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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 2000)
‘Top Girls* puts women first By Jack Clifford Oregon Daily Emerald University Theatre’s second production of the 1999-2000 sea son is about being first, but more in the sense of how to get to that place, not necessarily who’s there. “Top Girls” opens Friday night at Robinson Theater at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for the general public, $8 for University staff and $5 for students. Director Beth Cherne was drawn to this particular play, she says, because of its unusual struc ture, a layered effect of stories and life experiences, with no clear chronological order. She also en joys the script’s universal nature, despite the feminist themes and all-female cast. “We’re all in this together, and the issues that are going on in this play affect everybody,” Cherne says. “In an age of something of a conservative backlash, I think it’s important that we talk about how those political changes and poli cy level changes affect people in the real world.” The basic story follows the life of Marlene (Bekki Barnhart), a successful businesswoman in London. The first scene shows her celebrating a recent promo tion, and she has invited excep tional women from history, myth and art to join the party. All of the women stepped out of the boundaries of what women were supposed to do within their own time frames and cultures, Cherne says. “They are sharing ex periences as ‘top girls’ in a lot of ways,” she adds. While the dinner event plays out, the various at tendees are shown pre paring themselves, on stage, for the meeting. Costume designer Heath er Brooks patterned the dresses and other cloth ing after the play’s subject matter. One costume for the character Patient Griselda is in fact intend ed to convey immobility. “The colors for the cos tume are in ombre style, with the shades darker at wmesanervmr m mm Ml ] Courtesy University Theatre Marlene (center, Bekki Barnhart) introduces Dull Gret (left, Rachel Aanestad) to Pope Joan (Yasmin Ravard) in ‘Top Girls.’ the bottom and lighter at the top to represent being rooted to the ground,” Brooks says, referring to the cotehardie style of dress. Brooks also used historical dates in designs. The second act begins with a character named Nell, placed in 1911. Brooks cre ated a hobbleskirt, which was de signed that year and severely re stncted a woman s movement. “This play is about all of the restrictions that happen in our so ciety, particularly for women, but not only for women,” Cherne says. “It’s challenging for the au dience and I hope it’s challenging on the level of political ideas and the way we value things in our culture.” /^rTlie week in . Ks>UnL6nainmmt ■ Thursday, Jan. 27 “Dreamer Examines His Pillow” (play)—Arena Theatre; 8 p.m. $6 general public, $5 senior citizens, faculty/staff, $4 UO students. “Crimes of the Heart” (play)—Very Little Theatre, 2350 Hilyard St.; cur tain time is 8:15 p.m. $12. Pacific Wonderland (rock)—Sam Bond’s Garage, 407 Blair Blvd.; 9 p.m. $2-5. John Andre Herrmann (acoustic)— The Buzz, EMU; 9:30 p.m. Free. ThaMuseMeant(bluegrass, rock) — Good Times Cafe and Bar, 375 E. Sev enth Ave.; 9 p.m. $4. ’80s Night (dance)—John Henry’s, 136 E. 11th Ave.; 10 p.m.; women free, guys $2. Leftover Salmon (jam rock)—Wild Duck, 169 W. Sixth Ave.; 8 p.m. $17. UO Ensemble Concert (symphony)— Beall Hall; 8 p.m. Free. Comedy Workout (comedy)—Actors Cabaret of Eugene, 996 Willamette St.; 7:30 p.m. $5. ■ Friday, Jan. 28 “Dreamer Examines His Pillow” (play)—Arena Theatre; 8 p.m. $6 general public, $5 senior citizens, faculty/staff, $4 UO students. “Crimes of the Heart” (play)—Very Little Theatre; curtain time is 8:15 p.m.; $12. Lazy Eights (dance music)—Sam Bond’s Garage; 9:30 p.m. $3-5. Larry Ward Quartet (jazz)—Jo Fed erigo’s, 259 E. Fifth Avenue; 9:30 p.m. $2. W.C Clarke (blues)—Good Times Cafe and Bar; 9:30 p.m. $10. Leftover Salmon (jam rock)—Wild Duck; 8 p.m. $15 adv., $17 day of show. Eclectic Open Mic—The Buzz; 9 p.m. Free. “Alice” (film series)—180 PLC; 8 p.m. $2 UO students, $3 general public. Oregon Ballroom (dance)—200 Ger linger Hall; 7:30 p.m. $4 general, $3 students and faculty. “Victor/Victoria” (musical)—Silva Concert Hall, Hult Center, One Eu gene Center; 8 p.m. $17.50-35. Four Past Midnight (acoustic)—Cafe Paradiso, 115 Broadway; 8:30 p.m. $Free. The Congos and special guests (roots reggae)—Agate Hall; 8 p.m. All ages; $12 adv., $15 at the door. ■ Saturday, Jan. 29 “Dreamer Examines His Pillow” (play)—Arena Theatre; 8 p.m. $6 general public, $5 senior citizens, faculty/staff, $4 UO students. “Crimes of the Heart” (play)—Very Little Theatre; curtain time is 8:15 p.m.; $12. “Victor/Victoria” (musical)—Silva Concert Hall, Hult Centerr; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. $17.50-35. Steve Pile (acoustic rock)—The Buzz, EMU; 9:30 p.m. Free. The Workman Project, Justin King, Gabriel Blue (acoustic, electric rock) — WOW Hall, 291 W. Eighth Ave.; 9 p.m.$6. "Doomed Planet” with live music from Pleaseeasour (movie)—Sam Bond’s Garage; 9:30 p.m. $5. Paul Delay Band (blues)—Good Times Cafe and Bar; 9:30 p.m. $8. Rubberneck (funk)—Wild Duck Hall; 9 p.m. $8. Sleeperwave (rock)—Cafe Paradiso; 8:30 p.m. $2-5. Throat, Hand, Poopstick (hard rock) —John Henry’s; 10 p.m. $3. Larry Ward Quartet (jazz)—Jo Fed erigo’s; 9:30 p.m. $2. ■ Sunday, Jan. 30 Robert Walters 20th Congress, Honey Bucket Electric (funk) —John Hen ry’s; 9 p.m. $7. Laura Kemp, Peter Wilde and Thais Perkins (acoustic)—Sam Bond’s Garage 8 p.m. $3-5. ■ Monday, Jan* 31 Kammerer-Dowd Reunion (jazz, fac ulty artists series) — Gerlinger Alum ni Lounge; 8 p.m. $7 general, $4 se nior citizens. ■ Tuesday, Feb. 1 Barbara Dzuro (jazz piano)—Jo Fed erigo’s; 8:30 p.m. Free. That Tuesday Thing (funk, soul)— John Henry’s; 11 p.m. Free. ■ Wednesday, Feb. 2 The Benjamins (funk)—Good Times Cafe and Bar; 9:30 p.m. $3. justice League of America (dance hall house)— John Henry’s; 10 p.m. women free, guys $2. Hurricane continued from page 2B ton does a great job bringing forth the sense of dementia such soli tude might create. Overall, as an angry man tired of white society’s oppression, Wash ington expertly conveys Carter’s self-righteousness and self-respect. The actor is most impressive, how ever, in the boxing ring. Once the film takes that turn to ward proving the court system wrong and corrupt, the story loses its punch and becomes almost made-for-TV quality. Most distressing though, is the insertion of a fictional district at torney, played by the usually on target Dan Hedaya, who is not this time around. Hedaya’s character oozes with racism the way a sore drips with pus. (Yes, Hedaya is that repugnant.) Yet, he never ex isted, according to a New York Times report, which seems an odd juxtaposition to Carter’s 19 years of searching for the ultimate truth. 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