arts
'Porgy and Bess'
The opera that tells of an unlikely couple will be performed tonight only at the Topeka Performing Arts Center.
The characters Sportin' Life, Porqv and Bess argue in the Charleston touring production of George Gershwin's folk opera. "Porqv and Bess.
By Liz Klinger
By Liz Klinger
Special to the Kansan
T
he classic American opera about unlikely love in a small southern town will unfold in Topeka tonight.
The University of Kansas Concert Series, in conjunction with African-American history month, will present the Charleston, S.C. production of "Porgy and Bess" at 8 ontight at
the Topeka Performing Arts Center, 214 SEighth St. The one-night performance is part of a three month, 35-city tour of the United States and Canada for the touring group.
George Gershwin's folk opera, "Porgy and Bess," made its debut in Boston in 1955. The opera originated from the play "Porgy and Bess" written by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward. The opera boasts some of Gershwin's most famous music such as "Summertime," "I Got Plenty of Nuttin," and "It Ain't Necessarily So."
The opera, now an American classic, takes place in the small South Carolina community of Catfish Row where a physically disabled man named Porgy falls in love with a woman named Bess.
The backdrop to the relationship between Porgy and Bess is a community rich in song, culture and belief in God. The people of Catfish Row pull together and take life as it comes even in the event of a hurricane.
The Charleston production of "Porgy and Bess," directed by Will Roberson, is a collaboration between Living Arts, Inc. and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Roberson has been involved with this opera for more than 15 years and has directed other productions of "Porgy and Bess" at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and the Atlanta Theatre under the Stars.
The opera, which began touring in January, consists of five main singers and a 19-member chorus. Three singers in the touring company alternate in the roles of Porgy and three performers play Bess. Andre Solomon-Glover and Roberta Laws will portray Porgy
and Bess in tonight's performance.
"There's something about Pergy that reveals people to themselves." Solomon-Lomov
He said he thought the Roberson focused more on the human drama and how much was at risk for all those involved in the Catfish Row community rather than the lighter aspects.
Solomon-Glover, who played Jake in "Porgy and Bess" at the Savonlinna Festival in Finland, said he thought Robertson focused on the tragic story of heroism.
"I think Roberson decided to bring that out," he said.
Solomon-Glover stressed the importance of seeing a live performance, especially for music majors.
"They get to see live opera," he said. "Live performance is nothing at risk, much more moving and a lot less perfect, and that's the way it is for everyone including Pavarotto.
Continued on Page 6.
books
Different dictionaries deliver denotations
By Christoph Fuhrmans
Special to the Kansan
Just how much is there to know about the dee and dark meanings of doodling?
Well, according to The Doodle Dictionary, written by Nancy Nelson and Alice Landrey, drawing bubbles while doodling symbolizes an effervescent and outgoing personality.
Organized people tend to doodle connected bubbles, the book says, and floating bubbles indicate a person has a tendency to snace out.
The Doodle Dictionary is just one of many dictionaries available in bookstores that contain large amounts of both useful and useless information.
and comedy quotes to sexual slang and astrology.
Dictionary also vary in size. Tionaries are small enough to be carried in your pocket. Others are so large and heavy a wheel-barrow would be needed to cart them home.
Dictionary topics range from first names
Suppose you stepped on a holothuroidea and wondered what was clinging to the bottom of your shoe.
The possibilities of these dictionary are endless.
It's a sea cucumber, according to the Dictionary of Biology.
Perhaps the dentist said that you needed to have a rhizodont trophy.
After you regained your compose, you would look in your Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary and discover that all
you needed was a crown put on a tooth.
Even though most dictionary have been written for a specific field of work or study, others are a bit more unorthodox.
The American Heretic's Dictionary by Chaz Bufe defines the pope as "the world's most popular and highly paid 'drag' performer."
How do such obscure subjects become dictionary entries?
Nancy Nelson, co-author of The Doodle Dictionary, said the book came from her own experiences.
As an art therapist in New York City, Nelson always had been fascinated by doodling. She first included the dictionary as a supplement to a serious book about art and later printed the dictionary after the book did not sell, she said.
Despite the wide variety of dictionaries available, the standard versions still are the best-selling ones.
Lisa Eitner, buyer and supervisor of the Mt. Oread Bookshop, said the two best-selling dictionaries were The American Heritage Dictionary and Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary.
People and places at the University of Kansas.
calendar
Performing Arts
Tickets: $6 public, $3 KU and K-12 students,
$5 senior citizens and other students.
Available at the Murphy Hall Box Office
Also tomorrow through Saturday at the same
time and place
"The Conduct of Life" by Maria Irene Fornes
8 tonight in Inge Theatre
Concert Series: The Charleston Production of "Porey and Bess"
8 tonight at the Topeka Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10 KU students, $9 K-12 students,
$19 senior citizens and $17 other students;
$20 or $18 public.
Available through the SUA office in the Kansas Union, Topeka Performing Arts Center and Murphy Hall Box Office
Student recital: Eric Stomberg, bassoon
8 p.m. Saturday in Swartwhout Recital Hall. Free
Master's recital: Suat-Kian Tan, piano
8 p.m. Monday in Swarthout Recital Hall. Free
Doctoral Recital: Cory Hall, piano
8 p.m. Thursday in Swarthout Recital Hall
Continued on Page 6.
Jayhawk Bookstore
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THIS IS IT!
Pre-Business Students Who meet the minimum admission requirements:
Applications for Summer and Fall 1993
Admission to the School of Business are due: Monday, February 15 in 206 Summerfield
Applications are available in 206 Summerfield 864-3844