A&E

Elusive hero or victim of excess?

Wednesday, Oct. 30,2002 11:49 p.m.

LOS ANGELES -- Eight years later, we're still talking about Kurt Cobain. "I'm going to be a superstar musician, kill myself and go out in a flame of glory," he announced as a 14-year-old, and he was right. And because he was right, because he went out in a flame of glory, we just can't get enough of him. Next month will see the long-awaited publication of Cobain's journals, an 800-page epic that tracks his life, in his own words, from the pre-Nirvana days straight to the time leading up to his suicide-by-shotgun on April 5, 1994.

Breast Cancer gets a voice in 'Sing for the Cure'

By Elizabeth Bahra · Wednesday, Oct. 30,2002 11:48 p.m.

"We will keep on singing 'till we're heard," reads the closing piece, "One Voice." And they will be heard. At 7 p.m. on Sunday evening at the IU Auditorium Singing Hoosiers -- under the direction of Michael Schwartzkopf, Bloomington Instrumentalists and Singers, and IU alumnus and two time Grammy award winner Sylvia McNair -- will hit the stage for the highly anticipated Sing for the Cure event to raise awareness about and funding for breast cancer research.

Unveiled artwork inspired by changes after Sept. 11

By Brett Martel and Michael Wessenstein · Tuesday, Oct. 29,2002 10:58 p.m.

NEW YORK -- The sounds of boat engines recorded beneath the Hudson River echo through a World Financial Center walkway. In another, photos of landfill containing the twin towers' debris cover windows overlooking the World Trade Center site. Nine works focusing on changes Sept. 11 wrought on lower Manhattan were unveiled Tuesday in the public spaces of the battered World Financial Center, in what organizers call a vital part of its revitalization.

Guest conductor leads orchestra

By Adam Sedia · Tuesday, Oct. 29,2002 10:55 p.m.

Those who were looking for entertainment last Sunday afternoon certainly found it. The University orchestra performed its second concert this year under the baton of the world-famous guest conductor Uri Mayer. As is typical of IU's musical ensembles, the orchestra gave a masterful performance of a wonderful program. And perhaps the best thing about the concert was that it was completely devoid of the dissonant monstrosities that slightly dampened most other performances.

No need for thrillers, real life is enough

By Brett Martel and Frazier Moore · Tuesday, Oct. 29,2002 10:54 p.m.

NEW YORK -- NBC is promoting a night of Halloween-themed series as "Must Scream Thursday." The WB is pitching "Haunted Thursday." We can meet "Ghost Detectives" on Discovery Channel, cackle at Mel Brooks' masterpiece "Young Frankenstein" on Comedy Central, or, on VH1, get creeped out by a circa-"Thriller" Michael Jackson. Then we can throw the jack-o'-lantern out and clean the eggs off our car. But Halloween TV won't be over until Monday when, fashionably late, Stephen King's high-school horror "Carrie" premieres on NBC, starring Angela Bettis in the title role that launched Sissy Spacek a quarter-century ago.

Students unite to celebrate Oktoberfest

By Adam B. Steer and Adam Steer · Monday, Oct. 28,2002 11:26 p.m.

More than 30 students gathered in Foster Shea's ground floor lounge last Thursday night to celebrate the German tradition of Oktoberfest. This event, which was run by the German House, embraced the spirit of Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest, which began in 1810 as a celebration of Crown Prince Ludwig I's wedding, has become one of Bavaria's proudest moments and one of the world's largest public spectacles.

Famous soprano Beverly Sills recounts life, lessons she learned

By Brandon Morley and Brett Martel · Monday, Oct. 28,2002 12:13 a.m.

Beverly Sills, 73, the noted operatic soprano who has appeared on stage in more than 70 roles spoke at 3:30 p.m. Friday in Auer Hall. The IU Foundation sponsored her visit. Sills will also attend the third annual presentation of the Herman B Wells Visionaries Awards, given at a dinner later Friday evening. Gwyn Richards, dean of the IU School of Music, introduced Sills to a crowd of roughly 250 people by calling her "a cultural icon and national treasure." He then spoke for a few minutes repeating what he told the IDS earlier last week when he said he felt it was ironic that Sills would speak at IU on the same day "Julius Caesar" would open at the IU Opera, a work important to Sills' career. So important that following her opening night of "Julius Caesar" in 1967 with the New York City Opera, Sills received invitations to then appear at many of the world's most well-regarded opera venues, including La Scala and Covent Garden.

Collaborative art project engages community

By L. R. Rarick · Sunday, Oct. 27,2002 11:12 p.m.

On the weekends in Bloomington, an angel comes out to play at the John Waldron Arts Center. Bloomington sculptor Joe LaMantia is one of four artists currently commissioned to create angel sculptures that will be exhibited at the West Baden Springs National Historic Landmark between Thanksgiving and Twelfth Night, which is Jan. 5, 2003. LaMantia's angel is being worked on Fridays and Saturdays at the Waldron as a public and collaborative art project available for viewing to people who walk by or who come to work on it. "The purpose of the project is to demystify the notion of art as being something untouchable; it is touchable," LaMantia said.

'Misbegotten' performance brilliant

By Brandon Morley and Brett Martel · Sunday, Oct. 27,2002 11:11 p.m.

Brilliant. Excellent. Powerful. These arethe words that describe the Saturday night performance of Eugene O'Neill's "A Moon for the Misbegotten." The show opened Friday at the Wells-Metz Theatre on Jordan Ave. "Moon" is set in a beat-up farm house in 1923 Connecticut, with drinking pals James Tyrone, Jr. (Ira Amyx) and tenant farmer Phil Hogan (Chris Nelson) amusing themselves while in a drunken stupor. In a casual joke, Tyrone says he'll sell his farm and evict Hogan. Hogan, now afraid for his home and way of life, schemes to manipulate the affections between Tyrone and his daughter Josie, played by Sheila Regan.

Plath comes alive for fans

By Jane Charney · Sunday, Oct. 27,2002 11:09 p.m.

On her 70th birthday, Sylvia Plath's intense voice greeted a small but devoted audience. The event held at Auer Hall Sunday was not a seance but a commemoration concert. Of course, Plath wasn't really there -- her recorded radio interview with the BBC was projected for all to hear. Not only did she talk about her poetry and her personal life's influence on her art, but she also recited her poem "Fever 103 ." This introduction prepared the audience for what they were about to hear -- an intense exploration of Plath's effect on music and musicians.

Nobel-winning playwright's work opens tonight

By Brandon Morley and Adrian Sainz · Friday, Oct. 25,2002 3:04 p.m.

Eugene O'Neill was the only American playwright to win the Nobel Prize, and the last work written before his death "A Moon for the Misbegotten" will run for 10 performances beginning tonight (Friday) at the Wells-Metz Theatre.

Handel's 'Julius Caesar' premieres tonight

By Adam Sedia · Friday, Oct. 25,2002 12:47 a.m.

Tonight the IU Opera will perform George Friderick Handel's "Julius Caesar," an opera that tells the story of Caesar's affair with Cleopatra that resulted in her being made queen of Egypt. Dr. George Calder, head of IU's opera department, said the opera (first produced in 1724 in London) is the most popular of Handel's 35 operas. The story, which is based on actual events, is a tale of political intrigue and a woman's use of her charms to gain power. It may be historical, but "The plot is eternal. It could take place as much today as 2000 years ago," Calder said.

At 80, Finkel lives an actor's life

By Alyson Brodsy and Lynn Elber · Friday, Oct. 25,2002 12:45 a.m.

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.-- On a studio soundstage filled with friends and colleagues, 80-year-old Fyvush Finkel bends over his birthday cake, takes a deep breath -- and then breaks up the room with an off-color joke.

'Hot Wet Fun' opens

By Alyson Brodsy and Brandon Morley · Friday, Oct. 25,2002 12:42 a.m.

IU Graduate Student Carmen Meyers will star in a cabaret of her own creation opening tonight at the Bloomington Playwrights Project, 312 S. Washington St. "Hot Wet Fun" is the title that came from an inspiration Meyers had while in Brown County.

Around The Arts

Thursday, Oct. 24,2002 1:57 a.m.

Arts News

Poetry slam attracts large audience, showcases students' creativity

By Katie Killebrew · Thursday, Oct. 24,2002 1:54 a.m.

On Friday, Oct. 18, the Union held an "Around the World" event, hosting activities from different countries. In the city of Paris, France, which was located at the Commons, a Poetry Slam contest was held. "Poetry Slam is a competition in which you sign up to read your poetry. Then, five people who are selected from the audience judge you. The highest scores and the lowest scores are cut from moving on to the next round. The average of the scores are allowed to move on to the next round," said Jessica Williams-Gibson, director of the Fine Arts Committee.

Halloween Fun

By Julia Balnford and Julia Blanford · Thursday, Oct. 24,2002 1:38 a.m.

Princesses, witches, ninjas and ghosts decorate the streets annually one night a year, when kids have a reason to stay up late and consume massive amounts of candy. As the years progress, so do children's costumes, until middle school or high school when they are "too old" to go trick-or-treating. However, you're never too old to go trick-or-treating and celebrate Halloween, a perennial favorite among IU students.

Flora provides satisfying meal

By David Isserman and David M. Isserman · Wednesday, Oct. 23,2002 12:06 a.m.

The Sicilian region of Italy has had a long history between other countries in Europe, resulting in an exotic mixture of ingredients in their culinary recipes. If you are looking for a quiet romantic place to experience such delicacies, then venture off campus to Flora, 620 W. 5th St. This moderately priced restaurant features family dishes of pasta, chicken and pizza, all of which will enlighten and delight your taste buds. This restaurant offers a limited amount of appetizers. Nevertheless, most of the entrees come with a small house salad and freshly baked bread directly from the oven. Be sure to add some olive oil and parmesan on your bread to help evoke thoughts of Mediterranean islands.

Comedy à la française brings laughs and entertainment

By Jane Charney · Wednesday, Oct. 23,2002 12:04 a.m.

Robin Williams and Nathan Lane à la française? I think not! "La Cage aux Folles" is the original French adaptation of Jean Poiret's play by the same name. The play and its film version were later tailored to English-speaking (read: American) audiences in the more recent "The Birdcage" with Williams, Nathan Lane, and Gene Hackman. Thursday, an audience of about 10 to 15 students, faculty and staff at Foster International had the opportunity to laugh at the hilarious antics of Renato and Albin, the center of the film's drama. There's a quite simple recipe to this film: take two aging gay men, mix in a 20-year-old man about to get married, and add a pinch of conservatism in the form of his fiancée's family.

It rained on this 'Parade'

By Britany Ausmus and Brittany Ausmus · Wednesday, Oct. 23,2002 12 a.m.

After reading Robert Burrows' The Great American Parade I can only draw one conclusion. He thinks I am stupid. I can think of no other explanation for this book. Why else would an author, who presumably writes for the college audience, continually beat me over the head with his mantra: "George W. Bush is the devil." While I did not vote for the Dubya, I certainly do not find it necessary to spout off about how I disagree with his policies or personal life at every opportunity. This politically charged novel certainly held promise, offering a plot about college newspaper staffers fighting a great crusade. However, it quickly degenerated into a repetitive attempt to sway my political beliefs towards the author's.