Kansan Summer Weekly
Arts and Entertainment
.
Wednesday, June 17, 1987
Jay Joyce, Emma, Jeff Boggs
The Interview Jay Joyce of 'In Pursuit'
By DAWN O'MALLEY
Managing editor
Mention Nashville, Tenn., and people might think of country music and the Grand Ole Oryp, not a band that plays rock 'n' roll. But In Pursuit has made its home in Nashville and is doing quite well.
The band consists of Jeff Boggs on drums, Jay Joyce on guitar and vocals and Emma, on bass and vocals.
The band just completed its first LP, Standing In Your Shadow. The album begins with a sizzling title track, which is upbeat and is a refreshing change from the recycled top 40 sound. Joyce and Emmma brilliantly interplay their vocales and neither seems to be fighting to be heard. The 10-cut album was written by the same group who is known for his work with The Pretenders, INXS and Slouxie & the Banshees.
Until recently, the trio successfully managed themselves. Now Josh Zieman of the New York-based Side One Management company handles the band's affairs. The company also represents Modern English, Icicle Works, Steve Earle and Rosanne Cash.
In *Pursuit* has headlined in cities including Chicago, New Orleans, and New York. They also opened shows for *Crowded House*, a.ha, and *Pseudo Echo*. And now *In Pursuit* will play this Saturday at the Jazzhaus, 92%<sup>c</sup> Massachusetts St.
Recently I talked with Joyce, the band's guitarist and vocalist.
Q: How did the band meet?
A: Emma, the singer and bass player, and I, we got together. We went to high school together in Cleveland, Ohio. Then we got in this scene, and found Jeff, the drummer. The rest is history.
Q: Why Nashville, Tennessee?
A: There is a lot more happening here than people think. It’s a really big music town, not just country music like everyone thinks. There is a lot of good rock 'n' roll down here. The only reason we are interested in the record company. It's our home for now. There are four million bands in Athens, Georgia. Besides, I think when we moved it was before that period. I think so.
I was surprised by the band's success. We've been working really hard at it. It's not a freak me-out-success. We don't consider ourselves there at all. We still have a long way to go.
Q: How did the band survive without a manager?
A: I took care of all the arranging in the music end of it. We got the record on our own. We did a demo tape in my living room and someone heard it and took it into the president of the company. Two to three weeks later we got signed. In a matter of a month we had recorded our first record, the EP When Dandelion Falls). This one is written for a special time and we got a good producer. Q: What purpose did Steve Churchyard serve and what were the advantages in using him?
A: He was wonderful. We called him because he engineered a lot of records that as a group we collectively liked. We wanted someone to get the sound. He drew a remix of it. Do you see it sound like another? Or do you test to sound like another?
Q: Do you try to sound like another band?
A: We try to avoid that. I think the way we sing our vocals is different than other bands.
Q: Recently the band opened for the Norwegian band a-ha and the Australian band Pseudo Echo. Your band stole the show from Pseudo Echo.
A: We just do our gig, it's just a vehicle to get out and play. It's a good chance to get out in front of a large group of people. We were playing the best we could.
Q: What's on the road like?
A: It is hunky dorey, I don't mind it a bit. I look forward to it — driving a van, don't sleep much and all that crap.
Q: How has the exposure on MTV
4: How has the exposure on MTV helped the group?
A: It helped because when we toured people would come up and see us. In that respect, it helps. Being a band that isn't megastars, I think every bit helps. We just want people to like our music. You have to eat, it's not like we're making lots of money.
Q: What have you heard about Lawrence?
A: That's where they did The Day After. I really haven't heard about it. I'm looking forward to coming down and getting the hell out of here. I like being on the road. I don't like being in the same place too long.
Q: Do you have any favorite songs?
A: I wrote them all. After I finish a song, I like it for about 20 minutes, then I don't want to hear it for a while. But I'm proud of everything we've done.
Witches brew up comedic little devil
By JOHN BENNER
Editor
The Witches of Eastwick is the story of three unmarried women residents of a fictional New England town who are looking for Mr. Right but find Mr. Raspin.
The three women meet regularly on Thursday nights for cocktails and to discuss their search for the perfect man. They previously had been experimenting with "Chinese aphrodisiac cooking," but soon expand their horizons when they conjure up the devil.
The film, based loosely on the John Updike novel of the same name, stars Jack Nicholson as the devilish Daryl Van Horne, Cher as Alexandra Medford. Susan Sarandon as Jane Spoeth Pleicher as Melanie Pieffer as Suikie Ridgement.
Van Horne mysteriously appears in the town of Eastwick after the three women simultaneously fantasize about the man of their dreams. This melding of the minds apparently to summon the Evil One to Eastwick
Nicholson, who gets ample opportunities to use his patented satanic smile, buys a mansion, which has a history of haunting, at the edge of the puritan village. He seeks out and seduces the three women. The group's actions create a scandal that warps the mind of Felicia Gabriel, played by Veronica Cartwright, the wife of the local newspaper publisher, and provides hours of gossip for the people of Eastwick.
The Witches of Eastwick is a horror-comedy battle of the sexes as well as a battle for the possession of souls. Van Horne first meets and seduces Alexandra Medford, a young widow who sculpts fertility statues.
Van Horne soon beds down with Jane Spofford, an elementary school music teacher who recently has been divorced after a childless marriage. He woes her after going to her house to play a duet, she on cello and he on violin.
At first, Alexandra is repulsed by Van Horne, but eventually she falls victim to his spell.
Alexandra and Jane take Suki Ridgemont, a reporter for the town newspaper, over to the mansion to meet Van Horne. When he makes a play for Suki, after she boasts about her abnormal high rate of fertility, the audience is given a hint at Van Horne's master plan.
The Witches of Eastwich is filled with special effects, some of which are more believable than others. It is directed by Australian George Miller, director of the Mad Max trilogy, who has a definite flair for action and for the sinister. Combine Miller's talent for speed with Vilmos Zsigmond's photography direction, and the result is some action scenes that rival the three Mad Max films and Zigmond's The Sugarland Express and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
The Witches of Eastwick is an entertaining movie that requires the audience to use its imagination in order to be a success. Although this is not Nicholson's best job to date, he is more than adequate at bringing out the devil in himself.
The music, which was composed by John Williams, is quite good.
Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pteiffer and Jack Nicholson.
P. S. I noticed that the annoying practice of showing commercials at the movies has been adopted on a grand scale by the Commonwealth Theatres. Before the movie began, the audience was subjected to ads for
Kodak Film, Cherry 7-Up, Sunbloc, and the Jim Ellena automobile dealership. Each of these ads are a full minute long and precede three ads for coming films.
after the seventh consecutive commercial. Many people go to the movies instead of staying home because of television advertising. Asking moviegoers to pay $4 to sit and watch ads is an insult.
I wish Commonwealth would pay attention to the people who booed
Darcy Chang/KANSAN
Darcy Schild, left, and Eric Anderson, Lawrence residents, rehearse their roles as Krojack and the chef in Don't Drink the Water, which opens tomorrow night. Roni Cunningham, Lawrence senior, background, plays Kilroy.
KU senior directs play; spy spoof is quencher
Rv KRISTEN HAYS
Staff writer
Performances will be tomorrow, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Get a taste of a Woody Allen play in Don't Drink the Water, produced by the Lawrence Community Theater.
The play, directed by Paul Jackson, Derby senior, is about a family of tourists, the Hollanders, accused of spying and chased by police in a nondescript communist country.
The embassy's ambassador goes back to the United States and leaves his clumsy axi Axel Male in charge, who does his best to get them home.
"It's not a political show," Jackson said. "It makes fun of the United States and a communist countries equally, which is why we don't use real flags but represent us."
The play has a large cast, with four leading roles: Axel, played by Brad Knauss; the Hollanders, played by Mike and Shirley Cormack; and their daughter Susan, played by Robin Lent.
Assistant director Linda Bybee said the supporting actors were so good that the audience would notice everyone. At auditions, Jackson guaranteed every cast member at least one laugh.
"It's a funny show, and I wanted it detailed so that the actors are doing so much on stage there's no way the audience can catch all of it." Jackson said.
much on stage there's no way the audience can coach all of it. Jackson said Don't Drink the Water is the only play LCT will produce this summer. Jackson said auditions would be held for the next play, *Pippin*, at the end of August.
Jackson was assistant director for *The Marriage of Figaro* last semester, but he said this was his first play outside school. He played Pirelli, a barber who marketed "miracle elixer," in KU's production of *Sweeney Todd* in the spring of 1985.
In 1984, he was musical director for Laffite. "It was so off-Broadway it was in Pennsylvania," he said.
Design prof exhibits tapestries in Spencer Museum
Staff writer
By ELIZABETH KELLY
One can almost hear the seagulls and the peaceful swishing of the reeds when looking down the beaches of the North Shore. And whether it's the icy, quiet solitude of Winter Dream, or the cool melting of blue in Lake Crossing, something inside the viewer may stir when he sees a tapestry created by Cynthia Schira
Schira, a KU professor of design, has a special exhibit, entitled New
Work, now showing in the White Gallery of the Spencer Museum of Art. The show will run until July 26 and is definitely worth battling the heat and humidity to see.
Schira manages to conquer the intricate and the delicate and brings about a touching response in all who view her work. As an oil painter myself, I was immediately drawn to her tapestries because of the painted-like quality they possess, something for which she has been
striving.
She referred to her husband, Dick Schira, KU professor of painting, when she said, "Living with a painter. I've wanted to get closer to the mark-making and spontaneity that I see him encounter working on the canvas."
An added difficulty, that is not found in oil painting or other art forms, is inherent in weaving. As the artist weaves, the tapestry is wound around a large spool underneath the
loom's breast beam, leaving only a foot of the work visible at one time
Shira began her career in weaving at the Rhode Island School of Design where she was awarded a scholarship. After completing her bachelor of fine arts degree there, she accepted a Texton Fellowship to apprentice at L'Ecole des Arts Decoratifs in Aubusson, France. She has had her work displayed in numerous public collections all over the United States.
Calendar
Today
9 a.m. — "Intermediate Word-
star," a microcomputer workshop at the Academic Computer Center. Call 684-4291 for more information. The registration fee for University students, staff and faculty is $35, general public fee is $65.
1 p.m. — "WS Propak," a microcomputer workshop at the Academic Computer Center. Call 684-4291 for more information. The registration fee for University students, staff and faculty is $35, general public fee is $65.
6 p.m. - Softball managers meeting in 2021 Robinson Center - Slow-pitch begins at 6 p.m. - co-rec at 6:30 p.m. - fast-pitch at 7 p.m. - teams register at team fee for slow-pitch and co-team fees for slow-pitch and co-team teams is $10, and the fee for fast-pitch is $20
7 p.m. — "Suddenly Last Summer," SUA film shown in Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Admission is $2 and on Sundays. The SUA office on level 4 of the Union.
8 p.m. — Richard Reber. Piano recital in Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall.
9 p.m. — The Ebling Brothers. Live music at the Rock Chalk Bar, 618 W.
12th Floor. Cover price is $1
9:30 p.m. - Jayhawk Jazz Quintet.
Live music in the Jazzhaus, 926%
Tomorrow
10:30 p.m. — Absolute Ceiling. Live music at Bottleneck's, 737 New Hampshire St.
All day — Orientation for entering engineering students in the Kansas Union.
10 a.m. "Preventing Sexual Harassment" an affirmative action statement
6 p.m. - Softball officials meeting in 202 Robinson Center.
7 p.m. — "My Favorite Year" and
"Who's On First." SUA films shown in
Woodruff Auditorium at the Kansas
Union. Admission is $2. Tickets are sold at the SUA office on level 4 of the Union.
7 p.m. "The American Past,"
Pickett Listen to history on KANU FM 325.
9 p.m. — Dashboard Buddha. Live music at the Rock Chalk Bar, 618 W. 12th St.
Friday
9 a.m. — "Intermediate MS-DOS"
a microcomputer workshop at the Academic Computer Center. For more information call 864-4291.
7 p.m. — "Opera is my Hobby," with James Seaver. KANU FM91.5.
7:30 p.m. Midwestern Music
12:45 p.m. The Museum
without Restore Hall in Murphy Hall
9 p.m. - Observatory open house, weather permitting, at the Clyde W. Tombaugh Observatory, 500 Lindley Hall. Call 864-3166 for more information.
9 p.m. - Todd Newman. Live music at the Rock Chalk Bar, 618 W. 12th St.
9:30 p.m. — Homeestead Grays.Live music at the Jazzhaus, 926½ Massachusetts St. Cover charge is $2.
10:30 p.m. — The Sons. Live music at Bottleneck's, 737 New Hampshire St.
There is a cover charge.
Saturdav
All day — Orientation for students entering the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in the Kansas Union.
Michael Maher, host on tpcc.MU-FRM-815.5.
9:30 a.m. — Midwestern Music Camp Piano Recital in Swarthout Recital Hall in Murhvah Hall.
2 p.m. - Midwestern Music Camp Major Concert Listen to chorus, orchestra and bands in Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall.
8 p.m.-11 p.m. — Bely Scatterl. Live
music at the Glass Onion 624. W12
9 a.m.-5 p.m. — Bely Scatterl. Live
9:30 p.m. - Red Zone. Live music at Bogars, 611 Vermont St.
10:30 p.m. — The Sons. Live music at Bottleneck's, 737 New Hampshire St.
There is a cover charge.
9:30 p.m. — In Pursuit Live music at the Jazzhaus, 926% Massachusetts.
Cover charge is $3.
9 p.m. — Homestead Grays. Live music at the Rock Chalk Bar, 618 W. 12th St.
Sunday
3 p.m. — The KU Concerts on KANU-FM 91.5. Continues each Sunday at 3 p.m.
Monday
8 p.m. — Evaline Campbell. Student organ recital, Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall.
9 a.m. — Microcomputer Workshop.
Attend a programming in dBase III at the Academic Computer Center. There is a fee. Call 864-4291 for more information.
All day — Orientation for Liberal Arts and Science students in the Kansas Union.
8 p.m. - Carol Wilson. Student recital in Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall.
8 p.m. — Open Mic at the Rock Chalk Bar. Come show off your talents in front of an audience at 618 W. 12th St.
Tuesdav
Art Briefs Horsing around
The Sunflower Benefit Horse Show will be at the Douglas County Fairgrounds this weekend. There are shows at 7 p.m. tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, and at 9 a.m., Friday and Saturday. The proceeds will go to the O'Connell Youth Ranch.
Local art in K.C.
Two former KU students are among 61 artists who have work on display in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's Mid-Fourth 1987 exhibition in Kansas City, Mo. Jerry Smith, McLouth artist, and Louis Copt, Lawrence artist, had work chosen for the juried exhibition, which runs until June 28. More than 100 artists submitted entries.