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Show The Salt Lake Tribune ARTS Sunday,January 31, 1999 D3 ‘Snow White’ Meets Mongolia Salt Lakers expose an eager poe of college students to ‘theater of — BY NANCY MELICH THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE The sight of his wife wagging her finger at the U.S. ambassador maynot have been the high point of L.L. West’s stay in Mongolia, but the retelling makesfora firstrate conversation starter. There they were, Betsy and Larry West, theater professionals from Salt Lake City, doing their best to put on a community pro- duction of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in Ulan Bator, Mongolia’s capitalcity. Ambassador Alphonse LaPorta Danny La/The Salt LakeTribune Don GloverJr., left, William C. Moore, Nancy Austed Roth and William Stockholm in the Salt Lake Acting Companyproduction of “The Joy of Going Somewhere.” Play Meanders From Sundance To SLAC Stage @ Previews Wednesday, Thursday “The Joy of Going SomewhereDefinite” opens in previews Wednesday and Thursdayat 7:30 p.m. and Friday at 8 p.m. in the Chapel Theatre, Salt Lake Acting Company, 168 W. 500 North. Opening night is Saturday at 8. Performances continue Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursdays at 8 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdaysat 8 p.m., through March14. Tickets for previews are $12.50 to $16.50; others, $16.50 to $22.50, plus ArtTix fees. @ Continued from D-1 Studentrush: $10.50 at the doorhalf-hour before curtain. For reservations, call ArtTix, 355-ARTS. San Francisco's Magic Theatre. “Tlove the play,”said Kent Nicholson, literary manager for the Magic, when he learned of the SLACproduction. “I'm gladit is being done again. I hope it has a long life.” Nicholson said he was the one who championed theplay’s initial appearanceatthe Magic. “You have to see it to under- and then suddenly they are moved to sing. It is much different than musicals that are heavily dependent on songs and not much text. I want to say too much in mytext, so Ihave simple songs. In my kind of plays, I'm mostinterestedin actors who sing, not the other way stand the form Quincy uses,” said Nicholson, in trying to describe the play with song and soundeffects around.” The actors mimeall the props while a sound-effects person provides perfectly timed accompani- was trying to do. Hesince has tried that integratesa “foley artist” into the themes andaction. ment: the sound of water in a drinking glass, the cocking ofa rifle, the spark ofa cigarettelighter, a thrown ashtray. There are no sets, just tables, chairs, benches. “T cannotthink of another writer who comes close to what Quincy is doing in theater,” said Nicholson. “His ability to use music, create a situation where a character can burst into song, yet not have the result be a musical, is unique. Plus he has a wicked comic sensibility and a sharp intellect that is apparent.” Nicholson describes Long as a down-to-earth, Midwestern kind of guy who wears a denim jacket and likes to have fun — “allof whichis reflected in his writing.” Long worked on the Magic production, creating new songs while using somefrom previous productions. “T like music asa theatricalelement in plays,” said Long, “in much the waythat it is found in Irish plays. Characters are talking It was style he first used when writing “Por Quinly” with the help of composerSilversher, who Long said understood exactly what he to work with composers, but with less than satisfying results. Thatis whyhis “Joy” script does not include music, only lyrics. Each pro- duction is free to determineits own sound. San Francisco Examiner theater critic Robert Hurwitt said the play “blends sexual andspiritual quests in unexpected ways, although the twists and turns in “Joy” contain more genuine sur- prises. Which is Long's point. For the joy of going somewhere definite is as illusory as the goer’s certainty,likely as it is to be based on incomplete information, mistaken interpretations or sheer wrong- headedness.”” Thestory begins in a Minnesota roadhouse where three unemployed loggers are bending elbows. whatis in the note, so they decide to take the victim, drive all night. and reunite him with his wife. David Evanoffis the foleyartist, composer and sound designer for the SLAC production. He is enam- ored ofthe theatrics found in the piece as well as its abundant hu“Tt is funny, with great comedy that evolves from the sound effects. Sort of like in a cartoon, but atits heart is a play about the journey to find home, about redemption for the transgressions in your life.” Long, whohasworked as a newspaperreporter, an actor and a di- rector, said he tends to write his characters in such a way that they cannot be misunderstood “T doubt that there would ever be a productionof this play where the loggers are wearingpinktights. Thenagain, I could be surprised.” “The Joy of Going Somewhere Definite” has been optioned by a director to become a film, and Long recently finished a screenplay for Mel Gibson’s company ICON The playwright will spend a weekin Salt Lake City, attending the SLAC opening as well as a staged reading Feb. 8 of a recent work, “The Lively Lad.” Longwill Seated at the bar is a drunken also be a guest speaker at the Uni- son, annoysthe loggers. They take him outside and shoot him, wounding him. Inside his hat, they find a letter from his estranged wife. The three are angered even more by taught by his friend, playwright stranger, who,for an unknown rea- versity of Utah in English classes David Kranes. Nancy Borgenicht and Allen Nevins direct the SLAC production featuring Don Glover Jr., William C. Moore, William Stockholm, Kristin Louise Kahle, Nancy Aus- tad Roth and Tom Vick. Vocalistis Melissa Gessel. The teartlendmas Co i1 1 | COUPON was the guest director. Betsy West was the guest stage manager. They had differing opinions, especially concerning how the stage crew shouldbetreated. “Tam not proud of the fact that Thad to cuss out an ambassador,” said Betsy, “but after a week of being picked on, I decided enough was enough.” The show, presented Thanksgiving weekend in a 500-seat hall, “was horrible, absolutely dreadful,” said the stage manager, with a laugh, but the audienceslovedit and the experience was one she would not trade for all the milk tea in Mongolia. Asfor the strained relationship with LaPorta, it’s history. “A week after the closing, he brought meroses and an apology. The Wests also joined the La- Portas for dinner, and prior to leaving Mongolia, the couples exchanged Christmas presents. “To the best of my knowledge,” said Larry, “Ours was the first ever theatrical performance in English to be staged in Mongolia, so we made a tiny bit of history in that country.” ANY ONE ITEM “Part of my job was to expose carried “NBC Nightly News,” Oprah and ‘The Simpsons.’ ” things that happened waslistening to them talk about Shakespeare after reading him in Eng- walk — the weather was freezing on many days. The Wests frequently saw street children sleep- the students to theater of ideas,” said West. ‘‘Oneofthe fascinating lish for thefirst time.” They had known his works “Snow White,” however, was not the reason for the four-month through Russian translations, sojourn. Teaching theater to Mongolian college students was the drawing card for Larry West. He learned about program, a satellite lish While Larry was involved with offering from the University of Colorado, last summer from an advertisement on the Internet. Within three weeks, West was on his way to Ulan Bator. It was August, and Betsy was performing in “Das Barbecu” at Snowbird. She joined her husbandin September. Larry’s 40 students “were the creamof the crop; I really believe theywill be the leaders of tomorrow for Mongolia.” All spoke English, most of them citizens of Mongolia but a few were from Russia. Many had visited the United States. All were familiar with American action movies, The general liberal arts courses werein acting and introduction to American theater. Larry brought texts from Utah — plays by Sam Shepard, Tennessee Williams, Terrence McNally, as well as works by Shakespeare, Stindberg and Becke' The facilities were primitive, the buildings in disrepair, the classroom tiny, and garbage was everywhere Celebrate 500 years of i ted by the UI which they describedas “diluted” after discovering the Bardin Eng- college stud Betsy taught Englishto 16-year-olds three days a week, “My students were absolutely delightful and had a wonderful naivete about them. They were not spoiled, nor jaded, the way manyteensin the U.S. are. If we had a party, they would stand up, clap their hands, sing loudlywith such joy. They took great plea- sure in simplethings. ‘They loved everything West- ern, she said, but when asked if they could live anywherein the world, their resounding and unan- imouschoice was UlanBator, The people, not the living conditions, were the draw for the Wests. The city is full of rowafter row of “ugly block apartment buildings, covered with graffiti.” “Welived onthe thirdfloor of a roach-invested building that had a stairwell that smelled of urine,” said Betsy. “The bathroom had no ventilation, thetoilet leaked, and the little bitty floorboards were painted orange. Wehad a foldout couch and cable television that Sumphe The Vienna Choir Boys 20% off LL. and Betsy West in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. School was a brisk 10-minute ing in the sewers —‘‘abandoned childrenis oneof thecity’s major problems.” In stark contrast werethecity’s beautifully attired women. “They are strong, independent women,” said Betsy, ‘‘and they always looked fantastic. That is wheretheyspendwhat little money they have, on clothes. They say their buildings may be awful, but that they can present themselves well.” Betsy said she missed green leafy vegetables and a good cup of coffee, but “it was fine not having a phone or acar. It is a very sim- ple lifestyle and a fabulous experience.” The couple returned homevia SanFrancisco on Dec. 27. As they walked around theholidayglitter and merchandising on Union Square, they found American consumerism overwhelming. “In Mongolia, they are so needy of everything. They don't even have bookstores. It is a country trying to figure out who it is and what is wants to be.”” Tohelpthesituation, Betsy is starting a “Book and a Buck" pro- ject, asking people to donate a book and $1 — to pay for postage — and ship them to schools in Ulan Bator. Richard III ONE COUPON PER CUSTOMER Good through 2/13/99 Wecueaseeben cs Open Monday 9-6,Tuesday through Saturday 9-8 616 West 2600 South, Bountiful, 294-7166 (by K-Mart) a S868 8s a as Thursday, February 11 Abravanel Hall, 8 p.m. Forfive centuries they've enchanted millions with their uniquecharm and beautiful singing. Today they're the most popular choirtouring America. 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