Thursday, November 2,1995 Heathen Valley: by Michelle R. Gruendl Copy Editor “Poor folks have poor ways" was the phrase that rang through my head repeatedly while watching the dress rehearsal of “Heathen Valley” last night A definite must see, it portrayed poor, simple Appalacian folk Powder: Humanity surpasses technology by Ryan Bogart Collegian Staff The film "Powder" may not get a great review from the big names in Hollywood, but I've formed my own opinion. Sean Patrick Flannery plays Jeremy Reed (Powder), the teenager fte* Volte* "ffltVta A THP WiUCHfU MsntS- creator CJin? one * 3 w«Mi fcW? fcLJIP* I reeeivw^ gr j y>T* ur ~ * U * K ‘“- lm ftytoo* (nsf£/ JV Cc*adcMMVrtS. ?A«a tab w iv Qj ,-m *i who have gone astray from religion. In an effort to find God, a bishop (Tracy D. Lee) goes to the valley in the mountains to “save souls”. He takes with him Stams (Mike Rush) and Billy Cobb (Bond Davis). Stams, bom in a town close to whom all his life has been hidden by his grandparents on a farm. He is different than normal boys his age. He is an albino with no hair and great energetic powers. At birth, his mother was struck by lightening and died, NdW* „ |Mf lIP w • GlfA UHifW Tt* p to*.* V rr\9rv. <T fjL) *'™' *kj l SS«*\ Entertainment A story of simple people Heathen Valley, is an ex-convict janitor that becomes “learned” through the teachings of Billy, an orphan schooled by the bishop’s church. Stams is ordained Deacon and acts as a guide for the journey into the mountains. When they arrive, they meet Cora (Diane Hardner), Juba (Rebecca Wolford) and Harlan (Robert Connick). Harlan, who is plagued with witches and ghostly visions, has just shot his cousin Daniel in retailiation for Daniel shooting his wife/sister Margaret and his children. Cora is trying to persuade Harlan to give her their child Jean while Juba, the midwife, is preparing Daniel for burial. The bishop is bold, confident of his religion and duty in life, something that the people in the valley can't understand. Stam acts as mediator, who tries to bridge the gap between the bishop and the people. Left in charge of the missionary in Heathen Valley, Starns deals with “converting” the people by his own simple ways of understanding Christian religion. He “civilizes” each character using their own personalities and ways of life, and as a result, the comunity prospers economically and spiritually the best way they know how for three years. Unfortunately, the bishop is not satisfied with the changes he sees. He doesn’t view life as Stams and the people of Heathen Valley do, and as a consequence. thus causing Powder to be bom forcibly. When he is bom, his father is ashamed and leaves the hospital crying, "he's not my son." This comes back to haunt Powder. When his grandfather dies, Powder’s whole life @f -THffrt S’livo. 1%*4» kmc... j ftw« tV«**V » unlveAtkl M \« eon»Mti <Uu.i*a 4 , U-in,^Ci-F{ S4 A night at tha Theatre: Heathen Valley opens tonight. It is a free preview for Behrend students. It runs November 3,4, 9,12 and 11 at 8 p.m. and November 5 and 12 at 2:30 p.m. things change. The story is told through the eyes of Billy as a means to make sense of his life, to figure out what went wrong in the valley he came to know as home. It leaves the audience without an answer. Tony Elliot, the director, replied, “It’s open ended. It leaves you with questions, that’s the idea. It’s something to think about, something to discuss afterwards. I don’t think the character who has the final lines knows how to A* liK. Vu* &«/ u»vm changes. Jessica Caldwell, a psychologist from a mentally handicapped boys' school, takes him from the only place he knows is home. The movie is set in a typical, small town in Texas, where everyone knows each other, which becomes the biggest problem for Powder. His first day in public school was a mentally crushing experience. Students blatantly stopped in the hallways to look at him. This created a path lined with curious teens. He gets picked on, as any other "weird" kid in high school might, but the viewers tend to feel sorry for him. Science class becomes a disaster when the science teacher, played by Jeff Goldblum, turns on an atomic generator. The electricity streams toward Powder, lifting him several feet off of his chair. Goldblum saves him by smashing the generator causing Powder to crash to the floor. This only adds to the humiliation which he goes through. Powder has an amazing effect on people when he touches them. Goldblum says he feels like he's eighteen again, after he touches Powder to see if he's alright. This touch changes people forever. He is all energy and this mystery is slowly unraveled throughout the movie, Goldblum feel at that moment.” A powerful, touching and thought provoking play, the cast portrays their characters with passion and feeling. Robert Connick expressed his feelings of portraying Harlan. “It’s just fun to be able to go up and act crazy in front of everybody and not have worry about anything.” The fall production begins tonight at 8 p.m. Admission is $5 for the general public and $3 for students. becomes his best friend when he informs Powder of Einstein's theory of energy- "all matter is made up of energy, thus the higher IQ, the more energy one possesses; Powder is all energy." He takes an IQ test and scores off the record, the highest ever recorded in human kind. Goldblum teaches him how to shake hands, something which his grandparents never did for fear of touching him. He has the power of reading people's thoughts and emotions. Lance Hendrikson plays the sheriff in the small town, and his wife is on her death bed. Powder comes to relay the message that she wants to tell him before she passes. Which is that Hendikson and his son must resolve their arguing and make up. Through Powder, the sheriff and his son make up which enables the sheriffs wife to rest peacefully. This film is very touching because Powder heals everyone and their problems throughout the film. Emotionally, he has power to change people's lives forever which he does several times. Goldblum said it best... "It is clear that technology has surpasses humanity. Powder is the human of the future. We have a chance to have humanity surpass technology." Go see this film! Po n e 9
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers