Eugene Downtown
With its next issue. August 4th, What's Happening will dedicate a
Downtown Page (or section, assuming it catches on). Since we began
publication last September, people shopping, living and working
Downtown have comprised a very large segment of our readership.
Now we’d like to enlarge upon this relationship by encouraging busi
nesses, organizations and people with a Downtown connection to sub
mit "news,” fiction, community and business related information,
photos, poetry, etc.
After talking with Chuck Hale of Scott’s Restaurants, Ray McIver
of the Downtown Association, George Brown of the Kiva, and others,
What’s Happening recognized that it could be of service by providing
people Downtown a special place to read and write about themselves.
Share your opinions, your art and your personal interests with
thousands of readers on the Downtown Page.
Send your submissions to: Downtown Page, What’s Happening,
P.O. Box 259, Eugene, OR 97440, or call our Downtown Editor at
484-0519.
—Bill Snyder
’ Downtown August 5 & 6
Annual Bedrace
& Sidewalk Sale
Eugene Downtown and area
groups and businesses are active
ly planning (and “training”) for
the Sixth Annual Eugene Down
town Bedrace and the traditional
Sidewalk Sale. Talking with
Connie Bloom and Ray Me liver
of the Downtown Association, I
learned much about this 2-day
event. Beginning Friday, August
5th, Downtown merchants will
offer many bargains displayed
outside their stores, including
back-to-school specials. Many
Downtown workers are costum
ed for the event which continues
Saturday, Aug 6, date of the An
nual Eugene
Downtown
Bedrace.
This unusual athletic event in
volves many organizations and
businesses, and benfits the
Muscular Distrophy Associa
tion. Bed race day is always ex
citing—featuring entertainment
(Mainstage minstrels, music,
magic), public judging for Best
Dressed Bed and Team, awards,
a Parade to Post and the race up
10th St. Pledges (for MDA) are
made, and the contestants race 2
beds at a time. The winning
Bed/Team is awarded a rotating
trophy and a berth in the District
Race at Autzen Stadium, Sept 3.
Last year’s winners, deFrisco’s,
won the District and competed
at the Regionals in Seattle!
Many organizations and busi
nesses make these events possi
ble. Among many other contri
butions, the Eugene Downtown
Association pays for 10 cent bus
rides district wide. Eugene Parks
and Rec helps provide the enter
tainment. And of course the Eu
gene Muscular Dystrophy As
soc. and the many participants
in the Bed Race and the Side
walk Sale.
If you’d like to be involved—
loaner beds are available—con
tact Pam Wilson of the Mus
cular Dystrophy Assoc.,
686-2753. Look for details in the
August 4th edition of What's
Happening.
—Bill Snyder
WHAT IS ARICA?
Arica is a not-for-profit educational organization—a school—
which has been offering courses and self-study materials since
1971. Arica provides a practical method for achieving greater
self-understanding, reducing stress, and developing greater
resources of strength to deal with the complexities of modern life.
Sam Keen has called Arica "the. university of higher con
sciousness."
An introductory, experiential workshop will be offered Saturday,
August 6, from 1-4 pm. Included in the program will be:
• Psychocalisthenics, an introduction to a complete
exercise routine for the body and psyche.
• Stress Reducation & Vitality Generation Exercises
• Videotape of Oscar Ichazo, founder/designer of Arica
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 • 1-4 PM • $9
Preregistration Necessary — Space Limited — Call 484-4243
PSYCHOCALISTHENICS
A LONG NAME FOR SOME SHORT EXERCISES
TO REDUCE STRESS
A beginning class in
Psychocal is now form
ing. More than just exer
cise, the 26 movements
are designed for total
mind/body fitness and
stress reduction. Classes
will be held twice week
ly, Tues & Thurs, 5:15
6:15 pm. 6 sessions/$25.
Call for information and
preregistration.
I
KATH WORKS, P.O. Box 3162, Eugene 97403 • 4844243 |
Mainstage Theatre Company’s production of WORKING, the musical based on Studs Terkel's bestselling book, has
i three more performances on the Eugene Downtown Mall: July 23, 28, and 29.
Musical on the Mall
In Review: WORKING
I
by David Sherman
I went to Working with the
wrong expectations. I assumed I
would see an episodic, revue for
mat musical in which the Ameri
can work ethic and the virtues of
work and working would be sub
tly preached at me. The token
overture was a playing of the
“Look for the Union Label”
song. Ah ha, I thought. Not on
ly work ethic, but the union work
ethic.
Not so. The musical, produc
ed by Mainstage Theatre, is bas
ed on Studs Terkel’s book
Working. The musical extracts
some two dozen of the inter
views and presents them as mono
logues, scenes or songs. The
total effect is not “hooray for
work”—but 24 cheers for the
human spirit, which can survive,
with humor, care and concern
for others while doing necessary
work.
The production, under the di
rection of Joe Zingo, moves
quickly through these vignettes.
Many are humorous, many are
moving. It is hard to single indi
viduals out, but I was moved by
Denny Guehler as a fireman who
once was a policeman. He
changed jobs because he didn’t
like what was happening to his
own attitude towards people.
Peg Major’s “Just a House
wife” number told of a woman
who, in spite of the popular
press and what she’s been hear
likes being someone’s
ing.
mother—necessary. Steve Ja
quith reminisces about growing
up as a migrant worker as he
passes out leaflets at a super
market—urging shoppers to
boycott grapes. LeeAnne Ro
bertson opens the second act as a
waitress who entertains—or con
fuses—her customers with her
fantasies. Ken Major is a gas
meter reader who relieves bore
dom by kicking dogs or sur
prising a sun-bathing housewife.
You see, if her halter top is un
tied and falls, you gain points. It
relieves the boredom.
This boredom is a theme that
runs through the show. Work is
boring. But the people keep at it
—working. The music and lyrics
are by a half-dozen composers.
Lydia Lord leads a small, on
stage combo that provides effec
tive accompaniment.
Although boredom is a con
stant undertone from these
workers, the production is cer
tainly anything but boring. The
stories reach and affect the au
dience. People have wonderfully
unique ways of dealing with
boredom. And why? Why bo
ther with work at all? Denny
Guehler, as Mike, a steelworker,
says it clearly when he talks
about his children and the hopes
that are passed on to children by
parents. Kevin Boling and Neal
Nelson, as a father and son, ex
plain poetically the emotional
relationships between genera
tions.
Another reason for working is
the ability to point to something
and say, "Look. I did that; I
made a difference. That brick
house, that building, that steel
would not be here without me.
The world is different because I
have been here.”
Working will be presented
again on July 23, 28, and 29 on
the Central Plaza of the Eugene
Downtown Mall. Tickets, at $3
in advance and $4 at the gate,
are available at several down
town outlets or by calling
Mainstage Theatre at 683-7207.
(Reviewer David Sherman is an
LCC professor and member of the
Oregon Arts Commission.)
10%oFF
AMY REGULARLY PRICED
MERCHANDISE
with this coupon. Coupon expires 8/3/83
Limit one coupon per purchase.
ALBUMS, CASSETTES, SINGLES _
BUTTONS, T-SHIRTS --to
mtloe
CARDS, PHOTOS
POSTERS &
MORE
thee
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T-on0
RE Across the street
9 from the U of O Bookstore
886 E. 13th • 345-1010 |
GYKO%
(ye ros)
And
Other Greek Delights
7Te
(RksLt
LX AH
At the 5 th SI. Public Market