Nikki Fox/DN
WILLIAM M. COVER II (left) and Amy Johnson are the only two actors in “The Woolgatherer,” a William Mastrosimone play directed by Kathryn
Hollerman. The play opens tonight in the Studio Theatre.
J
=r
cLk
: 0
. -* •" iu- • I
I §§: ipaH | Ml
I B _ 3
Woolgatherer plays
on sincere characters
ByLizaHoltmeier
Senior Reporter
Cliff is a rough-around-the-edges
truck driver. Rose is a quiet, subdued
candy seller with an unusual collec
tion.
They’re not exactly Bogart and
Bergman, but these two characters
find each other nonetheless in
William Mastrosimone’s play “The
Woolgatherer.” The show closes the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Theatrix season this weekend.
The play, directed by Kathryn
Hollerman, tells the story of the two
unlikely souls - wounded by the
world - who find each other and start
‘‘ffitlivT - jT _"
It is an appropriate addition to
Mastrosimone’s list of previous
works, which range from the psycho
logical drama “Extremities” about
physical and mental abuse to the sen
timental, old-fashioned movie “With
Honors,” starring Joe Pesci.
Hollerman first read
Mastrosimone’s play “The
Woolgatherer” in 1984 while in
Pittsburgh. At the time, there had
been an episode at the Pittsburgh zoo
involving a group of children who
broke in and injured several cranes.
The play evoked emotions in
Hollerman that were similar to the
ones she felt when she heard about
the cranes.
“The play had an element that
made me reread it,” Hollerman said.
“Mastrosimone writes people I get
attached to. They’re very human,
very real characters.”
William M. Cover II, who plays
Cliff, said the characters also spoke
like ordinary people.
“Mastrosimone writes very natur
al lines, but the problem working
with natural conversation is it doesn’t
follow one line of thought,” Cover
said. “There are some really falla
cious monologues.”
Cover added that because the
characters were so human, they were
also very intricate.
“(Cliff) is something inside that
doesn’t come out on the outside,”
Cover said. His person just peeks
through the chinks in his armor.”
Amy Johnson, who plays Rose,
said she had enjoyed watching the
complexity of the play's characters
develop.
“My favorite part of this show has
been seeing it develop,” Johnson said.
“I’ve liked seeing where we started
and how it feels toward the end.”
Hollerman said the small size of
the cast - Johnson and Cover are the
only actors - ✓/
aided in this ••
dcV"The”how Kathryn has
is a lot more Jone
personal, mti
mate and Subtext what
more family- - . -
’■ 'Casablanca'does —
Hollerman
said. “The with shadows”
actors had to
learn to trust WILLIAM M. COVER IT
corner actor
since it s just _
them.”
Cover said he and Johnson also
had to learn how to deal with the sub
tleties of the play.
“This show is about words and
subtleties and emotion,” Cover said.
“Kathryn has done with subtext what
‘Casablanca’ does with shadows.”
Hollerman said she hoped the
audience would find a sense of hope
in the play’s message.
“The story is really a modem
fairy tale,” she said. “It gives us that
feeling ... that none of us are ever
completely alone.”
Johnson and Cover agreed, adding
that the show was basically a love
story.
“It’s about two lost souls who find
each other and who are worth sav
ing,” Cover said. “There’s nothing
concrete at the end of the play, but
you leave feeling they are going to
accomplish whatever it is they’ve set
out to do.”
“The Woolgatherer” runs
Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m.
and also at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the
Temple Building’s Studio Theatre.
Tickets are $3 at the door.
. ■.
fcli, r- •r ' : ' ' •> -.V -* ■ ;
*
Quintet
brasses
up Lied
By Patrick Kelly
Staff Reporter
Classical music historically has been
hard to improve upon, and new approaches
to the form are rarely accomplished.
However, The Canadian Brass will per
form that task with a great deal of fanfare
this weekend when it performs at the Lied
Center for Performing Arts.
The quintet - made up of tuba player
Charles Dallenbach, horn player David
Ohanian, trombonist Eugene Watts and
trumpeters Jens Lindemann and Ronald
Romm - has been performing classical and
jazz music in a unique fashion for 27 years.
Watts, a member of the Toronto
Symphony, organized the ensemble, enlist
ing the help of the other members, who
were members of various symphony
orchestras.
Since its incarnation, The Canadian
Brass has showcased a broad range of
music, from Mozart to Dixieland Jazz. The
group has played for audiences all over
North America, Europe, The Middle East,
Asia, Australia and the former Soviet
Union. The band was also the first chamber
ensemble ever to perform in the People’s
Republic of China.
When the quintet isn’t performing, it is
adding to its already extensive discography.
To date, the group has released more than
40 recordings including a highly successful
Christmas album, “Noel,” which reached
No. 4 on Billboard’s “Crossover” chart. The
Please see QUINTET on!3
‘Hot Country5 act
presents rockabilly,
alternative sounds
From Staff Reports
Just in time to do some shimmying
before Dead Week, BR5-49 arrives in
Lincoln tonight for the second time this
year.
Adding to the manic energy, Lincoln’s
own Shithook will open the show at
Knickerbockers, 901 O St., at 9. BR5-49 is
set to take the stage at 10.
Combining the earthiness of early coun
try music and elements of rockabilly and
alternative, BR5-49 has emerged as one of
the top new country acts.
“Rolling Stone” magazine featured the
band as its “Hot Country Act” of 1996, and
the group was nominated for a Grammy in
January for Best Country Performance by a
Duo or Group.
With influences ranging from Sonic
Youth to Carl Perkins, the band made a
name for itself playing in the Nashville cir
cuit before signing with Arista/Nashville
records in 1995.
Touring in support of its self-titled
debut album, the band features Gary
Bennett on acoustic guitar and vocals, Don
Herron on steel guitar, “Smilin’” Jay
McDowell on upright bass, Chuck Mead on
vocals and guitars and Shawn Wilson on
drums.
Tickets for tonight’s show are $13 and
may be purchased at Knickerbockers and
Recycled Sounds, 12110 St.