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Features

FEATURES

Shakespeares Midsummer a pleasure

Lindsay Frederickson
November 11, 2002

It might have seemed tedious as required reading in high school, but the MSU Department of Theatre captures the true comedy in William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The play, after all, is meant to be entertainment, impressing audiences with its themes of ardent young love, undermining parental authority and pompous attention-grabbing. The Shakespearean text flourishes under the capable hands of director Marcus Olson, bringing the centuries-old script to vibrant life in Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre.

FEATURES

Bow Wow causes Puppy Love

Aaron Foley
November 11, 2002

Dominique White came to Breslin Center to see her future husband Friday night. “Bow Wow is so fine!” said White, a 15-year-old Charlotte High School sophomore.

FEATURES

Femme Fatale hopes sex makes up for bad plot

Casey Mcnenly
November 11, 2002

The never-ending movie battle between sex and plot comes to a head in Brian De Palma’s “Femme Fatale” - but the result has sex walking all over this film’s plot, leaving the audience to wonder what it is about. Laure Ash (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) is a jewel thief who targets model Veronica (Rie Rasmussen) for her gold and diamond bra, which by the way, couldn’t have been designed with comfort in mind. When Laure takes off with the diamonds, she leaves her partners (Eriq Ebouaney and Edouard Montoute) behind to take the blame.

FEATURES

U opera theater hosts Tahiti, Bernstein

Lindsay Frederickson
November 8, 2002

For an evening that combines a serious operetta with a variety of popular musical theater tunes, head to the MSU Opera Theatre and MSU Philharmonic Orchestra’s production of “Trouble in Tahiti” followed by musical revue “Bernstein on Broadway.” “Trouble in Tahiti” is based around a 1950s married couple, Sam and Dinah.

FEATURES

Wharton Center offers Southern blues show

Lindsay Frederickson
November 8, 2002

Wharton Center will host a concert celebrating the Delta Blues tradition at 8 p.m. today in the Great Hall. Billed as a “jam session not to be missed,” “Front Porch Blues” will feature Charlie Musselwhite, Elvin Bishop, Corey Harris, Henry Butler and Deborah Coleman. The musicians will perform blues classics as well as their own tunes on instruments ranging from harmonica to guitar and piano.

FEATURES

Auditoriums Crimes of the Heart opens this weekend

Lindsay Frederickson
November 8, 2002

Sunday evening in the intimate confines of the Auditorium’s Arena Theatre, six students will present a play about the intensity of sibling relationships and the crimes families perpetrate on those they claim to love the most. In “Crimes of the Heart,” Beth Henley tells the story of the three McGrath sisters in Hazlehurst, Miss.

FEATURES

Bowling controversial look at gun control issue

Casey Mcnenly
November 7, 2002

For being an educational tool starring a Flint man asking simple questions, it could just be the best film of the year. Michael Moore bases his latest film, “Bowling for Columbine,” on one question: Why did Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold go on a shooting rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., more than three years ago? The answer will scare you. The answer is, no one knows.

FEATURES

Weekend guide

Friday • The Creole Gallery, 1218 Turner St. in Lansing, presents guitarist Laurence Gruber at 8 p.m.

FEATURES

Eminem's 8 mile

Casey Mcnenly
November 7, 2002

The premiere of “8 Mile,” the story of Jimmy Smith Jr.’s (Eminem) escape from a dead-end life in Detroit, attempts to deliver a performance Michigan natives Jeff Daniels (Chelsea), Michael Moore (Flint) and - to a lesser extent - Steven Seagal (Lansing) have attempted in the past. Mo Nasor, manager of Celebration Cinema, 200 E.

FEATURES

Gray offers more of the same with Midnight

David Gray practically came out of nowhere in 2000 with an album that’s sold more than 2 million copies in the United States due to the overnight smash hit “Babylon,” which seized the airwaves and drifted into the ears of countless listeners. But surprise, surprise, it was actually the Irish artist’s fifth album.

FEATURES

Dream weavers

Lindsay Frederickson
November 6, 2002

The cast of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” calls itself a family. Each performer and crew member could go on for days about the energy and affection among people in the show and the familylike atmosphere that makes night after night of rehearsal more fun than work. “Every night we watch it and laugh at each other,” theater sophomore Nathaniel Nose said.

FEATURES

Trapt releases stellar debut, pleases Incubus, P.O.D. fans

Another hard rock band has emerged from the smoldering heat of the California music scene. And you might think to yourself, “Here we go again, another Incubus-sounding rip-off.” The truth is, Trapt almost signed with Immortal Records, but was dropped because it didn’t sound enough like Incubus, even though the label is kicking itself right now. What’s the deal with Incubus, anyway?

FEATURES

Music nothing without valuable drummers

I can’t think of anything worse than listening to Dave Matthews Band. I know I’m going to get plenty of hate mail for saying this (and might lose some friends who are die-hard fans), but DMB is one of the most - if not the most - overrated bands of the recent past. Each of its albums constantly cycle one another with the same theme.

FEATURES

Whats happening?

Events • The MSU Spanish Club will show the film “Solas” as part of its semester long Romance Language Film series at 5:30 p.m.

FEATURES

WEB ONLY - Staged reading of Luck! premieres today at BoarsHead

A six-person comedy about a mischievous chain letter, Sean Grennan’s “Luck!” premieres today in the form of a staged reading at the BoarsHead Theater. Grennan, a longtime Chicago actor and playwright, won an honorable mention award for “Luck!” from the National Writer’s Association’s Playwriting Contest.

FEATURES

NBA Live 2003 wins battle of best basketball video game

Ben Landes
November 5, 2002

The battle for the best basketball video game has been a gruesome one the last few years. With Sega Sports releasing its hit franchise “NBA 2K2” on all three consoles last year and acquiring the ESPN logo this year, it seemed as though Electronic Arts might finally need to step down from the ring. But then again, a little pressure might be just what EA needed to push boundaries and introduce new innovations to keep its franchise afloat.

FEATURES

I Spy predictable, yet entertaining

Casey Mcnenly
November 5, 2002

Leading up to the upcoming James Bond spy drama “Die Another Day,” Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson turn up the heat in the race for the best toys, the hottest women and the best action sequences in “I Spy.” Special agent Alex Scott (Wilson)has spent the bulk of his espionage career as second fiddle to rival spy Carlos (Gary Cole). Nevertheless, Alexis ordered to recover the world’s most sophisticated plane that was stolen from the U.S.

FEATURES

Williams pleases during Common Grounds gig

Ben Landes
November 5, 2002

The seats were arduous, the view was awful, the wait was unbearable, it was way too hot and a bottle of water cost more than $2. But fortunately, the music was phenomenal. Dar Williams’ petite and delicate figure approached the stage at the Common Grounds Coffeehouse in the basement of Akers Hall on Sunday night to the delight of audience members who’d suffered through uncomfortable seating and high temperatures. But the moment Williams opened her delicate mouth and strummed her rosewood acoustic guitar, all was forgotten. Her sultry voice captivated the room as listeners gazed at a performer who’s captured the essence of a nostalgic generation.