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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1992)
2 8 ▼ Jan u ary 1 0 9 2 ▼ Juat out Steven Koehler, L.M.T. Licensed Massage Therapist 2nd Annual WINTERTIME WOMEN IN THE WOODS Happy Birthday to you January 17-19,1992 Portland’s Gay Men’s Chorus and Lesbian Choir sing out by Dr. Tantalus Enjoy the natural wintertime setting, therapeutic hot springs, pools, steam sauna, rustic cabins, old mountain lodge, ovolactic vegetarian meals (included) at historic Breitenbush Hot ' Springs, 60 miles east of Salem. y This three day retreat for Lesbians is limited to 100 participants. There will be time available for healing workshops, play, relaxation, music- your choice. Sliding fee scale $120-165. Register early, spaces go quickly. $25 deposit. Carpooling. Works TREK + NISHIKI MASI OPEN TUESDAY-SUNDAY 230-7723 2025 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 620 SW 5th, Suite 710 Portland, OR 97204 (503) 223-8299 Lloyd Center and Clackamas Town Center GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION Chains Bracelets Earrings Pendants 2 5 % off with this ad Good thru Jan. 31, 1992 Lloyd C enter Location - 284-1518 C lackam as Town Center • 654-1299 ecember marked the 12th year for the mg halt. Fortunately for the Chorus, weapons Portland Gay Men’s Chorus and the were checked at the door or Nurse Consuelo 5th year for the Portland Lesbian might really have caused a scene. Nor did things improve after intermission when Choir. These events allowed our intrepid reviewers, the curmudgeonly Astro the Snowbot (don’t ask) took the stage (we’re now in the future but-don’t ask) while Or. Tantalus and the lighthearted and forgiving Nurse Consuelo, to reflect upon the state of gay some futuristic Raggedy Ann and Andy took over narrative chores. The term “high school produc and lesbian choral music in die Rose City. It cannot be disputed that PGMC, by virtue of tion” might also be employed about these pro ceedings, but Dr. Tantalus does not want to be its longevity, is sued by all the high schools in town that put on the more suc better shows. * cessful of the two groups. In So there’s your glimpse of Christmas Future, deed, it can be PLC, so please avoid it You can’t please all the argued that the people all the time (including Dr. T.) so don’t try. Chorus is the Every concert need not be a comedy-drama-mu- most successful sical-whatchamacallit Just doing one thing well gay organization (like singing) is often sufficient. in the state. It PLC’s attempt to add special effects to its has grown from a small band of dedicated volun concert was far more successful. During its teers producing small intimate concerts to a large performance of “One Fine Day,” a short film by chorus able to sell out two shows at the prestigious Kay Weaver and Martha Wheelock highlighted Intermediate Theater in the heart of downtown women in the struggle from Emily Dickinson to Portland. Martina Navritilova. It was powerful, simple and Its audience has changed as well. While in the effective staging done without a lot of muss and dim past its audience might include only mem fuss. It’s show, in contrast to the one offered by bers of Portland’s gay community, its fans now PGMC, moved along quickly and efficiently. include Gov. Barbara Roberts, Police Chief Tom The kudos cannot be given for PLC’s skit after Potter, and City Commissioner Gretchen Kafoury, intermission when the “collective unconscious all of whom were in attendance for its ‘Time for voice” of the PLC spoke about its beginning. the Holidays” show. Does the consensus model of management really Having begun somewhat later, the PLC is still bring these skits into being? If so, its time for a in the process of establishing its own following. little more facism and a little less democracy. It’s performance, entitled “Highlights and (PGMC take note). Candlelights," will go far to accomplish that end, As a highlight show, PLC’s concert demon judging from audience reaction. And this time strated its emerging strength as a musical institu Commissioner Kafoury not only was in the audi tion and convincingly demonstrated their musical ence, but actually conducted a song, “Power,” in growth over the past two years. “Wood River” honor of Portland’s new civil rights ordinance. with former conductor’s Christina Blount’s out Can a guest appearance by Oprah be far behind? standing solo, never sounded so good. Neverthe As PLC looks to the future it can see aglimpse less the Choir needs to focus on some of the of what might lie ahead by observing the PGMC basics: entrances should be strong and clear, not experience. As PGMC has grown, its programs pick up steam as the musical line rolls along. And have expanded to encompass more musically blend, that harmonious intersection of human diverse styles. Comedy, elaborate staging and voices, can sometimes be a problem, especially guest artists are now commonplace. Their most on more difficult pieces like Sondheim's “No recent guest. The Flirtations, socked it to an One is Alone.” adoring crowd with their soulful doo-wop rendi In contrast, PGMC typically has the basics tions. The crowd favorite was “Everything Pos down, but its song selection could use improve sible,’’ that you-can-be-anything-you-want-to-be ment. First, more new music, less retreads arc the song that brings tears to dear Nurse Consuelo’s order of the day. Second, the Chorus is capable of eyes before it even begins. singing more challenging music than it often Despite having all the essential ingredients to presents. While songs such as William’s afore success, the PGMC concert was a mixed bag. The mentioned “Wassail Song” are undoubtedly more Flirts weTe indeed fabulous. A thousand Hosan difficult to learn they are far more musically nas would not be sufficient to describe them. The rewarding because there is simply more meat on Chorus’ singing was steady and occasionally that musical bone to chew one. sparkled on such nicely arranged numbers as At the beginning of its 13th season, PGMC is “Bye Bye Blues” and William’s “Wassail Song.” at a point where it is trying to maintain the larger But instead of letting their guests or their audience that it has tried to cultivate for the past songs rest on their own merits PGMC apparently several years. It will not do so unless it re felt it necessary to impose a plot (and we use the emphasizes the importance of performing good term loosely) over the entire proceedings. In two and challenging music. PLC, approaching year words, it stunk. six, has more room for error, but also needs to Every time that Coyote Bob (that erstwhile continue its musical growth. Both groups have radio announcer for KWER radio somewhere in the energy and the talent to succeed. Let’s hope the past, but here we digress, just like the show) they make the most of it. appeared, the concert came to a complete screech-. D . • • • '£>■ o • •. É. .<* » •* REPORT THE VIOLENCE. GET SUPPORT. 7 9 6 -1 7 0 3
