The Lumbrr|i(k Thursday. Notemhcr 20. 1996 Pair II

g : I 1? ENTERTAINMENT w r Seinfeld puts C h a m b e rm usical production Ardrey crowd ‘P h i l e m o n’ opens this week in stitch es by Lori Myrland entertainment editor “ Philemon,” a chamber musical set in the Roman city of Antioch in 287 A.D., opened last night and will play at 8 p.m. tonight through Sunday in the Creative Arts Theater. The words for the play were writ­ ten by Tom Jones and the music was composed by Harvey Schmidt, authors of “The Fantasticks.” The hero of the two-act play is Cockian, a cheap street clown try­ ing to stay out of trouble. He is Comedian Jerry Seinfeld enter­ forced to impersonate Philemon, a tained a crowd of about 1,040 in leader and hero of the suppressed Ardrey Auditorium Saturday Christian followers, in order to get Richard Long, Timm Rogers and Thad Brenncmnn will be performing night. He did his well-known out of Rome and get back to in'Philem on," the second play of the \A L ’ theater's 1986-87 season. routines on subjects such as socks Greece. “Philemon” is a chamber musical set in 287 A.D. in the city of Antioch. that escape from the dryer, cotton The hope is that he will uncover Timm Rogers is a freshman 4. balls, childhood Halloween ex­ and report internal subversion. theater major from Phoenix, and The theater department’s first periences, being engaged and dogs He agrees to help the Romans in has the role of Servillus, the com­ offering, “ Brighton Beach driving cars. stamping out Christianity, but in­ mander’s assistant. Andos, a Memoirs,” was also entered in the He even took requests from the stead ends up drawn into the move­ youns man in jail with Philemon, is competition, but was judged here audience, which seemed to be ment to promote it, eventuallly be­ played by Tom Ratke, also a at NAU. If a school’s plays do well familiar with his material from ing looked upon as a saint. freshman theater major from at the regional tournament, they numerous appearances on “ The Music for the play will be done Phoenix. are eligible to go on to a semi-final Tonight Show1' and “ Late Night by a trio including two pianos and Senior telecommunication and and finally are invited to perform with David Letterman.” a synthesizer. theater major Robin Bianchi, from at the John F. Kennedy Center in Seinfeld did a 90-minute show, Clifford White of the Theater Phoenix, portrays Marsyas, the Washington, D.C. and was brought to campus by Department is the director. Junior ghost of Cockian’s wife. Jac­ Tickets for the performances are SUN Entertainment. Coordinator Richard Lorig, a theater major queline Masei, a freshman theater $3 for adults and $2 for all Tom Byrne said he was pleased from Mesa, portrays Cockian. major from Phoenix, plays the wife students, children and senior with the response. Freshman Laura Coxon, a of a murdered Christian leader. citizens. They can be purchased at “ I think this gives us a pretty theater major from Tucson, plays “Philemon” is NAU’s entry in the Central Ticket Office in the J. good indication that comedy is Kiki, Cockian’s unwilling partner. the 19th Annual American College Lawrence Walk up Skydome or at something that people would like Commander Marcus Gallerius is Theater Festival scheduled for Dec. the ticket window in Ardrey after 7 to see more of here,” Byrne said. portrayed by junior theater major 2-7 at Eastern Arizona College in p.m. the nights of the □hotcsby Kevin t_>ar Thad Breneman. Thatcher. It will be performed Dec. performances. A t 69, ‘The Hook’ can still crank out the blues by Billy Miller Squad). Tommy Dukes was a bit more receptive than a girl who looked like she’d just been tending bar. She ed “ Crawling King Snake Blues.” It was spooky. journalism student Johnny Lee, but I’m getting to that. played Billie Holiday for a while, and she was pretty I got close to the stage and saw the Hook just before Anyway, from what I understand, Tommy Dukes is good, but the crowd wasn’t going for it. They wanted his happy encore. Unfortunately, you could tell that “ The way you walk that walk, a musician from Winslow who set up this band just for Johnny Lee. he’d been at this a long, long time. The years have ob­ the way you talk that talk.” the Hooker show. Dukrt-and the lead guitar player of I wondered if he was receiving oxygen backstage. viously taken their toll on him, but it didn’t shOfo -Johnny Lee Hooker his band play every Monday at Charly’s, a local water­ The sax player was having technical difficulties with onstage. Up there, he lives up to his legend. ing hole. For some reason, Tommy suggested that I his microphone and he was none too happy about it. But back on planet Earth, Johnnv I ee wasn’t as * * The hotel and restaurant next to the Museum Club should " ... get out of the college and roam around a But the crew got it squared away just in time for “ the friendly as I’d hoped. His press mar wouldn’t okay an ’ boasts steak and eggs, 24 hours a day. bit.’* Unfortunately, it’s a little hard to take advice Boogie Man” to come out. interview' for me. He told me he would >et up a phone Now picture a poor, broken down Joe sitting in that from a guy wearing a buckskin vest. Johnny Lee Hooker took the stage to a quite decent interview the next day, but he later declined that, too. . restaurant with a cup of java. He’s thinking about his The Dukes band pulled off a righteous set audience response. I imagined him sitting in a chair for I talked with Hooker’s bass player. Gene Siegel, baby; the one that done him wrong. highlighted by, “ If you love me like you say, then why the whole concert and he didn't disappoint me. The who explained that at 69 years old. Hooker is probably . Scenes like that are what the blues are all about, so it you treat me like you do?” (Don’t you love blues Hook plopped down in a chair, set his shades in place a little bored with the trappings of fame. I understand seemed only right that Johnny Lee Hooker, elder philosophy?) But even they knew what we were all and commenced with his own style of premeditated that he’s got better things to do, but I had hoped he’d ' statesman of the blues, should play the Museum Club waiting for — “ the Hook.” badness. be a little more personable. Oh well, maybe someday ; last Wednesday. Pensive moments passed as the crowd waited, and Don’t let Johnny’s age (69) fool you. He knows his I’ll get to meet Carolyn Warner. Ha, ha. . I was supposed to interview Johnny Lee before the waited, and waited some more. 1 listened to two girls way around the Gibson block, and he produced some But at least I walked away from a great concert with ] show, but ... well. I’ll get to that later. almost get in a fight right behind me. Tommy Dukes three-chord carnage to prove it. a better understanding of the blues. * * When 1 arrived at the show, the Tommy Dukes introduced me to a large person named Marvin. Hooker’s set was definitely at a slower pace than First, I found out it’s interracial, no. it transcends ■ Blues Band was already in progress. I kept trying to Marvin vaguely resembled boxing great George Dukes’, but then again it had an entirely different feel race into a mishmash of dance and sorrow. The band ■ think of a way to describe their show. The room was Foreman. An amiable guy named John tried to explain to it. It was a cave crawl all the way. The beat was members were of all ethnic backgrounds, but that - filled with the whir and buzz of my thought train, the finer points of Edward Abbey novels to me. A slow, the guitar was harsh and the lyrics were aimed don’t make no never mind. They weie all unified in the ; when suddenly it came to me. A veritable metaphor drunken slob, who had to have been a television straight for the libido. Let me give you a little sample: fact that somewhere someone pulled a nasty on them. * * for blues bar bands of the ’80s — chili-romp. This is the repairman, wobbled in front of me and clapped at the “ I’m a king snake, I’m gonna crawl on top of your I also noticed that the audience can really relate to ! kind of music that makes you think of bowling alleys. tape playing over the loudspeakers. This pillar of in­ floor. I’m gonna wrap myself around your pretty little the blues. People in the audience (despite their blood \ It makes you think of having steak and eggs at 3 a.m. ebriation was wearing a tie-dyed shirt and he badly body, baby. I’m gonna keep crawling ’til the da> I alcohol levels) were screaming out Hooker’s name as if * * in a roadside greasey spoon. Rhythm and blues needed to pull his sooty Levi’s up So he managed to die.” they were his best pals in the world. It seemed that the ; reminds you of a big set of steer horns on the grill of commit two serious crimes against humanity in one I get the impression that chicks really dig Johnny audience had the attitude, “ Johnnv, I know what > an old Cadillac El Dorado, and a package of shot. Lee. Instead of a chair, they should’ve given him a you’re saying. It’s happened to me I can relate to * * Marlboros rolled up in a t-shirt sleeve. It reminds you Things were turning ugly. Would Johnny Lee really perch. He’s the kind of jungle cat that could eye you what you’re saying.” When Johnny got rolling, sud­ not to leave your best girl home on a Saturday night. show up? Would he be wearing polyester? Will Alan from that perch, knowing full well he could eat you, denly phrases like “ Ooooh, baby” and “ Right on” * * Do you get the picture or do I have to elaborate a Thicke return to television? should he so desire. But he doesn’t. didn’t sound as silly as they do in everyday speech. ; little? None of my questions were answered, but the Coast It took them a while to get rolling, but once they 1 found that blues is sorrow and sorrow is an emo­ Needless to say. Tommy Dukes’ show was a blue to Coast Blues Band took the stage minus the Hook. did, Johnny Lee and his band put on an excellent tion everybody claims to have a patent on. suede sock hop. But they immediately proceeded to rip up the tiles. A show. So not only was I treated to a fine concert, but I also After their set, I talked with Tommy a bit. But I guy in an Indiana Jones fedora played some really de­ It was half attitude and half musical know-how, and received a crash course in Blues 101. I don’t want to didn’t bring up the fact that he resembled Clarence cent acoustical slide guitar. The band tore through a the combination really cooked. “ Boogie Chillen” was say I’m a soul man now, but ... have I ever shown you Williams III (the guy who played Link on the Mod couple of tunes, but still no Hooker. They brought out great, but the real show stopper was the aforemention­ my fur pajamas? Chaka Khan rocks with fans ‘Messiah’ Starting Nov. 21, Flagstaff area S. Plaza W ay: ‘‘C rocodile theaters will be showing the follow­ Dundee,” starring Paul Hogan and at Phoenix’s Celebrity Theater Christmas show rated PG-13, “ Soul Man,” starring ing movies: by V icente R. Pacheco ______something which deserved ap­ Nobody” had the audience dancing C. Thomas Howell and Rae Dawn plause, if not a party. news reporter and singing along. It still amazes scheduled Dec. 1 Chong, and rated PG-13, Meanw'hile, back at the ranch ... me how good a bunch of people A Christmas concert featuring • Prochflow Auditorium, on cam­ “ Firewalker.” starring Chuck Nor­ “ Chaka Khan. Chaka Khan. Chaka Khan opened her show can sound when everyone sings off- the University Svmphony Or­ pus: “ About Last Night,” starring ris and Lou Gossett Jr. and rated Chaka Khan, let me rock you, let with “ This is My Night,” which key. It’s just a modern miracle. R, and “ Peggy Sue Got Married.” me rock you Chaka Khan. Let me chestra and the Oratorio Choir will Rob Lowe and Demi Moore, seemed appropriate enough. Although she isn’t riding high on rock you — it’s all 1 wanna do ...” be presented at 7 p.m., Dec. I in tonight and tomorrow night. starring Kathleen Turner and rated Known mainly for funky dance the charts right now, Chaka Khan “ Running Scared,” starring Billy PG-13. Starting Nov. 26, “ Star Yes, it’s that infamous rap from songs and slow ballads, she played Ardrey Auditorium. played to the audience all the way Crystal and Gregory Hines, Nov. Trek IV: The V oyage Home ” For “ I Feel for You,” a song that came to a full house for slightly more through the show by dancing in the Vivaldi’s “ Gloria” and Handel’s show times, call 774-4433. blasting from every radio speaker than an hour. 22 and 23. All screenings are at 7 aisles or sitting on men’s laps and “ Messiah” will be performed. • Greentree Village Theater. 1800 in the world until every living per­ and 9:30 p.m. She concentrated mainly on singing. Her band was nearly Tickets are S3 for adults and Si Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen S. Milton Rd.: “ The Color of son was sick of it and threatened to material from the albums / Feel for flawless, recreating or improvising for students and children. Family Ave.: “ Karate Kid II,” starring Money” starring Paul Newman commit suicide if they heard it You and Destiny, but also included the sound of the original studio tickets are $8, and they admit Ralph Macchio and rated PG, and and Tom Cruise, “ Children of a again. songs from her days with Rufus, version. parents and all the children in each “ Aliens.” starring Sigourney Lesser God,* starring William Maybe I’m exaggerating a little. and sang one of the strangest inter­ family They may be purchased at Weaver and rated R. For show Hurt and “Tai-pan.” * starring But that’s not the point. pretations of the Beatles’ “ We Can I was impressed. the Flagstaff Chamber of Com­ times, call 774-7823. Bryan Brown. All films are rated Chaka Khan has a new album Work It Out” I’ve ever heard. Not only did 1 see a good, fast­ merce, the NAU Bookstore or at • Flag-East Theater, 2009 N. 4th R. For show times, call 779-3202. out. Destiny, and she’s touring the Upbeat tunes such as “ Tell Me paced concert, but I was even able the door. Tickets will be for general St.: “ Ai» American Tail.” an • Flagstaff Mall Cinemas, 4650 N. universe to promote it. Something Good” and “ I Feel for to find my car after the show. Con­ admission seating. animated film produced by Steven Highway 89: “ Streets of Gold,” Well, at least she was in Phoenix You” were generally received bet­ sidering the Celebrity Theater is a Spielburg and rated G, and starring Klaus Maria Brandauer Nov. 14 at Celebrity Theater. ter than some of the slower songs. round building, I was feeling pretty The audience will be invited to “ Wraith,” rated PG-13. For show and rated R, and the Disney classic Opening the show was a come­ Sure, the ballads were nice, and lucky. sing along during the performance. times, call 774-6992. “ Song of the South," rated G. For dian named Michael Floorwax, songs like “ Through the Fire” and Okay, I’ll admit it. I was not The lobby will open at 6 p.m., • University Plaza Theater, 1300 show times, call 779-3202. who was just about as entertaining “ Tight Fit” (her latest single) meant to drive. with seating starting at 6:30, when as his name. Actually, his name sound just as good as anything else, But that’s not the point. ihe Northern Arizona Slide Society was probably the funniest thing but they couldn’t match the energy Celebrity Theater will host will perform Christmas tunes in the about him. So call me stupid, but I level of songs with a beat. Cameo, Jesse Johnson and the lobby. In the Nov. 13 edition of The Lumberjack. the entertainment pages in­ always thought comedians got paid “ It’s got a good beat and you Boogie Boys Nov. 26 and Jeffrey correctly identified a dance company formed by two NAU instructors. Proceeds from the show will go for making people laugh. an dance to it -- I’ll give it a 95.” Osborne appears there Nov. 30. to the Music Scholarship Fund. Shawn Bensey and Carolyn Mayfield have formed a company called To be truthful, 1 did give him Her encore, which seemed like it Maybe that’s the point ... Intimate Flight,” not “ Clay feat hers” as reported. “ Clayfeathers” was For more information, contact some polite applause. I was just can}? too soon, was a song she did Maybe I’ve had too much sugar Kurt Weinzinger a! 523-3815. .the original name for the business, but was changed. We regret khe error glad he was leaving, and that was with Rufus a few years ago. “ Ain’t today.