Page 6/The Battalion/Monday, March 2, 1987
Musical takes funny look at Paris
Porter’s ‘Can-Can’ is ‘magnifique’
By Karl Pallmeyer
Reviewer
“Ooh la la, C’est Magnifique.”
That’s the way Pistache, owner of
the Bal Du Paradis, describes love.
It’s also a pretty good description of
Cole Porter’s musical comedy,
“Can-Can.” MSC Town Hall
Broadway brought “Can-Can” to an
audience of about 1,400 people in
Rudder Auditorium Sunday night.
Porter wrote a wonderfully
funny look at the morals of Paris in
the spring of 1893. “Can-Can” is
the story of Pistache, the owner of a
night club that features the illegal
can-can dance as entertainment for
both the upper and lower crust of
Parisian folk.
comes enamored with this fascinat
ing woman.
A damning photograph of Pis-
tache’s girls in action leads to her
imprisonment and the suspension
of her license. Despite warnings
from Forestier, Pistache decides to
re-open her club to hold the Cat’s
Eye Ball, a yearly social event that is
so much fun that it guarantees ar
rests for all those present.
have the club raided so that he can
defend himself and Pistache on the
grounds that the old morality laws
are outdated and need to be
changed. He hopes that life will be
better for Pistache once her busi
ness is legal.
Pistache is able to keep the local
f >olice off her back with bribes and
avors until Aristide Forestier, a
judge newly appointed to the
bench, takes it upon himself to put
a stop to the illegal activities of the
Bal Du Paradis. Forestier goes to
the club to get some evidence to use
against Pistache but instead be-
Forestier attends the ball in
hopes of protecting Pistache but is
unsuccessful. Another damning
photograph, this one of Forestier in
Pistache’s arms, is taken to the
newspapers, and Foresder’s career
as a judge is over. He decides the
only way to clear his name is to get
the morality laws repealed.
At first, Pistache is against going
to court, but she then gives in to her
love for Forestier and decides to
stand beside him. And when Pis
tache’s girls perform the can-can in
court, the judges are convinced to
tear up the old laws.
through Jussac’s motives until Jus-
sac writes an article that blasts Bo
ris’ sculptures. The cowardly Boris
is forced to challenge Jussac to a
duel. Fortunately, Boris’ faint heart
saves him from Jussac’s sword in a
hilarious duel sequence, and Clau-
dine proclaims her love for Boris.
Jussac is so touched by Claudine’s
devotion that he promises to write
an article praising Boris’ work.
When Pistache reopens her club
as the Cafe La Blanchisserie, a laun
dry that also features the can-can,
Forestier, inspired by his love for
Pistache, decides to become her
business partner. He intends to
“Can-Can” is also the story of
Claudine, Boris and Hilaire Jussac.
Claudine loves Boris, a poor Bul
garian sculptor, but she constantly
is hounded by Jussac, a prestigous
art critic. Jussac is devious and finds
he can spend time with Claudine by
claiming an interest in Boris’ work.
Boris, eager to have his name men
tioned in Jussac’s art reviews, is
more than willing for Claudine to
dine with Jussac.
Neither Boris nor Claudine see
Except for a few slipping French
accents, the acting was super. Jamie
Zemarel was perfectly precise as the
prefectly precise Forestier. Liz Do-
nohoe was both sweet and seductive
as Pistache. Bob D. White was a
good stuffy and devious art critic.
Each of them have a fine voice and
did great justice to Porter’s pun-
filled songs.
The funniest of them ail was Da
vid J. Schuller as Boris. He was so
indignant telling Claudine that she
should manage her money so that
she could support him better. His
part during the duel scene had
most of the audience laughing.
In Advance
Stanford prof to discuss global systems
A Stanford University profes
sor will be at Texas A&M to ad
dress a crisis in global systems
sys'
that he contends is quite dif ferent
from other troubled periods in
history.
Dr. Willis Harman, professor
of engineering and economic sys
tems at Stanford, will speak on
“The Global Systems Crisis: Its
Meaning and the Role of Tech
nology” at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Me
morial Student Center 206.
His lecture is co-sponsored by
the College of Engineering and
the University Lectures Commit
tee.
Harman founded the Stanford
Research Institute International’s
Center for the Study of Social
Policy, where he conducted re
search in futures methodology
and social learning.
He contends that three forces
spurred by recent technological
developments, have changed the
world — the evolution into an
formation society, the move to a
global perspective and changes in
values and underlying beliefs.
Texas Legislature considers
passage of 1st tax bill of ’87
Warf
Wale
AUS TIN (AP) — A week starting
on Texas Independence Day could
include passage of the first tax bill of
the 1987 Legislature.
A possible tax increase appeared
to be the dominant issue of both the
Senate and House as lawmakers Ik
gan their eighth week of the f 1
Texas inmate
on death row
wants new trial
HUNTSVILLE (AP) — Robert
Excell White, who asked a judge
for an early execution date a de
cade ago, now says he wants to
live after spending 12 years on
death row.
White, the dean of Texas death
row inmates, may go free pen
ding a new trial on charges stem
ming from a 1974 crime spree in
which four men were killed.
White probably will get a new
trial because he was examined by
a psychiatrist without his appro
val, Collin County District Attor
ney Tom O’Connell said. The
U.S. Supreme Court has ruled
that such examinations violate a
defendant’s rights.
White’s trial judge recom
mended to the Texas Court of
Criminal Appeals that White be
freed pending a new trial.
Bryan couple combines two cultures
to add quality to Messina Hof wines
month session
The much-publicized tort refom
also will get public hearings in aSei
ate committee starting today
proposals that would affect persoiu
injury lawsuits are on the agendalr
the Senate Economic Developmet
Committee, with hearings expecte
to last two weeks.
Rep. Roman Martinez, D-Hom
ton, has chosen today to annountt
the filing of a bill to reduce Texj
school dropout rate of 33 percent.
cn
“The state cannot achieve «(
By Christina Caywood-Brennan
Reporter
Texas wine — are you kidding?
Paul Bonarrigo and his wife, Mer
rill, are very serious about winemak
ing at their Bryan winery.
Established in 1983, Messina Hof
Wine Cellars is the only winery in
the Brazos Valley. It was the 15th
vineyard planted in Texas and is one
of 500 vineyards in the state.
“Texas is the fastest-growing
wine-producing state in America,”
Bonarrigo says.
He compares its development
with that of the California wine in
dustry. In the late 1960s, he says,
many people looked down upon Cal
ifornia wines. In the mid-1970s,
however, there was a boom, and to
day California produces some of the
finest wines in the world.
Because of a growing interest, he
believes Texas wines are heading in
the same direction.
Texas wines are becoming so pop
ular, he says, that Messina Hof is
testing and marketing its products in
Boston, Miami and Denver.
level than most other liquors and of
ten is associated with dining.
The quality of the wine produced
ds on the quality of the grapes,
liir
depends i
and most importantly, the handling
of the grapes, Bonarrigo says.
se,” or fragrance, and then rolled
over the tongue so that the tastebuds
may pick up the quality of the wine.
The wine also is touched with the
tongue and chewed to determine its
sound.
“Be as much a perfectionist as you can be. Anytime you
create a flaw, you detract from the quality of the wine."
— Paul Bonarrigo, winemaker from Messina Hof
Wine Cellars
One goal Messina Hof hopes to
accomplish this year, Bonarrigo says,
is to establish itself in the Orient,
Canada and the Caribbean.
Some of the reasons for the recent
popularity of wine, Bonarrigo says,
may be that wine has a lower alcohol
“Be as much a perfectionist as you
can be,” he says. “Any time you cre
ate a flaw, you detract from the qual
ity of the wine.”
When tasting wine, all five senses
are used, Bonarrigo said. The wine
is visually examined for color and
clarity, sniffed to determine its “no-
Bonarrigo, a sixth-generation wi
nemaker, says he’s always had an in
terest in wines. In his family, the
firstborn son always is namecl Paul
and is destined to lie a winemaker.
At age 16, the boy is responsible for
his first vintage, he says, and he later
will take over the family business.
The Bonarrigos’ son, Paul Mitch
ell, 4, already has developed the abil
ity to determine wine quality.
Bonarrigo and his wife came up
with the name “Messina HoF’ be
cause his family is from Messina, Sic
ily, and hers is from Hof, Germany.
Bonarrigo says he plans to expand
the winery further.
nomic diversification if a large pei
centage of our future work force
uneducated,” he said.
On Tuesday, a plan to exten
temporary sales and gasoline tax
creases to Sept. 1, 1989, will
heard by the House Ways an
Means Committee.
The increases, raising the Jtat
sales tax from 4.125 percent loj,
percent and the gasoline taxfroml!
cents to 15 cents a gallon, becamee
teclive Jan. 1 and would expire Sep
1.
Committee chairman Sli
Schlueter, D-Killeen, predictedk
panel would send the bill tot
floor, and Speaker Gib Lewis pi
dieted it could win full Houseappn
val by week’s end.
Schlueter and Lewis have sa
House members do not want
tackle the tax overhaul this yearif
does not raise additional revenue
Chimney Hill
Bowling Center
"A Family
Recreation Center"
A&M Student Special
TVT M-F 9am to 5:30pm
•L^M V w $1. 25 per game
also good for faculty & A&M employees. 1987 ID required.
40 Lanes — Automatic Scoring
League & Open Bowling
Bar & Snack Bar
701 University Drive East
260-9184
4r MSC Camera Committee
presents
J. R. Torres
speaking on
Specular Highlights
Come hear J. R. discuss his work with famous photographers
such as ANSEL ADAMS on Monday, March 2 at 7 p.m. in room
701 Rudder.
+ New Members Welcome it
nate
Before
You
WHILE
THEY
LAST!
All Cotton Bowl Shirts
25% OFF
Also
* sweats
* selected Jackets
Spring Break ’87
Vacate!
Today get your
T-shirts and
video coupons!
AGGIE BLOOD DRIVE
March 2,3,4, & 5
Places and Times:
Commons: 10 am to 8 pm
MSC: 10 am to 6 pm
Fish Pond: 10 am to 6 pm
Zachry: 10 am to 5 pm
‘ Another service
wade/ i
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