September 22, 1988, Portland Observer, Page 5 y y y y T T T T T TT l zzzzzzz BEHIND THE SCENES BOUND DEDUCT by G arland Lee T hom pson WORLD PREMIERE OF “ YUKI ONNA (THE SNOW WOMAN)” The prem ieres o f “ Y uki O nna (The Snow W om an), the c la s s ic Japanese g h o s t story adapted by " fu s io n th e a tre c re a to r,” R ic Young, w ith choreography by E li­ zabeth A bts, m u sic by L ucia H w ang and “ Line o f Kanzashi," c h o re g ra p h e d by M a r ik o Takayasu, appears at th e In­ term ediate Theatre. On Saturday n ig h t (9/10/88), the A b ts A m erican Dance T heatre C om pany presented these tw o new w o rks at the P ortland C enter fo r th e P erform ing A rts, along w ith presentatio ns of the Fu- jln a m i Kai Dance C om pany’s tra ­ d itio n a l kabuki dances (cla ssic Japa n e se dan ce and th e a tre form). “ YUKI ONNA,” A MONSTER OF A STORY A blizzard is raging in the m o u n ta in s . T w o w o o d c u tte rs , one young and handsom e, the o th e r old and grizzled, s tru g g le tow ard th e ir village, and safety. They take sh e lte r in a ric k e ty shed part o f the way home. In the m id d le o f the n ig h t the young man is aw akened by a fri­ gid blast of w ind. The shed d o o r opens and in com es a be a u tifu l w om an, as w h ite as snow . She bends over the old man and blo w s in his face. In a few m o m e n ts he has frozen to death. She ap­ proaches the young man, w h o sh rin ks back in terror. She lo o ks deep in to his eyes, then s p e a k s ... "Y o u are so handsom e th a t I have grow n fond o f you. I w ill spare you now , b u t in return you m ust never speak o f w hat you have seen to n ig h t. If you do, I w ill appear and freeze you on the s p o t.” She w as Yuki Onna, the s p irit o f co ld and snow , a c h illy fo lk tale passed o rally from g e n eratio n to generation in the central m o u n ­ ta in s o f Japan and fin a lly re co rd ­ ed in the 19th century by Lafca d io Hearn, an A m erican livin g in Japan. The co m p a n y’s b le n d in g o f the arts o f Japan and the W e s t (ballet, m odern dance, co stu m e s, m usic and ele m e n ts o f the “ b u y o ," cla s­ sica l Japanese dance) d o create a new bizarre fantasy w orld of dance, m oving screen scenery and p o w e rfu l puppetry, such as w ith the riveting use o f a real ske le to n in “ the g h o st and final d e a th ” scenes. Yes, "Y u k i Onna, w as "m o n s te r” o f a piece! U nder the banner title , "O d o ri,” a dance p resentatio n, co-founde r and exe cu tive d ire cto r, C hisao Hata, b ro u g h t fo u rth th is alluring evening in to the new 1988-89 per­ fo rm in g arts season. She, her partner Elizabeth A b ts an R ick Y oung had everything it seem ed, b u t hey w orried if they had an au­ dience, w hen Ms. H ata spoke to me the day before the show . “ Art- quake,” w ith M iriam Makeba, (Port­ la n d ’s W eekend-long arts celebra­ tion) had been like the Broad­ w ay play, "J o e T u rn e r’s C om e and G o n e ." Langsto n H ughes w as “ S im p ly H eavenly,” a cco rd ­ ing to th e great cast headed by Brenda P h illip s, M ichael H oliday and aud ie n ce s at the L in co ln Hall Theatre, P ortland State U niversity (thru Sunday, Sept. 11th). H ow c o u ld “ O d o ri,” fill th e new 900 seat house or at least be respect­ fu lly attende d in P ortland tow n? W ell, they did p retty good, from w h a t I c o u ld see fro m the house o rch e stra seats, fo r it w as a re­ spectable turnout. And as fo r the s h o w , I ju s t lo v e " m o v in g scenery,” ku b u ki-style m ystery dance theatre. I know we w ill see m ore o f th is new eight-part b a llet re n d itio n of a fam ous Japanese g h o st story, in an rem arkable ar­ tis tic co lla b o ra tio n th a t fuses Eastern and W estern fo rm s of theatre and dance. I w as "c h ille d to the b o n e !” W rite on, C hisao, Ric and Betsy! THE NORTHWEST PLAYWRIGHTS GUILD MEETS T he N o rth w e s t P la y w rig h ts G u ild m et Tuesday, Sept. 13th, 1988, at the S to re fro n t Theatre on Third and Burnside. The G uild has an O regon chapter based in P ort­ land, w ith m em bers in o ther to w n s in the state. I spoke w ith p la y w rig h ts Dan D uling (recently m oved to W elches, Or. from Calif.), M ichael W helan and Sha­ ron W hitney, o f the board o f d i­ rectors, about the new m em ber­ ship drive and th e ir planned “ New W orks F e stiva l,” at the S torefront Theatre in N ovem ber/D ecem ber, 1988. L e t’s com e o u t and support th is w o rth y new p ro je ct fo r devel­ oping p la yw rig h ts and th e ir new w orks. T h is is w here every great p la yw rig h t and new play starts, in w orkshop and show case, such as th is b e e n p la n n e d fo r th e S to re fro n t Theatre. As a playw right, d ire c to r and the fo u n d e r o f the Frank Silvera W rite rs ’ W orkshop, now in its s ix ­ teenth season in New York, I am D articularly interested in how local p la yw rig h ts w ork, develop th e ir craft, get th e ir play produced and m arketed. For fu rth e r in fo r­ m ation c o n ta c t M ichael W helan at (503)244-1606. If you have never seen a play or not fo r a long tim e, its tim e to che ck it o u t and Support your local theatre and artists. W rite on! call or w rite to us at the Portland O b s e r v e r , P .O . B o x 3 1 3 7 , P o r t la n d , O R 9 7 2 0 8 , (5 0 3 ) 228-0033. We w ill steer you “ w rite o n !” IF C C E x h ib its T h e W o r k s O f S c u lp to r A l G o ld s b y M etal scu lp to r, Al G oldsby, returns to the IFCC to present his m ost recent body of arc w elded bronze sculptures. G o ld sb y’s e x c itin g e x h ib itio n o f d a rk b ro n ze s s h o w s th e breadth of his techniqu e. S em i­ a bstract to re a listic sculptures co m p rise th is show o f land­ scapes, face shapes, turtles, wall and free standing pieces. W o rking fo r 26 years in the Portland area, G o ld sb y's s c u lp ­ tures can be seen fre quently th ro u g h o u t the P acific N orth­ w est. He has been aw arded sev­ eral p u b lic c o m m issio n s, such as the one at the Lloyd C enter and the W a sh in g to n Park Zoo. H is w ork is also in clu d e d in several private and corporate c o lle ctio n s. The IFCC invites the p u b lic to attend an open reception honor­ ing the a rtis t on Thursday, Sept. Benson has a vocal on every track of his latest LP, ‘T w ice The Love,’ ary W ilson gets sued: w hile keeping his g u ita r playing at A hrgus J u illia rd , co-author a m in im u m . This, has som e of his of “ Dream girl: M y Life As A fans upset. But the 45-year old Suprem e,” is seeking $300,000 in m usician, w ho m aintains that fin ­ an LA C ounty S uperior C ourt suit, ding non-vocal m usic is very d if­ charging that she is ow ed back fic u lt, w ants people to rem em ber royalties and should share in any that he g o t his start singing. p ro fits from any re su ltin g film or “ Women Of Brewster Place” to TV treatm ents. J u illia rd co ntend s com pete w ith world series? Plans th e ir '84 agreem ent ca lls fo r her have not yet been finalized as to receiving 30% of the b o o k ’s net the airing of three-hour ABC p rofits. She also charged that te le p ic, "T he W om en of B rew ster W ils o n ’s lis t o f book expenses Place,” starring Oprah W infrey, to ta lin g $88,541 (and in clu d in g (who a lso serves as co-executive her w ardrobe) to be taken out of producer of the project), but there royalties w ere abnorm ally and un­ was talk o f it airing opp o site the ju s tifia b ly high. M eanw hile, ju st w orld series, to be broadcast by last week, W ilso n signed a deal NBC. ' w ith Lorim ar P ictures fo r a film So fine! H arper’s Bazaar tagged based upon the book. W hen asked P h y llic ia R ashad and R obin if she w ould star in the movie, G ivens am ong the m ost beautiful W ilson replied: “ Oh, no, i t ’s appar­ w om en in the U.S. O thers to be ent that the three g irls are m uch named included Brooke Shields, younger, and th e re ’s so m any Farrah F a w ce tt and Rosanna beautifu l talented g irls around. Arquette. W e’ll fin d three great Suprem es.” Vesta does it again? 1988 may W ils o n ’s ow n p a rticip a tio n w ill be w ell be the year fo r recording a rt­ lim ite d to that o f film co nsultan t. ist V esta W illiam s, w ho many O f the flak from the book, she th o u g h t was lo st in the shadow of says "I w a sn ’t out there to get ap­ Janet Jackson and A&M Records. proval but to tell a story, and to N ext m o n th m arks the release of share w hat happened, so it really her second LP, and industry ex­ d id n ’t m atter w hat people th in k .” perts have called her a natural, C urrently touring, she is also at and the LP a w inner. O f course, w ork on a second book that w ill w ith a voice like the talented pick up where th e firs t left off. songstress, one can’t help but be She hopes to p u b lish it som etim e heard. Yet it is not w hat she • next year. sings, but w hat she says that so Another tenant at " 2 2 7 ” : This often gets Vesta W illia m s in to fall, the cast of N B C ’s “ 227" w ill trouble. Like the com m ent she w elcom e a pint-size new com er. m ade at a national m eeting of S h e ’ s 1 0 -y e a r-o ld C o u n te s s Hawking it in D.C.: Producers Vaughn from Idabel, Okla. She w ere in D.C. last w eek sco u tin g com es to the show w ith six w in s lo c a tio n s and preparing fo r w ork as a ju n io r v o ca list on Star Search on a Spenser For H ire sp in o ff, to her credit. S he’ ll play an in ­ starring Avery Brooks as "H aw k. te lle c tu a lly p re co cio u s student ABC has put in a 13-episode or­ w ho m oves in w ith the Jenkins. der, and according to a co-execu­ M eanw hile, another hit NBC ser­ tive producer, the show could air ies, "A m e n ,” is looking to add a as early as January, new pint-sized character to its cast b la c k ra d io a n n o u n c e rs la s t of regulars. The talent search m onth about Tracy Chapm an. centers on a boy, aged 5-19,13-16, C hapm an’s hair she said ap­ or a teenaged fem ale, 12-16. by Lisa C o llin s M 29,5:30 - 8:30 p.m. George Benson to portray Wes Montgomery: In January, singer- m usician-jazz g u ita ris t George Benson, sta rts film in g “ The Boss G uitar,” in w h ich he’ll play jazz great W est M ontgom ery. Benson, 45, now touring, is g e ttin g a lot of flak fo r sin g in g to o m uch. Seems peared as a head o f little b la ck nipples. “ A nd that she m ust have borrow ed nip p le s fro m everyone in her fa m ily .” W illia m s , w h o ’s had c o m e d ic in s p ira tio n s and as part of her act does im p e rs o n a ­ tions, says it w as all in je s t. “ I d o n ’t understand w hy everyone gets bent o u t of shape. If th e se ar tis ts w eren’t do in g a n yth in g . I w o u ld n ’t put them in the sh o w . The fu n n y thing is people c o m e up to m e afterw ards and w hisper, “ that really was funny, V esta.” Briefs: Jody W atley is in the s tu d io , w ith b o y frie n d A n d re C y m o n e , p u ttin g fin is h in g to u ch e s on her new LP fo r release by the end o f the year. on your # ■ reading list I ¡Walking For Fitness And Pleasure by D r. R o n a ld E . W a l k e r A book that w ill help m any I people both physically and I m entally, th is health guide I about the easiest and best (fo rm of exercise should be on everyone's lis t fo r m ust I reading and m ust a ction. MAIL THIS COUPON TODAY CARLTON PRESS 11 W est }2 St., N ew Y o rk l(MX»l| Walking For Fitness And Pleasure by Dr. Ronald E. W alker M y c h e c k fo r $8.75 ie e n c lo s e d Name __________ Street ________ ■ —■ _________ —— ------------------- State C ity _ _________ - »f --j „ ? -*»W" - C O M IN G T H IS F A L L 1 PORTLAND C IV IC THEATRE Mainstage September 23 thru November 6 Hair k m u s ic a l s c o re th a t has b e c o m e a c la s s ic re fle c tin g th e jo y, p a s s io n a n d he artach e o f th e p o litic a l and s o c ia l tim e s o f th e 60’s. (H o w a d u lt is y o u r life style ? ) 1530 S.W. Yam hill • Portland, OR 97205 (5 0 3 ) 2 2 6 - 3 0 4 8 NORTH • PORTLAND • MEDICAL • CENTER L IG H T E N U P . SPORTS ____________ Arthur Mitchell, founder of the famed Dance Theatre of Harlem Is pictured with members of his troupe near St. Nicholas Cathedral during the.r historic tour of the Russia. MRS C’S WIGS IL All-New for 1988 20% Faster • Even Healthier MEDICINE CLINIC HOURS: Saturdays 9 0 0 a m Io 2 0 0 p m Walk In Iniury Clinic NEW QUICK SUCCESS' SPORTS - PROGRAM---- PHYSICALS Examinations lor involvement in team sports available year round W H O L E S A L E & R E T A IL Maranatha Church Ottered during regular business hours Monday Friday 9 0 0 a m -7 0 0 p m Saturdays 9 00am 3 00pm H U N D R E D S O F W IG S FOR YOUR EVERCHANGING UFESTYLES N A O M I S IM S • B O R N F R E E • M IC H A E L W EEK S 4222 N.E. 12th (E n te r on S kid m o re ) Sat 9:30 a.m . Tillamook Park Bldg. $15.00 per person $10.00 per person M on. T ues. when entire team signs up BETTY CABINE proprietor Wed AND OTHER NAME BRANDS T h u rs Fri. tu is - sat 11 i 3O-4 * * *.* 1 I 2 1 M t I V 'H l AMI »•M SK A IAN' ....... . 1 l Temple Baptist Church 1319 N.E. 7 th F ire s id e R o o m T u e s. 12:00 N o o n (B ro w n B ag L u n c h C la s s ) Rivergate Community Church T u e s. 4737 N. L o m b a rd St. 7:0 0 p.m . University of Portland 5000 N. W illa m e tte B lvd . C o lu m b ia H a ll (E n te r fro m P o rts m o u th ) W ed 5:0 0 p.m . J O IN A N Y C L A S S A N Y T IM E 5 I in u ly l Y i i tk ■nmv*. 1i«it** M »*ti- 7th & FREMONT (70 7 N.E. FREMONT) ’ — • weset« ■« i n 2108 N.E. 4 1 st Ave. 7:00 p.m . 7:00 p.m . 9:30 a.m . & 5:00 p.m . 7:00 p.m . 9:30 a.m . — ! » 105 North Killing Fortkin.) 503 285 3323 sworth n O’.'l" New and renew ing m em bers please arrive 20 m in. e arlier For m ore in fo rm a tio n and a d d itio n a l cla ss lo ca tio n s CALL collect (503) 297-1021 Weekdays 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m . Î- . V* * .