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Show Irts aifrd EjfttcHaijfttnCiftt Tuesday, March 14, 1995 Westminster Acrobats Bring 2,000 Peking Players to present farce The House Years of Tradition to Utah by Michael R. Thompson performances ever of Blue Leaves Forum Staff Writer seen in Utah. gravity-defyin- The Westminster Players will perform John Guares comedy The House of Blue Leaves March 23-2- 6 in the Courage Theater in the Jewett Center for the Performing Arts. Curtain is a 8 p.m. Thursday-Satur-da- y and at 7 p.m. on Sunday. There will be a concert of original songs and other music in the lobby a half hour before curtain time performed by Linda and Chris Quinn. Admission is free. Directed by Westminster Theater Professor Tamara Compton, The House of Blue Leaves tells of a middle-age- d New York zoo attendant who dreams of being a songwriter. On the day the Pope makes his first visit to New York, the songwriters mistress talks him into calling an old friend, now a Hollywood producer, for a job writing music for films. Meanwhile, the songwriters AWOL son comes home carrying a bomb with which he intends to blow up the Pope in Yankee Stadium, the songwriter calls to have his crazy wife taken away, and three sightseeing nuns drop in from the roof. Westminster students performing in the play are Keely Baisden (Bananas), Mandie Caraway (Cor-rin- a Stroller), Britt Fekete (Little Nun), Daisy Lee (Second Nun), Lindsay Malechek (Head Nun), Jim Martin (Artie Shaughnessy), Brian Pilling (Ronnie Shaughnessy), J. Chris Robertson (Military Police- man), Stephanie Tobey (White Woman), Becky Winston (Bunny ). Flingus), John Welsh (Billy Ein-horn- Winner of the 1971 Critics Award and the Obie Award as Best American Play, House of Blue Leaves was recently revived on Broadway in 1986. In addition to House of Blue Leaves, Guare has written a number of other plays and is probably best known for his recent play and film Six Degrees of Separation. n r g woman balanced up to four opened umbrellas on her feet and hands, spinning and flipping them into the air; Men jumped and flipped through hoops, up to four high; a man juggled a vase and a huge flower pot; and a man balanced himself on one hand as he 5 The Forum A The young girl, who balanced approximately 50 feet above the stage floor, steadied herself and began to bend over backwards. She stood on a small platform, placed at the top of the highest of four interlocking rings, balanced on the feet of a woman below. The silence of the audience was broken only by an occasional gasp of air, or the whispered words, Oh my gosh, as the girl bent backwards to grab, with her teeth, a red flower from below the platform. This seemingly impossible act was only one of many during a two hour performance by the Peking Acrobats. These performers for the fourth time at appeared Abravanel Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The acrobats began their show with a traditional lion dance. The coordination and talent of the dancers was truly awesome. The dancers-as-liojumped, balanced on a huge ball, and danced around on four small raised pegs. The lions seemed to be alive as they playfully raced around the stage, looking like ns two huge dogs. The next two hours were filled with some of the most amazing,. jumped up progressively 4 A, ..A pegs. The acrobats follow a rich tradition of Chinese acrobatics, dating back 2000 years. According to Fu Qifeng, author of Chinese Acrobatics Through the Ages, acrobatics originated from the daily experiences of the Chinese people as they worked, warred, and performed sacrificial rites. Acrobatics became widespread during the Warring States Period, and it was believed that acrobatics could build peoples will power will and increase their physical strength and the accuracy of their movements. Acrobatics also was influenced by myth and religion. The lion dance is of Buddhist origin, with the lion seen as a reincarnation of a woman. It was a symbol of renewal and was revered for its power to dispel bad luck. All traditional programs and Martial Arts contests begin with a lionf dance. 'VyVS ' mi ' higher -A X: ' , to ite r'Yr ;f i m : ' ' The Peking Acrobats performed amazing stunts at Abravanel Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 15. During the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.), Emperor Wu Di invited a number of important foreign dignitaries to attend a performance of acrobatics. The dignitaries were so impressed with what they saw that they agreed to enter into military alliances with the Emperor. Acrobats in China are revered for their skill and prowess and have the social status of an American opera star. Only the very best are able to perform with a world-tourin- g troupe such as the Peking Acrobats. Upcoming performances by the Utah Symphony include Debussy and Mahler on March 17 18; Mozart, Grieg and Gorecki on March 24 25; and Dvorak, Glazunov and Prokofiev on March 31 -- April 1. - - Alice in Wonderland a Ballet West masterpiece by Christopher Thomas Forum Staff Writer reminiscent of childhood memories of the fairy tale. Alice, performed by Erin commenced the production by diving down the infamous rabbit-hole and the fun began. Leedom was perfectly cast for the role, her long blond hair and childlike physique greatly enhanced the spectacular display of mystical creatures and fairy tale animals. From the moment the curtain rose a surreal, dreamy atmosphere pervaded. The production transformed one into the story and Lee-do- Ballet Alice in Wests Utah premiere of Wonderland left the par- ents of disinterested juvenile attendees, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Ben Stevensons production captf-vate- d audience members young and old alike, leaving the mystical flavor of Lewis Carrols nineteenth century masterpiece. The enchanting tale of a young girls summer dream was masterfully transformed onto the stage into a ballet that was vividly INIHIIABNY, AEintrTMr in Burnt TEEm IN OMXIANBl Any nurse who just wants a job can with your level of experience. As find one. But if youre Army officer, youll command the a nurs- m, seemed to provide observers with the feeling they were dreaming about the fairy tale, paradoxically similar to the plot of the story. Alice in Wonderland exhibited a perfect composition. Stevensons choreography entailed all of the aspects of a masterpiece. The color scheme and imagery were as as the dancers pirouetting on stage. The costumes, on loan from the Houston Ballet company, were designed by Nadine Baylis who studied illustrations from the fairy tale and created an ornate pallet of costumery that made the production seem like an impressionistic painting coming to life. The ballet follows Alice as she joins up with the white rabbit, barethe ly Duchess, escapes kitchen, makes acquaintance with the Cheshire Cat, encounters the in-sy- nc . Some people will do any tking tor a part! ing student who wants to be in respect you deserve. And with the added Come see Brian Pilling have his head shaved command of your own career, consider benefits only the Army can offer a $5000 for his part in The House the Army Nurse Corps. Youll be treated as signing bonus, housing allowances and 4 a competent professional, given your own weeks paid vacation youll be well in patients and responsibilities commensurate of your life. Call ARMY NURSE CORPS. DEALLYOUCANDE. com-man- d ARMY. of Blue Leaves. Be there: 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 21 at the Syme Lounge in the Shaw Center. Mad Hatters tea party, dances on the seashore with a host of strange characters, gallivants through the Queen of Hearts rose garden. And she is finally summoned to the courthouse for the infamous trial concerning the theft of the Queens tarts. The production ends with a colorful frenzy of spinning figures combined with lighting that informs the observer that the dream has concluded and the production is about to end. British composer Joseph Horovitz created music to meet the magic of the tale which was harmoniously preformed by the Utah Chamber Orchestra. Youll be as mad as a hatter if you miss Ballet Wests spring Repertory Program which will run from at the Capitol Theater; April and in Ogden April 24-27-- 15 5. |