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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 17, 1981)
page 8 daily nebraskan tuesday, march 17, 1981 Beatlemania offers magical my stery tour of '60s By Casey McCabe lieatlemania is a Broadway show without acting or a plot. It is a musical, multi-media experience that relics on the audience's desire to relive a legend it doesn't really remember living through the first time. lieatlemania played two near sell-out shows in Omaha's Orphcum Theater Sunday, to an audience that treated the four impresarios with enthusiasm. The average age seemed to be around 22 years old, and the average state of mind was understandable curiosity. The four New York-area musicians who portrayed The Beatles in this Midwest tour of the Broadway production are only one of several groups to do the show. Assuming that the Omaha line-up was a fair representation of the others, then the group's flawless versions of several Bcatle classics would suggest that the art of imitation is not as rare as some would like to believe. Beatles not mentioned The fact is, that through the musical and costume changes, from mop-top, through Sgt. Pepper psychedelia. and White Album individualism, lieatlemania makes no direct reference to the Beatles themselves. The musicians-imitators strived lor the Bcatle posturing, the cute shakes of the shaggy heads, and Liverpool accents during the brief moments between songs. But still they referred to each other as "the bass player" or "our drummer." avoiding both their real names or any direct reference to John. Paul, George and Ringo. And the concert programs, which were selling briskly in the posh Orphcum lobby, did not contain anything but the vaguest liberal allusions to what this all was obviously based upon. I low much of this is to avoid legal hassles I'm not sure, but the cast of lieatlemania seems fixed in the position of being spokesmen for the spokesmen of the era. In such a position, a performance that strayed very tar from perfection would have made the entourage appear to be the ultimate in unmitigated gall, especially at a SI 0.75 ticket price. But lieatlemania is carried off with the pre cision expected from an established Broadway product ion. With some aid from off-stage musicians, the cast was able to do such difficult live songs as "Strawberry fields forever," "Penny Lane" and "Magical Mystery Tour" with full studio clarity and tight, characteristic vocals. All told, it is very possible the lieatlemania crew is able to perform Beatles songs live better than the Beatles were themselves. The equipment is better, they can hear performed under a backdrop of bloody Vietnam violence and comic book agression. But beyond any recycled social statements, the main promotional thrust behind lieatlemania was the chance to come as close as possible to seeing the fabled Beatles reunion in person, l or all the effort and personal talent, it prediclabK talis light years short of that goal. The lieatlemania has been increasing its outlets since John Lennon's murder reeks ol hvpe as well. The man themselves through their own P As (and hear better due to the abscense ol thousands ot scieaining girls), and the are meliculoiisK bound by the limits ot credible imitation . 1960s backdrop Also accompanying the lieatlemania show is a visualh striking backdrop ol slides and lihn, dissolving in and out ot the music As lieatlemania strives to capture the era as well as the group, scene:, of Martin Luther King. Timothy U'aiA . Bobln Kennedy and considerable I 00s protest loot age lloat through the show. The creators take a lew too many liberties with this concept as the ethereal child like fantasy of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" is who portraed l.ennon (with general physical accuracy ) received the largest hand from the crowd during the en coie, in which the musicians revealed their true identi ties, lie reacted with an uncharacteristic thumbs up sitm. The Sunday night crowd at the Orphcum treated the show with surprising enthusiasm, standing ovations and vigorous encores. It was a chance to bop. sinti and reminisce to live versions of some of rock music's neat est works. And that . peihaps. is the onl wa lieatlemania should be taken. Small talk yields small results By T. Marni Vos Do you ever call up old friends to "chew the fat'.'" "Marni? . . . Marni who?" Do you ever feel as though that one special person who was meant for you and only you was hit by the school bus when he or she was 6? iii et the in humor Do you ever find yourself seeking out shallow plea sures? Sitting in the tub till your skin wrinkles? Showing people your Under-Alls? Or compulsively eating? Are you worried that the next time you go jogging you'll measure on the Richter scale? If the answers to the previous questions were yes, yes, yes, sometimes and yes, then I have two things to say: 1) Wow, and I thought I had problems. 2) Boy, do you need to get out and meet a few people. Now I know meeting people isn't always easy so here are some great opening lines from my past and from Social Intercourse by Mark Knapp: 1 . Hi, some people think 1 look like Cheryl Ladd, but I don't even pay attention because I know it's personality that counts. . . right? 2. Mi, I'm from out of town and I was wondering what people around here do for fun. 3. Hi, I've lived here for eight years and I was wonder ing what people around here do for fun. 4. Hi. I noticed you were sit tint: by yourself with exception of that girl who just went to the bathroom i xcuse me. I think your zippers down. Here me get it. After introducing yourself, small talk occurs and slow unveiling of a new-found friend might progress tnis tasmon: 0 to 15 minutes: I'm from Sebraska. I liave a dog. 15 to 30 minutes: My name is Xau y. I had a fun summer 30 to 45 minutes: Plants are like people thev thrive on love I get nenous meeting people for the first time The sight of blood makes me puke. 45 to 60 minutes: I hate small talk. I don't think age is really that important 60 minutes to one hour and 15 minutes: don't like people who smile all the time I don't believe in evolution. One hour and 15 mintes to I hour and 30 minutes: think I'm losing my hair. My parents were embarrassed to discuss sex with me. One hour and 30 minutes to one hour and 45 minutes: liave a vutlent temper. I dye my hair Maybe that's why it falls out. One hour and 45 minutes to two hours: wonder why pettple stare at me wherever I go I talk to my tub of Parkay. I'm wanted in eight states for murder. I think I should go call some old friends Lincoln concert canceled due to Clapton's ulcer The l ire Clapton concert scheduled for March 22 has been canceled, accoidmg to Paul Schneider, spokesman foi the Bob Devanev Sports Complex. Schneider said Clapton was at Madison. Wis., onl the second concert of his M,N tour, when he became ternbh ill and had a pain killing injection to continue the performance. After the show, doctors verified that Clapton had a bleeding ulcer and, as a result, had to be hospitalized. In an Associated Press wire tory released Mon day morning. Clapton's personal manager Roger Forrester attributed Clapton's ulcer to the "general way we live. There's a lot of bad hours and bad food and we're not health fanatics." According to Lorresier. the 36-year-old Clapton "can't possibK work for the rest of the year." Clapton has cancelled his remaining tour of 55 performances. Refunds can be obtained at the ticket holder's original place of purchase starting at noon Wednes day. Tickets must be returned in order to receive the funds "We arc sorry this had to happen." said Schcider. because it looked like a sell-out performance."