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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2000)
« . A (Elje ^Portland ffibseruer------------------- November 01, 2000 Focus Page 3 Balloons In Flight Arts Quality T hat “W on't Let You Down" 100% Bio Degradable Latex Balloons Concordia Theatre Begins the New Season with The Odd Couple m ation or for ticket reservation, please call 503/280-8614. Scott Thurm an w ill direct the Odd Couple and is ex cited about the tal ented new faces in the theater depart m e n t th is y e a r. “ M ost o fth e cast is young, but his year we are blessed with a tre m e n d o u s am ount o f new tal ent. These students have terrific energy an d e n th u s ia s m , an d th is s h o w ’s great fun.’’ C oncordia w ill Concordia University's Fall producton o f THE ODD COUPLE. Pictured from left to right: Tim Winterstein, Jamin Becker, Phillip Kennedy, Jonathan Ndukewe, Nick present the m edi eval m ystery play Schmitt, Paul Bentley The Second Shep herds Play in D ecem ber. W ork C o n c o rd ia U n iv e rsity T h e 4 ,5 ,1 0 , 11 and 12. A ll show s has already begun for the spring ater w ill b eg in its 2000-2001 b eg in at 8 p.m . e x cep t the tw o season w ith p ro d u ctio n s o f both S unday m atinees N ov. 5 and 11, m usical The C hildren o f Eden. the m ale and fem ale v ersio n s o f w hich beg in s at 2 p.m . A ll p e r “We are m aking a lot o f positive N eil S im o n ’s cla ssic A m erican form an ces w ill be held at the changes this year,” Thurman says. com edy. T he O dd C ouple. Each F in e A r ts B u ild in g on th e “W e’re im proving the building, cast w ill p erfo rm on a lte rn a tin g C o n co rd ia C am pus (NE 27,h and expanding the theater program , nights starting w ith the m ale cast H olm an). T ick ets w ill be $5 for and reaching out to a w ider audi on N o v em b er 3 at 8 p.m . T he stu d e n ts/se n io rs and $7 for the ence. We have a lot to look for sh o w c o n tin u e s N o v e m b e r g en eral p u b lic. For more infor ward to this year.” /SMB m • Creative Helium Bouquets • Wedding • Seminars • Parties & Celebrations fc y T Delivery Available ft • • • Corporate Functions Balloons Releases & Drops Balloon Decor I lelium Gas Rental Kits 503-33 l-l 100 Profession Balloon Artist: ‘‘I’m not selling balloon I ’m selling my ideas” Shakespeare meets Bladerunner in Otello Shakespeare meets Bladerunner in this unique twist on V erdi’s dark classic, Otello. Performances o f Otello will be on Nov. 4,6,8 and 1 lat the Portland Opera, located at 1515 SW Morrison. Staged by Portland O p era’s G eneral D irector Robert Bailey, with sets and costum es by ac claimed Viennese designer W alter Schw ab, this all-new P ortland O pera production offers a daring, unconventional vision o f a w orld set apart in time. W ith a lib re tto b a se d on Shakespeare's play, Otello tells the story o f a Moorish war hero who falls prey to jealousy and self-doubt. Stationed on the remote island out post o f Cyprus with his new bride Desdemona, Otello doesn ’ t suspect that his right-hand man Iago is plot ting to undermine him. Desdemona is virtuous, but Iago persuades Otello that she is unfaithful. V erdi’s soaring, impassioned score propels the tragedy o f a great man who will ultimately destroy that which he loves most. Written when Verdi was in his 70s, Otello represents one o f his greatest achievements. The fresh ness o f the score and the dramatic depths o f the principal characters reflect a milestone in the history of opera. In creating this new produc tion, Bailey chose an innovative approach that would reflect Verdi’s own unique contribution to the rep ertoire. “Just as Verdi discarded the trap pings o f traditional operatic forms, so we have tried to avoid old-fash ioned notions o f pomp and spec tacle," said Bailey. “We have striven to bring out the timeless nature of Shakespeare’s play and the psycho logical issues that are clearly as relevant today as they were 400 years ago.” Schwab’s striking set and cos tumes blend both innovative and classical elem ents to suggest a mythic world not tied to a particular time or place. Schwab, who collaborated with B ailey on the aw ard -w in n in g A m erican prem iere o f The M er chant o f Venice several seasons ago, d escribes his designs as “ im aginative and expressionistic w ith strong contem porary no tion.” D ark costum es splashed w ith m etallic trim gleam against the backdrop o f a m achine-like set, w hile huge m irrors hang sus pended above the stage. The m irrors are a crucial com ponent o f the design, explains Schwab, because they literally re flect the psychological states o f the c h aracters as w ell as the “shaky ground" on which the com m unity stands. The unusual set presented special challenges for veteran lighting designer Barry Steele who collaborated closely w ith Schw ab to create lighting that corresponds w ith both the music and the em otional states o f the characters. Thu. NOV. 16 THRU Sun. NOV. 19 DOSl^NOI Buy tickets at www.DisneyOnke.coin tic k e tm a a te r or call outlets, Arena Box Office (503) 224-4400 TICKET PRICES STARTING AT $12.75 (Service charges and handling fees may apply; no service charges at Arena Box Office)
