University Daily Kansan / Friday, October 18, 1991
EXCURSIONS
11
BARTON FINK
BARTON FINK
JOHN GOODMAN, JOHN TURTURRO
In their latest film, "Barton Fink," brothers Joel and Ethan Coen set out to explore the "life of the mind." The production, direction, screen-writing team leaves it up to the viewer to decide where inner fantasy ends and reality begins.
Barton Fink is a New York playwright who accepts an offer to write movies in Hollywood. Not wanting to be cut off from the "common man," Barton eschews fancy Hollywood lodgings in favor of the dilapidated apartment that is slowly peeling off the walls, revealing a vicious gob of dubious origin.
Barton's neighbor at the Earle is Charlie Meadows, an insurance salesman who tells Barton, "you might say I sell peace of mind." Barton repeatedly tells Charlie that he wants to create a living theater of, and for the common man." Yet, he seems obiously to the fact that Charlie is common. Barton cuts Charlie off when he tries to talk about his own feelings and experiences, forgetting his pretense of uplifting the common man.
Barton's first assignment at the movie studio is writing a Wally Beery wrestling picture. This proves to be a nearly impossible task for Barton, who thinks he has "no understanding of the genre."
Barton spends countless hours in his hotel room, unable to write, staring
endlessly at the lone picture on his wall, a seascape featuring a solitary woman sitting on a beach.
Barton again overlooks Charlie's usefulness when Charlie reveals an affinity for wrestling pictures. But Barton does not think to ask him for help.
Barton also is befriended by another writer at the studio (a character based loosely on the novelist William Faulkner) and his assistant. Barton's relationship with these two causes the increasingly disillusioned Barton to move further inward, exploring the "life of the mind."
One of the many pleasures of "Barton Fink" is that the Coen brothers never fully reveal their intentions. They leave the interpreting to the viewer.
Joel Coen's direction seems to be improving with each effort, as he develops a surer style that relied less on obvious film-school flash. Cinematographer Roger Deakins also deserves notice for his dream camera work, which blurs the line between fantasy and reality. John Turturo is delightful as Barton, depicting the prissy playwright's descent into personal hell with great aplomb. The film also stars John Goodman and Judy Davis.
The film made an unprecedented sweep at this year's Cannes Film Festival, winning best director, best film and performance by an actor for Turturro.
The Coen brothers said they began writing "Barton Fink" after they found themselves blocked while working on the screenplay for their previous film, "Miller's Crossing." This helps to explain "Barton Fink's" exploration of the creative mind, something that, according to Barton, "there's no road map for."
Reviewby M. Olsen
Jennifer Jeffries and Mike Moore perform in "Side by Side by Sondheim."
By Sondheim
Performance highlights works of five-time Tony Award winner
By Blaine Kimrey Kansan staff writer
Lyrics for "West Side Story," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Follies" ... The list of Stephen Sondheim's contributions to musical composition seems endless.
His songs, an integral part of American musical theater in the 20th century, are the focus of "Side by Side by Side" (by Susan Barrett) and "Opened last week and runs through this weekend at Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall.
The show was first produced on iPhone and later in a live instance with Riffy Michele.
"It is one of my most pleasant experiences in KU theater," said Jeannette Bonjour, performer in the show and Prairie Village graduate student.
Rena Cook, director of the show and assistant professor of theater and film, said the show was a collection of the work from 1977 for which Sondheim wrote music.
"It kind of feels like a variety show," Cook said.
Since then, Sondheim has received numerous honors for his song-writing, including five Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize.
Sondheim began his Broadway career in 1957as a lyricist for Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story" and Jules Stine's "Gypsy."
"He's the greatest living American composer." Cook said.
She said University Theatre had added an innovation to the show that she thought the audience would enjoy. The set is constructed to look like a
In Living Color' star brings humor to KU Parents' Day
"It will definitely be something to do with Mom and Dad over homecoming weekend."
Tickets are $10 for the public, $5 for KU students and $9 for senior citizens and other students.
Special to the Kansan
Although there were an average of 900 out of 1,200 seats still available Wednesday for each of the pervious weekends, it would be a good turnout this weekend.
By Stephanie Patrick
Rena Cook Director of "Side by Side by Sondheim."
Jim Carrey is anything but just another comedian.
She said the backstage motif was appropriate for a musical revue celebrating a man of the theater.
backstage.
Whether he is contorting his face to look like Jack Nicholson in "Batman" or performing in one of the wild skirts that he wore, Mr. Berroy always has been a little different.
"It's like a set turned inside out." Cook said.
"Side by Side by Sondheim" will be
tomorrow at 8 tonight and tomorrow
"The cast is some of the finest musical theater talent I've had the privilege to work with," she said.
"It will definitely be a thing to do with Mom and Dad over homecoming weekend," she said. "This is musical theater at its best."
He will bring his off-heat humor to the University tomorrow for the Second Annual Parents' Day Comedy Show in Anschutz Sports Pavilion.
Carrey has a simple philosophy about comedy.
Carrey started dispensing his own brand of comic judgment when he was 15 years old.
"He goes beyond the traditional stand-up routine and turns the show into a performance consisting of skits, impromptu sketches and body contortions that you will have to see to believe," said Seth Traxler, SUA leisure activities director and Overland Park junior.
According to a statement in his press release, "As a comedian you sit in judgment of everything that goes on in the world."
Performing at a comedy club in his hometown of Toronto, Canada, his first night on stage almost became his last.
"That evening was the most awful experience of my life and caused me not to return for two years," he said in the release.
Jim Carrey
It was his casting in "In Living Color" that made Carrey's face easily recognizable.
After regaining his confidence, Carrey toured Canada until he decided to make the move to Los Angeles.
When he does his stand up routine now, people ask him to perform the characters from the television show.
Since he moved to Los Angeles, Carrey has appeared on "The Tonight Show," and "Buffalo Bill."
He has also been in movies, including "Earth Girls are Easy" and "Once Bitten."
Jim Carrey comedian
Being the only white man in the predominately African-American cast also has brought some changes to his life.
"For a while wherever I went people would whisper, 'Psst, it's the white guy.' Carrey told Torrence, Calif., Daily Breeze.
However, Carrey said he was too busy having fun with his characters and learning from the other cast members to care.
"I don't think people see it as a Black or white show, just a funny show," he said. "Everyone is so funny in their own way that we all look at the other person and say, 'I wish I could do that.'"
Remaining tickets will also be sold tomorrow at the door.
Tickets for the show are still available at the SUA office in the Kansas Union. The tickets are $10 for KU students and $15 for non-students.
The show will start at 8 p.m. The doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Comedian uses everyday embarrassing scenes in act
Special to the Kansan
By Stephanie Patrick
Jeff Rothpan still remembers the first time he decided to do stand-up comedy.
A new comedy club was opening in his hometown of Montreal, Canada, and his friends urged him to try it.
At age 16, he nervously got up on the stage to face his first audience.
"Once you decide to go for it, you kind of let yourself go," he said.
He will bring his own brand of humor to an audience Saturday at Anschutz Sports Pavilion for the Second Annual Parents' Comedy Show.
"I'm that angry young man," he said. "I talk about our daily frustrations."
One embarrassing situation he tells about in his act is going to movies with a friend.
Rothman, who will be the opening act for comedian Jim Carrey of "In Living Color," described his humor as embarrassing situations in everyday life.
"When my friend and I go to the movies, he gets up to go get popcorn." Rothpan said. "He always loses and circles the theater calling my name, 'Jeff, Jeff, Jeff.'"
At 23, he has appeared on such shows as "An Evening at the Improv" and "Into the Night."
Rothpan said older comedians such as Steve Martin and George Carlin had the most influence on his own comedy because their styles were so different from other comedians.
Still, he looks to comedian Howie Mandel for the direction he wants his career to take.
Rothpan said he wanted to emulate Mandel's success in balancing an acting career with stand-up comedy.
"I would always like to do stand-up comedy," he said. "You are your own director and writer. You have control."
Lawrence Nightlife
The Jazzhaus: Black Cat Bone will perform at 10 tonight and tomorrow night. Cover charge is $3.926 1/2 Massachusetts St.
The Bottleneck: Baghdad Jones will perform at 10:30 tonight. The cover charge is $3. Ricky Dean will open for Reverend Horton Heat at 10 tomorrow night. The cover charge is $4. 737 New Hampshire St.
Line Online
Benchwarmers: Pop Poppins will open for The Spin at 10 tonight. The cover charge is $2. Chip of Chip and Jeff and Nick Carrol will perform from 5 to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to close tomorrow night. The cover charge is $1.1601 W.23rd St.
Just a Playhouse: Butler Fields will perform at 10 tonight and tomorrow night. The cover charge is $3. 806 W. 24th St.
Down and Under: Germ Box will open for Bend at 10 tonight. Steal May will open for Elusive Zuzy at 10 tomorrow night. The cover charge each night is $3. 801 New Hampshire St.
Tennessee Ernie Ford dies
Tennessee Ernie Ford, whose bass voice boomed out on the million-selling record "Sixteen Tons" and on his television variety show spanning two decades, died yesterday after a joint illness. He was 72.
Ford died at 6:15 a.m. at HCA Reston Hospital, where he had been admitted Sept. 28.
Ford became ill at Washington Dulles International Airport as he was about to fly home to San Francisco after his attendance at a White House dinner.
"Mrs. Ford was at his side, as she has been throughout his illness," said a hospital representative.
Smith said Ford had suffered from a lengthy liver disease. She would not disclose the nature of the ailment.
Ford, known affectionately as "the o'le peppacier" and "o'尔 Ern," was host of TV shows in the 1980s and 1980s. He was host of a nighttime variety show on CBS from 1962 to 1985, this one from 1962 to 1965, this one on ABC in the daytime.
Ford recorded more than 80 albums during a singing career or more than 40 years. He was especially
People's 'Do-Good Dozen'
Steve Gutenberg's efforts making sandwiches for the homeless has earned him a spot on People
magazine's "Do-Good Dozen" list
Each Sunday, Guttenein makes 50 sandwiches and hands them out to homeless people.
Also on the list, included in a special Oct. 16 issue of the magazine, is actress Tina Yothers, who volunteers one day each week at the MacLaren Children's Center, a shelter for abused and neglected youngsters.
John Ratzenberger helped start a company that makes an alternative to foam packing chips using wood scraps and sawdust. He also had all plastic foam products banned from the set of "Cheers."
Other actors recognized for using their clout to help others were:
Emma Samms, who established the Starlight Foundation that grants wishes to critically ill children; Jill Eikenberry, who has had breast cancer and counsels other breast-cancer patients; Marsha Warfield, who established the Jason Scott Inner City Incentive Awards for high school graduates in Chicago's South Side; Lou Diamond Phillips, who started the Winds of Life, which helps raise funds for various Indian tribes; Maria Gibbs, who founded the Crossroads Arts Academy and Theatre to give inner-city children a chance to study acting, dance and music; Paul Newman, who has donated more than $40 million to charity through profits from his Newman's Own products and Kimberly Russell, who delivers meals to homebound AIDS patients.
Hammer hit with lawsuit
A lawsuit that rhymes has been filed against Hammer by a man who claims the rapper's bodyguards beat him after a concert.
Steven McKinney claims his jay was broken by two bodyguards in a hotel parking lot after a Nov. 16 shooting.
The lawsuit, filed by lawyer Lisa Collums, with rhyme by colleague Jim Rose, said in part:
"For M.C.'s guards were strutting their might,
"Under the guise of preventing a fight.
"But there was no fight and no Hammer to protect.
"When all of a sudden your plaintiff hit the deck."
Hammer
Stephen Carmody, attorney for Hammer, said Wednesday he thought the rhyming was a ploy to attract attention.
Collums said McKinney was at a hotel with friends for a post-concert party when he heard a gunshot. Soon after, "Hammer's bodyguards came up and decked him," she said.
Carmody said McKinney shot at the bodyguards.
The tour by Hammer last year was entitled,
"Please Hammer Don't Burt 'Em." Since then, he
has dropped the intials M.C.