The Pilot / Feb. 4
Page 5
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Drama Preview:
'A Day in Hollywood! A Night in the Ukraine'
by Jonathan Martin
arts & entertainment editor
Since his arrival at Gardner-Webb,
director Keith Cassidy has done much to
enhance the quality of the Gardner-Webb
stage: putting on highly successful shows
such as "You Cant Take It With You,"
"Oliver," "The Miracle Worker" and last
semester’s farce "See How They Run."
With the production of the acclaimed
musical "A Day in HollywoodyA Night
in the Ukraine," Cassidy has pulled top
talent from Gardner-Webb as well as
Shelby Community Theater to produce
possibly one of the funniest productions
ever to hit the Dover Theater stage.
Though the musical requires a large
cast, Cassidy had no problems finding a
talented ensemble cast. "This was one of
the best turnouts I've seen at Gardner-
Webb," Cassidy said.
The cast shares Cassidy's enthusiasm
for the upcoming production. "People
who aren’t familiar with the play need to
know up front that they are not coming
in to anything heavy duty or serious,"
says second year stage veteran Delaine
Deer.'The show is lighthearted, fun, and
should hopefully be a great night of
laughs."
The first act, "A Day in Hollywood," is
essentially a musical. This hilarious take
off of life in Hollywood is full of great
songs and dance, featuring Delaine Deer,
Ashky Sims, Linda Strachan, Elizabeth
Alien, Denise Deaton, Kelly Evans,
Brooke Cody, Charlene Cobb, Lori
Moore. Tara Neely, Jerry Bumbaugh.
Gordon Penarvis, Neil Velez, Matt
Tashjian, Michael Brooks and Stan
Logan.
The second act, "A Night in the
irkraine." is set as a Marx Brothers
movie. Jim Farrell stars as Groucho,
Kathy Tomlinson is Harpo, and GWU
stage veteran Christopher Green as
Chico. Also featured is Sean Whitworth,
along with newcomers Christina
Whitehouse, Cheryl Chinn and Mar>'
Lopez.
"A Day in Hollywoody'A Night in the
Ukraine" opens on Feb. 19 and runs
through Feb. 23. All show times are at
8.00 except for Sunday, which will be a
2:30 matinee performance. Admission to
Gardner-Webb students is free.
Local Christian band Dirt
Poor Authority performed
Saturday, Jan. 31 for The
Bottom Shelf in the DCC.
The band, which consists of
members {left to right) Eric
McMurray, Matt Watson,
Brooks Derrick, Thomas
Fitzpatrick and James Corbin,
formed in May 1997 and has
been producing rollicking roots-
rock ever since.
Dirt Poor Authority sports a
rhythmic, folk-fimk sound with
rootsy mountain influences,
reminiscent of several of the
members' homeplaces.
"We do it for Jesus," said
Corbin, lead vocalist. "It's so
freeing.... We have a blast, and
we really love doing it. ”
British
invasion:
Old band, new hits
a review by Jenny Refers
editor
Thank goodness Britain is producing
something other than the Spice Girls.
And some Americans are smart enough
to catch on with the newest release of
long-time Brit-band Echo & the
Bunnymen, "Evergreen."
Don't be surprised if you've never
heard of them. "The Bunny what?"
you're probably thinking. They're not
modem pop "Top 40" material, and
they're not as well known among
.Ajnerican Generation-X newcomers.
But Echo has been around (and is still
producing great music) long enough to
put most bands to shame.
Ian McCullough, who has fronted the
best-selling band for years and done his
own solo work, continues to lend his
trademark, honey-sweet vocals to Echo's
newest album, "Evergreen."
The album, which is a curious mix of
mellow and melancholy times, is much
more clean and polished than Echo's
previous releases.
Long-time Echo fans will be happy to
hear the same old spirit intact, but with a
surprising new sparkle.
Although it still retains the deep, earthy
sounds of Brit-pop that has brought the
band in and out of a variety of musical
phases, "Evergreen" boasts a newer,
clean-cut sound. No sloppy reverb or
shrill, whining guitar on this one.
While most bands are splintering
smooth edges, "Evergreen" shines with
gentle ballads and soulful, powerfully-
driven rock like sunny T)ont I^t It Get
You Down" and mournful "Forgiven"
and "Too Young To Kneel."
Looks like Britain has made a step
toward redeeming itself musically.
’Good Will Hunting* is a ride worth waiting for
by Randy Capps
sports editor
It’s been said that there is a fine line
between genius and insanity.
Good Will Hunting" is the story of one
man who spends his life blurring that
line.
Matt Damon stars as Will Hunting, an
orphan from Boston who works as a
janitor at M.I.T. and just so happens to
possess a photographic memory' and a
brilliant mind.
Unfortunatley, he also carries the bad
memories of terrible neglect and abuse as
a child in foster homes.
Despite all of this, it is clear eariy on
that Will belongs here as a student, and
not the guy who cleans the floors.
Professor Lambeau, played by Stellan
Skarsgard, offers a prize to any student
who can solve a difficult mathmatic
proof. Will solves it easily, catching the
attention of Lambeau.
So when W’^ill s temper lands him in
jail, Lambeau manages to get him off
with probation. One of the conditions of
this probation is that he undergo
counciling.
That’s where Sean McGwire comes in.
Sean (Robin Williams) was Lambeau's
college roommate and is now a gifted
therapist.
He tries to help Will escape the ghosts
of his past, and Will returns the favor by
helping Sean get over the death of his
wife.
If Will knows it all. then Sean has seen
it.
In one scene, Sean says to W’ill; "If I
asked you about love, you'd probably
quote me a sonnet. But you’ve never
waken up next to a woman and been
truly happy.”
There’s a canidate. though. Skylar,
played by Minnie Driver, is a Harvard
student who falls for Will. However Will
is terrified of loving and being loved in
return.
There's a tear-jerking scene in which
Skylar asks Will to tell her he doesn’t
love her.
W’ill lies and says he doesn't.
It's only through helping Sean live
without his wife, that Will learns the
importance of love.
And through Chuckie (Ben Affleck),
his best friend, he learns that making a
life for himself is not betraying his
friends.
He tells Will, “If you're still here
messing around with us in twenty years,
then it’s an insult. It's an insult to us and
yourself. You're better than this. Will.”
And this movie is better than you think.
I know the ending is about as predict
able as tomorrow’s sunrise, but it’s the
ride that makes this movie still worth
seeing.
The screenplay, written by Affleck and
Damon—real-life best friends, is
thoughtful and extremely well-written.
Because they grew up together as good
friends in their hometown of Boston, the
fact that the script is both honest and
fresh is not surprising.
The acting is solid as well. Damon,
Affleck and Driver are all young actors
with loads of talent, and Robin Williams
proves that he is much more than just a
stand-up comic with a commanding and
dramatic performance.
This film is more than just another
boy-makes-good story.
It’s an intriguing tale of a man’s quest
to slay the demons of his past so that he
can face his future.
It's the best six dollars I’ve ever spent..