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
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