Adorable
Annie
ACE
offers family show for holidays.
BY
SHARLEEN NELSON
Conceived in a time when the economy was
dismal and the country was short on optimism, a red-headed mop-top
won the hearts of millions in a comic strip that later spawned a
radio show, a Broadway theater musical, and several films. The little
orphan returns to the stage in Actors Cabaret's production of the
musical Annie, which follows the depression era rags to riches
story of a spunky orphan determined to find her parents.
 |
|
HELENE
MORSE AND KEVIN BOLING IN ANNIE.
|
The musical opens in New York City's run-down municipal
orphanage, where Annie dreams of finding the parents who left her
on the orphanage doorstep 11 years before. Overseen by Miss Hannigan,
a wretchedly embittered matron, the hard-luck girls in her care
are forced to mop and clean and eat cold mush. But Annie's life
takes an unexpected turn for the better when billionaire Oliver
Warbucks decides to take the little orphan in for the Christmas
holidays. The loveable youngster easily wraps the stoic businessman
and his staff of servants around her little finger.
In his effort to adopt her, and at the risk of losing
her, Warbucks launches a nationwide search for Annie's parents.
Meanwhile, Miss Hannigan, her loathsome brother, and his greedy
companion hatch an opportunistic scheme to nab the reward money.
But in happy ending fashion, their nefarious plans are foiled, Annie
offers then-president Franklin Delano Roosevelt renewed hope in
uncertain times, and gets adopted by "Daddy" Warbucks.
Director Joe Zingo has assembled a large and gifted
cast for this production beginning with Helene Morse in the title
role. Being the star is a hefty assignment, especially for a child,
but with her charm, solid timing and delivery, Morse makes it appear
easy. Despite a few difficult to reach high notes, Morse's pleasant
and natural singing voice is exceptional in "Maybe," and, of course,
in everyone's sing-along favorite "Tomorrow."
Last seen as the delightfully menacing Hyde in ACE's
fine production of Jekyll and Hyde, Kevin Boling shows his
versatility as billionaire Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks. Boling is a
commanding presence on stage and his strong singing voice resonates.
Likewise, Becky Croson-LaChapelle-Rubino provides a strong performance
as Miss Hannigan. With her frumpy attire and hair askew, Croson-LaChapelle-Rubino
sings "Little Girls" with campy flair. Shining in the role of Oliver
Warbuck's demure personal secretary Grace Farrell is the talented
Teryl Hawk, whose pleasing melodic voice is an asset to the show.
In equally dynamic supporting roles are Anthony
McCarthy as Rooster, Miss Hannigan's conniving brother and Jessica
Reynolds as Lily, Rooster's dingy gal-pal. Reynolds' over-the-top
tittering giggles are riotously funny. And Reynolds, McCarthy, and
Croson-LaChapelle-Rubino showcase their veritable comedic talents
when they share the stage in the delightfully amusing number "Easy
Street." Bruce McCarthy does a great job as the wheelchair-bound
FDR, as does Matt Bonham as the quirky radio announcer Bert Healey.
Musical director and accompanist Nicole Garibay
does a fine job of leading this cast. Of course, the musical wouldn't
be complete without the excellent chorus and those who play dual
roles as Warbucks' hired help and New York City's downtrodden. Rounding
out the cast is the cute-as-a-button gaggle of giggling girls—the
adorable orphans who sing and scrub their way into the audience's
hearts.
As one can expect on opening night, there were a
few flubbed lines, but as with nearly all Actors Cabaret productions,
the costumes are first-rate, capturing every detail of the depression
era. The fantastic revolving sets serve as useful tools for transporting
the audience back and forth between the streets of New York City,
the squalor of the orphanage, and the splendor of Oliver Warbuck's
living room; and the catchy songs stay in your head long after the
final curtain. Bring the kids—Annie is a feel-good
treat for the entire family.
Back to Top
Holiday
Readings
BY
LOIS WADSWORTH
Book Notes Nov. 27
- Dec. 27 2002: Daniel Quinn (Ishmael) reads from
his new metaphysical thriller, The Holy, at 7 pm on Dec.
4 at UO Bookstore. ...Portland wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
reads from his book on the World Wrestling Federation, In the
Pit With Piper, at 7 pm on Dec. 4 in Doc's Pad Sports Bar. ...
Poets Kim Addonizio and Dorianne Laux host a "Tattoo
Slam" celebrating the release of Dorothy Parker's Elbow by
Addonizio and Cheryl Dumesnil at 7 pm on Dec. 6 in Tsunami
Books. ...Seattle writer Matt Briggs, Karin Temple,
Michael Kroetch, Jean Esteve and Greg Chaimov
read at 5 pm on Dec. 7 in Tsunami Books from StringTown,
an annual magazine of creative writing. Eugene cover artist Roxy
Hills will exhibit her art. ...Authors and Artists Fair,
the final public event at the old Eugene Library, will feature 35
authors, 11 artists and eight musicians from 7-10 pm on Dec. 7.
This gala event is free, but a percentage of sales benefits the
Eugene Public Library Foundation. ...Local authors Carola Dunn
(mystery) and Nina Kiriki Hoffman (fantasy) will sign their
latest books from 2-4 pm on Dec. 8 in B. Dalton. ...Eugene writers
and teachers Bennett Huffman and Ken Zimmerman read
their poetry at 4 pm on Dec. 8 in Tsunami Books. ...Carola Dunn
reads from her latest holiday mystery, Mistletoe and Murder,
at 7 pm on Dec. 12 at Barnes & Noble. ...The UO School of Journalism
and Communication's new quarterly online magazine of literary nonfiction,
Etude, edited by Lauren Kessler, features writings
by past and present grad students in the literary nonfiction program
(http://etude.uoregon.edu)....Winners in the 2002 Oregon Writers
Colony writing contest include Patricia Mees Armstrong of
Eugene, who placed third in the fiction category for "The Fattest
Woman in Ireland." ...National Book Awards 2002 include Julia
Glass (fiction) for Three Junes; Robert A. Caro
(nonfiction) for Master of the Senate; Ruth Stone
(poetry) for In the Next Galaxy (Copper Canyon Press), and
Nancy Farmer (young people's literature) for The House
of the Scorpion.
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Lighter
Fare
Willamette
Rep season opens with Coward comedy.
BY
ARIA SELIGMANN
Noel Coward wrote Blithe Spirit in 1941
in five days and opened it in London after one week of rehearsal.
It ran for four years. Willamette Repertory Theatre, which received
Hult residency status this past summer, has been rehearsing the
show for four weeks and will open with a preview performance Wednesday,
Nov. 27 and commence its run on Nov. 29, the night after Thanksgiving.
 |
| MADAME
ARCATI (MARTI STEVENS BYERS) CHANNELS THE LATE WIFE OF CHARLES
(BILL HULINGS) IN BLITHE SPIRIT. |
Opening Thanksgiving weekend isn't ideal, and that's
where residency status comes in. Next year, WRT will get preferred
status in choosing its run dates. Still, the Coward comedy is perfect
family fare and should be able to get all those now-what-do-we-do-with-the-in-laws
people off their turkey-stuffed carcasses and out to laugh away
those pumpkin pie calories.
The typical Coward play is a comedy of manners,
with polite, high-brow, "Masterpiece Theatre" humor. Not this. Spirit
is more a comedy of errors, a spoof of the upper crust's trying
to remain stiff-upper-lipped and in control when everything spirals
into madcap mayhem.
The plot is simple: Charles Condomine (Bill Hulings),
a novelist, and his current wife, Ruth (Lyn Burg), have invited
friends to join them for drinks and dinner with a local clairvoyant,
Madame Arcati (Marti Stevens Byers). Charles is planning a novel
about a spiritualist and wants to observe the behavior of the medium
during a séance. As all are convinced that Madame Arcati is
a charlatan they are more than surprised when there are supernatural
manifestations — the table trembles, Madame Arcati falls into
a trance, and Charles hears the voice of his first wife, Elvira
(Susan Tate).
But only Charles can see and hear Elvira. Ruth gets
upset, and the rest, as they say, is comedy.
WRT Artistic Director Kirk Boyd chose Spirit
for balance. He began planning this year's season well over
a year ago, choosing To Kill A Mockingbird for the winter
show and then wanting lighter works on either side of it. He settled
on The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) for
spring, and then the Coward for the season opener.
"I was looking for a good piece to launch us. After
the world tragedy and everything, I wanted a season essentially
light," says Boyd.
The final piece to the programming puzzle fell into
place when he met Bill Hulings, who landed the role of Bobby Child
in OFAM's Crazy for You. Boyd adds, "I knew he could do Charles."
Next, he picked Hans Christofferson to direct. Christofferson
had directed WRT's Love Letters and The Miracle Worker.
"His work with pieces of the heart are the things he succeeds extremely
well at," says Boyd. "This one at its root is a love story and it's
a chance to have a little fun and not be so serious about it."
Christofferson, who also directed Uncle Vanya
and will direct the upcoming Nora for Lord Leebrick, says
this play marks a chance to "get his feet wet" directing comedy
again. The challenge, he says, is the "physicality of all of this."
Christofferson has brought with him some actors
he's used to working with including Susan Tate (Elvira) and Dan
Pegoda (Dr. Bradman) whom he directed in Vanya and Lyn Burg
(Ruth) and Sharon Sless (Mrs. Bradman) whom he worked with in Miracle
Worker. Christofferson says he enjoys the ensemble aspect of
working with a familiar company of actors. "You can get a lot more
work done when you know each other."
But it's also fun to meet new people. Marti Stevens
Byers, previously unknown to anyone involved with the show, appeared
at auditions and blew the roof off the place, according to Boyd.
Byers has performed the role of Madame Arcati before, and while
that can sometimes work against a director — the actor may
be too attached to the way she's always done it — it turned
out to be a positive, collaborative experience for the two. "It's
like working with a good architect," says Christofferson. "We were
both able to add ideas the other didn't have."
Bill Hulings also knows how to play it big, according
to Christofferson. As for Blithe Spirit's high comedy, Christofferson
says, "It's going to be so much fun."
Back to Top
On
the Run
Mini-reviews
of area dining spots.
BY MARINA TAYLOR
Yi Shen Vietnamese Restaurant
1075 Chambers St. 683-9386
Yi Shen does more take-out than eat in. The space
is a little sterile and bright, but friendly. A lovely picture of
a bowl of soup, Vietnamese Pho, welcomes you in through the store
into the dining area. The store deserves some mention, too: It's
well stocked and has good prices on Asian produce and frozen dinners.
If you want your dinner fresh, however, you've come
to the right place. This hole-in-the-wall has plenty of selection,
very reasonable prices, and really great vegetarian choices. The
vegetarian listings on the main menu are good, especially the Spicy
Tofu, but look at the specials list for lots of veggie choices too.
I suspect you could spend a lifetime just eating off the specials
menu, and call it a well-lived and complete life.
The Spicy Green Beans are poetry. The beans are
crunchy crisp and juicy, with a sweet and not too spicy sauce. They
come served over rice with tofu, chicken, pork or beef, and make
a filling meal. Also notable is the fried rice, which also comes
with a choice of tofu or meats, and lots of veggies. The flavor
is distinctive Vietnamese and very nice. On the less consistent
side, the fried spring rolls can either be light and crisp, or a
little mealy and soggy. Order them with caution, but order everything
else with full confidence.
11 am-7 pm SU-TU & TH, 11 am-8 pm F &
SA. $.
Keystone Café
West 5th at Lawrence St. 342-2075
Down-to-earth, healthy food in a low-key comfortable
atmosphere is what Keystone Café does best. On a cold morning
with a long day ahead, try the Vegan Powerhouse with nutritional
yeast gravy. It'll keep you going strong: It's packed full of potatoes,
spinach, onions, and tofu (or tempeh by request). Top it off with
the gravy and a giant oatmeal cookie and you may even have enough
power to change the world.
Another standard you can't go wrong with is the
Greek Tofu Scramble. The flavor and texture is just right, even
if you're not a big fan of tofu, and the spinach and tomatoes taste
bright and fresh. Try it with a smoothie — Keystone makes
nice creamy thick ones. Perhaps the ballot stuffers are right, this
might just be the best breakfast in town!
7 am-2 pm TU-TH, 7 am-3 pm F-M. $.
Ritta's Burritos and Dana's Cheesecake Bakery
Holiday Market at the Fairgrounds,
686-8885
Hooray! The Holiday Market has begun! Every kind
of beautiful handmade thing you could wish for, lovingly displayed
all around; sparkling lights and faux evergreen; folk music and
feral kids running amok through the crooked isles. Shopping like
this certainly is hungry work.
Luckily, in the heart of it all are the Saturday
Market food booths we've come to know and love. One perennial favorite
is Ritta's Burritos. Years of practice and love have let Ritta and
her crew perfect the burrito craft, and the market is the perfect
place for it. A former brief shopfront in Sweet Life Patisserie's
current spot wasn't as successful, but at the Market there's always
a line. You can get a regular for $4.50, deluxe for $5, or a small
version for less. Ritta's also offers punch cards, if you're a big
fan. Fill half the card, get a free drink, fill the whole card and
get a big fat burrito on the house.
Ritta's is not fast food: musician Danny Dolinger
got through two songs by the time my name was called and my burrito
was delivered. It was heaping full of a saucy salsa, sour cream,
avocados (which come on the deluxe version — always get them
if you can), sprouts and plenty of flavor. It satisfies on a deep
and primal level, and will run down your chin and even your elbows
without the proper precautions. If you order one, be sure to find
a table and some napkins. Sharing it with a kid, it took me nine
paper napkins to keep the mess in check.
Dessert at Dana's, located conveniently next door,
was quicker and cleaner. The cheesecake is classic. Creamy and smooth,
a layer of lighter cream on top, crumbly cookie crust below. The
crust is always light and crispy; I'm not sure how they do that.
The cheesecake is even available in eggnog flavor for the holidays.
Dana's also provides great coffee and even has a jar of metal forks
available (while they last) in addition to the plastic ones. The
slices of cake are always good and fresh as well.
10 am-6 pm SA & SU through Dec. 24. $.
$ — under $7, $$ —
$7 to $12, $$$ — $12 to $17, $$$$
— over $17
Morsels is a revolving feature that tries to capture
the atmosphere as well as the cuisine of some of our favorite places
to eat in and around Eugene, along with food news. Suggestions? Call
Ben or Marina at 484-0519 or e-mail marina@eugeneweekly.com
Back to Top
Patriotic
Gas Guzzling
Fuelish
behavior in the land of the Bush Mandate.
BY
JIM MOTAVALLI
Are you doing your patriotic duty? Did
you consume your fair share of gasoline today? That's the law, or
at least it seems that way in the era of the Bush Mandate. Drive
an economy car like the Toyota Echo and, as writer Alan Bisbort
puts it, "risk detention at the nearest homeland security compound,
for possible unpatriotic impulses and failure to emit enough pollution
in the grand American tradition."
Despite constantly evolving technology that could
turn today's cars into fuel misers, the average 2003 car gets only
20.8 miles per gallon, 6 percent below the pre-SUV high water
mark for American fuel economy in 1987 (22.1 mpg). As Technology
Review points out, the 2002 Chevy Blazer gets a miserable 18
mpg, two mpg less than its 1985 counterpart. But according to a
coalition of environmental groups, it would be economically and
technically feasible for automakers to meet a standard of more than
40 mpg by 2012 and 55 mpg by 2020, nearly a 75 percent increase
compared with today's fleet.
John DeCicco, a senior fellow at Environmental Defense,
thinks that SUVs could average 40 mpg (up from the current
dismal 21 mpg). Some two thirds of the savings could come from improving
the powertrain, and even more from reducing weight and rolling resistance
of these bricklike objects. The Sierra Club concurs, and is pushing
such fuel-saving technology as the gearless continuously variable
transmission (CVT). To achieve these savings would cost $1,000 to
$2,000 per car, but consumers would get their money back in five
years through savings at the gas pump.
The Ford Motor Company knows how to do it, and is
bringing out a 40-mpg version of its Escape SUV next year. Will
people buy it in quantity? It's hard to tell, but some 74 percent
of voters in industry-friendly Michigan favor increasing fuel economy
standards for cars, according to a recent poll.
 |
| THE
H2 HUMMER: WHO CARES ABOUT FUEL ECONOMY? |
The problem isn't just the car companies. Consumers
are making bad choices, and it's leading Detroit to stop caring
about fuel economy. One of the big best-sellers today is General
Motors' H2 Hummer. Here's owner Bill Kramer, quoted in the New
York Times: "If you can afford a [$50,000] H2 you're not going
to care if it gets 10 miles to the gallon." It actually gets nine
mpg, but who's counting? The Sierra Club is planning a campaign
against the Hummer, similar to its "Ford Valdez" campaign that helped
bring down Ford's mammoth Excursion.
Another problem is obfuscation. Industry and its
nonprofit supporters have mounted their own campaign, opposing any
changes to Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE), and consequently
it has remained frozen for more than 15 years.
The Competitive Enterprise Institute scares car
buyers by citing a National Academy of Sciences report claiming
that federal fuel economy standards contribute to the deaths of
1,300 to 2,600 people in traffic accidents each year. CAFE "simply
kills people," says CEI attorney Sam Kazman. But how many people
die because SUVs are on the road? No studies exist, but there's
ample evidence that SUVs are no safer than cars, when rollover risk
is factored in.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers scares
people too, by saying that "energy legislation would effectively
eliminate SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks." The American Iron and
Steel Institute says that "increasing CAFE would be counterproductive
in terms of energy savings and would interfere with market forces."
And the Heartland Institute adds that higher CAFE standards would
not result in less energy consumption but would simply prompt
people to travel more (italics added). We're in the land of
overt silliness here, but it's winning friends and influencing congressmen,
while we slowly choke and run out of gas.
Jim Motavalli is editor of E The Environmental
Magazine. Questions or comments? jimm@emagazine.com