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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2000)
ACE production brings ‘bittersweet story’ to stage By Yael Menahem Oregon Daily Emerald For people who feel that they have lost touch with their her itage, “The Last Night of Bally-* hoo,” presented by Actors Cabaret of Eugene, may be an enlightening experience. The Alfred Uhry play is set in 1939 Atlanta, on the eve of World War II and the world premiere of “Gone With the Wind.” Despite these historic events, Atlanta’s elitist German Jews are much more concerned with who is go ing to Ballyhoo, the social event of the year. The storyline is based around the lives of the Freitags, a fifth generation, extremely wealthy Southern Jewish family. Since liv ing in America, they have lost sight of their religion—they cele brate Christmas with no regard that the holiday relates to Jesus, not Judaism. With the help of a stranger from New York named Joe Farkas whom Adolf Freitag hires to work in his factory, the family rediscovers their faith. The play’s artistic director Joe Zingo says he remembers seeing a performance of “Last Night in Bal lyhoo” in New York City and re calls how strongly the show affect ed him personally, considering his own family’s history. Zingo’s parents came to the United States from Italy, and the director was the first in his family to be born in this country. Zingo believes that a lot of his heritage was lost as America assimilated his family, so after his exposure to the story, he knew he wanted to direct “Ballyhoo.” “I have to do this [play] because it’s something that rekindled, for me, this exploration,” Zingo says, referring to a need to reconnect with his ancestry. Zingo also recognizes how far removed the Freitag family is from being Jewish in the play’s plot, and this realization is not lost on Adolf, the head of the family. After his older brother dies, Adolf takes over the family business. Actor John Muellner, who plays Adolf, feels that his character has no regrets about leaving behind a life of his own to help his broth er’s widow by taking over the company his brother left behind. “He loves his family, [he] takes cares of them, but he just wants to be left alone,” Muellner says. “ [His approach] is ‘I do my work, I come home, so leave me to my pa per and my fat foods.’” Though the degree to which the family is far removed from its reli gion is" obvious to Adolf, he hires Joe to help him with the company and eventually to aid the family in rediscovering their faith. Joe is a Brooklyn native of East ern European heritage and is also Jewish. Some members of the Fre itag family, especially Adolf’s widowed sister Beulah, feel that Joe is not of the best social stand ings. Yet, it is Joe who finally brings cultural awareness to the Freitag family. “[It’s] a bittersweet, little story,” he says. “The characters are lov able, they’re great to get involved with, and it’s very funny. And at the end you see that all you’ve got to do is be yourself. ” “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” opens Friday at the ACE Annex, 3910th Ave. and continues Satur day night. Future shows are Courtesy of Actors Cabaret of Eugene “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” is a complex tale of rediscovering one’s family heritage. scheduled for Jan. 28-29, Feb. 4-5, 11-12 and 8-19. Those shows be gin at 8 p.m., with a Jan. 23 mati nee slated for a 2 p.m. start. Tickets are $14 in advance with a limited number of student and senior tickets available at $10. All tickets are $17 on the day of the show. Call the theater box office number 683-4368 for reservations. Whether you’re in the mood for mac and cheese or alligator, Montage offers late night dining in a great atmosphere By Yael Menahem Oregon Daily Emerald Southern comfort food, served with style, has arrived in Eugene. The popular Portland-based Montage has opened in town and, luckily for locals, the restau rant offers good, fairly priced food to produce a full stomach, a great atmosphere and a late din ner experience. Montage’s Cajun menu offers some meals diners might already know and a few selections fished out from the bayou, perhaps not as typical. Ever hear of gator bites? Yes, those are made from alligator. The more daring types can try them cajun-seared for $8.50. Or maybe sample the spicy frog legs, sauteed with sauces and served with black bread for the same price. For the budget-minded, if you think that Kraft’s Rugrats-shaped macaroni and cheese is the ulti mate meal, then you haven’t had Montage’s Old Mac meal, pre-^ pared with garlic, heavy cream and Parmesan. A side of warm combread and vegetables comes with the dish for only $4. Other dinner items include dai ly fish specials, pan-fried oysters, blackened catfish and, of course, a variety of jambalayas. The Louisiana rice dish is filled with onion, celery, tomato, herbs, garlic and cajun gravy and is topped off with vegetables and combread on the side. For various prices, add chicken, catfish, rock shrimp or al ligator to the stew. My adventurous dinner part ner had the alligator and loved it, but there’s also a selection of inviting linguine dishes for those who want to play it safe. If you’re still itching for a rich dessert after the main course, try the bread pudding with Grand pa’s bourbon anglaise — you won’t regret the decision. There’s also chocolate po du creme with shortbread cookies, key lime pie [0007307 cat trM* Hen 4©d®lf' come e Blue or Mississippi mud pie, all priced at $3.50. The atmosphere in the restau rant is gothic style but inviting and friendly. The walls are paint ed in a rich burgundy and mas sive contemporary paintings hanging in the restaurant reflect religious images. The waiters wear white jackets with the word “Love” embroi dered on one sleeve and “Hate” on the other. They must gravitate toward the “Love” sleeve because Montage’s service is relaxed and friendly. Our server spent time chatting with us about the owner’s current renovations of the former popular dance club Perry’s, previously lo cated downstairs from the restau rant. The new club won’t open for a few more months, but the new speakers, DJ booth, bar and art pieces — complete with flames painted on the walls — sound ex tremely inviting. Especially for those who like to hang out at a bar until 3 a.m. Montage, located at 959 Pearl St., is definitely a recommended restaurant, with no other of its kind in Eugene. The establish ment is open seven nights a week from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m., so if that craving for macaroni and cheese hits at two in the morning, you know where to go. Montage is also open for lunch Monday through Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Catharine Kendall Emerald Eugene’s new eatery, Montage, offers Cajun-style food at a pretty decent price. Kathi and Tom Denton (bottom photo) dine out; the restaurant is open Millennium Magic begins at... It doesn’t have to be dirty to be good. EXOTIC • EROTIC TOYS • GIFTS • BODYWEAR • BOOKS • VIDEOS 1166 South A • Springfield • 726-6969 • Open 24 Hours (Almost) 008293 Conscious Productions presents The Gongos Friday, January 28 8 pm Agate Hall (18th & Agate) $ 12 advance: Tickets available at EMU Ticket Office, Face the Music, House of Records, and all Fastixx. $ 15 at the door
