‘Trial of Loki’ delves into
Norse mythology, ethos
The play, The Trial of Loki,’
introduces Norse mythology
and allows audience members
to serve as judge and jury
Aaron Shakra
Pulse Reporter
“The Trial of Loki” will commence
tonight at the McDonald Theatre.
The play, an all-original produc
tion directed by Kyle
Schweighauser, features mythologi
cal Norse gods and goddesses and,
as the title implies, revolves around
the trial of Loki, the trickster god.
According to Norse mythology, Loki
was supposedly influenced by an
other god, Hodur, to slay Baldur
with mistletoe.
“We’ve just been rehearsing and
rehearsing and rehearsing,” goddess
Hel actress Wendy Weller said.
Weller said the purpose of the
play is to let people know what
Norse mythology is about and what
is commonly misconstrued. She
also referred to Paganism, saying
the play tries to make people look
at each other and religions of the
world differently.
“We all need to come together and
work together to make the world
better,” she said.
Weller came from a Christian
background and became a Pagan
a few years ago. She said that
a Christian path “didn’t really
feel right.”
Everyone in the 20-person pro
duction chose his or her character
and wrote their own dialogue.
“I took the longest to choose my
part; I’m very picky,” actress Vicky
Ledbetter said. Ledbetter will be
playing the role of Mistletoe.
Ledbetter, Weller’s daughter,
has acted in numerous productions
and became a Pagan before
her mother.
“I kinda got her into it,” she said.
The “interactive” aspect of the
show will come toward its end, when
the audience will get to play judge
and jury for Loki’s fate, using pen
nies placed on either end of a six
foot tall scale.
Music will be prolific during the
production. The Sugar Beets will
perform between scenes, and
Bindaas, Don and Lorraine Voss,
Eleven Eyes and African-drumming
group Waaw Kuumba will also con
tribute their talents. A perform
ance by fire-dancing troupe Inflam
mable Divas was also planned, but
was canceled in consideration of
Thursday’s nightclub fire in West
Warwick, R.I.
Former mayoral candidate
Michael Glownia will play the role of
Loki. He said the god character is es
pecially poignant in relation to pres
ent day turmoil.
“Having this role in this time of
the world is a gift,” Glownia said. “It
seems to me that Loki’s story is fit
ting for the current world events
we’re immersed in right now.”
Glownia, who also wrote the
theme song for the production, ref
erenced chaos theory, and said Loki
is a god of chaos, fire and change.
“Things are breaking down right
now, and I think it’s because we
haven’t embraced chaos.”
Glownia denied claims that the
Loki character is a murderer.
“Murderer? Loki’s not a murderer.
He’s just in the center of events. He’s
like a focal point,” he said.
Glowina said that the biggest
change that will result from the pro
duction is that all proceeds will ben
efit FOOD For Lane County.
“Food banks are at an all-time
low,” he said. “All of our money is
going to feed hungry people.”
Tickets are #10 at the door or at
any Fastixx outlet. The show begins
at 7 p.m.
Contact the Pulse reporter
at aaronshakra@dailyemerald.com.
Dance
continued from page 5A
different,” she said. “That really
shapes not only the piece but the
whole experience. The process is
really important.”
Anderson added that the tone of
“Incarnation” differs from other
dances she has performed in.
“This piece is very personal,”
she said. “It’s not like other pieces
I’ve been in where it’s about pro
jecting to the audience. We’re fo
cused on each other; the energy is
more internal.
Energy abounds in senior Ruriko
Aoyama’s theatrical dance, “Plunge
Mania.” The choreography incor
porates props such as plungers and
a couch.
Senior Marco Davis will perform
in both “Plunge Mania” and Emily
Ross’ “(sometimes I have a hard
time) Standing Still,” a lively, post
modern performance. Davis said he
enjoyed both pieces’ extensive ex
perimentation.
“I really liked the improv aspects
of both of them,” he said. “It was fun
because we just played around with
a lot of different movement.”
Senior Edith Sumaquial said the
theme of her dance, “In the Family,”
was inspired by a Filipino folk dance
called “Pandango Sa Ilaw.” The
dancers in “In the Family” balance
real lit candles on their hands as
they move.
“It’s about grace and it’s about
balance,” Sumaquial said.
She added that she is a first-gen
eration Filipino-American and
wants to bring attention to Filipino
folk dance, which Americans don’t
often see. Sumaquial said she also
set out to fuse her cultural traditions
with her own personality. This re
sulted in the traditional folk dance
incorporated with hip-hop dance
and modern music.
“I wanted to put in what my per
sonality is now,” she said. “This is a
big accumulation of everything good
I feel I am at this point.”
Anderson said the concert show
cases a myriad of personalities and
dance styles.
“I just think this is a really good
concert for people to come to be
cause it’s really diverse,” she said.
“It represents a tiny piece of the
dance world.”
Anderson added that the concert
is a once a year opportunity for au
015914|
The Russian
Department invites
you to:
jldams and Eves
or
t)ays of Creation
Come see how the famous couple deals with all
sorts of situations from Communism to Capitalism.
Friday, Feb. 28th
Ben Linder Room, EMU
7:30 pm
The play is free and open to the public.
No knowledge of Russian necessary.
For more information e-mail
tdolack@darkwing.uoregon.edu
dience members to view a show pro
duced entirely by students.
“That aspect alone makes me
happy for people to come and see
it,” she said.
Tickets will be available at the
door. The cost is $5 for students
and senior citizens, $10 general
admission.
Contact the Pulse editor
atjacquelynlewis@dailyemerald.com.
_ your.
classes
are on campus,
your
soclsl llfd
doesn't have to be.
ftr
Student Night
Saturdays
Open Mic
9-close
2.54 pool.
always.
• »»>p»TTTII t * g 2
f 22nd Annual Winter Carnival |
015861
Hoodoo ski area
Top of Santiam Pass HWY 20
22nd Annual Winter Carnival
March 1st
Torch Light Parade, 8:45 pm
Fireworks, 9:00 pm
Activities for Everyone:
Snow sculpting • Games • Face Painting
Live music: Sidekicks, 5:30-8:30 pm
Dummy Downhill Contest