OCR Text |
Show Arts & Entertainment Annie a lithe and lively success at the SLCC Grand Theatre pessimism and despair, he decided to set his fable in the midst of the Depression. Worthy of the splendid decor of the newly by Calvin L. Harrington Forum staff writer Due to positive reviews and renovated Grand Theatre, the SLCC word-of-mout- h, the musical comedy Annie is a solid success at the Salt Lake Community College South City Campus Grand Theatre. The last few shows will run 7:30 nightly this week through Saturday, Dec. 19, with an additional 2 p.m. matinee Dec. 19. Although classified as definitive family entertainment, this is not just a childrens musical. There arc some very meaty adult roles. Moreover, it is widely agreed that the film adaptation of Annie never captured, the verve or vitality of a good live theater rendition. The idea of turning the Little Orphan Annie comic strip into a musical was the inspiration of lyricist Martin Chamin, who contacted playwright Thomas Meehan and composer Charles Strouse. Because the playwright saw Annie as a metaphysical figure standing for innate decency, courage and optimism in the face of hard times, Hip hop production is zestfully directed by Maikcl Bailey, with uniformly excellent players who were chosen by audition. At times it is easy to forget that the actors are not Musical director Merle professionals. Marsh gets gusto deliverances from this surprisingly fine ensemble cast. Annie (played incredibly well by Ashley foundling at an Jarrett), an orphanage, yearns for her parents to rescue Miss her from the clutches of mean-spirite- d Hannigan (Jayne Luke), the orphanages does matron. A miraculous parent-figur- e show up in the person of billionaire Daddy Warbucks (Glen Slight), whose secretary (Candy Revels) has invited Annie to spend Christmas with him. , Warbucks, in fact, becomes so fond of the chi Id that he plans to adopt her, a situation that is temporarily blocked by the witchy - Miss Hannigan. But Daddy Warbucks has aint just a black thang anymore by Trevor Mavin Forum staff writer proud. Of course, the group plays the stereotype of the rowdy, inebriated, brawling With the release of their first album, Irishman to death, but hip hop and stereoFine Malt Lyrics, House of Pain proves types have always complimented one anthat white men may not be able to jump, other well. From the N.W.A. (Niggas Wit but they can bust a funky rhyme. Attitude) gangster to 2 Live Crews disrethe first House of Pain is certainly not spectful black Don Juan, stereotypes play the embrace whites to role in the success of rap music. a of hip hop group The biggest drawback with House of style of music. The Beastie Boys, an outfit from Brooklyn, were the first Pain is that theyre guilty of the same thing to bring rap to the attention of mainstream as Vanilla Ice: their Irish image tends lobe pop culture. The list of white rappers goes more fiction than fact The group is headed on with groups like 3rd Bass, Marky Mark, by Everlast (whose first solo album was Irisha Cyprus Hill and the ever credible Vanilla produced by Ice-T- ), Ice. Though House of Pain didnt break man raised in the highly ethnic San new ground when they began rapping, Fernando Valley. Backing him up is Danny they do bring something to their music Boy. The group even attempts a lame vothats never been done by a white rap calization of the Irish folk song by the group. House of Pain actually has a sense same name on their album. Spinning and of racial pride. mixing the cuts is DJ Lethal of Jewish The other white rap groups seem to decent. either include a token black in the group or Tnough the group may not be coming with black straight outta Hells Kitchen, they do have they surround themselves Other white a touch of Irish charm. Since Im part Irish and dancers. vocalists backup and I love hip hop, I liked the album a lot. rappers also have a tendency to act apolothe side their about When you figure that 85 percent of rap whiteness, getic flip of UncleToms. From the shamrock on the music is purchased by whites, its good to album cover to the Irish pride references in know that at least one white group knows the rhymes, House of Pain lets their audiwhat color they are and they arent apoloence know that theyre white ethnic and gizing for it. Play dat funky music white boy! all-Jewi- sh true-blood- ed aid of powerful connections and enlists the his friend President Roosevelt (Galen Chatterton) and everyone at least every one who believes that tomorrow is only a day looks forward to having a New away Deal for Christmas. Additional outstanding cast members include Alan LaFleur as Rooster and Lenore Canbria as Lilly St. Regis. The versatile LaFleur also did the spirited choreography, reminiscent of Peter Gennaros Broadway work. The opulent set design is by Clif Davis and the costumes were created by the talented Diane Allen. The array of songs includes Maybe, Life, I Think Im Its the Hard-Knoc- k GonnaLikeltHere, Easy Street, Youre Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile, Annie, Something Was Missing and A New Deal for Christmas, among others. Although cynics dismissed Annie as OliverTwistin drag,' the song Tomorrow when this actually became a show became a smash hit in the late 1970s. mini-anthe- m Seating prices range from $4 to $8. Reservations are strongly recommended due to the shows immense popularity and brisk ticket sales. An added treat is nightly entertainment with a variety of singers and dance groups from within the community. A Legend of Santa segment features Santas from various time periods who tell about their origins, experiences and so forth. Enjoying a new reputation as producing some of the hottest shows in town, over 47,000 people attended SLCC GrandTheatre shows last year. Perhaps specializing in the musical genre, this season they will also pre-sho- produce w Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (next month), Paint Yoiir Wagon, Gilbert and Sullivan and The King and I. The SLCC Grand Theatre is located at 1575 S. State (the old South High School, on the east side of State). Box office hours are 1 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For further info call 4684222. Utah Symphony to perform holiday favorites this weekend by Calvin L. Harrington p.m. will include the music of Tchaikovsky, Victor Herberts March of the Toys, and a variety of other Christmas favorites. And yet another Utah Symphony Youth Guild competition winner, pianist Debra Brown, will perform Mozarts scintillating Piano Concerto No. 23. Fora nominal fee, children can have their picture taken with Santa Claus in the Symphony Hall Lobby during the day only, from 10:45 to 11:15 a.m. or from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Tickets for the Saturday, Dec. 19 daytime concerts are $4 for children and $7 for adults. Tickets for the sumptuous evening concerts range from $14 to $30. Tickets for all of these Symphony Hall performances are available at the Utah Symphony box office and all SmithsTix outlets. The same program for the evening concerts will also be performed Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. in the Browning Fine Arts 1 Foriun staff writer At 8 p.m. on Dec. 18 and 19, the Utah Symphony will present its annual musical holiday gift under the baton of Maestro JosephSilverstein.This Home forthe Holidays program will include Tchaikovskys Suite.. from The Nutcracker, Rimsky-Korsako- vs Polonaise (from Maiden), as well as a traditional of Christmas carols. Snow sing-alon- g Utah Symphony Youth Guild annual competition winner Jenny Oakes will perform with the symphony Friday night in the first movement of Violin Concerto No. 1. by Wienawski. Another winner, Sarah Brough, also a violinist, will perform Havanaise by Saint-Saeon Saturday night. In addition, the Brighton High School Choir will perform with the symphony on Friday evening and the East High School Choir will be featured on the Saturday evening program. Other Christmas works will be performed but a highlight both nights will be the guest choirs performing Handels immortal Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah). For daytime symphony lovers, a family musical concert at 1 1 :30 a.m. and another at ns (433-NOT- E) Center on the Weber State University campus in Ogden. The guests for this performance will be the W eber S tate Concert Choir. Tickets range from $5 to $13 and further info can be obtained from the Ogden SymphonyBallet Association (399-9214- ). F ollow your calling and see 'Leap of Faith by Dawn Kennally Forum staff writer You always knew it was just a matter of time before comedian Steve Martin would see the light and play what he was destined an evangelist Youve seen him do to be it on Saturday Night Live, but never like this! All I can say is HALLELUJAH! Martin plays Jonas Nightengale, a touring evangelist who rakes in dollars promoting fraudulent miracles. Nightengale has Gods gift of making people believe the unbelievable. But will he be able to shed any light in Rustwater, Kan Page 8 forum sas a community beset by unemployment, drought, layoffs, and farm foreclosures? Helping Jonas succeed in such works of charity is business manager Jane Larson, played by Debra Winger. There to lead astray the ardent flock of believers is Sheriff Will Braverman (Liam Neeson), a cynical local waitress named Marva (Lolita Davidovich) and her brother Boyd (Lukas Haas). Martin was bom in Waco, Texas and raised in a Baptist home. Hes had a keen interest in evangelists since he was 20, he char says, becausetheyre larger-than-li- December 15, 1992 fe . acters and its a challenge to play one and lots of fun. Little towns in Texas such as Groom, Claude, Happy, and Tulia were the locations for the enormous revival tent, designed in the Romanesque style to resemble a portable cathedral. The interior scenes for Leap of Faith are filmed in Dallas, on the largest soundstage in Las Colinas, as Jonas Nightengale puts on a revival that is bound to leave you and the residents of Rustwater dancing in the aisles. Another perk to the movie is Jonas Nightengales choir. The Angels of Mercy. n They will feature gospel hymns well-know- arranged by Edwin Hawkins, one of the worlds leading gospel choirmasters. The Angels of Mercy are real-lif- e gospel singers Dolores Hall and including Tony-winnThe Queen of Gospel, Albertina Walker. The soundtrack will be produced by awardwinning songwriter George Duke. Producer David V. Picker has more than 30 years experience producing movies, including three of Steve Martins first movies: The Jerk, Dead Men Dont Wear Plaid and The Man With Two Brains. This Paramount Pictures release vill open Friday, Dec. 18, just in time to revive us after er finals. |