The University Daily KANSAN
ENTERTAINMENT
August 22, 1983 Page 17
Folk music social sport for fiddler
By ANA DEL CORRAL Staff Reporter
He starts with a happy-hearted melody and turns it into a melancholy tune. As he moves his bow across the violin, the strains of folk music turn happy once more.
Steve Mason, 33, Ann Arbor, Mich., senior, is as versatile in his musical talents as the music he plays on his tiddle. He has tried his hand at piano, guitar and cello. In addition, he enjoys singing and the cello. In addition, he enjoys singing.
He will have a chance to display his musical skills and perhaps win a few prizes at the Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships, which begin at noon in Lawrence's South Park, which is south of the Court House on Massachusetts Street. on Sunday.
"Playing the fiddle is difficult but enjoyable," he said. "The fiddle is right next to your ear and it is real loud. It is a great dancing instrument."
THE FIDDLE is a difficult instrument to master. Mason said, but he has not prepared for the competition any more than he usually practices.
"It has the most prestige."
Mason said that he began to play the riddle and other folk instruments shortly before he moved to Lawrence eight years ago from his hometown. "He does not often practice, he keeps
to Lawrence eight years apart and both scores.
Although he does not meet the standards, he keeps
on his schedule. He has to sign.
Mason was born into a musical family and began the study of music in fourth grade.
"I grab them in old minutes and practice," he said.
"All the time I was growing up, my dad had a quartet that would meet at our house," he said. "My mom played the piano and sang. My dad is a classical musician. He made violins as a
The fiddling and picking contest in which Mason will play began in Lawrence two years ago Gov John Carlin has declared the dayKansas Fiddling and Picking Champions' Day.
AMONG THE many instruments displayed on a desk in the living room of his house are a light-colored, highly polished guitar that he made in 1974 and a fiddle that his father made.
In both previous contests, Mason won prizes and participated in several categories. The first year, he won the High Point Award, which is given to the person who accumulates the most combined points in the categories of singing, flute, mountain daulden, malletoon and banjo.
Mason, who played the cello before he became
SEE FIDDLING, p. 18, col. 7
Steve Mason demonstrates his prowess on the fiddle he will play during the Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships Sunday in South Park. Mason, who has won awards in previous competitions, will have the chance to once again demonstrate his musical ability.
SPARE TIME
ON CAMPUS
THE ECUMENICAL. Christian Ministries Center will sponsor a fall retreat on Friday night and Saturday at Camp Chippewa. The theme of the retreat is "How to Get a Custom Fit in an Off-the Rack World." For further information call 843-4903.
A CONTEMPLATIVE prayer time will be from 7:45-8:15 a.m. Wednesday at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries Center, 1204 Oread Ave.
THE SUNDAY gathering at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries Center will begin with a simple supper at 5:30 p.m., followed by worship and communion service.
DAN HERMRECK will exhibit his work in a master of fine arts show today through Friday in the Art & Design Building gallery
JANZ CHOIR AUDITIONS will be from 7.9
n.m. Wednesday in room 200 Murphy Hall
JAZZ CALLBACK AUDITIONS will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Callback lists will be posted at noon in the Murphy Hall Green Room, callback times and sites will be posted
OPEN CALL FOR Crafton-Preyer Theatre
Auditions will be at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Callbacks will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday through
Friday.
E. E. SMISSMAN MEMORIAL Lectures will present Stanford University professor Carl Dierjasin in a public lecture titled "The Bitter Pill. A Perspective on the Future of Birth Control," at 8 p.m. Aug. 24 in Alderson Auditorium.
MORTAR BOARD SENIOR honorary will have a freshman welcome from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday in the Kansas Union Ballroom.
ON DISPLAY AT THE Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art through Sept 25 is "Eldred and Nevelson One Dimension to Intemporary Quilts" will be shown until Oct. 10.
DYCHE MUSEUM OF NATURALHISTORY is open to the public from 8.5 p.m. Monday Saturday and 1:30-5 p.m. Sunday
THE KENNETH SPENCER RESEARCH Library is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. The exhibits are in the main lobby and in the Kansas Collection in the lower
SUA WILL. SHOW "The Glass Menagerie"
Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Woodruff Auditorium
"The Adventures of Robin Hood" will be shown
at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, "The General" will be
shown at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, "Tex" will be
shown Friday and Saturday at 3:30,7 and 9:30 p.m.
LAWRENCE
ON DISPLAY AT THE Clinton Lake Museum is an exhibit about religion during the first 20th century.
THE ELIZABETH T. WATKINS Community Museum is showing its permanent collection featuring the Old Watkins Bank teller cages, a 1920 electric car, the Van Hesen playhouse and other items. Also showing is "Photographers of Lawrence and Douglas County," which is portraits and views of 16 commercial photographers from Lawrence
ENROLMENT FOR FALL CLASSES at the Lawrence Arts Center 3rd and Vermont streets.
THE LAWRENCE BARN Dance Association will present an old-time community square dance with live string-band music from 7:30-10:40 on Tuesday, April 27 at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries building.
THE KANSAS STATE FIDDLING and Picking Championships will be from noon until sundown Sunday at South Park. Everyone is invited to compete in seven contests. Entertainment will be provided by Kansas bands. The location is the South Park Recreation Center
REGION
THE VASSAR PLAYHOUSE will present
"Working" Tuesday through Sept 11. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday
and 2 a p. 9 p. Sunday
"THE SHOWCASE DINNER THEATRE in
Toppea will show "My Daughter's Rated X"
through Sunday
THE 18th AND VINE Street Arts Festival will be Friday through Sunday in Kansas City, Mo. The outdoor festival will feature booths for artists and nonprofit groups to exhibit and sell art.
THE COTERIE PROFESSIONAL. children's theatre has announced its 1983-84 "Aetun" Up' schedule of acting classes for children and adults.
Free beer, dance, games part of SUA open house
By SUSAN WORTMAN
Staff Reporter
The Kansas Union is throwing a party and everyone on campus is invited.
Union officials are planning a free dance,free movies and free bowling. They are even buying the beer.
Organizers hope to inform students about what is available in the Union during the open-house party, which takes place from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.
we feel that the Kansas Union needs to be publicized. Everything is here and this is a good place to be," said Barb Stovall, Wichita junior commissioner of Union Activities public relations chairman
SUA HAS A lot to offer that students don't realize. Stovall said. For example SUA brought "A Chorus Line" to KU, and SUA supplies movies every week and organizes special forums.
Among the reasons for the open house, she said, are to publicize SUA and to get people involved in its activities.
"All SUA activities are planned and run by students. We want them to know who we are and what they should do to get involved," she said. If there is someone who is good with sound or
lights, we could really use them. We need people like that."
SUA HAS A variety of activities in which students can participate, and it will show them off at the open house. The most popular activity is where he seems to be the five-kilometer run, she said.
The race will start at the Union and wind around campus, she said. It will end at the Union. Not all entries are in yet, and SUA officials hope that 300 runners will enter the
competition IN THE MIDDLE of the main lobby, people will have a chance to challenge KU chess masters.
"Chess is the game that people will stop and watch." Stovall said. "It is a more universal game."
'Gandhi,' 'Tootsie' start off film series of last year's hits
The open house will also include a free concert in the coffeehouse, free movies and free beer.
"Everyone wanted to be a part of the open house, including the bookstore," she said. "Actually, the beer-and cheese party started out as a joke. We had wanted to have a wine-and cheese party but we could do that. We should also have a beer and cheese party instead."
The fall Student Union Activities film series will include movies such as Oscar winners "Gandhi," "Tootsie" and "An Officer and a Gentleman," along with a collection of foreign and classic films, all in Woodraff Auditorium in the Student Union.
She said the Union would also offer free bowling and free billiards. Door prizes will be given at the bookstore that evening.
Movie lovers returning to campus this fall will be treated to some of last year’s most popular hits.
SUA WILL sponsor its first film festival Sept. 12 to 18, a compilation of films presented to draw attention to them as a group, said Mike Gebert, last semester's SUA film director
"Gandhi," winner of eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director for Richard Attenborough and Best Actor for Ben Kingsley, will be shown Sept. 9, 10 and 11. Tooway, for Best Large won Sept. 9, will be shown Sept. 23 and 24.
ON CLET. 14 and 15, Lou Gossett Jr. can be seen in the role for which he won an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor in "An Officer and a Gentleman."
48 Hours, "starring Nick Nole and comedian
Eddie Murphy, will be shown Nov. 4 and 5
Charles Musser, a British film researcher and maker, will present one of his own movies, "Before the Nickelodeon." Musser's program will concentrate on films made from 1896 to 1903 and on one of the first film directors, Edwin S. Porter.
The festival will begin Sept. 12 with "Dimen-
stoogia," a compilation of movies featuring the
Three Stooges.
The selection of foreign and art-house type films includes "Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, 'starring Cher and directed by Robert Altman. It will be shown Aug."
A 15-hour film titled "Berlin Alexanderplatz" will conclude the festival.
THE CLASSICS series of SUA films this semester will feature the Errol Flynn version of "The Adventures of Robin Hood."
All films shown by the SUA film committee will be $150, except midnight movies and special features.
Rounding out the semester's evening entertainment will be the midnight film series. Films that will be featured are "Eating Raoul," "Andy Warhol's Wailor" and "Female Trouble."
fair
'Vacation,' 'Mr. Mom' offer fluff overdose
Almost anyone who has regularly watched late-night television can attest to the comic talent of Chevy Chase, and the few lucky viewers who happened to see Michael Keaton in "Night Shift" were thrilled to find a hilarious new comic performer.
But the latest movies in which the actors are performing do not provide them with material suited to their talents.
Although each film is funny in places and each can be recommended, both suffer from excess fluff. Each film goes beyond the elements that are needed to carry the story line and adds in the unexpected twists to the story line and takes away from the films' comic continuity.
In National Lampoon's "Vacation," Chevy Chase plays a bumbling father who is herding his small family across the United States on a pilgrimage to a family-fun park. Along the
way, the filmmakers have taken every possible pitfall and created a film that has some brilliant moments but also many weaknesses. They were wary and wonders when the film will end.
MOVIE REVIEWS
THE PRODUCERS OF "Mr. Mom" have unfortunately, done the same. The movie tells the story of a Detroit automobile engineer who is laid off and then forced to stay home with the kids after his wife is the first to find a
job. The film has many funny scenes but some are full of cliches.
Perhaps the similarity is no coincidence both films were written by the same screenwriter, John Hughes. In "Vacation," Hughes has created a script that can be more frustrating than funny. The comedy appeal drops off as more and more disasters betall the hapless Chase's family. The viewer
cannot help but begin to grit his teeth as time after time the family finds every possible mistrust known to vacationers. Hughes has even created a few mistrusts that no vacationer could have possibly known, or survived.
HIGHESS HAS done the same in "Mr. Mom!" Michael Keaton's character falls into every homemaking mistake imaginable, including putting too much soap into the washing machine, and the result is that the viewer cannot help but think that this movie has been seen time and again on the movie screen and on television, usually with Lacaille Ball or Dick Van Dyke. But Mr. McCormick's shock moment is the vacuum cleaner begins to chase Keaton's children around the living room; it is just too impossible and too corry to be funny.
Mike Cuenca
see MOVIES p. 18, col. 2
BLOOM COUNTY
BY BERKE BREATHED