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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 24, 1984)
eorge and excellent SICZ M is slick By Glenn Stuva The Nebraska Repertory Theatre's production cf "George M!" b a slick, excellent show. Anyone who even remotely likes musicals should enjoy this one, and ought to take the time to go see it. i neater .eviev The quality of the production is really quite easy to explain. This is one of the rare cases where all of the elements of a show acting, singing and danc ing are brought together by a talented director to make for a very enjoyable performance. "George M!" is a musical about the life of Geroge M. Cohan. The music and lyrics are Cohan's own, taken from his many musicals. These songs are interwoven with a script written by Michael Stewart and John and Fran Pascal. Director Rex McGraw made an interesting decision to keep the cast size down by casting most actors in several roles. This also kept the musical numbers from bloating into big, gaudy shew tunes. The effect was to make the show seem more like a vaudeville show and thus more true to the spirit of Cohan. McGraw should also be congratulated for his choice of cast and his skill in directing their perfor-1 mances. There was not a weak link in the cast. Head ing it was Charles Bell, who portrayed George Cohan from birth to old age, and did a remarkable job of it. Whether it was straight dialogue, singing, or a com plicated tap dance routine, Beil made the role bigger than life. At times he reminded me a little bit of James Cagney, who played Cohan in the movie "Yankee Doodle Dandee," except that Bell is proba bly a better singer. If there were only enough space in this review, the entire cast would be mentioned and all the actors applauded. Unfortunately there'3 not, so only a few can be mentioned. Jim Jorgensen, who played no less than seven characters, was especially notable. Much of the time he didn't even have to speak to draw a laugh from the crowd. A gesture or a movement of his eyebrow was sufficient. Kevenv Paul Hofeditz, Nancy Marcy and Treva Lenore Tegtmeier, who played the rest of the Cohanj, Jerry, Nellie, and Jessie, respectively, were all very good, as was Shelly Boehmer as Fay Templeton. The orchestra and musical director David Shrader deserve mention. So does choreographer Nan Burn ing. Both showed a great deal of painstaking effort, and that effort paid off, making this one of the plays people really should go see" this summer. Throw in a very versatile lighting system, designed by Robert Welk, costumes designed by Vcndtia K. Jones, which fit the musical perfectly, and it all added up to an excellent show. And don't forget the songs. They're Cohan's. Cohan possessed a certain Ail-American charm and brayura that is truly inspiring at times. It was a simpler time then, and " that's part of the attraction of the show. Cohan could be called the ultimate commercial artist. He gave the people what they wanted and did it like few others. "George M!" will be playing July 24 through 23, at the Howell Theatre. By all means, take a night off from television and go see it. I 4 I It DAZZLE THAT "SPECIAL SOMEONE WITH A DIAMOND! Put It In Layaway For Christmas Now At SDRODKGV'S ' AND .1 SAVE 20 on Most Diamond Merchandise! "Meet Thr Brmllrt Km . . . Wear Diamonds" aft am KEY'! Centrum Lincoln Monday thru Friday 10-9 Saturday 10-5:30 Sunday 12-5 r v " X ( ; I 'Am if- a 'JtNL if J Michael Jackson: Beset by ghouls on end IT the stage? Photo courtesy MTV $3 SLCSO n Dlameiess W ft ,af m a S V Wf J reau!ariv. kl rssrican Hsart WET?E FIGHTING FORVOUR LIFE a- m " ? I OLSTON'! INDEPENDENT SPECIALISTS INC. I IMPORT CAR REPAIR IMPORT TOWING SPECIALIZING IN- VOLKSWAGEN, AUDI, DATSUN, HONDA, TOYOTA, SUBARU WE ALSO HAVE A FULL SERVICE BODY AND FRAME SHOP REPAIRING ALL CARS & PICKUP TRUCKS Used Import Cars For Sale WE SELL PARTS FOB VOLKSWAGEN, AUDI, DATSUN, TOYOTA & HONDA SUN DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER ANALYZING w m MJJO AND MSNCX TUNE-UPS ' ENCiNES ASJGNM2NT AND IAIANCING r c 7 f3&Mi i MtWERSON STh'JTS FRONT END ACCESSOSSES AiR CON'DiTSONtNG VISA Certified Mechanics 2435 U. 33rd '289? IIMCQIN V J Opinion by Ucndy TTynoxe 1 Nobody should blame Michael Jack son if he never appears in public again. For somebody who has the dubious honor of being the most celebrated figure since Elvis or the Beatles, the poor guy can't seem to do anything right in the eyes of a fast-growing minority. Take the opening date of the long awaited and mega-hyped Victory Tour in Kansas City. Although the show only lasted about an hour and 45 minutes - a full 45 minutes less than what had been previously promised by the pro moters it was still the best show that anyone will ever see this year and very probably in their lifetime. Technically, the show was near flaw less. The lighting was spectacular and the sound was terrific outside of a few seconds of feedback on Saturday night. But still there was something lack ing. Honesty. First and foremost, even though it was supposed to be the tour to coin cide with the release of the Jacksons Victory album, not one song from the album was performed during the show. The official reason for this is because the Jacksons supposedly feel that the audience would be bored with listen ing to songs that they weren't familiar with. Could the real reason be that out side of the Michael-and-Mick duet that the album basically has yet to receive any real support, either through sales or through critical acclaim? This was supposed to be a new show, something different. But if you go and buy the last Jacksons' album Trie Jack sons Lim which was recorded on the 1979-80 Destiny Tour, you will hear much the same dialogue and the same music as you would have heard in Kansas City this weekend. Lastly, this is "officially" billed as the Jacksons' tour. Not just Michael's show, but the other brothers' show as well excluding of course Jackie, who sits at home recovering from knee surgery. Yet there was no doubt that this was Michael's show. Although they did per form some of their old stuff, Michael was the attraction with his.nose job, moon walk and androgynous mystery. Although these seem to be the major downfalls of the actual show itself forget the ticket fiasco the show was still very good. I didnt see the crowd leaving the stadium in a daze or in a frenzy, but for the most part the mostly white, upper-middle class audience of close to 46,000 was satisfied. And maybe that satisfaction came from the very basic opportunity to see that Michael does indeed exist, and that for a cou ple of hours we were all actually within a space occupied by this human being. That alone was worth the $30 ticket to many. My question remains: Why couldn't they be honest with us and tell us out right that the show would only last less than two hours? Whycouidnt they tell us that it wasn't a new show outside of some wonderful technological tricks and the performance of five songs from Michael's ThriUerLP? Why couldnt they be honest and just bm it as Michael's Thriller Tour? Why? Because the promoters, the Jacksons' parents and the Jacksons themselves knew that none of that woCId ultimately make one little teensy weensy bit of difference. So, it is under way. The last word in the selling of Michael Jackson has begun. The very saddest part of the whole thing is that I, among a multi ' tude of others, believe that he sincerely wants absolutely no part of the show, this tour or anything else to do with this thing. But yet because of his beliefs and Lis honesty, the people around him, the people he trusts the most in this entire universe, he is being used for their gains. The only good thing to come of the tour is that in the end, when the smoke clears and the next phenomenon takes his or her place in the public's eye, the high points cf the tour will be accre dited to Michael the person who deserves the credit. Unfortunately, the claim for anything bad that happens will also go to Michsr 1 Jackson. Page 10 Daily Nebraskan Tuesday, July 24, 1984
