Section A · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, December 1, 1998
Heads roll as community theater puts on British farce
By Augustus Anthony Piazza
Kansan staff writer
Thursday night will be the next opportunity for theater enthusiasts to laugh their heads off.
Lawrence Community Theater's production of "Cash on Delivery" opened last weekend and will continue through Dec. 13.
The play is a British farce written by Michael Cooney and directed by Jeff Montague, Topeka resident.
"It's a cross between Monty Python and Benny Hill," said Mary Doveton, producer of the comedy.
"Cash on Delivery" is about a scam artist who dupes the welfare authorities by claiming every type of benefit for numerous people living at the same address. When he decides to change his ways, investigators show up and the chaos begins.
Charles Neuringer, professor of psychology, plays Dr. Chapman, a marriage counselor. He said there was a lot of energy in the show.
"The audience has been laughing their heads off," Neuringer said.
Jenny Schierbaum, Lawrence sophomore, who plays Brenda, the fiance of the hapless upstairs tenant, said the reception the audience gave the cast Saturday night made her very happy.
"It all paid off Saturday night, hearing them enjoy it so much and having them come downstairs after the show and say how much fun they had." Schierbaum said.
She said in order to achieve the laughs from the crowd, the cast members used a lot of physical comedy such as jumping over couches and running into doors.
"It's a play about bruises," Schiermann said.
Doveton, who helped cast characters for the show, said that for a farce such as "Cash on Delivery", the actors and actresses had to be able to do a lot of physical comedy.
Schierbaum said she thought some of the show's content would appeal to a young KU student crowd.
"The show has a lot of sexual innuendoes in it," she said. "A younger crowd would appreciate it a lot more."
Doveton said students could take advantage of the student-discount night on Thursday at the theater, 1501 New Hampshire St. Prices will be discounted from $13 to $7.
Student tickets cost $13 Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday matinee shows cost $10.
SHOWTIMES
■ Thursday nights: December 3 and 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $7 for students, $13 senior citizens and $14 for general public.
Friday and Saturday nights:
December 4, 5, 11, 12 at 8
p.m.
Cost: $13 for students and senior citizens and $14 for general public.
Sunday matinee: December 13 at 2:30 p.m.
Cost: $10 for students and senior citizens and $11 for the general public.
Eldridge Hotel epitomizes Lawrence's city motto:
From ashes to immortality
By Brian Cooper Special to the Kansan
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, basketball great Wilt Chamberlin and anti-Christ superstar Marilyn Manson have slept there. It has burned to the ground twice, once torched by Federate raider William Quantrill during the "Bleeding Kansas" battles in 1863.
The Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts St., has been a refuge for Lawrence guests since 1856, and today it combines tradition with modern hospitality.
The Eldridge Hotel has served as a symbol of Kansas' determination to survive as a free state. The hotel, then known as the Free State Hotel, burned to the ground the same day that it opened. May 21, 1856.
Since then, the hotel has been rebuilt four times, housed Big 6 conference banquets and Lawrence Rotary Club meetings, and was the setting for the western movie Dark Command, a film based on Quantrill's Raid.
In 1986, Lawrence developers led by Rob Phillips reopened a renovated and modernized Eldridge Hotel after a 16-year shutdown.
"This is the most historical site in the state of Kansas," Philline said.
The Eldridge Hotel is one of the most historically significant buildings in Lawrence. It is located at 701 Massachusetts St. in the heart of dawntown Lawrence. Photo by Tara Bradley/KANSAN
The hotel was named after Colonel Shalor Eldridge, its
The inside of the Eldridge Hotel is decorated with statues, antique furniture and a small fish pond. Photo by Tara Bradley/KANSAN
first general manager. After the first burning in 1856, the Free State Hotel was rebuilt two years later under the name Eldridge House.
When Quantrill and his raiders rode through Lawrence in 1863, the hotel was a target. It was left in ruins, and Colonel Shalor vowed to rebuild his beloved hotel each time it was destroyed. The Eldridge reopened on Sept 27, 1866.
Building deterioration led to its demolition in 1925. The current building was built in two stages in the 1920s. The north side was completed in 1926. The south side was opened in 1928. The completed building was called Hotel Eldridge.
A lack of interest in the development of downtown businesses forced the Eldridge to close for the first time on July 1, 1970.
The famous Lawrence historical site was an apartment complex for 16 years until it reopened as the Eldridge Hotel on Dec. 31, 1886. The hotel has been in business ever since.
Guests at the Eldridge can find a pleasant mix between its rich history and modern day convenience. The lobby is decorated in a Victorian style, but the rooms are very modern.
Eldridge on football weekends or just to visit their children.
Linda Robertson, Tulsa, Okla., resident, visited her son Chase, Tulsa, Okla., freshman, in late August.
"I was amused by the quaint surroundings of the hotel," she said. "The age and history of the hotel is intriguing."
she said. The age and history of the hooper is first named. A University connection dates back to the 1950s when Phog Allen was coaching basketball at the University. The story says that whenever the Jayhawks played a home game on the weekend, the team would stay at the Eldridge the night before. Jordan has a full-time staff of 10, and a part-time staff of
The hotel has a full-time staff of 10, and a part-time staff of 75. The part-timers are needed for the many events and
banquets that the hotel holds.
There are 48 rooms, all are suites. They are named after Lawrence historical figures. Every KU Chancellor has a suite named after him as well.
On the first floor is the Crystal Ballroom, a reception area that can hold up to 150 guests. The seal of the city of Lawrence has a picture of the Eldridge Hotel burning as Quantrill was ransacking it, suggesting that the landmark lives up to the city's motto: "From ashes to immortality."
The lobby is decorated in a Victorian style, but the rooms are very modern. The Hotel has been rebuilt four different times and has housed many famous guests. Photo by Tara Bradley/KANSAN.
NYPD Blue cast faces changes after departure
One-time child star to replace Smits in police drama
The Associated Press
By Lynn Elber
LOS ANGELES — Jimmy Smits' wrenching exit from NYPD Blue is wrapped up. And we're about to find out how the detective shield suits newcomer Rick Schroder.
The interlude seems just the right time to appreciate Dennis Franz's Detective Andy Sipowicz, the bulwark of the ABC police drama for six seasons. Franz and Sipowicz are among television's best pairings of actor and role.
has learned to move characters through life, letting them marry, have children or divorce. But since the medium still relies on comfortable familiarity, it's rare to see a character really change.
Sipowicz is one exception, and Franz has made the transformation seem possible and real. He was a self-destructive drunk; he is sober now and the shoulder upon which Diane Simone (Kim Delaney) is likely to lean after the death of her husband, Bobby (Smits), following heart surgery.
Throughout the years, television
Sipowitz was a rotten husband and father. Now, the second time around, he is a stand-up guy.
But if he is on his way to being a truly good man, he is not there yet. His temper can turn him into a human bullwhip, and his bedrock
racism has yet to crumble despite a black authority figure such as Lt. Arthur Fancy (James McDaniel) to pry open his eyes.
Franz, of course, has the right physical goods for Sipowitz, with his heft and average-Joe look. But there is sheer artistry in the way he brings the superb writing of executive producer David Milch and his talented crew to life.
Franz has allowed Sipowicz to stand emotionally naked. Nothing is as dismaying as seeing the camera close in at a moment of high drama and realizing that the actor can't deliver. Franz has never let that happen.
He also deserves kudos for loyalty. Franz vows that he won't be joining the parade of *NYPD Blue* departures that started with David Caruso, who made an unsuccessful stab at movies
before returning to television in the failed series Michael Hayes. Besides Smits, others who have jumped ship include Sherry Stringfield, who left for a stint in the series ER, and Gail O'Grady, who has been featured in TV movies.
"I'm not tired of the character. I'm not tired of the show, I'm not tired of anything about it. I love who I work with." Franz said.
But he understands Smits' desire to move on to other projects after four seasons and was pleased that his colleague received a proper send-off in a beautifully written and acted story arc.
"We wanted to do the best possible thing for Jimmy, just out of love for him as a person and respect for the character," Franz said.
Tonight, when the show airs at 9 p.m. Schroder will step into the gap.
The onetime child star (The Champ,
Silver Spoons) plays rookie detective
Danny Sorenson.
Franz joined in the selection process that led to Schroder's casting.
"There were a few choices they could have gone with, but Rick just really responded well with me. There was a nice chemistry immediately," he said.
Franz admits to being affected by the switch in partners. Like Sipowicz, he tends to feel comfortable with status one.
And, despite offers in wipardrobe, Franz declined to trade in Sipowicz's trademark fashion gaffes (short-sleeved shirts and cheesy ties) for the hip, monochromatic shirts and ties Smits favored.
"I said, I'm not going to wear those. I love that fashion. If you want to give me these, I'll wear them at home. But Stipowicz is not going to wear them. We can can't do that." Franz we.