Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 17, 1984)
Former Olympian highlights Congress A University alumnus who placed a close second to Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics is returning to campus for another Olympic event. gram entitled “Peak Perfor mance.” The program will con sist of a six-person panel discus sion to begin at 4 p.m. in the EMU Dad’s Room. Athletics Mack Robinson Mack Robinson will attend the opening days of the Olym pic Scientific Congress and will take part in a Friday public pro Photo courtesy of University archives West coach Doug Brown of Eugene will also be a panel member. Robinson will be guest of honor at a Eugene Hilton lun cheon Wednesday in honor of his 70th birthday. He will arrive in Eugene tonight after serving as youth ambassador to the ARCO-Jesse Owens Games in Anchorage, Alaska. Robinson ran just one stride away from Owens in the 200-meter run at the historic Berlin Games. A native of Pasadena. Cal., Robinson earned conference championships in the low hurdles and the long jump dur ing his two-year stay at the University. His efforts helped lead the Ducks to an undefeated dual meet season in 1938. Robinson, who transferred to the University from Pasadena Community College, also held a national AAU title in the 200-meter run. Another member of Robin son’s family has earned a niche in sports history. In 1947, his younger brother Jackie suited up with the Brooklyn Dodgers as a second baseman and became the first black to play major-league baseball. Play’s upfront messages are ‘pertinent’ As the house lights dim, a casually dressed quartet of musicians wander onstage and go into a spontaneous version of the classic “Green Onions.” The rest of the cast filters on in the same informal manner, and the band goes through-a prac tice run of their song “Feel the Love.” Joe, the band’s manager, watches from stage left. The on ly person missing is the lead singer, Heather Jones. Heather is a TV actress turned pop star whose success had been based on saccharine love songs and an unthreatening im age. She’s done a little growing, however, and a little learning since then. And now she’s writ ten a new collection of songs for a radically new act that she’s ready to audition for Joe. “I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the she’s trying to give her act meaning. The conflict comes when Joe expresses his dissatisfaction with this new direction. He argues that Olivia Newton-John and Linda Ronstadt are not “ball-breakers,” his term for in dependent women. It becomes evident that Joe represents the attitude Heather is addressing in her music. The show moves quickly and defines the characters early on. The strongest character is, of course, Heather, played with confidence and assurance by Priscilla Lauris. Lauris provides a powerful, dynamic voice for the show’s engaging musical numbers and carries that presence into her character. Her backup singers hold their own in the skits they perform together. The sound is crisp and clean, which is vital to the production as the songs’ lyrics contain much of the show’s punch. The only problems come when the band overpowers the singers, which is rare, and when the harmonies come a lit tle off register, also rare. Overall, director Lynda Cza jkowska has created a well rehearsed aura of informality which makes the show feel ge nuinely spontaneous. She con versely has the cast heighten their acting style for the skits within Heather’s act, making a solid distinction between the acting in the these routines and the acting of the characters. By the end of the show, the manager-performer relationship in the act becomes an ap propriate metaphor for the rela Emerald photo Priscilla Lauris (center) shines as Heather Jones in the Robinson Theatre production of “I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road. ” Road” is the story of Heather’s new outlook on life and rela tionships. The schlocky love songs that she used to sing now nauseate her. After an unsuc cessful marriage and a hard look at herself, her parents, and society in general, she’s ready to sing about what life is really about and how it could be better. Her new act is a mix of upbeat songs with sharp, perceptive lyrics; soft, touching ballads; and short skits that both parody and define the problems she ad dresses in the songs. In short, The character of Joe the manager is sketchier than Heather. Bob Hirsh plays him as a diplomatic Dabney Coleman, with a little less presence and more understanding, but ultimately suffering from an in ability to overcome his own pre judices. Hirsh does an ad mirable job of making Joe per sonable and likable despite his faults and despite the lack of depth the script provides. The music is what keeps the show moving so quickly, and it provides the high points as well. tionships of men and women, which is the focus of the show. Though a little short at an hour and a half, “I’m Getting My Act Together’’ is a pleasant show with wit, good music, a relaxed atmosphere, and an upfront but unforced message. Its “hip” message may be dated and ob vious by now, but it doesn’t make it any less pertinent. The show plays July 19, 25 and 26 and Aug. 3, 4 and 10 at the Robinson Theatre. All per formances are at 8 p.m. Call 686-4191 for ticket information. By Sean Axmaker Tune-ups * Brakes • Fuel Injection 1917 Franklin Blvd. Eugene,Or. 97403 485-8226 SAN JUAN BIKE TOUR August 31 - September 8 Lopez • Orcas San Juan Island • Victoria $295 includes: Transportation, Ferries, Food, Camping Fees, But chart Gardens, Victoria Restaurant and Professional Leadership. $50 Deposit holds space 686-1 775 6th & High H Hair Loft for Men and' V/cwten, 535. permanent wave for 5257 throughout the month of July . . . when Hair Loft celebrates 10 years of the best! We use only the best wave suited to your hair. HAIRCUT EXTRA) Mo other discounts are valid on ttii6 offer atsM/lorndf* L5?AUrr 430Gbunffjd jacniss frr*n (belnm/McAyryls inert tothr WWIf tW .MiiedHf.iftJ < leaver,) GiaitGrmcto) 686-7^96 Mr 1202 M2&6 umu Breezeway Cafe for students on their way! Breeze in — Take out! Now Featuring: Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt Yogurt Sandwiches PASTRIES muffins, donuts, croissants, etc. Gourmet Coffee 3o<e cup ICE CREAM several flavors BREAKTIME SPECIAL: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 99c coffee & chocolate croissant Breezeway Cafe formerly Baskin-Robbins EMU Breezeway Open 8:00-4:30, Monday thru Friday