ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 6 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM ‘This is My Fathers World’ opera aims to bring people together while pointing to the Creator

BY KATIE BAYER

Staff Writer

The OBU theater department will present “This is My Father’s World” from Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 3-5, at 7:30 p.m., and Monday, Nov. 6, at 2:30 p.m. in Mabee Recital Hall. The opera is directed by Dr. Kara Claybrook, assistant professor of music, and Dr. Candice Aipperspach, associate professor of music.

“This is My Father’s World” is a musical exploration of God’s creation through the five senses. The opera is based on the hymn also titled “This is My Father’s World” and is sung at the beginning and ending of each performance, serving to tie the plot together. The story is based on John 1:1 from the Bible, taking the audience on a journey through seven parts: creation, places, journeys, silly, sepaminds.

“Music and opera are cool,” Claybrook said. “Find something that’s interesting. It changes your attitude so that you’re more receptive to it [the opera].”

“This is My Father’s World” is sure to have something for everyone. Reserve your tickets now through the box office.

ration, deceptions and restoration.

Students from all corners of Ouachita are coming together to produce the opera. There are participants from the music program, theatre department and even unrelated fields of study who are experiencing being in a production for the first time.

“The students I’ve worked with are so hardworking and so patient,” Claybrook said. “They’ve been really patient and cooperative, and have given willingly of their gifts, and I really appreciate it.”

Each student performer will have a featured moment during the opera, along with an ensemble that everyone will serve in.

Directors and performers lookto aid people into the mindset of thinking about God, even if it is through secular ideas. This opera is a perfect opportunity for the arts to honor God.

“Art is like anything—it can be

Mac Ricks, a sophomore musical theatre major, rehearses for the “This is my Fathers World” opera. The opera is based off the hymn “This is My Father’s World” and will explore God’s creation through the five senses. (photo by Sarah Dean)

misused. I want to use it well, and I’d like to instill that in others as a teacher,” Claybrook said.

“This is My Father’s World” has been a production that has taken months of preparation, dating back to April of last semester. Many creative minds were instrumental in making the opera a success including Dr. Claybrook and Dr. Aipperspach serving as overseers, Dr. Lee Aipperspach playing piano, Josh Anderson assisting with lighting and project management and many students helping to bring ideas to the table.

Claybrook shares her enthusiasm for the upcoming production, encouraging students on campus to get excited and come with open

‘Black Adam’ reflects movies critics’ reviews

BY WYATT ASHLOCK

Staff Writer

In the year 2007 Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had an idea for an anti-hero movie based on one of his favorite comic book characters, and 15 years later, that idea would become a reality.

In 2,600 B.C. in the city of Kahndaq, a man was bestowed with superpowers by the most powerful wizards, and he was imprisoned shortly after. In the present “Black Adam” (Dwayne Johnson) is freed from prison, ready to bring justice to Kahndaq by any means necessary. A new team must come out of the shadows to stop Black Adam from his unique form of justice. Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell) and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo) will team up to represent the Justice Society of America (JSA) and try to bring Black Adam to justice.

Director Jaume Collet-Serra creates a standard film that does not reinvent the wheel when it comes to the superhero genre. It is a visually appealing film and has some great special effects. Several spectacular slow motion moments were very impressive.

Writers Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani created a story that had some nice moments, but other than that, it was a mediocre story. Certain characters such as Doctor Fate and Hawkman felt like they had full stories written about them while the other JSA members felt thrown in for the sake of needing more members. There were also parts where anyone familiar with these characters, either from other shows such as “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” or the comic books, would be curious as to why the most essential details of the characters’ stories were left out.

I will say the one thing I was impressed with was that the writers did a good job at introducing all of these new characters and the city of Kahndaq while tying it into “Shazam” (2019) without making me feel overwhelmed.

Composer Lorne Balf creates some powerful themes for both Black Adam and the JSA. However, besides the themes, the score for the movie was very mediocre. I was really impressed with the use of “Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones in an epic fight sequence.

Johnson’s acting was nothing spectacular, but it was fun to watch him become an epic anti-hero. Hodge and Brosnan were both fantastic in their roles. Hodge’s take on Hawkman brought some great laughs to the role. Brosnan’s portrayal of Doctor Fate was amazing, and it was apparent that he put a lot of work into becoming this character.

Overall, “Black Adam” was a standard superhero movie that is impressive by DC standards but is not anything too special if compared to Marvel standards. However, there is a post-credit scene that blew me away.

I went in with zero expectations and had a fun time. I was glad to have seen the movie in the theaters because I know that had I waited for the film to come to streaming, I would have been upset with myself for not watching it sooner.

If you have never seen a DC film before and are looking for a place to start then this is the movie for you. While there are some connections to “Shazam” and “The Suicide Squad” (2021), neither are necessary to understand this film. I recommend seeing this film if you are a DC fan or if you are just looking for a fun movie to see, earning it a 3 out of 5 tiger paws. “Black Adam” is available in theaters.