18—The Daily Collegian Wednesday, April 28,1980 'Laughing': just gags and mix-ups By JOHN WARD killed in Benson’s cab, and through an mother hen; Charles Durning is her son, Daily Collegian Staff Writer improbable mix-up, Benson is tabbed as the head of Benson’s cab company. t* ollege Community Robby Benson doesn’t have an ac- the murderer and runs off with the box. When Durning steps in front of Theatre will be holding auditions tor ting style; he has charisma. With his In the box is a monkey with a fantastic MacArthur and Patton posters to ad- this seasons productions from 7to 10 baby blue eyes, perfect teeth and bashful memory; it seems the scientist taught dress his men, it’s a wonderful comic bit. P;™ 1, today through Saturday at tne smile, he sets off unabashed ear- him a formula for turning nuclear waste But the most surprising cast member rh h e L in • , s K P lS ,^ O P^‘ thquakes in the hearts of teenyboppers into high-grade plutonium. Now all the is Bud Cort, known for his performances Church. Musical auditions will he everywhere. He’s the movie industry’s bad guys are chasing Benson to get the in “Harold and Maude” and Robert a ™ t °P l in theme tor answer to Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett, monkey. Altman’s “Brewster McCloud.” Cort the company s 1980 Boal Barn season Andy Gibb and all the other singing if this plot sounds the slightest bit seemingly does a film every three or is Silver Summer, idols. That might be the most frightening inane, I suspect it was unintentional, four years; he’s a selective soul. So why i“ e company intends to present thing about his new film, “Die Benson, who wrote the script with his the hell did he pick “Die Laughing”, to Cabaret, George Washington Slept Laughing;” he’s trying to hit the music father Jerry Segal, just can’t write stage a comeback? Here, Charley s Aunt, The Prime ot market. plausible conflicts. (Benson and Segal Cort has an offbeat manner, but it’s J“iss Jean Brodie, and KoDDer As Dan Pinsky, the movie’s also wrote “One on One,” a clear-cut not suited for this film’s obvious Bridegroom. I hose intending to try beleaguered hero, Benson plays with a “Rockyesque” tale in which the shenanigans. At times he waggles his ' soft-rock group called Rush Hour. The good/bad lines were drawn for us.) tongue in a leering, disgusting manner group is trying to win a contest in which in “Die Laughing,” the characters are that reminds one of Gene Simmons with the winner receives a recording con- caricatures, and hence the conflict is a acne. Just when we’ve got him pegged as tract. Benson sings several songs with punchless farce. The story is laced with an effeminate wimp, he comes out for smarmy lyrics and melodies that lilt so moments when Benson goes out of his the finale dressed as an ugly punk rocker much they’re half-asleep. The first time way to show the repulsiveness of the (Johnny Rotten hair-do and all) and we see Benson, he’s wailing one of these villains. There’s a moment when a tall, ruins it for us. cotton-candy specials; something called spindly guy, looking like a cross between' But the blame should lie with Robby “Mr. Weinstein’s Barber Shop.” Wyatt jSarp and the Phantom of the Benson. I left the theater feeling But this is only a small side of the Opera, is knocked to the ground. When a cheated, as if the film was a long series film’s real content. “Die Laughing” isn’t boy scout helps him to his feet, he shoves of gags and mix-ups built around Ben a musical; it’s a frenzied, slapped- the kid in the face. The scene is so son’s three song performances. I didn’t together chase comedy with Benson ludicrous it provides one of the film’s go to see Benson the singer, I went to see being pursued by a bunch of the sorriest- few genuine laughs. Benson the actor. It turned out I didn’t looking villains you ever saw. It starts Some good character actors are get to see much of anything. Maybe when cabbie Benson picks up a scientist stranded in this general morass. Elsa Robby Benson’s just too cute for his own carrying a strange box. The man is Lanchester has a small bit as Benson’s good. Pennsylvanian painter Horace Pippin was born in 1888, in West Chester, Pa., where he spent much of his life. Injured in World War I, he painted by supporting his right hand with his left. Discovcreed at the age of 49, Pippin had a short-lived career as a recognized artist, for he died in 1946 at the age of 58. His work, “Dom ino Players,” dates from 1940 and is among a collection on display in the HUB Gallery through May 10. H ••••••••••••• ns — f 9 Stage Door Deli $ j • —Fraser St. Mini Mall • • 50 c OFF * nr KWPUiii • , A I tsaal Educational Center 9 with coupon $ test preparation * A ___ 7 C nM J. Ir S„L T SPECIALISTS SINCE 1938 9 rally OSulQWlCfl 9 O ncccD r*r\r\T\ @ riacc Starts “ n/Zo/oU-4/zO/oU ••••••••••••• LSAT (June 28, exam) April 27 GMAT (July 12, exam) May 18 ♦ TEACHING ♦ OPPORTUNITIES ♦ Summer Term « IN MONTESSORI ♦ June 22 ♦ A.M.S. Approved a Teacher Training this ” ♦ Summer at Beaver Qbllege (PA) ▲ & Cornell Univ. (NY) v £ Information and brochure call ♦ T TOLL FREE 800-523-0874 A ♦ PA Call collect 215-233-0141 V ▲ AERCO MONTESSORI ▲ v 1400 E. Willow Grove Ave. 4 Phila, PA 19118 ♦ I Pick a Hick, i l Reviews to help you choos • ads define the times. Collegian Community Theatre to hold auditions Depiction of the artist's feelings By DIANNE GARYANTES Daily Collegian Staff Write!* The art of turn-of-the-century Vienna indicates a shift of emphasis from depiction of the outward appearance of the era to representation of the inner-most feelings of the artist, Alessandra Comini said Thursday night. Comini, professor of art history at Southern Methodist University, emphasized and compared the works of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele to demonstrate this transition. Klimt’s works, in the style of Art Nouveau, portray facade and decoration, while Schiele’s paintings stress subject matter and isolation, as in the Expressionistic style, Comini said. GRE (fall exam) MCAT (fall exam) June 22 LSAT (fall exam) contact Eleanor Coburn 444 East College Ave. State College, Pa. 16801 (814) 238-1423 out for Cabaret or Robber Bridegroom should prepare a chorus from either a ballad or an up-beat song. A rehearsal pianist will be provided and a wide range of parts is available. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, which requires a number of teenage girls, will be cast on Friday and Saturday. Charley’s Aunt calls for people in their twenties as well as older people, and George Washington Slept Here requires characters of all 'ages. Melodies and memories By COLLEEN MORRIS Daily Collegian Staff Writer A calypso carnival atmosphere created by a steel drum band brought calls from people eager to dance to such infectiously cheerful music Sunday night at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. Helping to celebrate Caribbean Night, the Trinidad Stars Steel Band from Philadelphia combined limbo feats with well-executed drumming. Fellow band members and an en thusiastic crowd spurred one lithe musician to do the limbo to bend the upper body and head backwards under a bar set close to the ground. The syn copated rhythm grew faster and the musician-dancer limbered up for an even more daring limbo. He threw off his jacket and shirt, lowered the bar one more notch and placed a bottle in his mouth. Bending his legs and curving his back, he slipped under the bar with deceiving ease and emerged with the bottle in his mouth. Each melody that accompanied these gymnastics sounded crisp and had a ringing metallic sound. Musicians played on the tops of steel drums that have tempered and indented surfaces. ' GOLD AND SILVER ] Leland Enterprises will be buying gold and silver at 1 the Penn State Sheraton Inn on Wednesday, April 23, B between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. We are | a local business located 15 miles from State College, 1 but have noted the difficulty some students have had ,1 obtaining transportation, so we have decided for 9 mutual convenience to buy “in town” this Thursday. B We guarantee nothing but the fairness of our prices B and cash settlement. Please compare. For information B . call Leland Enterprises 355-1642 any time. -r June 29 BRIARWMDBASH SATURDAY, APRIL 26, NOON TO 11:00 P.M. LIVE BANDS LIVE KEGS GOOD TIMES TICKETS $3.00 T-SHIRTS $3 50 CALL 234-9079 FOR MORE INFORMATION ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES NOT SERVED TO MINORS A TOWNHOUSE TAVERN PRODUCTION 1 EDUCATION IS AN END IN ITSELF Schlow Memorial Library should have copies of comedies on reserve for those interested in trying out. The State Community Theatre encourages everyone in the com munity to audition. Those who have appeared in previous SCCT productions are required to join SCCT before they tryout. Anyone not interested in acting but who would like to work backstage is invited to sign up for crew assign ments at the same time as the corresponding tryout. There are many self-portraits of Expressionistic artists in which “their central core of psyche is exposed,” said Gomini. The Art Nouveau style is a “last nostalgic expression of facade, while Expressionism shows self-concern and anxiety of the 20th century,” she said. i> Comini has published five books on the subject of art in Vienna. Her book “Schiele in Prison” was nominated for the National Book Award in 1975. She has organized exhibitions on Klimt and Schiele for the Guggenheim Museum and the Ar mold Schoenberg Centennial Exhibition for the combined museums of Vienna. An exhibit of “The Fantastic Art in Vienna” is on display in the Main Lobby of Pattee through Monday. The many indentations give a variety of notes and the height of each drum determines its pitch. Musicians use ' rubber and copper mallets to hit each note. Singing by the Caribbean Student Association Choir brought back memories to some audience members who joined in the familiar tunes. choir members sang a haunting song, “Sitting Here in Limbo,” with much sensitivity. Other songs played by the master of ceremonies added a more comic touch to the evening. Many audience members laughed and sympathised with Sonny a Caribbean student from Mosquito Creek who comes to Penn State from his departure to his return home. No one at home believes him when he says that white snow can turn black and Sonny finds that hamburgers taste better than peas and rice. Written by Caribbean students, the skit describes the differences between two cultures. With such variety and high spirits, Caribbean Night recaptured a more carefree and melodious culture for an evening and must have brought back fond memories for many audience members. Iran's put I -.1 \ hostage playing game hoard (MioM represent the fashion excite ment in warm weather casual S»KljSra&'3«fcfo By MARGIE MARRON * Daily Collegian Staff Writer Now that the Iranian crisis has dragged on for months, it seems like everyone has an idea on how to handle the situation including two State College board game makers. Samuel Rockwell and Michael Mc- Crery have invented “Operation: Jihad,” a game that lets players recreate the hostage situation and work out simulated military solutions for the conflict. Rockwell and McCrery are co owners of the Stardragon game com pany, which they operate from Mc- Crery’s home in Park Forest Village. Jihad is an Islamic term for a holy war. “The game came about because both of us felt that nothing was happening in the Iranian situation,” Rockwell said. “One day Mike went to Pattee and got a copy of a map of Tehran, and we started fooling around and came up with the idea that it might make a good war game.” The two-player game, which Rockwell calls a “simulated, mercenary strike to free the American hostages,” sells for PRINT SHIRTS... season. them : EEL FINE ly “POOR CHARLIE” of California in dazzling red, black, yellow, peacock, royal blue, and white. Sizes S-M-L Washable 100% rayon challis. $24 NITTANY MALL $6.95 and consists of a black-and-white street map of Tehran and a rule book. Percentile dice and counters for the game must be bought separately. Rockwell said he believes the game can help a lot of people relieve some of their frustrations about Iran while the crisis is going on. “When I play the game I get a feeling of releasing inner frustrations, like I’ve done something others haven’t done in regards to the hostage situation,” he said. “Even though it’s only a game, it is a worthwhile feeling.” Rockwell said that he and McCrery are defensive about comments they have heard about the game being exploitive. “At times, I’ve wondered if the game is exploitive, but I don’t believe it will have much effect on the actual situation, and it might be helpful to people who buy it,” he said. “Personally, I’ve done nothing to help the hostages, and I felt the game was something I could work at.” Rockwell said that six trial games are now available, but he is not sure how well they are selling. However, the State College merchant who is carrying the Moms a very, ve special. Be sure to remember yours with a beautiful Mother’s Day Card. la. y&^ (!,- The Daily Collegian Wednesday, April 23,1980 —19 games said that none have been sold as “I’m actually glad to see that somebody yet, mainly because most people are not in the area tried to make a war game aware of them. The merchant did not because it takes an incredible amountof wish to be identified. time to make one.” Rockwell said that an improved second edition of the game; including a colored map and counters, would be available beginning last week. Rockwell said he thinks the game might sell better after the Iranian situation is resolved because feelings against Iran will still be very strong. “After the conflict is over, people will still be mad at Iran, and might buy the game to see how they could have ended the conflict, or as a collector’s item he said. “Also, many stores are reluctant to hold the game while the situation is still current, but will take it when the conflict is resolved.” Stephen Kenney, a representative from University’s War Game Club, said he does not think the game will be ex ploitive, provided it accurately reflects the Iranian situation. “I suppose that if the game is ac curate, well done and well researched, then it is just as valuable as any other war game or military study,” he said. Creative excellence is an American tradition *Penn State tßoolfetore oia campus McAllister and Hetzel Union Buildings ' Owned and operated by the Pennsylvania State University Kenney added that the price of “Operation: Jihad” is low for a war game, saying that most games sell for $l2 to $2O. Rockwell said that any profit from the game will be reinvested in the Star dragon company for production of future games. “We are considering putting out war games on the Afghanistan crisis or on the takeover of the Colombian em bassy,” he said. “We also want to put out a line of computer games.” Rockwell said that he and McCrery are not encouraging military action in Iran by creating “Operation: Jihad.” “One thing I want to make clear is that we do not espouse to tell the American government how they should act militarily,” he said. “We don’t want to see any unnecessary military action. We just think the game could help relieve a lot of frustrations.” c o c o
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