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arts and entertainment
Off Broad Street Players Pack
Assembly Hall with ”A Convict Soul"
Kristine Johnson
A&E writer
NCSSM’s drama club. The Off Broad
Street Players, on November 16 and 17
presented a collection of short plays, ex
cerpts of larger works, and monologues.
The impressive production, which was stu
dent cast and directed, revealed much dra
matic talent and hard work.
The performance, entitled “A Convict
Soul”, provided the audience an opportu
nity to escape from self-imposed spiritual
restrictions and allow its freed spirit to dance
in the humor and compassion of the various
pieces.
Among these, three were most memo
rable, entertaining, and endearing. In Lysis-
trata by Aristophanes, Amber Radachovsky
amused the audience as the clever Lysis-
trata, a Greek woman endeavoring to per
suade her female comrades to “go without
sex altogether” in order to stop the battles
which were keeping their husbands away
from home.
Afternoon, by John Guare, illustrated
one woman’s search for a soul mate and the
humorous exaggeration of the search’s
consequences. Dave Hamilton and Megan
Jackson enacted the relationship between a
young woman and a married man, trauma
tized by his forceful wife. Jackson as the
tender “She” and Hamilton the disturbed
“He” charismatically played “kindred” spir
its willing to grasp their opportunity for love
despite the risks involved.
The Off Broad Street Players also de
serve praise for their marvelous finale -
Search For Signs of Life. Teresa Lambe and
Brian Sauls superbly portrayed a bickering
elderly couple who use chocolate milk
moustaches as the link to their rebellious
teenage granddaughter, played by Alexan
dra Rhetts. Lambe and Sauls accurately
depicted the amnesia of old age and the
magical discovery of beauty in a common
human experience.
Congratulations to the drama club for
giving a wonderful present of humor, com
passion, and escape to the NCSSM commu
nity. We anxiously await their next contri
bution to the human experience.
Hammer Gives Pounding Performance
Holly Stallings
A&E writer
“It was great!” exclaimed Julie Drigot
when 1 first asked her about the M.C.
Hammer concert. Later that evening, she
came in my room to let me in on all the juicy
details. She heard about the tickets from a
friend on campus. When she asked about
transportation, she learned that Kelly Lind
say, the RA on 2nd Hill East, was going to
take a group of students that Sunday eve
ning. She bought her ticket and marked the
days off of her calendar until the day of the
concert.
Vogue, opening for Hammer, bounced
on stage as the crowd went wild. Vanilla Ice
was supposed to open for Hammer, but Julie
said that in the last week she has heard of
three different reasons why he did not show.
So, we assumed that Vanilla Ice was either
on a European tour, sick, or stuck in an
airport. Unfortunately, your guess is as good
as mine.
Soon after Vogue finished, the lights
again went out. Suddenly a huge spotlight
captured the stage just in time for an explo
sion. When the smoke cleared,M.C. Ham
mer was on stage singing. Julie said that the
concert was really exciting . She loved it
when he sang such favorites as “Pray." That
song was exceptionally special because he
brought up a boy in a wheelchair to illustrate
the importance of praying. She was also
fond of the background singers Special G."
NCSSM Home to Aspiring Musicians
Kenneth Harrell
A&E writer
Living Colour, M.C.Hammer, INXS,
George Michael, and Warrant. These are
just a few of the many stars and groups who
started out as unheralded local musicians.
Just a few years ago they were virtually
unknown but, a few lucky breaks have rock
eted them success. Here at NCSSM, there
are many talented musicians. If you don’t
believe, just take time to listen to the Cho
rus, Gospel Choir, or Jazz Band.
Apart fiXMn these groups, there are many
talented musicians here who may be some
of tomorrow’s top stars. Recently, I inter
viewed some of these talents. I asked them
all about how they got interested in music.
Guitarist Taylor Hinshaw and drummer Jann
Foushee both became interested through
the efforts of their parents. Hinshaw had
early training singing in his local boy’s
choir while Foushee was encouraged by her
mother to take piano lessons. Both keyboar
dist Matt Welsh and guitarist Steve Pesca-
As a matter of fact, one of the background
guys sang ‘My,My,My’. "He was terrific!”
Julie said with a sparkle in her eye. The
stage was impressive because it had lights in
the shape of a hammer which moved up and
down in a pounding motion. Of course,
M.C. Hammer sang the popular songs we all
expected such as”Have you seen her?”,
“Pray," andtheever-popular“U Can’tTouch
This."
Overall the evening was fabulous. Julie
was mainly impressed with Hammer’s abil
ity to dance and sing so well at the same
time. “He did not lip-sinc”, Julie was quick
to add. Everyone hoped that Hammer would
return to “party with Carolina” again soon.
Queensryche - Empire
The hard rock band Queensryche is out
with a new album entitled Empire which
seems to be somewhat of a change from
their past records. It blends both powerful
rock music with strong bass from guitar
player Eddie Jackson with ballads that are
very unique for a hard rock band. These
ballads lack the mindless lyrics and mo
notonous acoustic guitar playing that can so
often be found on these bands’ albums to
day. The album as a whole contains a won
derful set of lyrics and blends them well into
their impressive style of music.
The album begins with a great rock
song entitled “Best I Can” which brings
together great guitar and keyboard backups
for Geoff Tate’s good lead vocals. How
ever, the best songs come later on in the
album with the powerful title track, “Em
pire”, and two excellent ballads called “Silent
Lucidity” and “Anybody Listening?”. These
songs as well as the others on the album
have excellent lyrics concerning the band’s
point of view on corruption in America
today and how together we can make it
through a little bit at a time. The sometimes
eerie mood created by Queensryche’s mu
sic gives an added punch to an already top
notch music collection.
Queensryche’s Empire has something
to offer to everyone but may seem some
what redundant and boring for those who
don’t find much interest in harder rock
music. The album still is quite excellent and
is worth a listen if at all possible. For these
reasons. Empire commands an A- for this
month.
tore became interested in becoming musi
cians by trying to imitate their favorite stars.
Hinshaw and Foushee are two of the
most talented musicians that I have ever
heard. Together with bassist Brian Ander
son, they formed the awesome trio that
played at the Dangerous Math assembly.
Some of the most innovative music that I
have heard comes from the guitar of Pete
Carrubba and the sampling of Matt Welsh.
Both like to experiment with interesting
sounds. Camibba’s entertaining woiic bor
ders on the bizarre. Welsh is an expert on
special effects made possible by synthesiz
ers. Welsh’s peculiar sounds were intro
duced to the general community in collabo
ration with keyboardist Jan Borgenson
during the Dangerous Math assembly.
All of these unsung musicians are ver
satile on their instruments and like to branch
into many different styles. Perhaps one day
some or all of them will become world
renowned superstars. If not, at least we can
be certain of one thing— they are all more
talented than Milli Vanilli!
Annmarie WUfiams
zirisfies everyone fiad the
strength to find happiness
Terrence Whalen
zvants peace
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joeySinreich
ztHshes for three zvishes
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zvishes for peace and for students
. zvho are ready to Cearn