (803) 898-4917. "Two Traditions in Transition: Folk Potters of Eastern Germany and the Amoriran Srm + Vi on st. " Dpc 13 McKissick Museum. For more information, call (803) 777-7251. SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK >LINA ember 17th ftNQUET the world's reality! Danielle Howie For everyone else tvember 18th FAST Marriott will donate \merica to be used arid hunger. i around the dining week! ;epted from those a meal plan. ER AWARENESS ICE edge Chapel ppr t