The Cluster - Dec. 8 2011 - Page 8
Entertainment Editor Eric Brown
entertainment@mercercluster.com
Entertainment
‘Ye Gods’ is irreverent, fun
Kyle Shook’s debut plays to sold out crowd By Trenton White Theatre Critic trentwhite12@gmail.com
A In a series of vignettes entitled “Ye Gods,” senior Kyle Shook exhibits his take on some of the Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Jewish gods we have studied and/or worshipped since we began eating from the Tree of Knowledge as toddlers in Sunday School or sixth-graders in Gifted Literature class (thanks Ms. Blanton). The sold-out show ran four nights in the Backdoor Theatre. Our perceptions of religious and mythical scenes we thought we had grown accustomed to are briefly transformed with a quirky and hilarious approach that mixes imagination, intelligence, feminism and comedy. For example, Eve (Alicia Landrum) is portrayed as a modern woman who cannot be confined to the ancient prototypes of women that are too often witnessed today. She is not satisfied serving her husband sandwiches when there are books to be read, experiments to be conducted or jazz to be heard. This third account of Genesis uses sarcasm to easily explain the “unintentional” origins of the first two accounts in a way that educated Mercerians can both laugh off and find a trace of truth in. As history shows us, ancient cultures must have missed Kyle’s cues and mistaken Adam’s (John Farrington) self-prescribed dominance over Eve for Yahweh’s handwriting, despite its being written on a gum wrapper. A grumpy, fed-up-with-his-job and post-pubescent Cupid (Max Youngblood) only proceeds to help a strong-willed mortal, Psyche (Tory Johnson), find her one true love after being commanded by mommy Aphrodite. When the divinely inspired plan goes wrong because of Psyche’s
Noah Maier/ Cluster Staff
(Left to right) Mercer students Suzanne Stroup, Sarah Beth Roach, Danielle Montanari, Liam McDermott, Tory Johnson, Braeden Orr, Stephanie Barron, and Han Htet perform in the zombie apocalypse-themed “Risen,” one of the many vignettes in Kyle Shook’s Ye Gods, which debued November 30. retaliation against Cupid with his own love arrow, the two’s wrestling around on the ground turns from hate and loathing into lust and affection. But who hasn’t seen Max do that? Lucifer (Suzanne Stroup) and Deus (Jan Jones) share an apartment, known to us as Heaven. Remember Satan being cast from Heaven because he was an evil liar? Think again. First off,
they are both girls (duh). Lucifer is just a lazy, pot-smoking, slutty, broke couch potato of a roommate who Deus has had enough of. You know you wanted to do the same thing to your roommate freshman year, but they “could not be evicted because they have a contract with Housing and Residence Life” and “if there are any further concerns you should immediately inform
your Resident Assistant.” God don’t put up with that. The play culminated with a final statement on religion, with the last chapter, called “Risen.” In true Mercer fashion, it pushed boundaries. This last vignette takes place wholly in a basement, in which a motley crew of apocalypse survivors discuss their thinning options against an unstoppable horde at their
On Going ‘Underground’ By Eric Brown Entertainment Editor entertainment@mercercluster.com
So, last week I talked about a world famous band that I think DJs the world over ought to banish from the airwaves. This week, though, I’m going to go in a different direction to tell you all about a band that went unloved and underrated for its entire career, despite being one of the most important groups in the history of rock music. I’m talking, of course, about The Velvet Underground and their first, Andy Warhol-produced LP, The Velvet Underground & Nico. In April of 1966, the little known band based out of Manhattan’s Lower East Side and comprised of future stars John Cale and Lou Reed, among others, entered the studio with pop art icon Andy Warhol and European model/ singer Nico. What emerged from those sessions would push the boundaries of rock and roll as the band’s debut record, released the next year on Verve Records. Upon the record’s release, critics found its subject matter too dark and music too experimental. The Velvet Underground & Nico earned a strong underground following, however, and over the years, the record found acclaim in the wake of Lou Reed and John Cale’s successful solo efforts. As art rock legend Brian Eno once wrote, “The first Velvet Underground album only sold
10,000 copies, but everyone who bought it formed a band.” One of The Velvet Underground & Nico’s most stunning features is its often striking minimalism. Released at the height of 1967’s “summer of love,” the album bore little resemblance to the psychedelic albums that were tearing up the rock charts of the time. Rather than attempting to emulate the sonic landscapes of records like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band or Are You Experienced?, the band pioneered their own unique sound based in many ways on 1950s beat poetry, featuring droning guitars and understated drums. “Heroin,” for instance, features no bass guitar, minimal drums, and is based around only two simple guitar cords. And yet, in spite of that, “Heroin” is such a good song that it almost makes me wish I had a dehabilitating junk habit. It’s a stark, powerful piece of art that never seems to wear out its seven and a half minute runtime. Similarly, “Venus in Furs” is based largely on Lou Reed’s droning guitar (the famous “Ostrich guitar,” with every string tuned to D) and John Cale’s haunting viola. It manages to create a uniquely transcendental atmosphere with its relatively restrained instrumentation. For all the aesthetic minimalism, the record is also highly experimental at its core, playing with audiences expectations of what a rock album can be. One could
threshold. This is where Shook really shines. The ending is too perfect for it to be spoiled here. Shook took a bite at some conventions, but he certainly has sharp teeth. Only one important god was missing, however. Dionysus. The audience was tempted by two empty boxes of Lucifer’s Corona with not even a dry martini or glass of red wine to help
wash down the zombie apocalypse of the first Easter Sunday. I don’t know about the plays you go to, but the best ones I have watched always had a bar in the lobby, which would also require us getting a lobby. Overall, it was an excellent performance by each member of the cast and we can be sure to see great things to come in Kyle’s future.
DECEMBER 6
Amy Winehouse — Lioness: Hidden Treasures Boris — New Album Dia Frampton — Red Carl Thomas — Conquer Rammstein — Made In Germany 1995-2011 T-Pain — rEVOLVEr The Cure — Bestival Live 2011 The Black Keys — El Camino The Roots — Undun
DECEMBER 13
Anthony Hamilton — Back To Love Juvenile — Rejuvination Keller Williams — Bass Monica — New Life Nero — Welcome Reality
DECEMBER 20
Common — The Dream, The Believer Kevin Hearn — Cloud Maintenance Young Jeezy — Thug Motivation 103 Image courtesy of Verve Records
Take a good, hard look at these guys and know that no matter what, you will never be as cool as them. Ever. make a serious argument that The Velvet Underground created the first art rock album of all time. Honestly, anyone that claims to be a well-educated music buff needs to hear this record at least once in their life. Despite going largely unnoticed in its day, The Velvet Underground & Nico is a tremendously influential record that paved the way for the art rock scene of the 1970s and 80s
and the indie rock of today. It’s a supremely important album that can’t be overlooked by anyone. And now Lou Reed, one of the architects of this amazing, influential record, has just released a 90 minute collaboration with Metallica that may perhaps be the worst record of the last 10 years. I’m not mad, Lou. I’m just disappointed. Classic or catastrophe: Classic
JANUARY
Archer Black — Forgiveness is a Weapon Attack Attack! — This Means War Cat Le Bon — CYRK Cloud Nothings — Attack on Memory Guided by Voices — Letʼs Go Eat The Factory Craig Finn — Clear Heart Full Eyes John K. Samson — Provincial Nada Surf — The Stars Are Indifferent... Secrets — The Ascent The Internet — Purple Naked Ladies