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Show Arts & Leisure SOUTHERN UTAH STATE COLLEGE, CEDAR CITY THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY, MAY 8, 1989 PAGE 9 Greenwood wows em CONCERT REVIEW BY RACHEL TALBOT Only in Cedar City was a phrase oft repeated during Lee Greenwoods concert Thursday night. Only in Cedar City would Greenwoods opening act include SUSCs Scarlet and Black Ceremonial Band, and only in Cedar City would officials charter a plane for stranded band members to ensure patrons a concert. The audience, with consoling chuckles, waited for Greenwoods band to arrive and warmed up to good oT country music with the Coors Cowboy Band better known in Utah as the Walnus family from Parowan. Two of the Soviet visitors decided to enhance the audiences excitement for the delayed concert by performing a Russian dance to the strains of Siberian Nights. The dance vouched for emcee Bill Marcrofts summary, We now have a living testament to Glasnost. It exists in southern Utah. Without further difficulty, Greenwoods band avoided the possibility of playing over satellite when they arrived and opened with I Heard It Through the Grapevine. Greenwood answered a request made during his press conference by dedicating I Still Believe to Steve and Lorna Gower. Lorna gleaned hope from this song when her husband required leg amputation as a result of a deer hunting accident. Greenwood not only answered this request, but explained, The kind of music we play is sometimes kind of sad because it tells of real-lif- e stories. Greenwoods music worked the crowd with notes that pulled then yanked heart strings. The entranced audience sat silent as his voice reverberated through the Centrum with renditions of It Turns Me Inside Out, and I.O.U. The spectrum of Greenwoods talent was evident when he strapped on the saxophone with a combination including country n rhythm, gospel n soul, bluegrass and jazz. Something beyond spectacular describes Greenwoods talent with the sax, an instrument he has played since he was 10 years old. While Greenwood played at break-nec- k speed, the audience worked to keep the beat but lost the battle and settled for an energetic applause. Lets see Randy Travis try that, Greenwood boasted. Several times he boasted of his superiority among his contemporaries, and every time he proved his superior musical prowess. Greenwood made the audience comfortable with his friendly banter sprinkled with humor. He explained how important it is for a performer to have a career song, a song that fans can easily identify by its title and the name and face of the musician. He then sarcastically shared an example of a good song that people remember Lee Greenwood for he sang the McDonalds and You theme song and pointed to himself as if to say, Yes, this was me. He then countered his facetiousness by recognizing the satisfaction of having made it to the top. It was really neat to have people recognize me. It didnt matter what they recognized me for. Ironically, he followed this statement by singing Dan Hills Sometimes When We Touch. Although unpredictable in his music selection, Greenwoods quality was consistent. Greenwood showed all sides of country music with his additions to the field, It Turns Me Inside Out, and Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands. Greenwood not only wore his country western hat to the concert but also acted in his honorary position as Reverend Major General in the Air Force. He dedicated Larry Henley and Jeff Filbars often covered Wind Beneath My Wings to the attending athletes who reciprocated with red roses. After stripping off his shirt to reveal a with the Soviet flag, he aroused the audience with Livin in America moves. and Elvis-lik- e With the song considered by many as a close runner-u- p to the national anthem, Greenwood closed with an emotional God Bless the USA. rt The Scarlet Pimpernel THEATRE REVIEW BY DAVID V. PENA The Scarlet Pimpernel, which opened on SUSC s Main weeks Stage during one of the most entertainment-fille- d of the year, proved to be a match for the gala Western Royale. The play, directed by Douglas H. Baker, is a funny and well presented production. Baker and the cast make the best of what is unquestionably very good material. There were a few problems with some technical aspects of the play. The barbecue used early in the first act looked more like late 20th century Taiwan than late 18th century France, and on a couple of occasions, especially during the second act when I moved to the back of the theatre, the music competed with the actors voices or momentarily jumped a decibel or two. But is must-se- e these distractions did little to detract from what overall was a fine production. The play, which was adapted by Beverly Cross from a novel by Baroness Orczy, is set in late 18th century revolutionary France. Aristocratic heads are rolling much to the delight of the French peasants, but one man is outwitting French authorities and denying "Madame La Guillotine. He is the elusive, mysterious, Scarlet Pimpernel. The Scarlet Pimpernels identity is unknown to the French authorities and the audience. It is the job, and obsession, of Chauvelin to identify and capture that damned elusive Pimpernel. Michael Stasinos, who plays Chauvelin, gave an excellent performance as the villainous French bloodhound who, along with his side-kicLambert, played by Peter Tagg, travels to England to pursue his quarry. Once in England, Chauvelin and the audience become engaged with some very funny characters and an engrossing story. entertainment It would be hard to describe any of the situations in The Scarlet Pimpernel without revealing the plot doing a disservice to those who have yet to see and the play. But several characters who gave outstanding performances must be recognized. Michael Stiver as Sir Percival Blakeney and Gayle Staffanson as Marguerite Blakeney gave very effective professional performances. Also notable in a large cast of more than 25 characters were Michael Ross Clemens as the Prince of Wales and Kathleen M. Etor as Brogard the landlord. These performers, along with the rest of the cast, were well rehearsed and performed comfortably together on stage. The lines and movements were executed smoothly and it was a solid opening night performance. The Scarlet Pimpernel continues on the Main Stage of the Auditorium May 11, 12, and 13th at 8 p.m., and is free to all students with I.D. cards. |