Arts & Entertainment
Principal cellist, UNL assistant
professor to be featured soloist
at symphony orchestra concert
By Mark Osborn
Staff Reporter
Charles Tucker will be the fea
tured soloist at the Lincoln Sym
phony Orchestra concert 8 p.m. Tues
day.
The concert will begin with “The
Moldau” by Bedrich Smetana.
Tucker will be the soloist in Ernest
Bloch’s “Schelomo,” a Hebraic
rhapsody. The concert will conciude
with Stephan Paulus’ Concerto for
Orchestra.
Tucker, principal cellist with the
Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, is as
sistant professor of cello at the Uni
versity of Nebraska-Lincoln. He
earned his masters in music at Yale
University. While there, he studied
under internationally renowned cel
list Aldo ParisoL
Tucker has performed numerous
solo recitals across the nation, he
said. He arranged and performed on
two compact disc recordings of cello
ensemble music.
Each summer, Tucker performs as
principal cellist in the Santa Fe Opera
Orchestra in New Mexico where
critic Richard Barrett wrote, “His
affinity and understanding of the
cello are beyond doubt
Tucker has definite feelings about
the role of a soloist.
“(The) soloist has an obligation to
put his or her individual stamp on that
piece of music,” Tucker said. “That
is what makes the piece really alive
and interesting for the audience.” In
this particular instance, Tucker said
Bloch’s “Schelomo” is very appeal
ing.
Although many might think Mid
westerners don t know much about
the fine arts, Tucker said he feels
Lincoln audiences are “culturally
infoimed,” and will know the differ
ence between a good and bad per
formance.
“The precedent has been estab
lished that the LSO has very good
soloists,” he said. “I feel an
obligation to live up to that expecta
tion.
“Another factor that makes this
performance important to me is that
this is a performance with friends and
for friends. Also, several of my stu
dents will be in the audience.”
Like many Lincoln professors,
Tucker has to juggle teaching and
‘The precedent
has been estab
lished that the LSO
has very good so
toWi’ -tuc*«r
‘‘A problem I’ve been struggling
with since I arrived is how much my
teaching keeps me from playing and
practicing to my potential,” he said.
‘‘Because of my academic duties,
teaching cello and (music) theory, I
have had to learn to make my practice
time more efficient.”
The concert will take place at
Nebraska Wesleyan University’s
O’Donnell Auditorium at 50th and
Huntington streets. Tickets are from
S8i to £.18. .Student rush, tickets, afe
available Stfnmfmes before concert
time for $4.
Absurd movie needs pep
»y >aran ivnignt
Staff Reporter
“Chances are since I wear a silly
grin the moment you come into view
moyip
The sounds of Johnny Mathis fill
the air as the romantic comedy
Chances Are gets under way.
Emile Ardolino’s film is not a
masterpiece, but it qualifies as purely
enjoyable fluff.
The story revolves around Alex
Finch (Robert Downey Jr.), a recent
Yale graduate who is actually the
reincarnated husband of Corinne Jef
feries (Cybill Shepard).
Alex meets up with Corinne, her
See CHANCES on 10
Courtesy of Charles Tuckei
Charles Tucker
‘Skin Deep focuses on skin, lacks depth
By Joel Schettler
Staff Reporter
Blake Edwards’ new film
“Skin Deep’’ was exactly that:
skin. Before the opening song
fades, a nude woman has already
appeared on the screen.
movip __
The film is about Zach (John
Ritter), and how he comes to term4?
with his problem of being a com
pulsive womanizer.
The film begins with Zach’s
pants already down while with his
mistress’s hairdresser. The mis
tress catches him and then his wife
catches him with both women.
Sound confusing? Right, and
that’s the way the film plays the
entire way through.
Zach’s life is washed up. He
realizes that he must change his
ways to win back his wife, but this
loser spends most of his time chas
ing women.
The problem with this film is
the script, written by director
Blake Edwards. Ritter’s character
is neither likable nor believable.
Most audiences never have the
problems that Zach faces; he looks
like an odd case.
The women in Zach’s life are
played by Alyson Reed (“A Cho
rus Line”), Chelsea Field (‘ ‘Com
mando”), former-Mrs. Spring
steen Julianne Phillips and Raye
Hollit, Ms. Los Angeles 1988
Bodybuilding champion, to name
only a few.
The women are paraded
through the film, and then forgot
ten until the final scenes. They
weren’t given any character; they
were simply trophies to be won by
Zach. The only one that gave a
lasting impression was Hollit, the
lady Hulk that gave Zach a memo
rable “romp in the hay.”
The storyline suffered as well.
It rambled on with Zach’s
struggles with drinking and family
until the final 10 minutes. The
ending is totally unbelievable.
Zach is hit by a giant wave that
explodes through the front door of
his beach house. If this were a way -
out comedy by Mel Brooks, it
would work.
Instead, a radio in the back
ground announces that there was a
sudden storm hitting the coast.
Right. Anyhow, the wave causes
Zach to say “Hey, I’ve got it. I’ll
stop drinking!”
The next shot shows Zach play
ing the piano at his favorite bar
with a copy of his new l?estseller on
a table and a glass of Slice in his
hand. After reuniting with his wife
he lives happily ever after.
If there is a light at the end of the
tunnel, it would be Ritter’s acting
ability. His specialty from his
“Three’s Company’’ days has
been physical comedy, in fact, he
won the Golden Globe Award and
the Emmy Award in 1984. There
are some funny moments in the
film but Ritter’s acting can’t outdo
a failed script.
The comedy lacks wit or intelli
gence and hits only skin deep.
Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
Women were a parade of sexual trophies in Blake Edwards’ “Skin Deep.”
-. . ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ - ■ ... . ^
