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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1995)
Arts ©Entertainment Friday, February 17,1995 Page 9 .', _-jl • z'-*r? .. ^ \ • • ’ '■ , ■ Romanian revolt explored in play By Paula Lavigne Theater Critic “It” is going to happen. Hidden behind masks of paranoia and fear, Romania waits for It. But when It comes, will they be able to adapt? It is December 1989, the revolution and the overthrow of the dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu. It is playwright Caryl Churchill’s “Mad Forest” pre sented by the University The atre Thursday night. “Mad Forest” mixes reality, symbolism and the supernatu ral in three parts — before, during and after the revolu tion. Between the realism, the play breaks for testimonial in terviews conducted by Churchill while in Romania. Romania was a history les son in fiction that built up to Dec. 21,1989, when chaos took over. The revolution “of sorts” changed the face of Romania forever, but no one knew whose revolution — or coup — it was — the people’s or the army’s. Much of the pre-revolution “Mad Forest” steps right out of George Orwell’s “1984.” The interrogation of a peasant by a member of the Securitate, the secret police, shows the intimi dation and fear wielded like an iron bar. The storyline follows mainly two families, and actors often play more than one character. The play is so entrenched in history and politics, hdwever, that sometimes the audience can get lost within a web of words. Except for a small slump in the second act, the actor’s per formances were victorious. Each one was a ticking time bomb full of suppressed frustration toward the government and each other. See MAD FOREST on 10 ‘Firecracker’ fails to ignite any sparks. By John Fulwider Theater Critic It’s sad when good perform ers get saddled with bad mate rial. That was the case at Wednesday’s sneak preview of “The Miss Firecracker Contest” at Lincoln Community Play house. The performers, sets and lighting design were superior. But the plot left a lot to be desired. The play, written by Beth Henley and directed by Judith Hart, explores the attempts of Camelle (Sara Bucy) to prove to the world that she is pretty and talented by winning the Miss Firecracker contest on the Fourth of July. To win, Camelle must over come her reputation as a “hot tamale” following her indis criminate choice of bedmates and subsequent contraction of a sexually transmitted disease. As the play opens, Camelle is practicing the routine she hopes will get her first prize: tap dancing to “The Star Spangled Banner.” Presumably this, along with many other scenes in the play, was sup posed to be funny. But this scene, along with many others, simply wasn’t funny. The lack of humor in the play (advertised as “very funny”) certainly wasn’t the fault of the actors and actresses. With one See FIRECRACKER on 10 Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures The Brady Bunch jumps to the big screen this weekend. Old, new films fill theaters From Staff Reports It’s Oscar time, and a busy weekend for Lincoln movie the aters. Three new features arrive today, and a couple of Oscar nominated films are returning to the first-run screens. Leading the pack of new films is “Just Cause,” starring Sean Connery and Laurence Fishbume. A man is forced to give a confes sion, and a lawyer (Connery) comes out of his 25-year retire ment to get him off the hook, but soon finds himself over his head. The glut of TV-series movies continues with a big-screen ver sion of “The Brady Bunch,” with “Cheers” alum Shelley Long heading up the cast as Carol Brady. These are the same ’70s-type Brady characters we watched as kids, but they are now in a ’90s world, facing the same problems — in the same apple-pie way — they did years ago. For the kids, “Heavyweights” is the third and final new film. This one looks at a camp ofheavy set kids who have always been picked on, but now they are going to fight back. The Academy Award nomi nations came out Tuesday, and some of the more heavily-nomi nated films are being re-released to the first-run theaters. Two films nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Ac tor have returned; “Quiz Show” is at the Plaza 4, while “Forrest Gump” — which received a whopping 13 nominations — opens at the Lincoln 3 and the East Park 3. “Nell,” with Best Actress nominee Jodie Foster, lands at the StarShip 9 today. ‘Figaro’ a wonderful marriage By Jeff Randall Theater Critic Thursday night’s premiere of the University of Nebraska-Lin coln School of Music’s production of“The Marriage of Figaro” helped justify the opera’s 200-plus years of existence. The combination of strong act ing, beautiful singing and jolting music left the audience at Kimball Recital Hall so entertained that the 3 1/2-hour opera seemed to pass by all too quickly. “Figaro” is one of the best works by one of history’s greatest composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and this produc tion does it justice. Kenneth Floyd, in the title role of Figaro, was a constant source of energy. Every moment he spent onstage was one worth watching. Playing opposite Floyd was Tamara Ensrude as his bride-to be, Susanna. Ensrude’s voice and actions instantly demanded atten tion. Their chemistry was immea surable; their connection was un deniable in every moment they spent together on stage, from the opening scene until the closing. Eric Strong’s name seemed very appropriate in his role of the Count, a domineering father figure. His booming voice and large stature fit his character perfectly in the first act. Those same traits came to serve as ironic when he found himself outwitted and outdone, by those who he at first controlled. But despite all of these excel lent performances, it was Laurie Lashbrook’s character of the Countess that stole the show. Lashbrook did a superb job in re vealing the gradual transformation of the Countess from a subservient housewife to a woman in control ol her life. The rest of the cast held its own, often grabbing the audience’s at tention away from the principal characters and earning it. The UNL Orchestra, under the direction of Tyler White, provided beautiful background sounds. But their aural presence was often of such strength that it took the spot light from the visually accessible performers on the stage. Stage director William Shomos has done a terrific job in coordinat ing the potential chaos of frequently intricate scenes. The hectic confu sion in the opera’s wedding day setting is a difficult thing to con trol, but Shomos’ direction com bined with supreme efforts by the entire cast, maintained the neces sary focus. “The Marriage of Figaro” is a top-shelf production. For opera novices, it is an excellent opportu nity to discover the art form. For those more familiar, it is an oppor tunity to see a world-class produc tion with roots that are close to home. The second and final perfor mance will be this Sunday at 8 p.m. in the Kimball Recital Hall. Tick ets are available at the Lied Box Office, $12 for adults, and $6 for students and seniors. _ Polecat plays tonight From Staff Reports Polecat will be bring their unique personalities and style of music to the stage tonight at Knickerbockers, 901 0 St. Bassist Brendan Blaha de scribes the band’s music as somewhere between emotional melodic punk and rock and roll. The band is currently divid ing its time among writing new material, giving Lincoln shows and recording songs for various compilations They are focusing most of their attention on their split 7 inch record with Sunbrain, a band from South Carolina. But for now, the band is con tent to play the Lincoln clubs. Blaha particularly is looking forward to tonight’s show, be cause it will be the band’s first time working with opening act Puggy “Jon (Hischke, Puggy bass ist) and I are good friends,” Blaha said, “and I have wanted to play with him for a long time.” On Saturday night, Chicago’s Agatha and St. Nickelhead will play at Knickerbockers. The Zoo Bar, 136 N. 14th St., will feature Gullibanque tonight and Carolyn Wonder land & the Imperial Monkeys Saturday night. The Sissies will play tonight at Le Cafe Shakes, 1418 O St. And tonight at the Hurri cane, 1118 0 St., the L.A. Ram blers will play. Rascal Basket, Wide and Blaster will play at the club Saturday night. Kiss cover band Strutter will play Sunday night at a 19-and-over show. Lie Awake will be play in the Centennial Ballroom at Ne braska Union Saturday night. That show will be an all-ages show, free with a student ID and $3 without.