ENTERTAINMENT
The University Daily
KANSAN
February 17, 1984 Page 6
Fiber scenery performs in play of bleak journey
By JAN UNDERWOOD Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
Three pieces of white woven sheets will play an important role in "Terra Nova," a play about Robert Falcon Scott's tragic 1911 expedition to the South Pole.
"Terra Nova" will open at 8 ontong in Crafton-Prey Theatre in Murphy Hall.
Ione Unruh, a local fiber artist and costume technician for the University Theatre, said that the cotton, plastic, styrofoam and cloth sculpture performs on the stage.
Not only does the fiber represent icy alps and shifting snowdrifts, it also symbolizes character
"IT BECOMES THE environment and it moves by cue," Unruth said. "We find that fiber relates to concept and what's happening more deeply." But because it's abstract, it lends itself to the play.
She said the pliable pieces of the sculpture would be rearranged by offstage hands "to respond to the shifting transitions of time, space and thought that characterizes 'Terra Noya.'"
The fiber moves as the characters deal with homeisness, anger, disappointment and the acceptance of their own deaths. The sculpture's tall, white slopes against the dark walls exemplifies Scott's despair as he recalls his experiences and he curses the cured, bleak lifeless land
TED TALLY'S play is on the basis of Scott's records and journals about his party's attempt to be the first expedition to reach the South Pole. On his first attempt, Scott and his men managed
They tried it a second time and made it, only to discover that their Norwegian rival, Roald Amundsen, had arrived there first. On the way back, Scott and his party died after suffering from illness, starvation and frostbite. They came in the midst of tales of their camp before perishing in a blizzard.
to get within 150 miles of the Pole before they had to turn back.
The play involves Scott's imaginary conversations with his wife and with Amundsen, as well as actual interplay between Scott and his crew. "Terra Nova" focuses on Scott's emotions as he realizes his mistakes and wrestles with his feelings of inadequacy.
AT TIMES HE HATES Antarctica, but the drive of competition compels him to attempt to conquer it. "Terra Nova," which means "new continent" and Antarctica and it is also the name of Scott's ship.
Unruh's husband, Delbert, the play's director and the KU scenography program, com- pany at Riverside Studios.
He described the play as "scenes of historical fact, fantasy and psychological exploration of human experience."
About 25 people have been working on the sculpture since Christmas break.
"There's something new to see every time you look at it." Ione Ungr said.
The sculpture composes the entire set, along with a textured platform, set at an angle on the floor.
The actors wear light fur-lined jackets that are weighted down to make them look bulkier. Makeup shows the effects of the cold on the men's faces and hands.
Mark Torchia, Overland Park senior, recounts the failure of his Falcon Scott in the play "Terra Nova." The play will open at 8 first expedition to the South Pole as he plays the part of Robert tonight in the Crafton-Prever Theatre in Murphy Hall.
ON CAMPUS
TODAY
DESIGN DEPARTMENT Faculty Show will be held in the Kansas Union Gallery
through March 1.
INTER-VARSITY CHRISTIAN Fellowship will present John Baschow on "Ministry To International Students" from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Pine Room of the Union.
KU BIOLOGY CLUB for undergraduates will meet at 4 p.m. in the Sunflower Room of the
THE WORKS OF TRUMAN LOWE, American Indian artist, will be on display through March 9 in the Smithsonian Institution's Art Museum.
TOMORROW
ASTRONOMY ASSOCIATES of Lawrence will hold an open house at the Tombaugh Hall.
SUNDAY
SIGMA ALPHA IOTA will hold auditions at 8 a.m. in Swarthout Recital Hall.
MARLA PRATHER, curator of the Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art, will speak about the "Paris and Modern Art" exhibit at 1:15 p.m. in the Kress Gallery of the museum.
THE FILM 'PARIS 1900' will be shown at 2 p.m. in the Spencer Museum auditorium.
KU SYMPHONIC BAND presents its annual winter concert at 3:30 p.m. in the Crafton-
“AN EVENING WITH YOYO Clowning and Discipleship” will be presented at 6 p.m. at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave.
SPARE TIME
TODAY AND TOMORROW
UNIVERSITY FILM Society presents "Casablanca" at 7, 9:30 and midnight tonight and tomorrow in Downs Auditorium of Dyche Hall. Admission for the 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. shows is $1.75, and admission for the midnight show is $2. SUA FILMS presents "Bugs Bunny" at 3:30 and 7 tonight and tomorrow in Woodruff Auditorium of the Union. Admission is $1.50.
SUA FILMS presents "Alien" at 9:30 and midnight tonight and tomorrow in Woodruff Auditorium of the Union. Admission for the 9:30 p.m. show is $1.50 and $2 for the midnight show.
Kansas reggae rhythm returns
By PHIL ENGLISH
Staff Reporter
When the Blue Riddim Band took the stage at the Jamaica Sunspill Reggae Festival in July 1962, the crowd was a bit apprehensive.
But after the band's first song, the crowd of 40,000 reggae fans went wild with excitement, as they got up on their feet and danced during the rest of the concert.
"The people there weren't sure what to expect," said Howard Yukon, guitar and bass player and drummer for the Blue Riddim Band. "They had never seen a bunch of white boys from Kansas play the true reggae music before."
THE BAND NOT only made a splash in Jamaica, but has received rave reviews on the
'The people there weren't sure what to expect. They had never seen a bunch of white boys from Kansas play the true reggae music before.' Howard Yukon.
member Blue Riddim Band
East and West Coasts — thus becoming one of most successful touring bands from this region.
"It has taken a long time, but we have been making a name for ourselves all over the country," said Jimmy Becker, harmonica plaver and percussionist for the band.
They will also have a chance to bring KU students to their feet when they return at 8 tonight to the Kansas Union Ballroom with their own interpretation of reggae music.
The years of playing bars finally paid off in 1980, when their first album, "Restless Spirit," had a successful debut. The group followed that album with a self-titled seven-inch record and a
single — the classic Jackie Wilson tune "Higher and Higher."
BECKER JOINED THE band in 1980, bringing with him a reputation as one of the top reggae studio musicians in Jamaica. He has recorded many albums including Brown, Big Youth and Sly, and Robbie Dunbar.
In the spring of this year, the Blue Riddim Band will put out a live album from the Sunsplash '82 and '83 Festivals, as well as a new studio release.
The members define their numbers as dance music with a heart and soul. It is sometimes slow, sometimes very fast, but always has a distinctive quality of its own.
"In practically every popular band in the world today, there is some type of reggae influence," Becker said. "These other bands like The Police and Men at Work are just taking a part of the idea of reggae music, and it has gotten them very far."
The Blue Riddim Band doesn't want to settle for just a part of the original reggae flavor. The members take the music's Jamaican roots, and they develop the original reggae sound to its fullest.
BUT TRUE REGGAE music have not really caught on in America because people tend to love electronic music.
"No one can actually say that they hate a certain kind of music, just because it is reggae," he said. "Music doesn't see colors, it has rhythms and it makes people feel good."
The Blue Riddim Band is made up of Becker; Yukon; Steve McLane, drums and bass; Andy Myers, bass, keyboards and trombone; Jack Blakett, tenor and alto saxophones, keyboards and percussion; Scott Korchak, vocals; trumpet sound; and Gary Nelson on keyboards and guitar.
The thought of returning to Lawrence pleases the band. They said that they usually drew large crowds and that they were happy to be back home.
"We have nothing but optimism for the future," Yukon said. "It's not so often you get to be with a great bunch of musicians and have this much fun."
Jazz player earned fame with 'street smarts'
Bv PHIL ENGLISH
Staff Reporter
Trying to make a name for oneself after graduation is hard on anyone, especially if one feels like the newcomer.
In 1961, Gary Foster graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in music performance and headed for the West Coast. It took him more than a decade to earn a reputation as one of the best studio musicians in the country.
BESIDES PLAYING JAZZ. Foster has played classical on his alto saxophone with various musicians and has worked in studios with Frank Zappa, Louis Bellson and Bob Dylan.
Foster is primarily known for his big band jazz
Toshiko Akyashi, Tabakcin big band.
Tonight and tomorrow Foster will bring his special brand of jazz and improvisation to the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music.
"There is no young musician in the world who can come out of college and make it," Foster said. "It takes time to learn a simple language that is non-academic."
That language is what he calls street learning, which involves struggling to develop a name for something.
"You can train or practice everyday until your mouth falls off, but it's not going to get you anywhere," Foster said. "You need the street experience."
RON MCCURDY, professor of jazz music at
Houston that Foster was more than a special
musician.
Garv Foster
"Gary takes time out from his busy schedule
to come to this area and help entertain and enlighten students." he said.
Although known for his work in jazz, Foster said his original training was in classical music.
"WHEN MY JUNIOR HIGH teacher brought in a jazz album one day, I loved it."
high school in Leavenworth, "" he said. "But in those days, they never taught jz schools in
After high school and two years of junior college, Porter came to KU. It was a decision, he said, that he did not want to play.
The training he received at KU was mostly classical because the school had no jazz program at the time. Foster began to learn his street singing in Lawrence area by playing anywhere he could
"At the junior college I didn't learn about competition — which is essential to the field of music," he said. "When I came to KU . . . the competition was fierce."
Jazz was something that had to be self-taught, he said. He bought the records and fumbled with the wrong notes until he began to like what was happening.
FOSTER SAID THAW when he graduated, he had a rude awakening after moving to the city.
After he established himself by playing West Coast nightclubs, his friends who recommend him for various jobs. Foster began to do studio work in Los Angeles and Hollywood, and in 1972 he was asked to do some sight reading for a woman just out of college named Toshiko Akiyoshi.
"The competition at school was nothing compared to standing in a line with 100 other students," she said.
After a year of touring, the Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin band was recognized by critics as the most progressive big band jazz group in the world.
"PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA how hard they have to work to be a successful musician," Foster said. "A person has to have a fine balance between intellectual and instinctive musical abilities."
"You learn the intellectual in the classrooms and the instinctive on the streets."
BLOOM COUNTY
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