University Daily Kansan / Friday, February 22, 1991
Arts and Entertainment
11
Matthew Roth, Shawnee sophomore (right), and Darren Welch, Lawrence resident, perform improvisational music between acts
Coffeehouse provides alternative art forum
Bv Eric Nelson
Kansan staff writer
Video art and marionettes composed of meat are only a sampling of the alternative entertainment displayed at the Big Eight Room in the Kansas Union every Friday evening.
After more than 20 years, a coffeehouse theater has returned to KU, but for how long is questionable.
The SUA coffeehouse theater, or the Question Mark as it is called, has offered alternative entertainment to an average of 40 people from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. for the past three Friday evenings.
The last coffeehouse theater in the Kansas Union was in 1970, said Alan Scoff, SCUA fine arts museum.
The idea of the new coffeehouse belongs to Scott. There have been three performances of the Question Mark this semester, and at least two more are scheduled. The shows are free.
"It's an informal forum for student creative work," he said.
Scott said the idea for the theater was spurred by hearing two years of complaining about the lack of stage lighting.
"The idea is to allow people to have a forum like this, but we don't like the crowded, smoky, alcohol-filled bar seating."
The show involves both scheduled and non-scheduled performers, including music, poetry and dramatic presentations. Some of the regular performers are paid, Scott said.
"It's sort of a way of relaxing the atmosphere," he said.
There usually is no program printed unless one is informally together at the last minute, he
The concept relies heavily on audience participation with an open microphone between acts. It is not only a powerful tool but also a means of interaction.
their favorite ghost story or a tale of how they once saw a UFO, he said.
Scoff said the audience also was given the opportunity to express themselves by doing artwork with paper, markers and even balloons.
Unfortunately, he said participation had been a problem with the concept. Scott was not sure whether the concept was too aggressive or not aggressive enough.
"People are simply afraid to share anything like that, regardless of how informal the atmosphere
Joel Sanderson, Wichita senior, has displayed his video art at the coffeehouse this semester.
He described video art as anything that could be done with a video camera.
Sanderson said the Question Mark allowed people to expand their horizons and see other types
A marionette made from meat dances across the floor during a segment at the SUA Coffee-house, called 'We're All Meat.'
"There is all kinds of stuff going on that nobody ever sees." he said
"We wanted to basically take a puppet show out of the realm of children's theater," he said.
Ilya Papinako, Kansas City, Mo., resident and former KU student, has performed in two of the coffeehouse shows, including a puppet show with his partner, Eric Youngquist.
In their show, marionettes were constructed with scraps of meat from a butcher shop and heads
In the presentation called, "We're All Meat," the marionettes danced around and then were taken apart with a butcher's knife.
The point of the presentation was explained theatrically afterward. Pinako said.
He said the idea of the puppet show was to make people aware of what they were eating and to play on a cliche many parents tell their children: "Don't play with your food."
of surprise associated with the coffeehouse concept. He said reaction to the puppet show was mixed.
"Some people took it seriously; other people didn't." he said.
Matt Roth, Overland Park senior, has played background music at the Question Mark regularly. He said he hoped the concept behind the theater would continue in Lawrence.
Scott said the puppet show displayed the element
'Silence' twists the mind in chilling ways
Scott said he was concerned about the future of the Question Mark because he was leaving the SUA Board. He hoped it would continue after spring when the board would decide that would have to be made by the incoming board.
Special to the Kansan
By Kristine Curley
The latest endeavor for director Jonathan Demme is "The Silence of the Lams," the suspense thriller based best-seller by Thomas Harris.
Lecter is not the only character with an emotional imbalance. Serial killer James Gumb leads us on a visionary journey through our worst nightmares as we follow his bizarre ritual of murder. His victims are mere fodder for his strange fetish with changing his appearance.
entrancing dialogue in the movie as we wait for Starling to pry the murderer's identity from Lecter's carnivorous mouth.
The movie recounts the relentless efforts by FBI trainee Clarice Starling to crack the psychotic shell of Hammia Larter, a psychiatrist
action between the two. Demme operates on this surrealistic note throughout the movie. He shows us in graphic detail the exploits of the cannibalistic Lecter and the unsavvy dressmaking of Gumb. Gumb's take on a room setup straight from hell, with Gumb as the devil himself.
The direction of the film is exemplary. Demme takes us "up close and personal" with Lester and Starling, creating a much more startling inter-
In spite of these somewhat gorcesque scenes, Demme has created a suspense-filled and mildly disturbing film that had me watching the movie with one hand clamped firmly over my eyes and the other clutching the edge of my seat.
'Consider Me' show mixes poetry,dance
the demented doctor in hopes of capturing a siler killer and becomes embroiled in the doctor's psychological games.
Jodie Foster plays Starling, and Anthony Hopkins is her twisted subject. Lecter. The two are superb as their characters tear at each others psyches. Foster lives up to her billing as an Oscar-winning actress, and Hopkins never wavers in his performance. These two create the most
By Eric Nelson
African-American History Month will conclude with the KU English Alternative Theatre's production of "Consider Me."
Kansan staff writer
Lecter, who is nicknamed "The Cannibal," informs Starling that he once ate the liver of a census taker. Undaunted, Starling locks horns with
The show will consist of two short plays and three original dances.
Paul Lim, assistant professor on English, coordinates the English Alternative Theatre, now in its second semester. He said the goal of the group was to do plays outside mainstream theater.
"We feel there is a vacuum which needs to be filled," he said.
Therefore, he said it seemed appropriate to do a production coinciding with African-American History month.
"Not enough plays are being done by people of color," Lim said. "These are voices we don't hear very often."
"It is a very strong, dramatic piece," Delkah said. "The play goes beyond only the conflict of Black and white."
The first play is "A Black Woman Speaks," by Beah Richards. It originates from a poem Richards delivers in Chicago called *Women for Peace*.
He said the play also related to relationships between men and women.
The play, taken from the anthology "Nine Black Women Playwrights" calls for unification against sexism in the name of sisterhood.
The play deals with a racist antebellum woman and a slave woman JLM who directs the play. The character is played by Schofield and Omotolobo Ajayi,
"This poem is even more germane and more topical today than it was in 1900," Lim said.
made the rehearsals interesting because both women were from the department of women's studies.
Schofield, who plays the racist antebellum woman, said the part she played conflicted with her regular beliefs.
Lim said the play focused on the relationship between a white lady and an African-American man on a subway in New York City.
"The character I am playing is at odds with the person I am," she said.
He said the lobby of the theater had been extravagantly designed to portray a subway station.
The original dances for the show were choreographed by Omofolao Ajaiy and Willie Lenoir, who will perform in the dances.
The second play, "Dutchman,
LeRoJois, was written in the mid
1960s. It is directed by Masoud
the assistant教导 in the theater
and film.
"Consider Me" will open tomorrow at Downs Auditorium in Dyche Hall with an 8 p.m. performance. Additional performances will be Sunday and Monday at 8 p.m. There will be a 2:30 matinee Sunday.
Tickets are $5 and can be reserved by calling 864-4520.
CALENDAR
Friday
"The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and
Her Lover "SUA movie, 7 and 9 p.30 m.
Woolfsh Auditorium, Kansas Union,
$1.60
**KU Symphonic Band Concert for**
College Band Directors National Association
8:45 p.m. White Concert Hall,
UMC Kick-off at UMCK Box Office.
SUA Collehouse, impromptu entertainment, 7:30 p.m., Big Eight Room, Kansas University, p.m.
■ Frisk, 9 p.m., Just A Playhouse, 806
W. 24th St., $2.
The Backsliders, 9.30 p.m., The Mad Hatter, 700 New Hampshire St., $2.
The Eyes and Id Explosion. 9:30 p.m.
The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.
S4
■ "The Shining." SUA Movie, midnight,
Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union,
£5.00
Saturday
The Belt Alrs, 9:30 p.m. The Jazh-
ses, 926% Massachusetts St. $4.
The Backsliders, 9:30 p.m. The Mad
■ Frisk, 9 p.m., Just A Playhouse, 806
W. 24th St., $2
"**Exterminating Angel!" SUA movie, 4 p.m. Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union $2
"The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and
Her Love," SUA movie, 7 and 9:30 p.m.
木woold Audition, Kansas Union,
$2.50
The Eyes and Id Explosion, 9:30 p.m.
The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.
$4
The Bal Airs, 9.30 p.m. The Jaz
80261 MAHAMETTE ST $4
The Backsliders, 9:30 p.m., The Mad Hatter, 700 New Hampshire St., $2.
■ "The Shining." SUA movie, midnight,
Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union,
$2.50
Sunday
Recital Hall, free.
"The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover," SUA movie, 2 p.m., Woodland Auditorium, Kansas Union, $2.50
- Visiting Artists Series, Rodney Boyd,
bassoonist, plays works by KU Professor
Zamir Bavel 3 p.m., Swarthout
Monday
- Lawrence Chamber Players concert.
"A Pair of Deuces," p. 3:30 p.m., Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St., $2.50 for students.
- Jonathan Richman and Mac Knighton, 9:30 p.m. The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St., advanced campus
Tuesday
Open mike, 9:30 p.m. The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St., free.
■ "Last Tango in Paris," SUA movie, 7 p.m., Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union must be 18 **$**
Joe Worker and King Trash, 9:30 p.m., The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. $3.
Wednesdav
■ Kansas Chamber Artists, "The Music of Samuel Adler," 8 p.m., Swarthout Recital Hall,庆典.
■ "Last Tango in Paris," SUA movie, 7 p.m., Woodruff, Auditorium, Kansas Union, must be $12
Suede Chain and Zoom. 9:30 p.m.
The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.
$3
Rare Air, 9:30 p.m., The Jazzhaus,
926½ Massachusetts St. $4
Thursday
Interdisciplinary Panel Discussion on the Arts: Samuel Adler, composer, with Ted Johnson and Stephen Adams. 12:30 p.m. Sunset Recital Hall free.
■ "Last Tango in Paris," SUA movie, 7 p.m., Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union, must be 18. $2.
"Tobacco Road," University Theatre Series, 8 p.m., Cranston-Prey Theater, Murphy Hall, tickets at Murphy Hall Box Office.
**Drivin' 'm Cryin' and the Kents, 9.30 p.m., The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. advance tickets $6.
■ Markiss and The Shades of Color,
9:30 p.m., The Jazzhaus, 926½ Massachusetts
St. $3.
"He's smart...He will listen."
—Steve Fawcett, KU
"Jerry Hannah has my vote. He's smart. He will listen. He will reach out to all the citizens of Lawrence."
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