Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CONTACT US MTY THEY SAID IT 0, „ I 1/ I I /% DAN RATHER: “A tough lesson in life Stoo- ideas? Questions? Comments? If I I i \ that one has to learn is that not Write us at gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com everybody wishes you well.” A charitable chord Cellist Kathleen Balfe will perform at the School of Music on Saturday at 8 p.m. She will play works by Chopin, Rachmaninov, Bernstein and William Bolcom. photo special to the gamecock Noted cellist, music teachers to visit USC BY ERIC SUTTON THE GAMECOCK The School of Music is playing host to two national conferences this weekend that will showcase the USC String Project. The conferences will offer classes and lectures for the attending teachers and will also feature performances. On Saturday, USC will host award-winning cellist Kathleen Balfe at the School of Music’s Recital Hall, room 206. She will perform works by Chopin, Rachmaninov, Bernstein and William Bolcom heeinnine atfinm This appearance by Balfe is synchronized with the national meeting of the American String Teachers Association and is presented in conjunction with the National School Orchestra Association. USC’s Dr. Robert Jesselson is the president of the ASTA, the group responsible for establishing the National String Project Consortium. The consortium is a coalition of 24 universities . aiming to garner a higher quality and higher number of string teachers for grades K-12. USC is one of two American schools chosen in the project’s maiden year to serve as a model for how to go about fostering better teachers. The National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the Knight Foundation, funded the project with a $1.5 million grant. According to the ASTA, the goal of the National String Project is to address and aid the shortage of string teachers. Dr. Robert Gillespie reported an increase in the number of string students by 79 percent between 1991 and 1995 without a comparable increase in teachers. The project aims to draw more string players into teaching, and one method of doing this is to provide financial awards in the way of assistantships to undergraduate string education students. The project also allows for children to study with undergraduates. The USC String Project is in its 27th year and serves as a model for the entire country. Currently, there are 30 undergraduates teaching about 360 children. The idea is twofold. First, it gives children an opportunity to grow under the tutelage of more experienced players. Second, it gives the undergraduates experience in teaching. The USC String Project encompasses three heterogeneous beginning classes, small homogeneous second-year classes, private lessons, chamber music, theory classes and a Suzuki program. The children in the program start in third grade and can stay until the 12th. They must, however, play in their own schools’ programs and play in the Youth Orchestras. One of the most important advantages of the project is the low fee participants have to pay. Thus, the USC String Project helps a large number of poor and minority students. Undergraduates in the project study the ♦ CELLO, SEE PAGE 7 MOVIE REVIEW This British ‘whodunit ’ does it right Natasha Wightman, top left, Tom Hollander, top right, Bob Jalaban, bottom left, and Jeremy Northam, bottom right, star In tobert Altman’s “Gosford Park,” a USA Films release, photo 10URTESY OF KRT CAMPUS 'GOSFORD PARK" Starring Michael Gambon, Jeremy Northam, Bob Balaban *■★★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ 3Y TUG BAKER 'HE (iAMECOCK It’s unusual to find a film hat’s actually intellectually :hallenging. Most of the time, >eople watch movies as a form of sscapism in which massive brain activity is neither required nor desired. Some moviegoers, however, want to see a film with more meat on its bones - a film that’s challenging, not because it’s pretentious or artsy, but because it’s a true cerebral experience everyone can understand and enjoy if they put their mind to it. This begs the question, what would be the perfect formula for such a movie? A typical “whodunit” murder mystery would be the obvious choice, but there must be something more. The tales of English aristocrats and their strange caste customs have always been something of a puzzle. Combine these two formulas and you have “Gosford Park,” the latest offering from acclaimed director Robert Altman. Altman wrote the book on massive ensemble casts intertwined through a series of complicated plot twists. “Gosford Park” is not an exception, but rather a perfection. Gathering more than 40 different actors (all with relevant speaking parts), Altman takes us to an English country manor in 1932. Sir William (Michael Gambon) and his wife, Lady Sylvia (Kristin Scott Thomas), are throwing a shooting party and have invited their usual array of guests including Countess Trentham (Maggie Smith), the actor Ivor Novello (Jeremy Northam), a movie producer (Bob Balaban), and the list goes on. The guests and their servants are introduced to the audience together. As the tale unfurls, it’s apparent the servants living downstairs and their masters upstairs aren’t as clearly divided as the first glance would make it seem. Throughout the house, there are skeletons in closets, hidden secrets and some bawdy details that are either unknown or simply not discussed. Everyone has something to hide, Altman wrote the book on massive ensemble casts intertwined through a series of complicated plot twists. ‘Gosford Park’ is not an exception, but a perfection. and when a murder is committed at the house, everyone is suspect. Possibly outshining the film itself is its stellar ensemble cast, composed mainly of lauded British actors. Kelly MacDonald accomplishes the nearly impossible task of playing Mary, a servant whom the audience follows through these complicated new surroundings. Other noteworthy performances are provided by Ryan Phillippe, Stephen Fry, Alan Bates, Clive ■f Owen, Emily Watson and Helen Mirren. The performance that seems to be drawing the most attention is Maggie Smith’s portrayal of the Countess Trenthom, whose snide comments and snobbery know no bounds. While it’s -i impossible to say that anyone is the star of this picture, Smith undoubtedly shines the brightest. This is Altman’s best film since 1992’s “The Player.” There’s nothing wrong with the film. Everything was done correctly, top to bottom, upstairs to downstairs. If you’re in the mood for a movie that challenges and entertains, make your way to “Gosford Park.” “Gosford Park” Golden Globe Nominations Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy Best Director Robert Altman Best Supporting Actress Helen Mirren Maggie Smith Best Screenplay Julian Fellowes Tug Baker is a third-year film studies and marketing student. New cast, same story CARRIE PHILLIPS GAMECOCKMIXEDITOR@HOTMAIL.COM So here we are again, another semester, new classes and, most importantly, a new season of “The Real World.” Yes, once again, MTV throws intolerant, naive and beautiful young people into a house for four months so that the rest of the world can live vicariously through them. Don’t get me wrong, I watch “The Real World.” I appreciate the show for the piece of pop culture that it is, and I will admit to being captivated when MTV shows its marathons. Where else are you going to see real people pick their noses or almost drink themselves to death? mi_j_—_• : 1 UC U1UII Ul U1V uiiuyy lu uo scandal. Our parents had “General Hospital,” and we have “The Real World.” It is our generation’s soap opera, plain and simple, and though the players change, the story basically stays the same. Aneesa is the nudist lesbian who purposely teases poor hormone-laden Theo to the breaking point. He, of course, must pursue her relentlessly in his “player” style that makes him come off like a complete idiot. He went into a bout of gay bashing within minutes of meeting Aneesa and completely put his foot in his mouth. There will be trouble between them, and I don’t just say that because I’ve seen the commercials. There is just too much tension for this situation to remain stable. Chris, the resident gay man, said he wasn’t going to come out of the closet because he doesn’t want to be labeled. He’s afraid, and rightly so, of not being accepted because of his sexuality. MTV picked him to be the resident gay man, however, and I think that he’ll get over it and assume his role. He’s also a recovering alcoholic, and I really hope that he doesn’t fall off the wagon. Kyle is the self-described “all-American white boy.” He looks like a Jamie: rich. smart, handsome and basically a pretty nice guy. He’s not a bag of raging hormones like Theo, but he does have the hots for Keri’s lips (naughty boy, he has a girlfriend). She is ready and willing. She also looks like a sweet little Southern girl, but I just can just see the witch inside of her ready to pop out. The commercials for the show have already proclaimed that Cara will be the house slut. While Theo will bring all kinds of girls home, Cara will probably match him with her conquests. At some point, she is going to make out with some famous rock star, however, she commented on Tonya’s fabulous breasts, so perhaps a drunken lesbian romp in the hot tub is in her luiure: Tonya is the small-town girl with the boyfriend. Tonya, as the commercials indicate, will leave. Or will she? The Windy City is going to take its toll on that girl, and it will be interesting to see how long it takes her to crack under the pressure. MTV hit on something with this show. We will be there every Tuesday night, feeding on our pop culture candy and soaking up the debauchery. But, of course, it’s no fun if you can’t rag on it. Carrie Phillips is a third-year public relations student.