THURSDAY, APRIL 11,2002
FROM THE COVER
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN =
AARON SHOWALTER/KANSAN
Desdemona, played by Sara Armstrong, Cushing, Okla., graduate student, uses a boot hook to illustrate the size of her husband's penis as her servant Emilia, played by Mo Perry, Eden Prairie, Minn., junior, listens. The two were in final dress rehearsal last week for Desdemona: A Play About A Handkerchief.
DESDEMONA
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
of what might have happened when Othello wasn't around.
"I really like that I get to be ridiculous and crazy in the name of art for two hours." Perry said.
The mixture of heavy-handed feminism and vulgar comedy might not seem to go well together, but it makes thinking about stereotypes less dry. More importantly, it works.
"The acting was phenomenal. They're just so funny! It was a nice escape — very woman power," said Stephanie Farley, Wellington sophomore.
After laughing out loud during the play, the audience is left wondering whether Desdemona was
ethical or not, and if she deserved the end everyone knew was coming.
Director Joy Richmond, Houston doctoral student in theater history, made the rehearsal process a collaborative work, something the cast and crew appreciated.
"She let us take it as far as we wanted," Armstrong said.
Songs from popular movies such as Moulin Rouge were chosen to enhance the connection to modern times. Costumes were visual reminders of the characters, such as a lacy black bra showing through a white shirt on Emilia, hinting at her repressed sexuality.
Adrienne Lamping, Ballwin
Mo., junior, who plays Bianca,
comes on stage wrapped in a
"I really like that she's totally at peace with the fact that she's a prostitute," Lamping said about her character. "It's just her job. Emilia's a maid, and Bianca is a hooker."
towel, but quickly casts it off to reveal fishnet stockings and tight black clothing.
Desdemona plays at 7:30 tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at the Inge Theater in Murphy Hall. While the play isn't meant for a young audience, the jokes and issues are perfect for anyone who knows anything about Othello. And for those who don't, a "Cliffs Notes" version of Shakespeare's play is provided in the program.
Contact McCielland at bmccelland@kansan.com. This story was edited by Gillian Titus.
formance. The new format eventually grew into today's competitive poetry slam movement.
POET
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
"It's more alive, more interactive, it requires audience participation." Chin said.
The audience reaction is crucial for the slam to work. They are encouraged to laugh or cry at the poet during the performance.
"The fluidity of it is one of the best aspects," said Chelsea Cummings, a Lawrence resident who participated in the workshop "It's so natural — it's more like life. It's so real."
At yesterday's workshop the audience didn't hide its delight with Chin's playful mannerisms. Her performance changed from conversation to passionate poem with a surprising ease.
Laughter erupted during the workshop when Chin shared her theory that puppets Bert and Ernie were not gay, but just had to wait "for the right girls."
Later, when she delivered a poem about lesbians falling for straight women, many audience members chuckled to themselves. Much of Chin's poetry dealt with society's reaction to her homosexuality.
"The best thing I can do in a writing situation is to be honest how I feel." Chin said.
In her native home of Jamaica, homosexual relationships are illegal, so, five years ago, Chin packed up hgr bags and moved to New York to "chase women."
"I thought I would go and be a lesbian for eight months," she said.
The eight months have turned into five years and counting. In the meantime, Chin won the Amazon Slam in Denmark, The 1999 Chicago People of Color Slam, the 1998 Lambda Poetry Slam, and the 2000 SlamThis title. She's been featured on 60 Minutes and had her poetry published in a variety of magazines and poetry slam anthologies.
Chin said she considered herself very lucky to make her living with poetry, though sometimes the job was not easy. When she was just starting, Chin said she rode a bus from New York to Chicago just to perform in one club for $35.
"It's a lot of work," she said. "It's very important that the work remain honest. You have to give up yourself every time and every time you leave some behind."
Chin also wanted to take a little bit of the audience with her. Before the end of her performance, she passed out piles of journals and encouraged everyone to sign. Some students gave Chin mementos like pins and key chains.
Joanne Abbas, Iowa City, Iowa, senior, had seen Chin last year at a conference. Although she herself did not compose poetry, Abbs said she enjoyed watching Chin's performance.
"It's different from any kind of poetry," she said
Contact Shaffer at lshaffer@kansan.com. This story was edited by Andy Gassaway.
'Really? A Billion Bucks?!'
Yep. That's how much KU Endowment works with each year to help KU. Most of this money consists of something called "endowed funds."
What that means is money reserved for the future. Every year, some interest earnings are awarded and some re-invested so
What that means is money reserved for the some interest earnings are awarded and some the principal's purchasing power isn't gradually eaten by inflation. These funds produced $20 million in student scholarships just this year!
The outfit that raises private money and
INVEST IN EXCELLENCEI
invests it for KU is the Kansas University Endowment Association. It's one of the country's largest because KU alumni and friends are so loyal and generous.And its value to the University for more than 130 years can hardly be measured.
That's why, when the subject turns to university endowments, we can never be too big.
And why we've launched KU First.
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Experience College...
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