bɔ̄ bɔ̄ bɔ̄
Valerie Rontrager / KANSAN
Pitti-Sing, Sarah Swanson, North Platte, Neb. junior, screams at Katiisha, Ruth Robertson, Manhattan graduate student, during a dress rehearsal of "The Mikado." Students were rehearing last evening for the operetta that is based on a comical theme.
Do you hate opera? You won't find any stuffy artistes screaming foreign language in KU Opera's production of The Mikado
By Kevin Hoffmann Kansan staff writer
Those who never thought they would enjoy an opera may soon change their minds.
Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera, "The Mikado," is nothing like the stuffy Italian monstrosities that can scare many people away from opera.
The University of Kansas Opera will perform "The Mikado" this weekend at Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall.
"The Mikado" is, in fact, not a true opera. Its light nature and abundance of dialogue make it an operetta.
Mark Ferrell, director of opera for the music department, described "The Mikado" as an opera for everyone.
Ferrell said he thought "The Mikado" would entertain even those uninterested in opera.
"It really doesn't take an opera-educated person to enjoy this, although, because it is classical in nature, opera-educated people do enjoy it." he said.
"It is very accessible music. The music is very easy to listen to. It has a lot of lively music in it," he said. "The plot is kind of crazy. It is definitely comical and fun. There are also some visual surprises."
Ferrell said he and John Stephens, a professor of voice who provides stage direction for the opera, tried to make the production as creative as possible.
"What John and I really wanted to do was provide a framework within our performers to explore the material and come up with their own creative input," he said.
Ferrell said the most rewarding aspect of working with "The Mikado" was watching the cast develop creatively.
"Because the material is so brilliant, it inspires the performers to be equally brilliant,"
he said.
"The Mikado," like most Gilbert and Sullivan operas, satiizes the British way of life.
"It is essentially a Victorian era 'Saturday Night Live' with music. "Ferrell said."
W. S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan teamed up in the late 1800's to write operas. Gilbert wrote the words or books, and Sullivan wrote the music. The two became famous for their comical operas.
Other famous operas by Gilbert and Sullivan are "The Pirates of Penzance" and "The HMS Pinafore."
"It really doesn't take an opera-educated person to enjoy this."
Mark Forroll
Director of Opera
Ferrell said "The Mikado" satirized the British legal system.
"There is a character in this opera who holds several political positions, all of which came by the way of connections," Ferrell said. "The character is suited for none of them. There were people in office in Britain at that time who were similar to this character."
"The Mikado" was inspired by a Victorian craze for all things Japanese. The plot revolves around Japanese characters who get involved in a crazy circle.
Nanki-Poo, played by Nathan Croner, Wellesley, Mass, senior, falls in love with the leading lady, Yum-Yum, played by Jessica Sparlin, Rolla, Mo., senior. But Yum-Yum is preparing to marry Ko-Ko, the town executioner, played by Randel Wolfe, Lawrence graduate student. Ko-Ko is in trouble trouble though, for flirting, and is to be beheaded. Ko-Ko takes advantage of his title and puts off his own death.
Meanwhile the Emperor of Japan, the Mikado, informs Ko-Ko that if no executions are performed, he will take the title of executioner away from him and the town will be reduced to a village.
While all of this is taking place, Nanki-Poo finds out about Yum-Yum's upcoming marriage and decides to take his own life. Ko-Ko finds out and tries to persuade Nanki-Poo to let him perform an execution.
The plot may seem confusing, but, in the classical tradition of Gilbert and Sullivan, everything works out in a creative but logical way.
Ferrell said he was pleased with the cast's interpretation of "The Mikado."
"Everybody worked hard," he said. "We have people with a lot of experience and we have people that this is their first time on stage in a costume."
Jessica Sparlin, who plays Yum-Yum, said the cast had worked on "The Mikado" since early last semester.
"I really came together quite nicely," said Snarlin. "It is a very funny story."
"The Mikado" will be performed at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 13, through Saturday, Jan. 15,
and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16. Tickets are $6
for the general public, $3 for students and $$
for senior citizens. Tickets may be bought at
the Murphy Hall and Lied Center box offices.
theater
Student's play heads for regional contest
"Graf Spee," by Hays graduate student Ken Willard, may soon win the chance to play at Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
By Cathleen Siechta
Kansan staff writer
Kansan staff writer
Willard's play has apparently had an affect on many other people. "Graf Spee," an original script written by Willard in a play writing class, has advanced to the regional level of competition of the American College Theater Festival. Productions from eight states will compete in the regional competition.
After the curtain closed last semester on a production of Ken Willard's play, "Graf Spee," the audience did not applaud.
"We have a one in eight chance of winning and going on to perform at the Kennedy Center in April," he said. "Graf Spee" is one of the best plays ever written in my class. We are very optimistic, and we believe in this play."
"Graf Spee," named for a World War II battleship, is about a group of South Americans dealing with political terrorism. The play was inspired by a segment on "60 Minutes" that dealt with the fall of an authoritarian government in Argentina.
"I couldn't believe it," said Willard, Hays graduate student. "The lights were on, the actors were off the stage, and the audience was just sitting there, staring at what they had just seen. The play had really affected them."
Associate professor Paul Stephen Lim, who taught the play writing class, said he had high hopes for the production.
"This is a very ambitious play," said Steven Grossman, Lawrence graduate student and director of "Graf Spee." "It takes on important
"The actors are marvelous." Willard said. "Steve Grossman has assembled some of the finest actors at KU for this play. Some of the actors have changed my words in the performances, and we have taken the actors words over mine. As a result, the play is as much theirs as it is mine."
and very troubling, powerful themes in a way that young playwrights are not commonly able to project. It deals with the ongoing horror of dictatorial brutality and torture. However, the themes transcend political dimensions. It is also powerfully spiritual."
The nine-member cast will perform "Graf Spee" once more for Lawrence residents before going to the regional festival. The performance is scheduled for 8 p.m., Monday, Jan. 17, at Liberty Hall. General Admission tickets are now on sale at Liberty Hall for $5.
But Willard is humble about his award-winning script.
The company will then perform at Johnson County Community College on Sunday, Jan. 22. "Graf Spee" will be performed for judges at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Grossman said he hoped "Graf Spee's" last local performance would attract a large audience.
"People should seize the opportunity to see this play," he said. "Ken Willard has crafted a play so rich in levels of knowledge, so powerful and complex, that the audience is moved very deeply. A play like this does not come around very often."
Lifelong fan strives to build Elvis museum
personalities
SAN FRANCISCO — Robin Rosaena is a regular gal with a regular job and a regular life.
Except for those 40,000 pieces of Elvis memorabilia.
The Associated Press
Her fascination with Elvis has led to appearances on TV talk shows. She's consulted on books about Elvis. Other fans and collectors call her at all hours of the night to settle bets, or just to ask a question about the "King."
In short, Rosaena knows just about all there is to know about Elvis.
Now, she's sharing some of her vast collection of Elvis stuff in a new book. "All the King's Things."
Rosaea was only eight years old when she had her first Elvis experience. She was staying at her grandmother's house on the historic evening in 1956 when Presley first groomed on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
"My grandmother thought it was bizarre and rious, as did a lot of people," she said.
From Presley's memorable performance, she was inspired to save her baby-sitting wages and buy her first Elvis recording — "Jallhouse Rock."
She followed Elvis as a teenager, along with Fabian and other teen idols. But she left Elvis for The Beatles when "the Elvis movies got to the point where it was almost embarrassing to watch."
It wasn't until 1970, after Rosaen caught the King in concert in Las Vegas, that she began to get serious about Elvisology.
She was entranced, she says, partly because "he
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
See ELVIS, Page 10
PAGE 9
JANUARY 12,1994
Your guide to Entertainment in the Lawrence Area.
calendar
EXHIBITIONS AND LECTURES
Exhibition — Paintings by
Minneapolis Children's Theater: "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan 13, 1994, at the Lied Center.
University of Kansas Opera: "The Milkado" by Gilbert and
Susan Grace and ceramics by Glenda Taylor Jan. 3-20, 1994, at the Lawrence Arts Center Exhibition — "The Sleep of Reason: Reality and Fantasy in the print series of Goya" Jan. 9 - Feb. 20, 1994, at the Spencer Museum of Art. Video — "Dale Chihuly: Installations 1964- 1992" Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Jan. 12-14, 1994, in the 20th-Century Gallery at the Spencer Museum of Art. Video available on request.
Exhibition — Dennis Oppenheim: Drawings and Selected Sculpture Jan. 16 - Feb. 27, 1994, at the Spencer Museum of Art.
Lecture — Glass artist Dale Chihuly, on his work 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, 1994, at the Kansas Union Ballroom.
Sullivan 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Jan. 13-15, 1994, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, 1994, at SWarthwout Recital Hall. $6 public, $3 students, $5 senior citizens.
English Alternative Theater Presents "Graf Spee" 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, 1994, at Liberty Hall. $5 general admission.
AUDITIONS
PERFORMANCES
University Dance Company Auditions 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 19,
1994, at Robinson Center
Open to all interested dancers.
WORKSHOPS
Flamenco master class taught by Tamara la Garbanicca 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan.18 1994, at Robinson Center, Studio 240. Open to public. Dance experience not required. $10.