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Show Page C2 THE DAILY HERALD, Gel Away Friday, Pravo, Utah, Friday, January 22. 1999 some of his friends were killed. That made me think about life and what it was PUNK Continued from CI baby-boom- , Only a poser Only a decade ago, Merendino vaunted the spiky hair and thrift store apparel of a true punker. "I was a poser," he said of himself back then. "Like we all were, I think. Like we all are." But this poser was true enough to himself and his causes to create an expose on life in the SLC punk scene. He realizes that he was running a risk with this movie. He didn't want to write a scathing movie about Salt Lake City. Fven though he never felt at home in the land of Zion, he said he doesn't consider Salt Lake City a joke. Instead, Merendino wrote a scathing review about society and kids rebelling against society. "All kids go through youth rebellion," he said. "They need to do that; they vent. In the end, to survive in this world, after they create an identity, they have to move on and be part of society." A Continued from CI about. Like Stevo, Merendino is changing the system from . within, inviting , parents to understand a phase of their children's lives. The director has seven movies to his credit, this being . his biggest. He admitted he didn't think Sundance would take this movie, because they have turned down many of his others. punk first Movies have been made about youth rebelling. "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" are two that come to mind. But this is the first about the mode of rebelling in the Utah punk scene. "There's never been a movie made about that (punk) generation," the director said. "What were they doing? Why were they rebelling? That generation rebelled very similarly to the generation today or the hippies, but it was never given much value. It's a forgotten generation. Those kids went through what everyone else went through. "Kids did stupid things, but everyone does. Kids go through their little things that they've been going through forever," he said. Then they realize they aren't immortal; they won't live forever. For the screenwriter, this realization came when he was studying at a university in Rome. There was a terrorist bombing and machine gunning in the airport, and His father wants him to follow his other footsteps into Harvard Law School. Stevo wants no part of it as he con- Merendino wants those who weren't part of the punk scene, that would be the majority of the audiences, to finally understand and say, "Oh, so that was what that was all about." He wants the audience to realize this rebellion wasn't that weird. He wants them to forget the blue hair, the spikes, the Mohawks and to just see the people underneath their rebellion. Just because they looked very different didn't mean they were going to beat you up and take your money. "I never knew a punk to ever do that," said the Merendino. "They were college kids arguing about different modes of politics. And anarchy was an option to the corrupt system tinues with his parties, fights, drugs and bumming around. Why plan for a future? The punks don't believe one exists anyway. One day the entire world will come to an end, they think. While they wait for the world to end, the punk tribe goes around beating on the tribe, the mods, rockers, posers and especially the As Stevo introduces his tribe of friends to the audience, almost as if it were a home video, he digresses into side stories that flow easily from one to the next. During Stevo and Bob's year of debauchery, both are forced red-nec- k Neo-Nazi- we live in now." The dress and music and punk greeting of f-- you," were all displays of anger at a world that seemed to offer no future. Slam dancing and the senseless fist fights, both in the movie and in the real punk scene, were expressions of aggression about the lack of control over the future, the screenwriter said. Kids today have that feeling, but it's more ambiguous, because the world is more ambiguous. to come to a decision of what to do in life. Heroin Bob, he was given that name because SatuiCri B If sta available, can purchased by calling (S01) 5 or (435) 644333. TCts may also be purchased in person, if available, at two tun., Eptian - 521-252- tzZn theatre; 8:30 p.m.. tfoHey Squcn Tfcwtre. Salt Lake City; tzx 28, 7 p.m.. Pinery f SaltUsheCi - Tickets, VcVt.:, TbnX 6:30 part of it. Lillard and Goorjian give stellar performances as does the supporting cast. The emotion, or lack- thereof, is believable. Even if the audience disagrees with what Stevo and Bob do, they won't be able to remain detached as these two punkers show their vulnerabilities and their ' humanity. If you weren't a part of this scene or any 6cene that has been considered on the fringe, you should see this film to understand that people are people, whether they have blue hair, body piercings or flowers in their hair. Despite a regular use of the and some nasty brawls, I give "SLC Punk!" a rating of four and a half bags of popcorn out of five because of its uniqueness, its strong and needed message and for its realistic view of rebellion and locations: Trolley Square from' 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Jan. 30 and from 8 a.m. to noon ' on Jan. 31 and in Park City at the Gateway Center, 136 Heber Ave., from 8 a.m. to 8 r ! p.m. through Jan. 30 and 8 Jan. 31. on a.m. to 6 p.m. ' Length: 97 minutes. Egyptian Theater, Ogden. Cotfc Tickets are $10; a certain number of tickets for sold-oushows are available at 8 a.m. the day of the show on the first tevel of Trolley Square, 700 E. 500 South, t ' When he finds himself basically alone in life, he realizes that the punk scene must end; everyone else has basically already abandoned it; they've already understood it won't take them anywhere in life. Stevo tells the story of his rebellious years from an older and wiser perspective. He admits at the end, "If the person I was, knew the person I am now, he'd beat the s - out of me." Stevo learns that in order to change the system he of his fear of needles and all drugs, decides to give up anarchy for a beautiful social diva who contributes to society by owning a shop. Older and wiser Stevo realizes he's just like everyone he has scorned when he turns his back on the needs of an old friend and when he's unable to remain emotionally detached from his girlfriend once she takes another lover. growing up. Rana Lehr is the arts and entertainment editor at The Daily Herald. you're laughing at, but then you're thinking, 'WHAT am I laughing at?"' Continued from CI No more nice guy But to get his revenge on the whole city of London, he opens a barber shop, and when men come in for a shave, he cuts their throats and sends them down a chute to Mrs. Lovett's pie shop, where she bakes them into meat pies, the tastiest pies in London, as it turns out. That's about the point where the audience decides they can't really be on Sweeney's side Life goes on Merendino said he remembers growing up thinking the world would end with a nuclear explosion. He and others in his era never really knew peace. He said he always thought a world leader somewhere would push the button, and life would be over. "We were born with a gun to our heads. The world could be destroyed 10 times over. Every moment I felt that there were nuclear weapons, bombs pointed at me that could kill me at any moment," Merendino said. He and the punks were cer- tain the person to push the button and end life would be anymore. It's not easy to pull off a show like this. Not only are the characters but difficult, music is Sondheim's Stephen notoriously Sondheimian with unusual, tricky melodies and haunting accompaniment. It's a play that is not easy to sing or act in. Whiteknight isn't worried. "It's not an easy show," she said. "But I knew a lot of the students we had to draw from, and I was pretty confident we could find the singers and actors. We've been pleasantly surprised." Ronald Reagan. "All we could do was make fun of it; there was nothing else to do," he said. "We never felt there would be a future, but there is," The play has a great deal of killing in it, and most productions have at least a little stage blood. Whiteknight said, "We're trying to decrease that. There obviously is some, but that's not the point of the show." The point of the show, she said, is to drive home an important message: "No matter what happens to you in this life, hatred and revenge will do you no good. MARC LESTER The Daily Herald Staged kiss: characters Anthony (Joseph Stone) and Johanna (Amber Edson) embrace during a scene of Sweeney Todd, during rehearsal at UVSC on Monday. referring to lead actor Andrew Mickee. "From the start, he came in to auditions knowing the show and making clear choices, and all of them are pretty Playing the vivacious and loopy Mrs. Lovett is Courtney Young. "She is fabulous," said Whiteknight. "She's been having a ball. Its aii important character, because she helps us distinguish our own views. If it was all dark and extreme, then it would be very easy to say, 'No, I can't condone that.' But intermixed with this plot you have comic elements that ." Hi,, , l - someone." SeW &uef. avveA Fill Prime Rib, hi your pUfe Cmbles, St-eoiw- e vU wuch wore. AH you ewe t-- LASER HAIR REMOVAL GRAND OPENING eV o Every AV or only Jl7.1T FrUy Grow SOOtio . and Effective Scarring or Burning j wosf Uvisk Prune rib Provo's wiH I consider this an extremely moral play, in tbat it shows us through the negative example what hatred and revenge can ! do to you," she said. "It does have content that some people will have trouble with," Whiteknight acknowledged. "But the message is sj important. It's somewhat like p Greek tragedy: You learn something through the downfall Of "I The Not the typical Whiteknight also directed 1997's "Into the Woods" at UVSC, another Sondheim show that is not your typical light, fluffy musical fare. "We were able to find an incredible Sweeney," she said, Merendino said. Just like in the movie, life didn't end, "and I don't think it's going to, and if it's not going to, you'd better do something with your life." isit us online rjigkf l0:00p.w. The... Fast, Safe .V .So a5tr. sc& raits FDAApprowd Medically Staffed and Supervised www.heraldextra.com opposes, he has to become a ' SWEENEY g then-Preside- , World destruction Understanding free-floatin- r REVIEW PROVOJtornott CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION Laser Skin Care Salon MAMA K'S Get ready Telephone: for Summer ?(o 680 N. 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