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Show The Salt LakeTribune » Section D ARTS 8 JACKGOODMAN/D.2 IBOOK REVIEWS/D.5,6 BARTS LISTINGS/D.8-13 LET’S DANCE “Porgy and Bess” and “Book of Alleged. Dances” are coming/D-3 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER1, 1998 The intimate agony of what she learned Photos by Rick Egan/TheSalt Lake Tribune Shauna Scott and Eric Robertsonplay Li’l Bit and her predatory Uncle Peck for SLAC. SLAC shifts gears with ‘Learned to Drive’ Light pieces in Kumi Yamashita’s S.L. Art Center show play with viewers’ perceptions. Seeing whatisn't there KumiYamashita's art of light and shadow BY JOAN O'BRIEN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE BYMARTHA SONNTAG BRADLEY SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE “How I Learned to Drive,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning play about pedophilia, is the most-“produced theatrical work in the United States this year. ‘‘Lolita,” the contro- Artist Kumi Yamashita’s exhibit of installation pieces in the Salt Lake Art Center's Street Level Gal- versial film version of Vladimir Nabokov's novel about pedophilia, languished for months peter’ its limited dis- to a handful Street Level Gallery, one sees two shapestotheleft — a circle block and a long, thin rectangle jut- lery is one of the most ex- ies this fal ting outslightly from wall. Together “they form an exclamation point. A Lake Acting Companybegins presentingthis week, is narrated by the victim, while perpetrator Humbert Humbert citing shows of the year. Her unusual installations educate and intrigue. It is natural when con- The play ‘is told from the survivor's point of view, and to try to figure out whatit .C’s production. “There is that happy ending. There’s for a point of reference to help orienttheir thinking. Yamashita’s work jolts forms from a severe angle. The shadow that spreads out to the fight the disparate response to the aa Perhaps because‘How I Learned to Drive,” which Salt single light juts out from the wall to the side of the fronted with a piece ofart narratesthe tale in “Lolita.” shapes, illuminating the is “about.” People search she has indeed survived,” gays Tracy Callahan, Weber State University professor of theater arts and director of that sense that this womanhaslearned to forgive not only the man who molested her butalso herself.” The comparisons between “How I Learned to Drive” makes a question mark. Here, Yamashita pre- the viewer outof that pas- sents the teaser — whatis and “Lolita” are unavoidable. Playwright Paula Vogel has sive position. We question what wesee; its very “‘sub- ject” is the process of per- real, the emphatic concrete mass or the ques- said in interviews that Nabokov's book inspired her to presentthe Lolita story from the girl’s point of view. But that does not mean the perpetrator in ‘How I Learned to Drive” is portrayed as demonic. Like Humbert in Lolita, Uncle Peckis physically attractive, complex and urbane. He molests Li’l Bit, but he also teaches her, listens to her and wins her confused affection. The portrayal of pedophilia in “How I Learned to Drive” mirfors the way the crimeoften plays outin society, Callahan says. Children are taught about stranger danger, but “mostoftentimes the predatoris at Christmas ception. This provocative exhibit Whatfeels like a game is A highly intellectual musing on reality and the relationship between tioning shadow? includes three ‘‘light pieces’ and single wali of portraits that are conte things. What looks to be crayon on silk tissue rubtrue and absolute shifts bings. with The simplicity is an illu“Mayumi”is among the crayon rubbings The exercise is reminission. Yamashita’s work is on silk tissue in the Yamashita exhibit. oneae's “Allegory profoundly moving and pulls the viewerinto a process that is demanding In Plato's allegory, a human is chained to his dinner.’ Uncle Peck, married to Li'l Bit’s aunt, has known the but immensely rewarding. The obvious question is, how did she do that? Almost immediately, the girl since she was 1 day old. She was so tiny she “fit in Uncle Peck’s outstretched hand.” With Li'l Bit abandoned questionis less interesting than the meaning of chair with his back to the front of the cave. He understands the forms that move behind him only throughtheir shadows. Whathe “knows” is what she did See DRIVE, Page D-7 Upon entering the center’s subtly lighted Li'l Bit poses for her uncle. See YAMASHITA,Page D-14 ournewlife WEDDING& GiFT REGISTRY HOLIDAY SALE oOana 1-800-453-GIFT (4438) iMORCyIn Huns November 2nd thrn 14th 30% to 75% You'll never be engaged again. E Find the perfect persas. Fine Clothing for Women and Children: 425 East 160 Senth 355-8650 ZCMI will help make the perfect day. |