page 14
daily nebraskan
Wednesday, September 12, 1979
Mime troupe
By Penelope M. Smith
For the Claude Kipnls Mime Theater, mime means
refreshing the human spirit.
Kipnls, a former student of fellow Frenchman Marcel
Maxeati, is an artist, director, founder of the Claude
Kipnls Mime School In New York City and author of a
book on mime. He and his troupe have performed
throughout the country and will be in Lincoln this week
end. Performances are 8 pjn. Friday and Saturday In the
Kimball Recital Hall. A special children's performance Is
scheduled for 10:30 am. Saturday In the Lincoln East
High School Auditorium.
Kipnls said he does not mind if the people who ex
perience his company's performances know nothing of
mime.
"Frankly," he said "It does not matter that people
should know what mime is, I would wish that they could
recognize it as a legitimate art form and that they try not
to bring any tight prejudices or definitions to the per-formance-not
that mime has no music or that a mime
to
area
te reality9 in him
should never utter a sound, but that mime is a great
expression."
Kipnls said he and his company cooperate In the crea
tion of mime pieces by pooling experiences, feelings and
Ideas.
"WE CREATE OUR own reality," he said, "but it
is something we see. It doesn't come out of the sky;
sometimes it's music or a painting or an experience. Mime
reality Is universally human, it's hot a weird insanity."
The pieces range from what could be considered
classic solo mime In pieces such as "The Bottle" to group
works done to jazz music such as "The Body."
Finishing the pieces for performance Is a concentrated
group effort.
"The group brings these initial Ideas. It's not let's
jam or random Improvisation. When we have an idea we
discuss and tighten it, then we write a script.
"It doesn't happen in one big brainstorming session
it Is written and rewritten and rewritten again . . .
"We start improvising on the script but there's a lot
of leeway. We frame scenes, then we depart from here In
Photo courtesy ol National Artists Managarriant Co.
Qaude Kipnis Mime Theater members . . . refreshing the human spirit.
'Born Again' a finely tuned comedy
By Casey McCabe
You really don't need to buy Randy Newmaa't Bom
Again to enjoy it. The cover art and lyrics graciously
printed on the back trule for interesting entertainment
in themselves.
The front cover features Kewman seated in an execu
tive office, wearing pseudo-Kiss make-up and dollar
signs literally painted on his eyes. On the back cover, he
takes it a step further, with protruding tongue and a mock
Gene Simmons expression.
Randy Newman has never been one to beat around the
bush with subtlety. One can hazard a guess that the "bom
again obsesrionjwith-money theme portrayed on the
album is just another of Newmans well-constructed
sardonic jabs. This time, the job seems aimed at the peo
ple who feared the Unexpected success of hislfrrfe Crim
inals album would bring out the commercial element in
thisstrangdy6lTeattselfiTadngmucian. ,
The two-year; layoff between albums has provided
Kewmaa with t good supply of ammunition. "
. StO without removing that album from Its cover, a
careful study' of the printed lyrics Undoubtedly wiU
he&tea the reader's euriousity. What type of mind would, .
coma; or wouia even want to put to music the words of '
The Girls In My life (Part 1):-
'ffctagirlct the bakery
i She wanted to borrow my car from me
She took it down to Mexico
i RanoverarnmrwnedJuan'
or the thoughtful, driving lyrics to "Pants:"
"Gonna do it right now
Gossa do it rfyht now
nn gonna take off my pants
Gonna take of my pants "
So the person who conjures up a thoroughly demented
musical accompaniment for these songs might not expect
the slick professional package Newman offers. Enlisting
the aid of such noted musicians as Andy Newmark,
Waddy Wachtel, Tom Scott and Stephen Bishop, font
Again frequently becomes more elaborate than the simple,
distinctive piano Work that is Newman's trademark.
"It's Money that I Love" opens side one. It uses the
distinctive piano, but adds layers of background vocals,
saxophone and synthesizer to provide the studio sound
which makes the lyrical parody work. The simpler side
of Newman emerges in 5hosts," "The Girls In My Life
(Part 1), and "William Brown."
The more elaborate arrangements most notable on
"Pants" and "The Story of a Rock and Roll Band," a
hilarious satire of the Electric Light Orchestra. No holds
are barred When Newman finds an unsuspecting target
for his lyrics, whether it's short people or English rock
bands.
Somehow, the listener manages to forget that Randy
Newman really cant sing. But then again, you can't ima
gine the material being delivered any better by Robert
Goulet.
Bom Again is i lyrical delight and the perfect follow
Up to the status Newman achieved on Little Criminals. It
succeeds somewhere on a fine line between disarming
comedy, sad a finely tuned, if not slightly demented,
musical ear.
the script to there, but from here to there varies greatJy."
The rnemoers of the Mime Theater are from a variety
Of backgrounds, tanging front ballet and jazz to acting.
They must band together and cope with i unique
problem, that of presenting a group reality, Kipnis said.
"TO WORK tti a. group1 you rriust have electricity,"
kipnls said. "YOU rriUst put everybody on the same wave
length. Not doing the same thing; they must be creative,
but they must not be in their own little world. They must
understand each other so that they can play together or
off one another or even against one another but always
with a sense of purpose."
Despite the difficulties, there are rewards in working
with a group, Kipnls said.
"In choosing to work with a company I Influence
people and I am influenced by them," he said. "Alone one
becomes very riircissistlc. In a group you develop new
horizons." '
And despite different social outlooks and values,
Kipnis said, the understanding of mime is Universal.
. "Mime is not so much gesture as it is universal im
pulses," he said. "There are social differences in different
countries: for instance, shaking the head tip and down for
no, but these are detailed gestures. There is everywhere a
basic tendency for the body to expand, contract, jerk out
of surprise. There is basic fear arid basic job."
Kipnls said the reaction of the audiences to the group's
performances always has been favorable.
"EVEN IF THEY are socially inhibited, people
experience a moment of recognition, empathy and identi
fication. Mime can dd this because it's on stage-it doesn't
threaten. It's an illusion world where people carl accept
the unacceptable.
"For instance, perhaps Americans are i little niore
physically Uptight thari people irt Italy or Greece. Maybe
this Is why they enjojr slapstick sd rriuch. People heed it,
It is a perfect physical outlet for something that is not
socially welcome," Kipnls said.
Kipnis said he and his company enjoy performing for
children.
"When we perform for them," he said, "we try not to
lake anything for granted. After all, a child by definition
is he or she who takes nothing for granted. That is why
children are so beautiful."
Kipnls and his troop use a different approach with
children.
"We talk to them," he said, "because sometimes they
have been given too many standard definitions. They have
been told that a mime is silent and cannot speak.
"WE INTRODUCE the pieces, but not irt a conde
scending or patronizing manner. Sometimes we ask the
younger children for help, giving them a sense of game or
playing."
"Children are special," Kipnls said. "They are more
ready to enter the world that is offered to them-they are
more immediate."
There are two things Kipnis would like audiences to
take away from the company's performances.
"One," he said "is that I would like them to discover
mime and what it can do. It is an art form that needs
more support. It is in the same position dance was in 20
years ago.
"Secondly, they should be entertained. To entertain
is no mean feat, but what I Would expect them to discover
is that the human being is much icher than they thought
before they came to the performance.
"It is a very personal little feeling, a refreshed feeling
that life Is intricate and a little better than the daily fare.
What we do is from the heart. Some people only look on
th surface, but we can't win them all."
Recitals, classes
Thtx concerts and recitals are sponsored this
week by the UNL School of Music. Unless otherwise
noted, all are oper to the public with no admission
charge.
Wednesday: Freshman , and sophomore general
recital at 4:30 pjn. In Room 119, Westbrook
Music Building.
Thursday: Freshman and sophomore general reci
tal at 3:30 pjn. in Room 119, Westbrook Music
Building.
Lincoln Community Playhouse at 2500 S. 56th
St. will be otTering acting classes for adults 18 years
and older beginning at 10 am. Saturday, Sept. 15.
The two -hour sessions wffl continue for 12 weeks.
Tuition is $30. Cathy Madden&etz Is the instruc-tor.
