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University Daily Kansan/Friday, August 30, 1991
EXCURSIONS
Linsonline
The Latin Alliance is neither a political party nor a regional bloc. It's a group of Hispanic rappers, a coalition of street survivors who see themselves as the best kind of public servants.
"We didn't have a Maleolim X or a Martin Luther King that could say, 'Yeah, this is what it's up and this is what's going on,' said group founder Kid Frost. "We're not trying to take over something. We're just trying to make music for young people from a Hispanic point of view."
Latin rappers give voice to Hispanics
"We're not trying to be preachers or role models," added fellow rapsi Rayski Rockwell, "but young Hispanics are real confused and real oppressed in this country, so through this music we we're trying to show that you pop don't have to be a drug user or a kickup kid or a dope fiend."
you can I have to just be a drug user or a stockholder? The alliance was formed in October 1989 after a Kid Frost show in Los Angeles. Membership in the alliance is open, with aspiring performers from all over the country approaching it.
Moviesticket sales slow; no hits in sight
Movie theater owners, slogging through a disappointing summer, face the fall season with little hope of a box-office turnaround.
"I see no blockbusters out there," says Angelo Torchetta, vice president of the 28-screen Capitol Theaters Group in Milwaukee. "Maybe out of the fog will appear another Ghost, but it certainly isn't apparent now."
"Pretty lousy," grumbles John Krier of the autumn product. He is president of Los Angeles-based Exhibitor Relations, which tracks box-office figures. "I hear a lot of exhibitor complaints, and I don't detect any enthusiasm from the studios."
Dan Harkins, head of the 31-theater Harkins Theaters chain of Phoenix, concedes that September probably will be a weak month. But he says receipts for the rest of the year should catch up to what they were in 1990.
1904. Harkins sees these possible winners for the fall: The Addams Family, Beauty and the Beast, Star Trek VI, The Prince of Tides, Frankie and Johnny and Hook.
Despite three summer films that have topped $300 million (Terminator 2; Judgment Day; Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves; and City Slickers), the year's total theater take is down from last year. Art Murphy of Daily Variety calculates $3.01 billion for the first seven months of 1991 as opposed to $1.07 billion last year.
Ron Howard movie moves to Ireland
var and Away, an epic adventure directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, has relocated to Dublin, Ireland, after two months of production in Montana.
Far and Away is a romantic adventure about an Irish tenant farmer, evicted from his land, who becomes the unwilling traveling companion to the daughter of his wealthy landlord. Together they journey from Dublin to Boston to the great Oklahoma land — constantly at odds but all the while falling in love.
The film also stars Robert Prosky, Thomas Gibson and Barbara Babcock and features Irish actors Crom Meaney, Cyril Cusack and Niall Tolkin.
What's hot
TOPSINGLES
1. I Do It For You Bryan Adams (A&M)
2. The Promise of a New Day Paula Abdul (Captive)
3. Motownphilly Boyz II Men (Motown)
4. Things That Make You Go Hmmm C&C Music Factory featuring F. Williams (Columbia)
5. 3 A.M.Eternal The KLF (Arista)
COUNTRYSINGLES
COUNTRY SIGNLES
• David New Dresden & Dunno (Arieta)
1. Brand New Man Brooks & Dunn (Ariesta)
2. Down to My Last Maitrepant Tiancker (Capito)
3. Small Town Sam Tiancker (Curb)
4. Down at the Twist and Shout Mary Chapin Carpenter (Columbia)
5. Your Love is a Muracle Mark Chepsnutt (MCA)
ADULT-CONTEMPORARY SINGLES
ADULT-CONTEMPORARY SINGLES
1. I Do It For You Brian Adams (A&M)
2. Every Heartbeat Amy Grant (A&M)
3. The Motown Song Rod Stewart (Warner Bros.)
4. Time Ain't Over and Tenderness Michael Bolton (Columbia)
5. I Ain't Over Til It's Over Leni Kravitz (Virgin)
R&BSINGLES
1. Addictive Love Bebe & CeCe Winans (Capitol)
2. Let the Beat Hit Em Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam (Columbia)
3. Special Vesta (A&M)
4. Don't Wanna Change the World Phyllis Hyman (Philadelphia International)
5. So Much Love B Angie B (Bust It)
DENTALS
1. Sleeping With the Enemy (Fox)
2. Awakenings (RCA-Columbia)
3. New Jack City (Warner)
4. Misery (Nelson)
5. Goodfellas (Warner)
6. L.A. Story (Live)
7. Edward Scissorhands (Fox)
8. King Ralph (MCA-Universal)
9. Kindergarten Cop (Universal-MC)
9. Kindergarten Cop (Universal-MCA)
10. Harvest (Warner)
COMEDY TO GO
...
John Belushi's former group, Second City, to play at Union
By Heather Anderson Kansan staff writer
10. Hamlet (Warner)
The University will be hit in the funny bone Thursday night when the Second City National Touring Company performs in the Kansas Union
Second City is a group of eight comedians who perform comedy sketches and do improvisational sets on Saturday Night Live or SCTV
Student Union Activities and the University Concert Series are co-sponsoring the comedy group's two shows at the University of Kansas. The group will perform at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Seth Traxler, leisure-activities coordinator for SUA, said that SUA would set up tables near the stage so people could sit in small groups. Theater-style seats would also be available.
"This setting should be the perfect environment for comedy because it will resemble comic Chicago and New York," Traxler said.
The last time SUA sponsored a comedy event was in 1987. Traxler said that that event did not receive an overwhelming response.
However, Traxler said people have already begun purchasing tickets for these shows.
Charla Jenkins, director of public relations for the concert series, said that the type of comedy performed by Second City was high-quality because the group dealt with sophisticated and tonal issues.
"Second City tries to perform comedvthat people can relate to," he
Traxler said the comedy group asked for facts about the University and to the community so they would be able to use the information in their skills.
The concert series
and SUA teamed up for a concert two years ago. Jenkins said that because of the success of the last event, the two groups decided to co-sponsor the event.
The original Second City company was formed in Chicago in 1959. Since then, Second City has added a second company in Toronto and three touring companies in the United States and Canada.
Jenkins she thought the show would be good because many popular comedians had performed with the group since it began.
Second City has been a stepping stone for comedians such as Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Joan Rivers and John Candy.
"The
shows will be a good
shows will be a good opportunity to see this type of comedy because these shows 'come to the country very often." Jenkins said.
For each show, 600 seats will be available. Tickets for the shows are $7.50 for students who sit at the tables near the stage and $5 for students who sit in the theater seats. Prices for non-students are $15 for the tables and $10 for theater seats. Tickets can be bought at the SUA office and the Murphy box office any time before the show. Tickets can also be bought at the door the night of the performances.
Wendi Groves/KANSAN
Studying the finer points
Michelle Monroe, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore examines the art at the basic studies scholarship show in the gallery of the Art and Design building. Today is the last day of the show, which contains the work of drawing and design students from last fall and spring.
Alcoholism is subject of play
It is 8:30 p.m. at the Lawrence Arts Center. A man sits quietly by a small table. He listens to and observes four people moving in the center of the room. He suddenly says "good" and claps his hands.
By Mauricio Rios
Kansan staff writer
Douglas Delaney is from New York, and he came to Lawrence to share with the community what he does best: theater.
Daleney, an award-winning playwright, founded the Renegade Theatre Company this fall. The company is working on Daleney's play, *American Airborne*, which won the first prize for drama in the 1991 Florida First Coast Writer's Festival in Jacksonville.
Delayne said American Airborne was about people who committed alcohol-related crimes. He said the play "Better Tomorrow" causes and effects of alcoholism.
Daleneay said the legal system never asked why alcohol-related crimes were committed. "I care about those reasons," he said.
The audience would decide whether those people deserved to be in jail, Delaney said. He said his theater wasn't instructive. The play's ending is oken.
Lyles said that through her role in the play she came to understand that alcoholism counselors often treated as humans as case studies and not as humans.
American Airborne is a two-act play in which all the characters are women.
in which she broadened her
Lijia Lyles of Lawrence plays
Marge, a well-spoken, educated coun-
sellor.
Sherri Jackson of Lawrence plays Iris, an alcoholic school bus driver. Iris is involved in an accident that kills several children.
"I think it's a good story," she said.
One of the play's performances, she said,
was that it showed that alcoholics couldn't be pointed out.
"I think it's a good story," she said.
"Iria is the most insecure, nervous and guilty character," she said. "I feel threatened."
Jackson said it was hard for tris to face being an alcoholic. She said that was a real problem for alcohols.
Jackson said she was looking for
ward to the play's first performance.
I am playing with excellent play-
ing skills.
Michelle Nario plays Miki, a sensual yuppie who is accused of molesting her son.
"The play is captivating, it makes people think. There are going to be unexpected situations," she said. "I am curious to see how the public is going to respond."
Nario, a KU graduate student in social psychology, said Miki avoided reality by turning to materialism.
Sarah Cole agreed. She said her role as Betty, an alcoholic going through rehabilitation, presented a realistic situation.
Nario said the company was working on "real theater."
"Betty feels she is a victim of society, she is stuck with nothing." Cole said. "She has a lot of emotion, she is very uncontrolled."
Cole, who has a master's degree in drama therapy from Kansas State University, said the troupe members understood each other well.
-we communicate as a group," she said. "It has been great."
Members of the Renagade Theatre Company rehearse for American Airborne on Thursday. The play opens Sept. 6.
Movie's matchup proves uneven
Don Johnson can't salvage 'Harley'
By Kristine Curley Special to the Kansan
Ever since his days on the hip cop series Miami Vice, I have defended my undying devotion to the show's star, Don Johnson. After the show's cancellation, however, Johnson hasn't been able to prove my unwavering assertions to my snacking assortments despite his good looks, he canact.
With Johnson's new movie, *Harley Davidson and the Maribor Man*. I have the chance to prove my critics wrong. Johnson gives a hilarious performance as the rugged woman loves the Maribor Man.
Johnson's co-star in the movie, Mickey Rourke, portrays hog-rider Harley Davidson. But where Johnson brings a quirky yet believable representation to his role, Rourke not only fails to provide that extra edge that Johnson does, he doesn't personify the spirit of the stereotypical biker. He is drunk and is like an ice-cream jackson video than a beer-drinking, dirt-under-the-nails, hawnt't-shaved-in-two-bikes biker.
Unfortunately, Rourke's shoddy performance is equaled by the movie's poor story line that follows the typical Hollywood action-adventure formula, complete with women, chases and evil villains brought to justice by our heroes.
marley and Marlboro are friends, an unlikely friendship considering that bikers and cowboys generally don't associate. But the two reunite after Harley returns to California, and the duo beats a hasty path back to their favorite "dive bar." When they arrive, they find that the owner, a longtime friend, is in danger of losing the pair if a subordinate amount of cash isn't paid to the bad guys. The boys devise a scheme to help their old bar buddy, and that's when the "exciting" action begins.
Sound familiar?
The story reads like the script from The Blues Brothers, but instead of Jake and Elwood, two blues-singing, back-flipping, God-fearing outlaws, we get Harley and Mariborro. They are more like two pathetic realists who know the existence of the Blues god worry about setting old.
This is not quite the behavior expected from two characters who represent icons of American consumer culture.
While Harley Davidson and the Maribarro Man, appears to try something new, teaming a cowboy and a biker in an action/adventure film, it fails to ignite any spark of originality in this unimaginative adventure. In fact, it becomes more enjoyable training dialogue. Rourke had better stick with his earlier movies such as 911 Weeks, where his dialogue was kept to a minimum.