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ENTERTAINMENT
No Gloom In These Tombs
So, you haven’t felt the inspira
tion kick in powerful enough to pro
pel you to the Imperial Tombs of
China ticket stand, is that right? As
an exclusive liaison between you
and the Arts, it is my duty to probe
this dilemma further and give you
honest dish on this exhibit.
The unearthed tombs primarily
date back to the warring states period
between 475 BC-221 BC. Their age
o f 2,000 years seems unfathomable
at times, but pure awe breaks you out
o f the confusion as a larger than life-
size Chinese soldier-statue peers
down on you after spending more
than twenty centuries in a Chinese
emperor’s tomb.
Thousands ofsold iers were found
buried in the tombs to defend the
emperor’s spirit. And might I also
note that no two soldiers had the
same haircut. They were probably
given different nicknames also, but
that wasn’t specified.
Ifyou are among the people who
read less than half o f the assigned
reading for history class, and will
ingly let loose the memorized facts
five minutes after the final exam,
don't fret. The tour is very user
friendly and allows you to float along
at your own pace with a pre-recorded
cassette that caters to both history
buffs and history dropouts alike.
What strikes with greatest force is
the Chinese fascination for death and
life after death, which is the underly
ing theme o f the exhibit. An emperor
was thought to be the ultimate ruler
return to the living world as a
vengeful ghost.
It is a gross assumption to think
this ancient civilization would be
primal in artistic skill, as you can
clearly see for yourself. In a sur
prisingly worldly sense, they ap
preciated ar, and went to great
lengths for its production.
Now is certainly the best time to
go, lines have shortened and the
museum volunteers are still fresh
and cheery (and they look so cute in
their black slacks and red sashes).
And take the kids! They will be
given an entertaining kiddie ver
sion ofthe tour cassette. Many adults
were using it instead o f the adult
version and midway through the
tour I watched them dancing and
chuckling and quickly became in
sanely jealous.
That wraps up the jive on this
w eek's pick. The Imperial Tombs
o f China will be showcased at the
Portland Art Museum (1219 SW
Park Avenue) until September 15.
Tickets can be purchased by phone
at (503) 790-ARTS. As I always
say, there’s no business like the
coffin business.
S//<> 'v f t ii
S arkisa
S a K VI A
o f all under the heavens and when
age took hold it then became his duty
to design his tomb with treasures that
would provide the same luxuries for
his soul after death. One infamous
em peror drained one-third o f the
national treasure in creating his lav
ish tomb.
Had the people not carried out the
laborious tasks o f the burial, it was a
common belief that emperor would
iUfSCT'i CtlTCRTniiirittlT SunillART
Norman Brown’s Better Days Ahead
" If J RNING Prolonged listening
to this album may lead to peaceful
drives up the coast, frequent rom an
tic encounters, reduced stress, and
an end to lonely nights at home. "
Which album deserves such a
warning label, you may ask. The
answer, o f course, is Better Days
Ahead, the latest effort from MoJ AZZ
recording artist and Soul Train Mu
sic Award winner, Norman Brown.
Better Days A head contains just the
right balance o f upbeat styling and
mood enhancing sheen to qualify as
an exceptional collection o f music.
In short, this album is dynamic. With
this much power, it’s hard to believe
that this album is available over the
counter without a prescription.
For those in low spirits, take heart;
this album is the perfect pick-you-
up. After listening to the ten-song
set, one has to sense that surely ev
erything will be okay after all. Birds
will sing, kids will smile, and the sun
will shine. But for Norman, who
claims his music is “drama to the
ears”, he w ouldn’t have it any other
way. His aim is to communicate with
people and to touch them on the
deepest level possible. “ I want to
open up the lines o f communication
and talk to people through the mu-
Porllaiid Center Stage
Begins Subscription Sales
Actor Returns To Killing Fields
Portland Center Stage has begun
subscription ticket sales for the
1996-97 season to the general pub-
I ic, with full season packages to five
plays beginning at just $49.50.
Tickets may be purchased by call
ing tlje box office at (503) 274-
6588. Brochures are available by
calling the same number.
A subscription consists oftickets
to the entire 1996-97 season, which
includes George Bernard Shaw’s
Mrs W arren’s Profession; Jaston
W illia m s, Jo e S ears and Ed
H ow ard’s A Tuna Christmas; Au
gust Strindberg's Miss Julie; Jane
W agner’s The Search for Signs of
Intelligent Life in the Universe; and
Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The
Sam Waterston, who starred in the 1984 film "The killing Fields,” has
traveled to Cambodia for a visit aimed at highlighting tfje misery caused by
land mines. Waterston is a board member o f the advocacy group Refugees
International. The actor portrayed New York Times writerSydney Schanberg
in “The Killing Fields.” W aterston's co-star, Haing Ngor, who was shot
dead in Los Angeles this year, won an O scar for his work in the film.
Lost Dean TV Appearances Found
The Museum o f Television and Radio, working with Nick at Nite, has
uncovered four long-sought programs for its collection, including thre
James Dean television appearances. The three Dean appearances in 1953
include his work in the 30-minute films “ Something for an Empty Brief
case" (from N BC's "Campbell Soundstage” series), “ Rex Newman" (from
N B C ’s “The Big Story” series) and "Death is My N eighbor" (part o fth e
CBS series “ Danger”). Nick at N ite's TV Land plans to air the films July 28
Vargas, Lunden Say All Sunny
Elizabeth Vargas and Joan Lunden are disputing reports o f tension
between them on A BC’s “Good Morning America.” Lunden told USA
Today that it saddens her "that people want to see some kind o f cat fight.
Ever read anything like that with a guy? When have you ever read, ' I he
other guy better watch out?"” Vargas said the reports upset her and Lunden.
The younger Vargas moved from NBC to “Good Morning America’s”
newsreader slot May 28, igniting speculation that ABC is grooming her to
replace Lunden.
Rivals. Special package offers for
the season include the Gallery Talks
Series and Professionals Preview
Night.
Other; flexible three-plav pack
ages are also available.
The many benefits o f subscrib
ing include a 10% discount on tick
ets, exchange privileges, lost ticket
insurance, and admission to other
special events and a peek backstage
via the theatre newsletter.
Subscribers also receive a 20%
discount on additional single tick
ets to each season’s Family Play
house Series production (this year
The Rivals), especially appropriate
for bringing the whole family to the
theatre.
I fappij Birthday
Johnny HuffLove Your Wife
Another ‘Die Hard’?
Bruce Willis is considering a fourth "Die Hard.” According to sources,
Willis has expressed interest in several scripts — among them " fears ofthe
Sun,’’ a “ Deliverance”-like yarn set in the Amazon. Every previous "Die
Hard” has relied on curious literary antecedents. The novel “Nothing Lasts
Forever’' provided the basic plot for “ Die Hard,” “58 M inutes” sparked the
sequel, and a script about a mad bomber called “Simon Says" provided the
basic framework for “Die Hard With a Vengeance.”
& Kids
Pharez
Whitted
Jazz
guitarist,
Norman
Brown
sic," says Brown. “ I need to know
that what I am trying to say is getting
through.”
The response to Norman’s first
two releases indicates that he is mov
ing in the right direction. The jazz
guitarist’s album, dust Between Us,
the debut release for both the artist
and his label, MoJ A Z / Records, sold
over 150,000 units By jazz stan
dards this represents a good day at
bat, but Norman didn't stop there; he
was just revving his engine. His fol
low-up album. A fter The Storm,
grabbed both the Gavin and Soul
Train Music Awards for 1995 Jazz
Album o f the Year and continues to
soar on its way to gold. On top o f that,
the album has remained on the Bill
board Jazz charts for over 109 weeks.
I he message is quite clear—people
are listening.
New & used hooks on
Business, Music, &
African-A merican Studies
POWELL’S
CITY OF BOOKS
9 AM - 11 PM Monday through Saturday
9 AM - 9 PM Sundays
Used books bought every day till 8:30 PM
On the #20 Bus Line • One hour free parking
1005 West Burnside Street
228-4651
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JULY 18 • 5 PM SHOW • GATES AT 3:30
A R TS
“The most important thing a musi-
c ian can do is express himselfthrough
his m usic,"states t iu m p e i m a s te r
Pharez Whitted. He is the producer,
songwriter, composer, and arranger
o f his second release on MoJAZZ
records, entitled Mysterious Cargo.
MoJAZZ recording artist Ronee
Martin adds her outstanding vocal
style to the soothing sound o f the
cover tune. “Grapevine" The collab
orative efforts o f these fine musi
cians, along with Pharez’s keen mu
sical ability, give Mysterious Cargo
an u n d e rs ta te d p o w er w ith a
charismatically funky effect.
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SAT JULY 20 • 7 PM • GATES AT 5:30 PM
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