ENTERTAINMENTpage 17 Technique • Friday, November 16, 2007 • 17 LOSING THE TOUCH CONCRETE JUNGLE Tech’s basketball team lost their home A UGA professor, Dr. Jack Crowley, ENTERTAINMENT opener for the fi rst time since 1980 to lectured at Tech on implementing UNC Greensboro. Page 28 sustainable infrastructure. Page 11 Technique • Friday, November 16, 2007 Hansel and Gretel fl ourishes By Daniel Griffi n monotonously along. With the addition of Staff Writer Humperdinck chose to compose his libretto puppetry, the At- in Sprechgesang, a vocal technique straddling lanta Opera presents When thinking of opera, the name Engelbert singing and speaking, and it quickly becomes Humperdinck’s classic Humperdinck is probably not the fi rst composer to obvious that this was a huge mistake. While Hansel and Gretel. spring to mind, and this would be with adequate perhaps working better in his native language cause, as the 19th century German composer had of German, though doubtful, translated into only one particularly popular opera, Hansel and English, the vocals sound jagged and humdrum. Gretel, adapted from the well-known Brothers Humperdinck’s idea was to combine traditional Grimm tale. Th e Atlanta Opera now brings this opera with a heavy dose of German folk, but opera to the stage, adding a new twist to the classic unfortunately, it fails at both. Th e composition that showcases one of Atlanta’s burgeoning art is lackluster, in every way contrasted to Wagner’s forms: puppetry. transcendental movements, and the folk is defi - With Germany’s long tradition of puppetry, cient in the bravado and bombast for which the this interesting addition to the opera never seems Germans are known. that foreign. And with the choice to hire a young Th e vocals hover around the same range, not director, Basil Twist, steeped in a rich puppetry impressing in many respects at all. Th ough, the background, it’s obvious the Atlanta Opera was performers can hardly be blamed, as the composer looking for this type of reinvention. created a piece where the vocals are overshadowed Indeed, the puppetry takes center stage in by nearly everything, including a thoroughly this opera, sometimes even overshadowing the mediocre orchestra composition. vocals as well as the orchestra. Seemingly slight However, a few of the songs are striking, es- and minor animal puppets in the background pecially a prayer sung as a duet between Hansel often steal the stage, as a cat, moved by two black- and Gretel just before the fi rst act ends. Th eir gloved hands, dances merrily in the window sill voices are pitch-perfect, harmonizing with a or a strange vulture-like scavenger, suspended by soprano and mezzo-soprano that rise into the strings, swoops continuously overhead. shifting night like the angels that hover above Humperdinck, while apprenticed under their prone fi gures. Richard Wagner for a time, is simply no Wag- In addition, the puppetry is truly mesmerizing. ner. His composition lacks the cohesiveness Of particular magnifi cence was the movement and structure of Wagner’s, while the vocals and orchestra often mesh poorly and meander See Hansel, page 19 Photo by Michael Skinner/STUDENT PUBLICATIONS Devil reveals dark drama Classic talent OUR TAKE: the surrounding events and family relationships returns to awe that set Devil apart from the rest. Morrissey, CITY SCENE By Daniel Spiller Th e story was written by fi rst-time screenwriter former lead Contributing Writer Kelly Masterson. Th e fact that this is her fi rst singer of the Medieval Times screenplay is almost shocking considering how now broken- Until about a week ago, I had never seen any intricate and detailed everything is. Also, now up British On Friday, Nov. 23, Medieval of Sidney Lumet’s fi lms. After reading that state- that we’ve reached Oscar season, I defi nitely would rock band Times Dinner & Tournament ment, most fi lm buff s have probably completely not count her out for a Best Original Screenplay The Smiths, will host a Georgia vs. Georgia disregarded all of my opinions about fi lm in the nomination. wowed Tech themed performance in past and will continue disregarding from here Th e story is not only good in the plot itself, but crowds at honor of the annual Tech-UGA on out. But I promise I’m trying to atone for my also in the way it is told. Th is is largely attributable Atlanta’s game on Nov. 24. Th e show will irrefutable lapse in judgment. to both Masterson’s story as well as Lumet’s direct- Tabernacle feature a yellow knight pitted Sidney Lumet is responsible for some enormous ing. Th e plot is not chronological in its telling of Nov. 12. against a red knight as part of titles from the past, including 12 Angry Men, Ser- events, but instead takes a nonlinear path to create Image Courtesy of BBC a “football-themed dinner and pico, Dog Day Afternoon, and Network. Th e movie I maximum suspense. Lumet pieces the parts together show. happened to see last week using transitions that By Hanjie Song was Dog Day Afternoon, initially feel jarring Contributing Writer and that movie happens and out of place, but Variety Tech and to deserve all the praise grow to become im- As a full-fl edged believer in the cult of Th e it receives. portant and unique Smiths, seeing the lead singer Morrissey live Let’s Try This! Well it just so happens to the movie. is nothing short of a religious enlightenment. that Mr. Lumet recently Lumet does a great Fortunately, the ex-front man of the British rock DramaTech’s next perfor- completed another fi lm job at keeping the landmark was able to grace Atlanta last Monday mance will be a double feature called Before the Devil story in its own tight, at the Tabernacle. show consisting of Variety Tech, Knows You’re Dead, and little world. Th e focus Along with guitarist Johnny Marr, Morrissey a musical review, and Let’s Try after seeing it along with stays only on the formed the musical group Th e Smiths in the English Th is!, an improv troupe. Th e Dog Day Afternoon, I am characters that are city of Manchester. Joined by drummer Mike Joyce show will run from Nov. 29 to completely onboard with pivotal to the progres- and Andy Rourke, the reign of Th e Smiths lasted Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. in the Drama why people appreciate sion of the plot. Th is from ‘82 to ‘87; however, its legacy did not stop Tech theatre. Student tickets Sidney Lumet. Image courtesy of Linsefi lm limitation on char- after the bitter break up. Often hailed as the most are $5. Brothers Andy (Phillip Director Sidney Lumet releases new hit acters creates a sense infl uential indie rock band of the ‘80s, Th e Smiths Seymour Hoff man) and based on Kelly Masterson’s original screeplay. of claustrophobia have cast shadows over a considerable number of Hank (Ethan Hawke) are and urgency, causing artists ranging from Radiohead to Andre 3000. Hands On Atl. hard workers, but due to circumstances in their tension to escalate throughout the fi lm. Since the break up of Th e Smiths, the lead singer’s personal lives, both are becoming desperate for As far as the acting goes, Phillip Seymour solo career is far from disappointing; Morrissey Benefi t Concert money. Th e plan to get out of trouble is simple; Hoff man and Ethan Hawke are excellent in the materialized eight albums with the last one being Andy convinces Hank to join him in a scheme two main roles. Both actors have to emotionally released last year. On Nov. 25 Patti Labelle to rob a small suburban jewelry store owned by run the gamut for their parts, and they end up Morrissey’s visit to Atlanta on Nov. 12 was not and John Legend will perform an old couple. But then everything goes wrong. demonstrating how versatile they really are. Other his fi rst one in recent times; the vocalist was also at Philips Arena for the Hands Terribly, terribly wrong. notable performances are Albert Finney as the invited to play in Chastain Park in July. His earlier On Atlanta Community Benefi t But that doesn’t sound very unique, does it? Th en vigilante father of Andy and Hank, and Marisa performance brought much negative reaction from Concert. Th e concert will also why am I singing Lumet’s praises? It is diffi cult Tomei as Andy’s wife, Gina. his fan base due to the venue. Season ticket holders feature the winners of Hands On to talk about the plot of Devil without giving too It looks like Lumet has another winner on his appeared to have a much more heavily invested Atlanta’s youth talent competi- much away or detracting from the suspense. As hands. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead isn’t one interest in their food, wine and conversations than tion. Tickets are now available you can see, the basic plot of “jewelry/bank heist of the biggest movies of the year, and it’s not meant from $50 to $500. gone wrong” has been done a million times, but it’s to be. It is, however, probably one of the best. See Morris, page 21 18 • Friday, November 16, 2007 • Technique ENTERTAINMENT Squidbillies creates strangely amusing world By Evan Zasoski the wrong impression about what fairness, there is a certain charm to it, Th e big question, though, is “is and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Senior Staff Writer happens in any given quarter-hour and the look is defi nitely intentional.