PAGE 14 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Torch - Friday, April 27,2001 anti rom By Chris Stuart EuriPides' familiarity is first introduced to the woman who inspires terror" and A o >- r- classic audience, making the play seem filled with "utter loathing." Even in A&E EDITOR tragedy, fresh and new, despite being over the midst of her grief, she plots out "Medea" is perhaps the most heart- 2,500 years old. her revenge to punish Jason, even breaking story of betrayal and jeal- The comfort and familiarity is though she believes the horrible ousy written in the past 3,000 years. quickly and effectively destroyed, revenge to hurt her more than him. The title character, a jilted lover who however. "Medea" is a wonderfully Copenhaver is assisted by a goes to horrific means to get revenge uncomfortable play to watch. strong supporting cast. Especially on her ex-husband, presents a vicious Starting with the haunting and dis- deserving of note are Charles question to the audience: how do we turbing sound of a child's laughter, Andrews, who plays Jason, and the sympathize with a tragic hero who is and continuing to the haunting cli- seven women who make up the willing to destroy what she loves the max of the play, in which Medea Chorus. Andrews fills Jason with the most to get at the person she hates kills her children as an act of revenge proper mix of sneering condescen- the most? against Jason, her husband who left sion and vanity, which serves to put The final mainstage production her for a younger princess, the audi- the audience on Medea's side until of the year brings this ancient char- ence is left uneasy. she gets her revenge. acter to life in what amounts to a fine This is largely due to star The Chorus, representing a col- ending to an exceptionally strong Jennifer Copenhaver, who manages lection of Medea's friends and confi- year of theater. to capture the essence of Medea on dantes, provide some of the most Using a new translation of stage. She is at both times an emo- emotionally powerful scenes, Euripides' "Medea" from VU associ- tionally broken woman, and a imploring Medea in vain to abandon ate Nicholas Rudall, director John woman consumed by pride, jealousy her revenge, even while they agree Steven Paul and assistant director and revenge. She can't stand the idea with her need for justice. Zachary Davis manage to bring out that her enemies might triumph over "Medea" is not for the weak of the timelessness of the quintessential her and go unpunished. heart; it remains a powerful and won- revenge story. By placing the story Medea is one of the strongest derful theatrical punch to the gut. SUZANNE BOHUS in Chicago after the end of World female characters in theater, a clear "Medea" runs through May 6 Medea, played by Jennifer Copenhaver, comforts her two sons, War II, a certain level of comfort and precursor to Lady Macbeth, "a on the VUCA mainstage. played by Mark Blane and Matt Edwards. -The Week in Rock- Creed frontman assaults heckler M« 44 ► M* in bathroom • It By Drew Wolf Scott Stapp, band earlier this year, Metallica is in San STAFF WRITER lead singer of Francisco working with producer Bob Creed, got into a Rock on a new album. The record is still fight back on April 15 with details begin- untitled and will not be out until late ning to emerge. An individual 2001 or early 2002. approached Stapp in a bathroom telling •New singles from Weezer, R.E.M. him that he sounded too much like Eddie and Lifehouse have begun working their Vedder of Pearl Jam. Stapp took excep- respective ways up the rock charts. 1. American Hi Fi - "Flavor of the Weak" tion to the comment and, before long, the Weezer's new single "Hash Pipe" 2. Sum 41 - "Fat Lip" verbal harassment turned to fisticuffs. debuted on more than 50 radio stations Stapp reportedly punched the man in the in the past week, and R.E.M.'s hit 3. Alien Ant Farm - Anthology face before the encounter was broken up. "Imitation of Life" isn't far behind. 4. Dave Matthews Band - Everyday No arrests have been made thus far. Lifehouse have selected the track "Sick 5. Toadies - Hell Below Stars Above •Another rocker in trouble with the Cycle Carousel" from their album "No 6. Oleander - Unwind law is Peter Buck. The R.E.M. guitarist Name Face" to follow up the huge allegedly assaulted members of a British smash hit "Hanging By A Moment." 7. Outkast - Stankonia Airways flight. Authorities arrested Buck •The Federal Trade Commission 8. They Might Be Giants - 2001 Radio Sampler #1 at Heathrow Airport in London once the (FTC) is none to pleased with record 9. Staind - "It's Been Awhile" plane landed. He has a court date June 18 labels marketing explicit content to chil- 10. Joe-"Stutter" and already has had to pay more than dren. The FTC cited Blink 182, Crazy $43,000 in bail money. Town, and Rage Against the Machine as 11. Josh Holmes Band - 364 Days •The movie "American Pie" was a bands who have advertised "explicit con- 12. Outer Vibe - Outer Vibe big hit from two summer's agot and its tent music" to those under the age of 18. 13. Savatage - Poets and Madmen soundtrack spawned "You Wanted More" Former vice-presidential candidate from Tonic that became a huge hit. Joseph Lieberman introduced legislation 14. Masquerade - Flux American Pie 2 looks to have another earlier this week that will give the FTC 15. Monkey Cocktail - Twisted stacked soundtrack. Oleander, Alien Ant the ability "to punish record labels, 16. Snoop Dogg - "Lay Low" Farm, American Hi-Fi, and 3 Doors movie studios, video game manufactur- 17. Daft Punk - Discovery Down all will have tracks on the album. ers for advertising explicit content to 3 Doors Down will lend "Be Like That" kids." 18. DJ Clue - Professional 2 to the soundtrack, but it is a different ver- •Heading home to Wisconsin (or 19. Semisonic - All About Chemistry sion from the song that appears on their Minnesota for that matter) this summer? 20. Mikalia - "So in Love with Two" album "The Better Life." X-Fest, a rock festival sponsored by 21. Dweezil Zappa - Automatic •New Stone Temple Pilots is on the Minneapolis radio station 93X, will take way. June 19 is the release date for what place from May 25-27 at the Float Rite 22. Run DMC - Crown Royal will no doubt be one of the biggest alter- Park Amphitheatre in Somerset, Wis. The 23. Powderfinger - Odyssey Number Five native rock releases of the year. impressive line up boasts Fuel, Staind, 24. Ludacris - "Southern Hospitality" "Shangri-La-Deeda," the name of the System of a Down, Buckcherry, Days of 25. Fear Factory - Digimortal new album, will be the band's first effort the New, Monster Magnet, Nickleback, since lead singer Scott Weiland was Tantric, Fear Factory, Spacehog, Cold 26. Josh Joplin Group - Useful Music released from jail stemming from drug and Stabbing Westward among others. 27. Old 97s - "King of All the World" problems. •Finally, American Hi-Fi's "Flavor 28. Saliva -"Sampler" •Speaking of new releases, of the Weak" is the brand new number one 29. Redman - "Let's Get Dirty" jMetallica has officially entered the stu- song on the WVUR Top 30. Sum 41 's "Fat dio. Despite not having a replacement for Lip" moved to number two and Alien Ant 30. Rae and Christian - Sleepwalking ex-bassist Jason Newsted who left the Farm is not far behind either band. .