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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 1998)
I .. -y ^..j^aaaag£j nrru nii/pn . . . ,. ... ... Ryan Soderlin/DN BETH BAKER, who plays Sister Angelica, and the rest of the cast rehearse the operas “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi” at Kimball Hall Monday night. UNL productions span emotional spectrum By Patrick Miner Staff Reporter The mournful and the merry. What more could you ask for from one night of operas? University of Nebraska-Lincoln Opera presents “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi,” two one-act operas written by Giacomo Puccini. The operas are part of a trilogy written by Puccini, with “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi” being the latter two installments. Each story, however, is very different, with the serious piece “Angelica” contrasted to the hilarity of “Schicchi.” “Suor Angelica” is the tale of sister Angelica (Beth Baker), a nun whose experi ence in the convent has kept her from contact ing her family for seven years. When her aunt (Rebecca Shane) appears, however, Angelica receives some news she would rather not hear as the story develops into a tragedy. On the other hand. “Gianni Schicchi” is the story of a family that is mourning the death of a close relative, Buoso Donati (Michael Cotton). However, when the family members find Donati has disinherited them, they call upon Gianni Schicchi (Jeff Keele) to save the fortune they all believe they deserve. The story then turns into a wild, corrupt com edy. “There’s the dramatic intensity of the first piece superimposed with the comedy of the second,” director William Shomos said. “‘Gianni Schicchi’ also has some of the more recognizable music in opera.” The music behind the two operas helps lead to their entertaining differences. “Because the first opera is a melodrama based in a convent,” conductor Tyler White said, “the music is very churchly. It is emo tional and passionate, and the same time, it has a spiritualized, dramatic feel to it. The challenge in ‘Gianni Schicchi,’ though, is that it’s a piece of comic theater, with a lot of the comedy being in the timing of the music." Also, the colors that were used in the opera play on the dramatic difference in atti tudes of the two. “Suor Angelica” uses the color black repeatedly, especially in the nun's habits. “Gianni Schicchi” counters with pas tels and bright colors in the suits and dresses worn by its characters. With all these factors, however, the casts of the two operas are not to be outdone. Performances agree well with the moods of the operas, with Baker and Keele portraying memorable renditions of Angelica and Schicchi. Other characters, including the Abbess (Kristen Ramer) and Aunt (Shane) in “Suor Angelica,” as well Lauretta (Kim Lauritsen), Rinuccio (Lance Hedlund) and Zita (Shane) in “Gianni Schicchi,” make the operas worth admission. “We chose operas where we could make the most of the talents of the students,” Shomos said. The shows will be performed Thursday and Saturday nights in Kimball Hall. Shows are at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students and $ 12 for the general public. Documentary examines psyche of gay-bashers By Barb Churchill Film Critic The documentary film “Licensed to Kill" is next up on the Mary Riepma Ross film schedule, and it is a riveting character study into why men murder supposedly gay men. “Licensed to Kill" documents why some men seem to feel it's OK to murder gay men through the murderers' own words via mter v lews, news reports, courtroom scenes, home and police videos of gay bashing and the actual mur ders, and childhood photos of the murderers. These graphics and reports bring to life the terrible sto ries of the murderers, along with their varied rationales for murder. Arthur Dong edited, produced, wrote and directed “Licensed to Kill ” Dong, an openly gay man. was the victim of gay bashers in San Francisco more than 20 years ago. and he obviously has not for gotten the pain it caused him. I Iowe\er. for better or worse. Dong attempts a sort of clinical detach ment in his questioning of the mur derers, which tends to undercut some of the most emotional scenes of the film. "Licensed to Kill” is extremely violent, graphically showing videos of crime scenes (bodies, blood, chalk marks and all). Perhaps this is another reason Dong wished to detach himself from the statements of the men. However, these statements are what make the film. Why these men did what they did. and whether or not they regret it today, is the main pur pose of the film. “Licensed to Kill,” along with the short film “My Body,” pre mieres at the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater Thursday and contin ues through Sunday. Screenings are at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; 1 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. on Saturday; and 2:30 p.m.. 4:45 p.m,. The Facts i£p§ Title: “Licensed to Kill” Director: Arthur Dong Rating: unrated Grade: B+ Five Words: Real reasons men kill gays, j 1 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $6. $5 for students and $4 for senior citizens, children and members of the Friends of the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater.