Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Feb. 26, 1998, edition 1 / Page 4
Part of University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Page 4 The Banner February 26,1998 Features Production illustrates life in Nazi Germany Review By Thad Eckard Contributing Writer rheatre UNCA’s production of John van Druten’s “I Am a Camera” closed Sunday after five days of per formance. The play, directed by Elaine Hunter Meyers, is based on Christo pher Ishei^vood’s short story collec tion “Berlin Stories.” The show ran from Feb. 18 through Feb. 22. Isherwood, a British writer, went to Berlin in 1929, where he kept a diary of his relationships and expcriL-nces during his four years there. “1 Ani a Camera” is based on that record of the author’s struggle to stay detached as Nazis rise to power and as his Jewish friends are persecuted. In the play, the audience is invited to follow Isherwood’s self-portrait as a young writer living in 1930s Ger many. it is a harsh criticism of himself and everyone else who chose not to get involved prior to World War II, but at the same time it is an admission that love is often an indistinct thing against the overwhelming backdrop of society. rhe actors performed excellently, even with the difficult British and Germanized-English dialects. Angelique Roberts seems to capture our sympathy for her character Sally Bowles, and Tracy Hackney brings us a character that feels very familiar as Christopher Isherwood. We witness the trivialities of Sally, a young British woman with childlike dreams and Christopher Isherwood, abudding novelist with writer’s block. Soonafter thestoryopens, the friend ship between Sally and Christopher evolves rapidly when Sally decides to move into Christopher’s apartment and he moves into the smaller one next door. The flat is owned by the affectionate Fraulein Schneider, a lonely and well- meaning German woman. Christo pher gives English lessons to supple ment his income as a writer, but his students have dwindled down to only one, Natalia Landauer,anaive young Jewish woman. Christopher watches with amuse ment while his other Jewish friend Fritz Wendel attempts to court Natalia. Sally regularly gives both the lovers bad advice. Clive Mortimer is Sally’s rich and boastful American boyfriend who has somehow profited when everyoneelse went the way of the stock market and the banks. Sally’s mother, Mrs. Watson-Courtneidge, is a conde scending manipulator. The characters of Fraulein Schneider, Clive, and Mrs. Watson- Courtneidge are Isherwood’s repre sentatives of their nationalities. Each one embodies the typical spirit of their country just before the war Fraulein Schneider personifies the average German citizen living in a country made poor by the victors of the first war. In those uncertain times, the Ger man people wanted to believe in myths, and they found the mythol ogy of the perfect Nazi society appeal- >ng- Clive is preoccupied America, and Mrs. Watson-Courtneidge is egotis tical Britain with her misplaced val ues. All are fascinating subjects for Christopher the camera. Christopher disregards the growing number of young toughs and the rising tide of violence. In his apart ment, he is well above the anti-Semitic rumors and thirst for revenge and he does not care about the worries and fears of the German people. Sally and Christopher are idle and relatively unworried even when the German bank closes and the nation loses even more stability. The economic crises and racial ten sion enter Christopher’s lens only indirectly through the troubles of Fritz and Natalia and through the anxiety of Fraulein Schneider. As a spectator, he does little more than console Fritz when anti-Semites threaten his father. To stay focused, he must keep his distance when Fraulein Schneider’s patriotism makes her vulnerable. With Sally, though, he cannot resist formingandattachment, but his fond ness of her is something she cannot appreciate. Sally is controlled by her environ ment, and her environment does not afford her the luxury of listening to her heart. She remains an insecure person dependent on her feminine charms to survive. When she becomes pregnant, she briefly admits that she is frail when compared to the forces of society. With the aid of a doctor friend of Fraulein Schneider, Sally pays for a doctor’s diagnosis that gives her per mission to have the operation. Clive appears and provides Sally and Christopher with an escape from their unfulfilled lives. He suggests they get out ofboringBerlinandtour the world. Just days before they are to leave, Clive sends word to them that he hopes to see them in Chicago. Awak ened from their reverie, they see them selves as foolish for thinking they could fly away from their human responsibilities. The experience leaves PHOTO COURTESY OF THEATRE UNCA Angelique Roberts, Jana Millspaugh, and Tracy T. Hackney starred in John van Druten’s “I Am a Camera,” which played February 18-22 in Carol Belk Theatre. them both resolved to start living a more purposefial life, but the resolu tion is short-lived for Sally. Christopher, however, takes his com mitment more to heart. It is during this time that the crisis he tries so hard to simply observe comes to a head for him. A conflict arises at a street corner when Natalia stands up to a gang and Christopher is forced to protect her. He finally chooses his integrity over his voyeurism. Fraulein Schneider is shocked to find out Christopher was not fight ing the Jews, but fighting for them. Again, he must take a stand for what is right and lashes out at Fraulein Schneider for being ignorant and eas ily lead. For Sally’s mother, the fight makes him unacceptable for a very different reason. In the end, Sally agrees to go back home with her mother, but, before she leaves, she declares her love for him. Love, however, is not enough for them to be together. Roberts is gifted as the leading lady, and Hackney leads us very naturally through four months on the life of Isherwood. Jana Millspaugh is won derful as the excitable German land lord Schneider, and we instandy re spond to Jennifer Jamsky’s effective portrayal of Natalia. Joe Dawson accomplishes his apa thetic American character skillfully as Clive, and Matthew Rossi slaugh ters the English language realistically as Fritz. Rae LeGrone brings with talent all the things that make up a bad mothetiin-law. Director Elaine Hunter Meyers, ia lecturer in UNCA’s drama depart ment, will retire from directing and teaching in May after 17 years with the university. Salsa offers spicy cuisine, cramped atmosphere By Renee Siaydon Features Editor Anyone looking for a restaurant in downtown Asheville with spicy Mexican Carribean cuisine, festive music, and cozy seating should try Salsa, located at 6 Patton Avenue. The restaurant should satisfy any student’scravingfornachos,burritos, enchildas, and habanero hot sauce. Beware if you are on a budget, though, because the meal will cost you more than an adventurous late night trip to the nearest Taco Bell. On the dinner menu, the cost of items range from $3.25 for a toasted hemp seed nut dip appetizer to $10.95 for a maravilla quesadilla filled with native smoked trout, wild mushrooms, spinach, carmelized plum garlic, and roasted sweet pep pers. My first visit to Salsa proved to be an interesting one. My friends and I were seated at a small, round table that provided a direct view into the kitchen window. Our server ap proached us and asked for a drink order. Salsa offers RJ Corr sodas. Reeds’s Ginger Brew, imported beer, High land Gaelic Aleand Oat Meal Porter, and a small wine list. I opted for water, and received a glass of luke warm water without ice. The menu items can be intimidat ing at first, with names like the Mongobongo burrito and Carambola quesadillas. All entrees can be prepared vegan-style, and soy cheese can be substituted at no extra cost. I chose the Vaquero burrito, which contained sauteed flank steak, grilled potatoes, mushrooms, red beans and spinach. The burrito is garnished with chips, salsa, and salad topped with mojo del dia. I have no idea what mojo del dia is, but it was spicy. The burrito was so large that I had to take half of it home with me, and I found the filling to be a strange concoction but flavorful. After dropping off our food, our server disappeared and returned to our table after we had finished our meal. We had to steal a salt shaker off a nearby shelf once we realized that no one else was going to get it for us. For patrons who like simply pre pared foods and like to know exactly what you are eating, do not go to Salsa. The service is lax, and seating can De cramped once the dining area fills up. Beware ifyou happen to ask PHOTO BY LISSA HALL Salsa, located on Patton Avenue, serves an array of foods ranging from Mexican Carribean “hot stuff entrees” to quesadillas. The restaurant began as a take-out service and expanded with a dining area last year. from many of the local businesses to start it. For this reason, Salsa works with local farmers and merchants for the produce used in the recipes, said Tizzano. Salsa differs from corporate restau rant chains because Diaz created the recipes on the menu and aLso worlcs m the kitchen as a chef He also created “Hector’sSmokin’ Habanero Sauce,” which patrons can purchase for $4.95 a bottle. As far as atmosphere goes, Salsa should be avoided by anyone wish ing for a quiet, private dining experience. The dining room is tiny, and the 17 small tables crammed into it leave much to be desired. Background music varies from Van Morrison and The Rolling Stones to bluegrass, folk, and salsa. Salsa first opened about three years ago and began as a take-out restau- ■ rant. About a year ago, Diaz, who grew up in the mountains of Puerto Rico, expanded the restaurant to in clude a small seating area that mea sures about 400 square feet, accord- i ng to Tizzano. A space that size is not much bigger than an efficiency apart-5 ment, so going to Salsa with a parry of twenty is probably not a good idea. ; for separate checks. Salsa automati cally adds 20 percent gratuity to them. Salsa uses hormone and steroid-free beef, purecanolaoil, free-range chick ens, herb-infused vinegars and oils, and organic cheeses and sour cream, which probably accounts for the somewhat expensive prices. General Manager Tim Tizzano said that about 80 percent of the menu consists of fresh produce, everything is made from scratch, and no canned foods are used. Owner Hector Diaz likes to think of Salsa as a community restaurant be cause he received financial support fin digs f^e book •good used books of all kinds* Trade (or sell) Your Books (Hardbacks & Paperbacks & Current UNCA Textbooks) Worldwide Book Search Free! Eclipse Jeivelry (vampire St-Germain) 236-0669 lindig@mindspring.com 103 Edgewood [offMernmon® Red Cross; 1 mile from UNCA] 12 noon til 8 pm We Th Fr Sa Su ASHEVILLE'S LARGEST NIGHTCLUB I’J'UOE.T free CE^ MEMBEI^SHIP WITH THIS THURSDAY 4;^/% COLLEGE NITE ^.7% 50 CENT PITCHERS ^ $1.00 KAMIKAZES PARTY IN ASHEVILLE'S #1 NITESPOT WITH THE HOTTEST HITS AND THE BEST SOUND & LIGHT SHOW IN WNC *DRINK RESPONSIBLY* 18 TO PARTY -- 21 TO DRINK 711 BILTMORE AVE. ASHEVILLE, NC Z52-5225
University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 26, 1998, edition 1
4
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75