1983_01 The Daily Collegian January 1983

              4    January 28,1963
'Forum' features comedy, melodrama
Something for everyone?
That's the claim made in the lyrics of
"Comedy Tonight" from the musical "A
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to
the Forum."
Is it a hard promise to keep?
Not for Fresno's Good Company Play¬
ers, (G.C.P.). The players, composed of
community artisans including many
former graduates of CSUF, offer and
deliver a wonderful night of comic crazi-
ness with "Forum."
Written by Steven Sondheim ("Swee
ney  Todd") and  Larry Gelbart  (TVs
j'M.A.S.H."), "Forum" is simply quite
amusing melodramatics.
The comedy in "Forum" is often hit and
miss, but the playwrights don't seem to
care. They have purposely overloaded
"Forum" using a number of comic tech¬
niques to produce the desired effect —
If a particular audience member does
not find humor in the style of Three
Stooges' physical comedy, he or she may
appreciate the situational comedy or word
play.
Sondheim and Gelbart have pulled all
the plugs. Nothing is safe from exploita¬
tion. If they thought that one person
would laugh at a gag, they utilize it. You
Letter
Continued from page 2
I  being
people, this may well be
"fragged" in Vietnam, but without a pre
ponderance of evidence A reasonable
explanation is that, like Stonewall Jack
son. someone made a mistake. Pointedly:
as long as factions in El Salvador run ram
pant these kinds of incidents will be per
petuated with the ruthless logic war car
nes These sort of gaffes, political or
otherwise, have and always will clarify
what consists human rights violations
Fori
it going to be relieved from
3ilizes, and thai cannot hap
tical stability (i.e . suppres
CHICANA WOMEN'S SUPPORT
CKOSS-CULTURAL
ADJUSTMENT SUPPORT
Fn TimeTBACC Ho_ard
GESTALT
Mop 2 4 Group 1. C C Wheeler
Thurs 2 4 Group 2. C C Wheeler
RELATIONSHIP SKJLLS IN THE
WORLD WTTH OTHERS
Mon  100-3 00 p.m , C C Poole
responsible: assertive
behavior for .
international women
TtmeTBA
dent Counading Center, located in the
northeast wing ol the Student Health
Center st Barton and" Keati Streeti on
campua. Phone (20-9) 394-2733 (or more
information. 8:00-5:00 p.m. regular d_Jy
S, M F.
I left and right-wing guerrilla
) is achieved. El Savador's
economy depends upon foreign invest¬
ment, and the United States is banking
$26 million of military aid that this small
token will eventually lead to a" climate
conducive to foreign investment in El
Salvador.
Does this make Reagan a hypocrite in
regards to human rights? Not at all...it
makes him appear human and hopeful
—not perfect, because you can't make an
omellette without breaking a few eggs.
No! God-like, beause the inevitable con
nbyot
country is death: if we did nothing, they
would he killing each other all the same
We subscribe toa theory that inthiscase,
the ends justify the means Would you
have Americans abandon El Salvador7
strategic interests, but we believe thai ihe
people of El Salvador are not m a position
io claim solvency, and that the alterna
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name the comic technique; it's used some¬
where in "Forum."
"Forum" takes place in Rome, 200
years before the birth of Christ, as a
quick-thmking slave struggles to earn his
freedom.
Characterizations are often exagger¬
ated in "Forum,"much like the style of
melodrama. But through the bastardized
characters comes much of the comedy.
There is an intrinsic personality trait in
Some of the characters — whether it be
Miles Gloriosus' vanity, Domina's brash-
ness of Hysterium's sexuality — that
makes the character funny.
The audience qets quickly involved
with the slave Pseudolus' schemes to
unite Hero and Philia — the play's two
virgins — so he can be granted his
freedom.
Dan Pessano as Pseudolus, Penny Lee
Bradberry as Domina, Roger Rocka as
Gloriosus, and Steve Pepper as Hyste-
rium deserve recognition for their fine
performances.
Pessano, who originally played Pseudo¬
lus ten years ago in G.C.P.'s first produc¬
tion of "Forum,"is confortable with the
material. He creates a warm atmosphere,
frequently talking directly to members of
the audience to get them actively involved
with the show.
Rocka, although he has a rather small
part. milks it for all it is worth. He plays the
arrogant soldier with complete sincerity,
making it even more hilarious.
However, it is Bradberry and Pepper
who deserve the credit for the comic sue
cess of "Forum." Both characters are
complete extremes. Domina as the over
bearing housewife and Hyster
slave involved in an "alternative lifestyle."
Their performances are crucial to
Cliff Allen has produced a comic book
sophistication in his set- design including
the use of cardboard stand-ups.
Chris Moad also receives kudos for his
interesting costume design. Most notable
is the use of pastel pink, yellow, and
orange hues and his costume creations
for the girls of Lye us — prostitutes — and
Gloriosus' soldier garb.
Review
"Forum" is playing at "Roger Rocka's,"
in Fresno's Tower District. Show tickets
range from $9 to a top price of $11.50 for
Saturday performances. "Forum" runs
Wednesday through Sunday.
Some financially-strapped students
may question the value they receive for
their dollar with the seemingly high ticket
prices. "Forum" is well worth the price of
admission. But audiences are also treated
to a pre-show by the junior company, a
group of youngsters aged 9-16. as well.
The 25 minute pre-show alone may
very well be worth the $9 ticket price. The
talent of these 20 kids who sing and dance
GCP celebrate tenth anniversary
The Good Company Players
(GCP). celebrated its tenth anni
versary last week by producing the
show which opened the 1973 season.
"A Funny Thing Happened on the
Way to the Forum,"
Things have certainly improved for
GCP. over the past ten years.
They moved out of the Fresno Hil
ton Hotel, where its first three sea¬
sons were staged into other numer
ous facilities before settling into
Roger Rocka's in 1978.
Rocka's is a dinner theatre com-
p PX
>rmg p
s the
of
enjoying a before show meal c
come later and watch only the show.
G.C.P. has also developed a Jun¬
ior Company comprised of children
9 16, who present a musical pre show
at Rocka's.
Last summer, G.C.P. opened its
Second Space Theatre, and intimate,
smaller arena complex that offers
comedies, dramas and musicals.
Roger Rocka's and the Second
Space Theatre are located in the
Tower District.
THE BULLDOG ARMY ROTC PROGRAM
CHALLENGING, REWARDING, EXCITING!
OTC
Da3y CoBegian
January 28,1«3   f
Music
From the first cut on Carlene Carter's
new album, the stepdaughter of country
music legend Johnny Cash proves that
there's plenty of musical talent to go
around in the Carter-Cash clan.
On "Blue Nun," Carter comes through
with the most complete musical effort of
any of her three albums. With husband
Nick Lowe and pals Martin Belmont, Billy
Review
Bremner, Paul Carrack and Glenn Til-
brook of Squeeze helping out, it's no
"Blue Nun" opens with the old Motown
r hesnut "Oh How Happy," transforming
Edwin Starr's soulful romp into a delight¬
ful country-tinged duet between Carter
ind Carrack, who scored a few months
ago on his own with another Mowtown-
sound alike "I Need You."
From there it.only gets better.
"300 Pound of Hongry," "Tougher
Stuff and "Rockababy"are the highlights
nf the rest of side one as Carter shows
why she is one of the few female singers
around these days that sound convincing
ringing both rock 'n roll and country.
Belmont and Bremner. both veterans
□I numerous English bands including
Rockpile, Brinsley Schwartz and Graham
Carter cashes in on 'Blue Nun';
Jack Mack blends rock^n'soul
Parker and the Rumout, trade off lead
guitar licks with ease, making for pleasant
listening. Add to thaJtJPaul Carrack's soul¬
ful crooning and soothing keyboard work
and Glenn TilbjOok's background vocals
and the music is a fine blend of British and
American Pop.
Side two opens with "When You
Comin' Back" and "Me and My 38," a pair
of steady rockers gauranteed to make
just about everyone get up and dance.
Carter, Lowe and Carrack wrote most
of the songs on "Blue Nun." Although
none of the songs on the album are heavy
to listen to the m
trying to figure out what the songwriter
was trying to say. . .
"Blue Nun" is available only as an
import album as on now, but for Carlene
Carter fans, it would be well worth it to dig
around for this record. On a scale of one
to ten, I'd give "Blue Nun" a solid 8.
Cariane Carter's 'Blus Nun' (left) and Jack Mack's 'Cardiac Party' (right), two
great new musical picks.
Reedley Parks and Recreation sponsors ski trip
The Reedley Parks and Re
Department is sponsoring a day trip to
Sierra Summit for down hill skiing. We will
leave from the Reedley Commuinity Cen-
:er on Saturday, January 29,1983 at 6:00
a m. and return the same day at 6:00 p.m.
The cost is $25.00 for adults and $19.00
Personals
Continued from page 3
Shalom Ya'alll
Why don't you drop on by the next
Hiilel meeting? The Jewish Student
Organization will meet in CU 308 Wed¬
nesday at 6:30 (Groundhog's Day —
February 2nd).
I 'hope the weekends will at least
redeem the long weeks. Believe it or not
i do think of you even al work.
Ronald
lor children 12 and under. Transporta
and lift ticket are included in the cost.
This trip is for youl Whether you are a
beginning or advanced skier, Lessons are
available, at additional cost, from  the
Sierra. Summitt, at a cost of $10.00 for
adults and $8.00 for children.
Register now at the Reedley Commun¬
ity Center, 100 North East Avenue. Regis-
Wednesday, January 26,
white soul band si th* world." I wouldn't
go quite that tori, S« these guys do come
off like a SouthskW Johnny and the
Asbury Jukes meets The Fabulous
Thunderbrrds.
Jack Mack and his Heart Attack are
welt known in Los Angeles for their blaz¬
ing live shows, which Mend vintage mem-
phis soul c lassie* with their own composi¬
tions to form an infectious and very
danceable style of rock V soul.
One of the biggest groups around (the
band boasts 10 members), Jack Mack
and the Heart Attack is captured on vinyl
for the first time on "Cardiac Party." And
although this doesn't match up to their
fine live shows, "Cardiac Party" is stiB
worth listening to.
With the five-piece Heart Attack Horns ,
leading the way, the band grooves its way
through 10 songs which are primarily a
Southern California version of Southside
Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. There's
nothing WTong with that, especially since
Southside and his band haven't released
an album since 1981.
The highlights of "Cardiac Parry" are
the upbeat numbers, including the" title
track, "Hooray for the City" and "Don't
Need No Reason." In all three tunes, the
Heart Attack Horns lead the way with
vaguely familiar riffs. But the horn section
is not the only appealing area of the band
by any means. Lead singer Max Gron-
enthal wails and screams, keyboardist
John Parublo lays down some sizzling
riffs of his own on the title track and the
rhythm section of drummer Jack Mack
(a.k.a. Claude Pepper) and bassist Scott
Chambers keep a steady beat.
Jack Mack and the Heart Attack don't
break any new ground musically on
"Cardiac Party," but these guys play
some of the best rock 'n' soul around
these days. "Cardiac Party" deserves a'T
just for the spirit of reckless abandon one
can feel while listening to this album.    |
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