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NEWS
THEATER
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Jacquelyn Venetia Kelly, Charles Martinez, Meaghan Dieter, Chris McBride and Luke Kanter sing in the play that depicts relationships and scandals in early 20th century immigrant neighborhoods.
Students sing and act in the raunchy opera, 'Street Scene'
BY BRANDY ENTSMINGER
BY BRANDY ENTSMINGER bentsminger@kansan.com
Kurt Weill composed the opera based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Elmer Rice and used Langston Hughes' poetry for the lyrics. The show opened on Friday and will continue Thursday to Saturday.
Cultures collide with alcoholism, abuse and adultery in the University Theater's production of the opera "Street Scene."
The opera is set at the turn of the 20th century and centers on the relationships and scandals within a neighborhood of immigrants. The majority of the action surrounds two families. One family is torn apart by an affair while at the same time their daughter finds love in one of the other
families.
Elliot Metz, Wichita sophomore, said the neighbors acted like a Greek chorus as they gossiped about what was going on with the other families.
"It's kind of a warning tale of what Juicy Campus could have done to the 1910s," Metz said.
The cast members range from children to doctoral students and come from theater and opera backgrounds. Metz said that it was sometimes challenging to work with the children but that it helped keep the mood light.
"It kept us from ever getting too stressed out." Metz said.
Meier said learning dialects and accents was different for everyone, but he said Yiddish was often perceived as most difficult because actors had to learn to trill some of their sounds.
For extra help, Meier produced recordings of the actors' lines.
Metz said it was challenging because he had never played anyone over the age of 30, but said it helped to use a cane in his scenes. To look the part, Metz must arrive 30 minutes before the other cast members so he can have his make-up done.
Paul Meier, professor of theater and film, trained the actors and said they had to learn to break the language down into signature sounds. Once they learned the pronunciation of the words, the actors learned the rhythm and melody of the language so they could apply it to English.
Metz said having the audience nearby allowed the actors to gauge their reactions and made it so most of the male cast members
Because the characters in "Street Scene" represented a variety of cultural backgrounds, the actors had to learn to speak in different dialects and accents.
The show unfolds in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre. The cast acts inside a triangle in the middle of the stage and the audience sits on the stage outside the triangle.
Yiddish dialect, Metz had to master the movements of an older Jewish man. Although he is one of the youngest cast members, his character is the oldest.
Most of the actors had to speak with a New York accent, but others had to learn Irish, German, Swedish, Italian and Yiddish dialects.
In addition to mastering a
didn't have to wear as much makeup.
directed the opera and said Weill blended European and American influences in his music. Blues, jazz, upbeat Broadway, Broadway ballad and the jitterbug are among the many styles featured in "Street Scene."
Tazewell Thompson guest
Meaghan Deiter, Sabeth graduate student, said the dialogue and English lyrics would make it easy for the audience to get engaged in the show.
"It's a great eclectic score and every song and the orchestrations are brilliant," Thompson said.
"It's kind of a good way to get your feet wet in opera," Deiter said:
"Street Scene" will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday on Stage Too! in Murphy Hall. Student tickets are $10.
Edited by Ramsey Cox
ANTARCTICA
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Braaten said, "It's a true discovery.
Our radars will determine it precisely.
We'll come back with a very detailed understanding of the extent of the mountain and how high the slopes are."
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McMinn and Braaten are going on the expedition with groups from other universities and with the British Antarctic Survey. The temporary campsite where they will live is at an elevation of 11,000 feet. To put that in perspective, McMinn said, the average skydel jumps from 5,000 feet.
McMinn said he was excited to go on the trip but nervous because of the risks associated with Antarctica's high elevation and severe climate.
"I can feel the panic sitting there," he said. "I think it's actually going to kick in when I get on the plane."
Because 98 percent of Antarctica is covered with snow and ice, the continent reflects almost all the sun's light rather than absorbing it. Antarctica has less rainfall than a desert and temperatures range from negative 40 to negative 94 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. These extreme temperatures make simple tasks like taking a shower and drinking water difficult.
McMinn said that the group would have to melt the water they used, but that he wasn't sure what the bathrooms would be like.
"We're really high up there," he said. "You could have health issues because of the pressure change."
McMinn said he and the other researchers would have to wear at least 30 SFP sunscreen at all times and 30 UV-blocking sunglasses to protect them from the harsh Antarctic sun. But his biggest concern was their computers overheating because of the lack of water in the atmosphere.
Ian Cahir, communications coordinator for the engineering department, said the radar CReSIS developed was one of the most advanced of its kind and could help predict the effect polar ice sheets had on sea level change.
Columbia University requested to copy the CReSIS radar system because it was the only one of its type available. After the data are collected in Antarctica, it will be returned to the University for McMinn and other CReSIS members to analyze.
Edited by Adam Mowder