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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 1995)
Arts Entertainment Wednesday, January 18,1995 Page 9 Futz, Inc. presents play on life, bowling By John Fulwider Staff Reporter The meaning of life is found in a bowling ball. At least, that’s what happens in Steven Deitz’ play “More Fun Than Bowling,” which will be performed tonight by the Futz, Inc. theater company. Paul Pearson, the company’s artistic director, said the play looks into the life and loves of Jake, a normal fellow who has been married three times and seen two of his wives die in freak bowling accidents. Jake’s second wife died when lightning struck her bowling tro phy as she danced about in cel ebration of her victory; his third wife died when a bowling ball rack collapsed on her. Throughout the play, Jake sits on a hill, contemplating the memories of his two dead wives who are buried there. He is joined frequently by his teen-age daugh ter, Molly. Also present on the hill is a mysterious stranger who doesn’t make his intent known until the story’s climax. “Steven Dietz is a playwright who takes very common experi ences and moves them into really cosmic proportions,” Pearson said. Jake and Molly are played by a real-life father and daughter, Gary and Melanie Hall. Linda Adam-Hall is the voice of Lois, Jake’s first wife and Molly’s mother. “We have an actual family playing an actual family,” Pearson said. Pearson said Futz, Inc. ini tially chose the play for its “cute title.” Also appealing were the strong women’s roles in the play, which Pearson said were hard to find in most theater. “The women all have wonder ful things to say,” he said. ■‘They’re unique. They stand on their own.” Pearson said “Bowling” was profound, but not really deep. “It’s kinda something that sneaks up behind you and hits you on the head and you say, ‘Wow, that’s cool,”’ he said. He said the common nature of “Bowling” would appeal to its audience. “There’s nothing more com mon than bowling,” he said. “It’s the only thing you can drink beer and do at the same time.” Pearson said the Futz, Inc. is a community theater emphasizing See FUTZ on 10 ‘Voyager’ to take off from Union tonight By Chris DeKalb Staff Reporter High-tech spaceships and rub ber monsters will be released in Nebraska Union tonight. The Lincoln Fantasy and Sci ence Fiction Club will show the series premiere of “Star Trek: Voyager” at 8:30 pan., following an episode of “Mystery Science Theater 3,000.” The free showing will be in the Centennial Ballroom on a large-screen television. Gamer Johnson, a member of the club, said the showing would help fans and the organization. The club recorded the premiere episode via satellite. The com mercials will be edited out be fore the showing. “We thought this would be a good way of publicizing our club and club activities, as well as showing fans the new show on a big screen,” Johnson said. Lincolnites also may watch the “Voyager” premiere on KPTM/Fox 42 Saturday. Johnson said the club’s show ing of a “Star Trek: The Next Generation” season premiere drew about 300 people. Watch ing a show with many other fans is more fun, he said. “Godzilla v. Megalon,” the “Mystery Science Theater 3,000” episode, begins at 7 p.m. “Mys tery Science Theater 3,000” is a program carried on the Comedy Central cable network, which is unavailable in Lincoln. The screening of both shows should be finished by 11 p.m. iravisneying/UN Former Guns ‘N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clark performs at Homer’s, 1339 0 St. Gilby Clark visits Lincoln Former GNR ‘better off solo’ By Joel Strauch , Senior Reporter l rv ■■ : , l- ■■■ v*'■ More than 100 fans flocked to Homer’s, 1339 O St., Tuesday af ternoon to see Gilby Clark, former guitarist of Guns ‘N’ Roses. Clark was in Lincoln to pro mote his new solo album, “Pawn shop Guitars.” He announced his split from G’N’R Monday morn ing after finishing a video with Slash (G’N’R lead guitarist), said Mike Melbye, metal music direc tor at 1063 The Blaze. “Axl (G’N’R lead singer) is tak ing the music in a different direc tion that Clark doesn’t want to take,” Melbye said. Clark played a four-song acous tic set at Homer’s before he left for a sound check for his electric show at the Hurricane last night. Clark’s song, “Tijuana Jail,” has received much airplay on Lincoln radio stations. Some of Clark’s fans said the separation would improve Clark’s approach to his music. Joe Rodriguez, a graduate of the University of Nebraska at “I think the ‘mystic* part of being from \ Guns TV’ Roses and then coming to such an intimate setting is impressive. ” m KEVIN HAUPTMAN UNL graduate Kearney, said Clark was better off solo. “He’ll have a lot more success,” Rodriguez said. “Now that he’s on his own, he’s got his own unique sound that’s not influenced by Axl or Slash.” Kevin Otto of Lincoln also said Clark’s ideas would be more fo cused now that he’s split from the band. “It’s hard to be focused when you’re in the limelight with Guns ‘N’ Roses all the time,” Otto said. But other fans said they were there to see Clark because of his connection to G’N’R. Kevin Hauptman, a University ofNebraska-Lincoln graduate, said that although he wasn’t a really big fan of Clark, he was a huge u N R fan. “I think the ‘mystic’ part of being from Guns ‘N’ Roses and then coming to such an intimate setting is impressive,” Hauptman said. “He’s an artist who is closer to the people and his music shows that.” . Sean Reagan, a senior psychol ogy major at UNL, was another fan who came to check Clark out because of his G’N’R affiliation. “I haven’t even heard the whole CD,” Reagan said. “I’ve only heard that song that’s on the radio, ‘Tijuana Jail.’ It’s a pretty cool song.” Most of Clark’s fans agreed his music was “kinda bluesy” and a lot different from G’N’R music. Colby Coash, a sophomore the atre major at UNL, said, “Gilby Clark’s music is not heavy and not light, it’s just pure rock ‘n’ roll.” But not everyone at the store had come to see Gilby Clark. Matt Maaske of Kearney said that he didn’t even know the show was going on. “We walked in and decided to stay,” Maaske said. Maaske said he wasn’t neces sarily a fan of Clark’s. “But I might be after this,” he said. ‘Clerks’ serves audience with behind-the-counter view The Facts Film: “Clerks” Director: Kevin Smith Stars: Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti Rating: R Grade: A Five Words: Slackers in the service industry. By Chad Johnson Staff Reporter Take a couple of slackers, put them in charge of a convenience store and a video rental outlet, make them serve humanity’s out siders, and you get “Clerks.” “Clerks” is a funny, dark com edy that centers on a day in the life of Dante Hicks, manager of the Quick Stop Shop, someplace in New Jersey. Called in on his day off, Dante begins his longest day by discov ering gum jammed in the locks of the window shutters. Life is an uphill climb from there as he deals with the unexpected sexual revela tions of his current girlfriend, the impending marriage of the ex he still carries a torch for and the demands of the unruly, rude, ob noxious and just plain stupid cus tomers that torment his existence. Dante’s foil is Randal, played by Jeff Anderson, whose primary passions include being just as rude to the customers as they are to him, discussing sex and watching her maphroditic pomo tapes in the store. His nihilistic attitude is in basic opposition to the pliable Dante. While Dante caves in, Randal lashes out, but they both are stuck in their little comers of conve nience. The supporting cast is a bizarre mix of misfits, losers and redeem ers. Dante’s current girlfriend, Veronica (Marilyn Ghigliotti) is trying her best to get Dante out of the store and back to school. Their verbal duals are some of the best contests seen on screen in years. Other characters that flesh out the film are Caitlin, Dante’s ex, who has a rather shocking encoun ter in the bathroom of the store; Jay, a trash-talking street pusher with the vocabulary of a sewer rat; “Clerks ” is a funny, dark comedy that centers on a day in the life of Dante Hicks, manager of the Quick Stop Shop, someplace in New Jersey. and Silent Bob, who speaks little but says volumes. Director Kevin Smith gives the audience a bleak, grainy, desolate picture that belies the intelligence of the protagonist. Completed with a $27,575 bud get, “Clerks” is what would have happened in “Slacker” had the nar rative stayed with one character for the entire day. By doing so, “Clerks” is on par with, but different from, “Slacker ” Most viewers can recognize Dante or Randal as either themselves or someone they know. And remember, just because they serve you doesn’t mean they like you.