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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 28, 1981)
Anything Goes University Theatre Last weekend a group of enthusiastic, almost rambunc tious, actors and actresses sang and tapped to the music and lyrics of Cole Porter’s timeless musical Anything Goes. Hats off to Grant McKernie who assembled and directed the talented performers who gave a sleepy Eugene crowd just what they needed: a mushy, fast-paced, looney musical that left them all begging for more. It’s hard to go wrong with a score that includes hits like ‘‘Delightful, Delicious, D’Love ly,” “You’re the Top,” “I Get A Kick Out of You,” “Blow Ga briel, Blow” and ‘‘Anything Goes.” The score even includes a tribute to that “dear old dirty town New York.” A trans-Atlantic ocean liner is the scene for romance. Michael Nering plays Billy Crocker, a carefree young man who once spent nine hours in the back of a taxi with passenger Hope Har court (Becky Van Allsburg), who has subsequently become engaged to Sir Evelyn (Thomas Nader), an idly rich English gentleman with an equally idle brain to boot. Billy and Hope fall in love with a little help from Reno Sweeney (Charolette Eve London) and Public Enemy Number 13 (played by W. Har din). Anything goes as Billy is in and out of disguises while trying to evade his boss, the ship’s purser and Hope’s mother (Charlene Whitney). Reno and Sir Evelyn develop “hot pants” for each other, and, as is typical of musicals of this vintage, the plot gets progressively crazier. No one actor or actress steals the show, but Nering and Lon don come close as they provide most of the energy throughout. Nering deserves an "A” for a smile that blinds the audience for over two hours. His acting, singing and dancing aren’t bad either. London moves well and sings well in “I Get A Kick Out of You” and the reverent “Blow Gabriel, Blow.” Van Allsburg displays a beautiful voice, but her spoken lines don’t flow quite as smoothly. Nader plays the agreeable Englishman with the right amount of naivete, and W. Harding would be great as one of the Bowery Boys. Despite some wonderful act ing everything does not go per fectly. Some of Porter’s lyrics are lost at sea, and some of the dancing lacks the sparkle required for a show of this na ture. The number “Anything Goes” is an exception. Nearly 30 pairs of tap shoes assault the stage in almost perfect unison during this well-choreographed and well-rehearsed number that closes the first act. The chorus provides ample support in the dancing and singing scenes. It also serves to fill up the multi-tiered set. How Jerry Williams managed to combine art deco into the deck of a big ship is a mystery, but it works well. The costumes, designed by Alexandra Bonds, dazzle the eye, and hardcore preppies will love the array of plaids, argyle, bow ties and sailor suits. Light ing designer Robert Fraser does a commendable job avoiding excessive glare with a white set. Productions of this magni tude and caliber are rare treats for Eugene theater-goers, and they deserve much praise. — Paul Feist Notes on a dry town gone wet Sometimes this ol’ town of Eugene is pretty dry when it comes to the arts and enter tainment, but this is not one of those times. This week and this summer, Eugene is flooded with art and entertainment goings on. Things to look for this week include the Willamette Valley Folk Festival on the East Lawn (next to the EMU) Friday through Sunday. Musicians like Louisiana Cajuns Dewey Balfa and Marc Savoy play the music they “cut their teeth on.” Choreographer Rolande Chesebro and lighting director Marta Dost collaborate in a three-dance show Friday and Saturday nights at 8 in 354 Ger linger Annex. The dances in clude Origami, a dance to show the visual art concept of line; Spectrum, a dance in which each dancer is costumed in each color of the spectrum; and Arriving, a dance in which three human-like creatures keep get ting closer but never arrive. For those interested in poetry, the Northwest Review is spon WEEKEND RENTAL PLUS 200 FREE MILES! f cm comnlt'Tt1 < 11 i, ■, i s <■ ■1 i i 4 ? 1 1 1 RENT-A-CAR I ^Kendall Ford03 Valiev Rivet Center Lu^ene 342 ?15 I Orpnnn Hallu PmoralH soring a poetry reading by local poets John Addiego and Cecelia Hage, June 2 at 8 p.m. in 141 Lawrence Hall. At Mother Kali’s Books, peo ple interested in feminist, les bian and gay issues are invited to meet co-editor of The Coming Out Stories Susan Wolfe today from 3-5 p.m. Later from 7:30-9 p.m. refreshments will be served and Wolfe will autograph copies of the Coming Out Stories. And, looking ahead to the summer, Helmuth Rilling makes his yearly trek to Eugene, Oregon from Stuttgart, Ger many to direct the 12th Annual Summer Festival of Music (June 22-July 5). The festival opens on June 22 with a performance of cantata BWV 72, Alles nur by J.S. Bach. Highlights of the fes tival include the choral music of J.S. Bach. Also included will be eight later afternoon perfor mances of Bach cantatas and four evening programs of choral works by Bach, Haydn and Mendelssohn. Special events include Friday afternoon Lectures on June 26 and July 3 at 3:30 p.m. Featured guest is Harold Schonberg, Cultural Correspondent, New York Times, The lecture topics are: 'Singers — Past and Pre sent” and "Pianists — Past and Present." At the Free Noon Concerts, chamber music and solo reci tals by members of the festival orchestra and chorus with per formances ranging from jazz to lieder to early instruments lead the show. Also featured in this series is Baroque dance specialist Angene Feves of San Francisco. Bach’s Supper on Thursday, July 23 is the festival’s Annual benefit picnic, outdoors on the lawn behind Beall Hall. Tickets cost $12 and include two box suppers, wine and entertain ment. The picnic starts at 6 p m. Tickets vary according to concert and activity. For more information call the Summer Festival Box Office at 686-3761 before June 15. After June 15 call 686-3764. SUNDAY CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH A La Carte Selections with Champagne from $4.25 OREGON ELECTRIC STATION SERVING FINE FOOD & SPIRITS 5TH AND WILLAMETTE (5031 485-4444 DOWNTOWN EUGENE Hair Loft. for Men and W*nen ' YirTiyi '* THOSE EASY LAZY DAYS ARE ALMOST HERE! Be ready with an easy style for comfort with class from the HAIR LOFT. 2 campus locations 1461 E. 19th 484-2565 It'ALK INS WELCOME jzirn Cultural Forum Presents THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL Willamette $>, Valley Folk Festival May 29, 30, 31 EMU East Lawn (EMC Ballroom if it rains) Three days of music, workshops and dances from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Most events are free • Call 086-4373 for information. Come & join us at a Cultural, Sports, & Film Celebration in commemoration of FREE: FILMS 1981 International Year of Disabled Persons featuring Dynamic Dimensions of Disability on May 28th, 1981 at U of O time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon place: Dad’s Room, E.M.U. GRAPHIC ART DISPLAY time: 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. place: Dad’s Room, E.M.U. CULTURAL CELEBRATION time: 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m. place: E.M.U. Center Court (Interpreter provided) WHEELCHAIR VOLLEYBALL AWARENESS time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. place: E.M.U. Center Court Sponsored by: PLUS - Physically Limited Union of Students, project EXETRA, the RPM block students, & the IYDP Cultural Committee of Eugene & Springfield. Page 3 Section B
