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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 2003)
BY ARIA SELIGMANN (Neil Rhinestone), the show features young- sters Somer Joe Hornbuckle — who’s only 5 1/2 and has a lead role, Kati Dawalt, Jimi Dawalt, and William Heinl-Hagerty. Melody Roberts accompanies on organ and vocals, and the choir consists of 15 local vocalists. The show runs at 7:30 pm Thursday, Oct. 30; Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Lord Leebrick. Tix are $10, with all profits going to Eugene PeaceWorks. LLTC Box Office: 465-1506. A The Church of the New Crusade runs this weekend only at Lord Leebrick. The Cultural Response Local, organic, homegrown art . H e was riding his bike around Eugene one day post 9/11 when all these songs just started popping into his head. For local performer Scotty P., that wasn’t unusual, except for the fact they were church hymns. “I couldn’t just go out and sing them,” says the 35-year-old pianist, gui- tarist and teacher (Imagine That summer camp, Borko’s Magical Moombah, other high-profile acts), so he wrote some words for context, and the musical farce The Church of the New Crusade was born. Opening this weekend at the Lord Leebrick Theatre space, the Floating Bus pro- duction and benefit for Eugene PeaceWorks is billed as a Tony and Tina’s Wedding meets the “700 Club.” The show invites the audi- ence in as a congregation under the leader- ship of the evangelical Rev. William “Bill” Stubble (Michael Glownia). Stubble explains how God wants the U.S.A. to declare war on other countries: “let us go forth indeed now with Love in our hearts, being light in spirit ourselves, even as we battle against those who would wrest from us the world that is rightly ours, and against those who would challenge our moral convictions.” Meanwhile, the choir belts out such hymns as “Our God is the Right God” and “One Nation Indivisible;” songs so real- istic if you don’t pay close attention to the lyrics, you might not laugh. “I’d been feeling helpless and cynical after 9/11,” says Scotty P., “and the songs were sort of a musical vomit for me.” While he still feels irked by the propaganda surrounding the event, he says he doesn’t feel as vile and jaded as he did before writing the show. The show draws on his own evangelical Montana upbringing, and while he says he has a close and loving family, that religiosity is “the biggest source of angst” for him. With the news wires reporting on the influ- ence of the religious right over the Bush ad- ministration, and with certain U.S. army offi- cials declaring the war in Iraq a “crusade,” Scotty P. feels he’s hit on something that, if anything, is a little too close to home. “The feedback I’ve been getting from people is that the show is scary because it’s so real,” he says. And he’s using that to lure people out for a tough-sell Halloween performance. “We have religious freaks in charge of the world’s largest nuclear arsenal — that’s scarier than any haunted house,” he adds. In addition to Glownia and Scotty P. Live Matinee celebrates its 25th Anniversary beginning Nov. 6. lso renting the Lord Leebrick space this year after a couple of shows most recently performed at Tsunami is Live Matinee, the irreverent comedy troupe this year celebrating its 25th anniversary. The move to Charnelton Street allows the company to show some home- grown vintage video performances filmed over the past two and half decades. “It’s sort of a ‘Best Of’ Live Matinee show,” says founding member Barbara Embree, with not only video clips, but also skits revamped from years past. Most of Live Matinee’s original members met in the early ’70s in a Shakespeare reper- tory company that was part of the UO theater department. They were the ones with the teeny parts: messengers, ladies in waiting, and with so much time on their hands back- stage, became fast friends who wanted more out of theater. They formed a small company, did some children’s theater and in ‘78 put together a comedy show. The late Steve Bové, who owned the former Cinema 7 movie theater, offered the space for a performance, but time was only available in the afternoon, as movies showed at night. Thus, Live Matinee was born. Over the years, the skits, born organically from improv during rehearsals, reflected the changing lives of the actors. Different jobs, getting married, getting divorced, physical changes — nothing was off limits to the in- your-face performers, who were high on black comedy. “It’s a great release,” says founding mem- ber Bob Marquis, who teaches 4th and 5th grade at Parker Elementary. Some of the rou- tines have included material he’s garnered as a teacher, as well. But much of the material is high political satire. What’s interesting, says Marquis, is that so much of it is still applicable today. “It’s surprising it still works so well after all these years,” he says. For instance, in 1980, the show focused on how ridiculous it was for the U.S. to be hostile toward tiny Afghanistan. Today, the subject’s dis- turbingly relevant. “We’re not particularly hardcore political people, but more goofy,” says Embree. “The humor’s used to break down barriers.” The group has been described as “shameless” and Embree says that’s because the actors are more than willing to discuss “certain scato- logical functions. It’s about saying the un- sayable,” she says, adding, “That’s why we say ‘No kids under 12.’” Leaving them laughing is the agenda, and it works. “People will come up to me and say they need another dose,” says Marquis. “It’s a respite from the grind.” Live Matinee stars Barbara Embree, Richard Cave, Nancy Cave, Bob Marquis, and Tamsin Morgan. Bill Lynch will make an appearance at certain shows. Cheyney Ryan accompanies on piano and guitar. Shows are at 8 pm Thursday-Saturday, 2 pm Sunday, Nov. 6-9, 13-16, and 20-22 at the Lord Leebrick. Tix: $12.99-$14.99. LLTC Box Office: 465-1506. No one under 12 admitted. C ontinuing this weekend and next at UO’s Arena Theatre is Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel’s (How I Learned to Drive) Desdemona: A Play About a Handkerchief . A comic recon- struction of Shakespeare’s Othello, the play follows the original plot, but gives the women’s perspective. Vogel never shies away from, but insightfully delves into, con- troversial issues regarding women’s roles and femininity, power, sex, money and friend- ship. Desdemona is a funny, intelligent script, showing Vogel at her best, and this produc- tion is in the hands of some great talent. Shows are at 8 pm on Oct. 30, 31, Nov. 1, 6, 7 and 8 in the Arena Theatre at Villard Hall, UO. No late seating. See calendar for details. ew U O C U LT U R A L F O R U M P R E S E N T S RED BARN N AT U R A L G R O C E RY E S T. 1 9 8 2 Azuquita A Whole foods, for whole people . . . Fresh from the farm to you! organically grown produce • organic beer & wine organic bulk foods • vitamins & supplements organic herbs & spices • special orders / case discounts natural body care products LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED 4 TH & BLAIR • 342-7503 • M-Sa. 8 AM -10 PM • Su. 10 AM -9 PM 30 OCTOBER 30, 2003 BENEFIT FOR THE Willamette Valley Folk Festival all night latin dance party! Live performances with guitarist Jessie Marquez, The Eugene Flamenco Ensemble, and Jose Cruz & the Salseros Dance Co. Late night with Hanif. Sat., Nov. 8th • 8:30pm • vet's club ballroom 1626 W ILLAMETTE • ALL AGES • FULL BAR $10-12 SS • $7 UO S TUDENTS FOR 21+
