FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2000
The CATS' meow
by Erin McCarty
staff writer
When Andrew Lloyd Webber first
picked up T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's
Book of Practical Cats as an adult,
he had no inkling of what degree of
success he would have by coupling
his musical compositions with Eliot's
poems. However, he took a gamble,
and selecting fourteen of Eliot's po
ems as a base, this man who virtually
invented the rock opera genre went
on to test the limits once more with
CATS, a show with an entirely feline
cast of characters.
The unconventional musical went
on to break the record set by A Cho
rus Line for the longest-running mu
sical on Broadway, and on Septem
ber 10th, it graced the stage for the
final time in its 18-year Broadway
The story of the band of "jellicle
cats," the desire of the outcast glam
our queen Grizabella to rejoin the
tribe, and the quest of their leader, Old
Deuteronomy, to find a suitable feline
to make the exalted journey to Heaven
has struck a chord with audiences
worldwide, bringing in more than two
billion dollars in ticket sales.
Elton disappears
Elton John vanished from a Lisbon
concert September 13. Before per
forming for 1500 fans, including po
litical leaders and corporate presi
dents, Elton peeked out at the crowd
and saw the seats weren't completely
full. He then left as the rest of the
sold-out crowd filed in. He has of
fered no explanation, but heads of the
venue plan to sue.
Faith and Tim
Being the country bumpkin I am, I attended the Faith Hill/Tim McGraw
"Soul 2 Soul" tour. Although parking in Cleveland is about as
fun as parking at Behrend, the rest of the experience was won
derful. Hill looked like an out-of-place hippie, wearing bangles
and a Hendrix shirt, but sang with more power and soul than I
ever expected. The only word I can truly use is "amazing."
After a series of Bud Light commercials (the sponsor) fea
turing Tim McGraw's butt, McGraw finally appeared in his
trademark skintight black jeans. His performance was also ex
ceptional and incredibly upbeat. He sang the famous ones, such
as "Don't Take the Girl" along with a few little-known ones
I've yet to hear on the radio.
Of course, at the end, the two lovebirds sang duets such as
"It's Your Love" and "Let's Make Love." After ending with
twenty minutes of "You Can Go Your Own Way," I left with a
feeling of a $34 well spent
Gwen Stefani may claim that all she
wants is a 'Simple Kind of Life', but
by listening to her in concert you
would think that she was born to rock
out. After their hugely popular Tragic
Kingdom tour, No Doubt was back in
Pittsburgh this summer for their Re
turn of Saturn tour. To any concert
goer that had attended both events,
the changes in the band's sound were
evident.
Movies
Almost Famous
Woman on Top
Urban Legends:
Final Cut
9/22
*release dates are 9/26
1 .. ..1.-.?
./"..•......-‘.,,,, \ i ,Ic" , i
- 4i'riC.....'. 1 ...,.''''.., ;-• ,
1 ,,.....
~ E
......
Enhanced by careful costuming and recorded by over 160 artists, not to
choreography that allowed the human mention its presence in countless
actors to take on a very feline appear- music boxes.
ance, the show won seven Tony CATS has certainly not seen the last
Awards and was performed 7,484 of its nine lives, but if you journey to
times on Broadway. Broadway hoping to find it, you will
CATS continues to play in have to satisfy yourself with memo
ries.
Benny Andersson, the two
B's of the group, had a great
London's West End Theater, and vafi- deal to do with this new production.
ous playhouses around the world still Aware of the desire of fans for an
bring the crowds in with their more ABB A reunion in any form, the
small-scale productions. Grizabella's songwriting friends wanted to find a
show-stopping "Memory" has been way to incorporate their music into an
Stairway to Heaven (1971)
2. (I Can't Get No)
Satisfaction (1965)
3. Layla (1971) 9. My Generation (1966)
4. Light My Fire (1967) 10. Like A Rolling Stone
5. Purple Haze (1967) (1965)
as voted on by bar patrons and web surfers around the world from a list of
30 songs spanning 50 years
Cleveland, OH
August 29, 2000
A five year lapse between albums
provided the time that the band
needed to grow both personally and
musically. While Gwen took another
gamble with her tremendously per
sonal lyrics, the band took a chance
by ditching a dozen or so extra instru
ments players they had on the first
tour.
Despite straying slightly from their
ska-reggae beat, and losing the extra
Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame 10 Greatest Hits
by Paige Miles
Doubt Pittsburgh, PA, June 29, 2000
__:_____
...
-
_-- -------
--
--
_
_-
__----
--
---_---
1;....,1'%....!,
• ~,
0.
e
„,,.,_
Video*
Messenger:
Joan of Arc
Keep your eyes open,
however, for a promising
new musical following in its
wake. A lighthearted romp
through the music of one of
the hottest musical groups
of the seventies, Mamma
Mia is slated to hit Broad
way in October of next year.
Already finding acclaim in
London and Toronto, the
play is sculpted around
twenty-two songs from
ABBA, the Swedish band
that took the world by storm
from 1972-1982.
Bjeorn Ulvaeus and
6. Yesterday (1965)
Imagine (1971)
Johnny B. Goode (1958)
Dave Matthews
Orchard Park, NY
July 21, 2000
"Play something I know!" shouts my friend, unwittingly stating the theme
of the night. While any Dave Matthews show is a good Dave
Matthews show, this one left a little lacking. This episode in the
2000 World Tour, kicking off optimistically with a vibrant "Ants
Marching" turned out to be more a sampling of the group's new
album due out December 12. At times, the crowd seemed
disheartened as they anticipated a cut they could sing along with
only to be met with one they never heard. And by the end of the
show, as the thousands of bodies in Ralph Wilson Stadium
anticipated "Crash" for the finale, they met more disillusionment
because "Crash" never came.
The show was not a total bust, however. A 20-minute
rendition of "Lie In Our Graves" certainly helped make amends,
as did passionate versions of "Grace Is Gone" and "Long Black
Veil." Still with all the buzz about the July 3rd Pittsburgh show
(a friend reported that they got fireworks), DMB was a little less
than satisfying this time around.
by Deanna Symoski
horn players, the band tore it up on
stage, performing most of the best
songs off of their two most current
albums. Saving everyone's favorite,
`Spiderwebs,' for the last-last encore
song, the band was prepared to leave
Pittsburgh calling the show a hit...until
some jerk chucked a bottle onto stage
and bashed Gwen in her cheek, mar
ring her just one day before a photo
shoot. Here we go Steelers...
Music *
98 Degrees
Revelation
Van Morrison
Mystikal
Soul Asylum
CATS may have used up its nine
lives, but Broadway is still fit for
a (Dancing) Queen.
unrelated storyline. In order to accom
plish this feat, they sought the aid of
Catherine Johnson, a British play-
wright
The story she came up with is set
on a fictional Greek island and con
cerns a woman named Donna and her
twenty-year-old daughter, Sophia,
who, on the eve of her wedding, be
comes determined to have her father
walk her down the aisle. The problem?
She doesn't know who he is. There
are three men who could be Sophia's
father, and in order to complete the
vision of her dream wedding, Sophia
must decide in just one day which one
is the genuine article.
Ulvaeus and Andersson have attrib
uted much of ABBA's staying power
to the fact that they never reunited.
This fun little musical serves to ease
the hunger of ABBA fans for the songs
they love without requiring the band
members themselves to work together
again. Will it be able to match the fan
appeal of Webber's record-breaking
rock opera? Probably not. But for the
legions of ABBA fans who will ven
ture to New York to see it, this show
just may be the cat's meow.
Wrestling goes country
Ending a long time deal with the USA
Network, the WWF switches to The
Nashville Network (TNN) September
25 for Monday Night RAW. Follow
ing the changes, Sunday's HEAT will
now air on MTV. Smackdown will
stay on the UPN.
Even though the carnage was great,
and Gwen personally thanked the
crowd for "the worst experience" she
has ever had on stage, No Doubt
proved that they are a band that can
make it twice as nice the second time
around. Providing they ever come
back to Pittsburgh after the barbaric
events that took place that night, try
not to miss them on the next tour!
Final Destination
The Flinstones in
Viva Rock Vegas
4
i,
_
~„L............ ....,
by Katie Galley
DVD*
FTDoSic' Em
.
ee
by Deanna Symoski
The Rules:
a girls' guide to
watching movies
Okay, so I grew up on Disney fairytales the way most girls did. I was
frightened by the evil witch, adored the beautiful princess and swooned for the
heroic prince, who always swept in at the knick of time. He saved the day and
got the girl—the end.
But I'm not six anymore, and I don't make a habit of watching Disney flicks
I do watch movies, however, and I realized a long time ago that the same
formulaic love stories abound. In fact, it may he these shameless exploitations
of love that have warped the average girl's expectations. Movies have always
had the unique ability to transport us into worlds we couldn't even imagine.
We see ourselves in the characters and our lives in their words. So it follows
that love on the Silver Screen should be just as probable in real life—after all,
wasn't that character based on me?
Delusions like this are easy to fall into, I know. I do it every time I watch
When Harry Met Sally. My New Years were never that romantic and why not?
I have friends too, and none of them ever divulged their undying love for me a
few strokes before midnight. But that's the rub. These are just movies,
fantastical escapes from a world that may never be as good as the ones we pay
to see. With that in mind, I am offering a few tips for better movie watching.
Rule #1: You can never turn the Bruce Willis of Die Hard into the Bruce
Willis of The Story of Us. Try as you might, your father will never approve of
Johhny Castle sweeping away his "baby." And Maverick could never really he
grounded. These guys are movie had boys, and their gritty appeal comes from
our inherent need to tame them. But in real life, these guys are the ones that
call you from prison and ask you to bail them out. And while even that might
be kind of exciting for awhile, sooner or later you will outgrow the drama. You
will never be able to change them, so don't waste your time trying. Instead,
wear his leather jacket and ride his Harley (or whatever form of had-ass
transportation he chooses), then go home and call your accountant boyfriend
Rule #2: Speaking of Die Hard, imminent danger does not equate true
love. So the next time you catch yourself on a speeding bus or dodging flying
cows in tornado alley, please do not expect to meet Prince Charming. That is
the movie version of your life. The real version usually goes something like
this: faucet breaks. Sweaty fat man with plumbers' crack answers call. Fixes
faucet. Charges you way too much but offers to waive the fee for a date at
Arby's. And also remember, they offer self-defense courses for a reason--
because you know you'll be left to defend yourself should you suddenly he
surrounded by terrorists and/or members of your local drug cartel .
Rule #3: Your best friend (of the opposite sex) will probably fall for you at
one time or another, but yes, the sex will get in the way. Since I could only
think of one movie that was so close to real life it caused delusions of grandeur,
I decided to throw in some small screen examples to illustrate my point. You
are not Monica, he is not Chandler. Your best friend is not Dawson, and Harry
and Sally were a fluke. The idea of your best friend becoming your soul mate
is a nice one. However, once you cross that line, you will spend more time
defining the relationship than enjoying it. You can love your friends, just don't
love your friends.
Rule #4: ILM (Industrial Light and Magic) does not work for you. Special
effects make special things happen, like when Patrick Swayze returned from
the dead to fight off his evil nemesis. Special effects also enabled Robin
Williams to explore the netherworld to save his wife from eternal damnation.
And while those are extravagant ways of showing affection, please do not
expect such things of your current mate. If he could, lam sure he would come
back from the dead for you. So don't start the argument, "If I was trapped in
Hell, would you come save me?" YES, he would.
Rule #5: Doomed romances are not necessarily the most productive way to
spend your day. Okay, I know that this time it really is going to work, but let's
look at the evidence. A romance in 1912—good. A romance on a luxury cruise
liner in 1912—bad. A love affair between a photographer and a middle-aged
Midwestern woman—good. The same love affair with a middle-aged
Midwestern housewife--bad. Interracial romance—good. Interracial romance
with musical knife fights and choreographed gang rumbles--had. In other
words, if the situation is not conducive to love, rethink your situation
Rule #6: Ignore rules one through five. I like watching these movies, and I
do it over and over again. No, I'm not a glutton for punishment--I'm optimis
tic. I like that the 84 failed relations I've had haven't ruined me. And I like
that if I don't have much faith in the current state of things, I can go rent some
sappy tear-jerker and get it back. I'm not complaining about these movies.
They serve their purpose well, but don't take notes.
These films are to be enjoyed, cherished even. They are the idealistic
evidence that good things happen and we need them to remind us of that when
nothing is going right. But they are not how-to videos. They are just movies,
and that's all.
The best stuff is the real stuff—the night he brought you flowers for no
reason, the first time you kissed. While movies may he the stuff that dreams
are made of, dreams only come true in the waking light of day. So don't ruin
the real thing by waiting for the fantasy, Honestly, ladies, the real stuff is
always better...because it's yours.