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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 13, 1988)
Wednesday, April 13, 1988/The Battalion/Page 3 I State and Local 0 css 111 XXJtJ ic lea inesm 'sites Cats’ performance mesmerizes, transforms theater with imagery By Richard Tijerina Senior Staff Writer Rudder Auditorium was trans formed Tuesday night into a vast i ? junkyard, cluttered with litter ®™against the backdrop of a full moon in a lonely sky, as the MSC Opera and Performing Arts Society pre sented “Cats,” the musical inspired by T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book Of Practical Cats.” The stage was filled with small odds and ends to enhance the image isantJ of being in a junkyard, including such everyday things as umbrellas, ovens, tennis racquets, tires, books, lampshades and an old car. Just as the audience became ac quainted with that setting, small eyes appear from behind the junk, pre ceding an explosion of sights and sounds as the orchestra blared to a dazzling lightshow of theatrical fire- works. Entering from behind the junk, the cast of cats came on stage to start the show. The second scene of the show ex plained the plot of the musical. Once jyear, all of thejellicle cats gather in one place at the jellicle ball, where , the leader of them all, an ancient cat n named Old Deuteronomy, names the cat who is to be “reborn” and tome back in a new jellicle form. Un fortunately, none of the cats know ho is to be chosen, thus bringing on lengthy list of worthy candidates. Among these candidates, the Rum Turn Tugger, Grizabella the Glam our Cat and Mr. Mistoffelees stand out. The Rum Turn Tugger, por trayed by Bradford Minkoff, is mag nificent as the black alley cat with the tough demeanor. A rough, tough fe- ine with a silver-spiked belt around nis waist, the Rum Turn Tugger tings of his f reestyle way of life, and ells how no one can change his rum- olingand tumbling ways. Grizabella the Glamour Cat is damorous to no one but herself , a act that all the other cats recognize ind despise. She is run off by the >ther cats before she gets to say her oiece. Flutes from the distance signal the coming of Old Deuteronomy. He is described as a great leader who has been around since before the reign of Queen Victoria. The jellicle ball begins with the cast of cats rejoicing and recounting past tales. The first act ends in sadness as Grizabella returns to join the ball, but is left alone as everyone aban dons the junkyard at her presence. Only Old Deuteronomy remains to listen to her lament her present situ ation, and she goes into her beauti ful rendition of the classic song, “Memory,” singing how wonderful it would be to be beautif ul again. T he second act introduced even more characters to the company of kitties, including the treacherous Macavity, described as a “criminal extroadinaire, who, when you re turn to the scene of the crime, is not there. Upon Rum Turn Tugger’s sug gestion, the cats turn to a clever cat named Mr. Mistoffelees, a renowned magician who, as the legend goes, can make seven cats appear out of an ordinary hat. Although he doesn’t produce seven cats, he does produce a very important one — Ola Deute ronomy. Upon his return, the festivities be gin again, as all the cats are abuzz over who he will pick to be reborn into another life. They are all sur prised as he picks none other than Grizabella, who sings “Memory” again as she is being taken to her destination of rebirth. Overall, the show was wonderful. What made it so good were the little things the cast members did to cre ate the image that they were cats. They’d stretch, arch their backs, yawn and rub each other with their bodies. Also, the cats would often in teract with the audience. All of this playful interaction with the crowd only enhanced the feeling that the audience was viewing a junkyard full of cats, not actofs. Photo by Mike C. Mulvey Actors perform the “Grizabella, the Glamour Cat” act of the musical “Cats,” which was performed Tuesday night in Rudder Audito- riutn. The shdw was sponsored by OPAS. > f' \ ' Mi'- -I ‘i Officials predict turbulence after Prince resigns DALLAS (AP) — In a city split by the turmoil over its police de partment, the man in the middle stepped out Tuesday, leaving be hind even more turbulence on the horizon. Police Chief Billy Prince an nounced his retirement at age 45. “I feel kind of run over here,” Prince said. “It’s come to the point when it’s time to let some one else get in the middle, and that’s what I’ve decided to do.” What’s left behind for Dallas, police and city leaders predict, is even more tension — tension that will mark the search for a new chief, the continuing struggle over a citizens’ review board and probably even the 1989 race for mayor. Within minutes of Prince’s an nouncement, black City Council members who have been sharp critics of the department called for hiring a black police chief, and insisted the new chief be an outsider. Supporters of Prince, includ ing one law-and-order city coun cilman already talking about run ning for mayor, criticized Mayor Annette Strauss and called the re tiring chief a “scapegoat” who was “hounded out of office.” The mayor denied Prince was forced out. And the head of the Dallas Po lice Association, which had been at war with Prince last year and is currently doing battle with the City Council, said she, too, saw more trouble on the horizon, in cluding uncertainty on patrol and battles over selection of a new chief. “I’d like to talk to my mem bership about what they want — not that anybody will ask us,” said Monica Smith, president of the officers’ organization. The beat goes on in Dallas’ struggle with police and politics. When Prince was plucked from the department ranks for the chiefs job six years ago, he was hailed as a community relations expert. When he announced his retirement, City Manager Rich ard Knight said he would look for a chief with community relations expertise. “No single police chief can overcome all of the scars and wounds of the past,” Prince of fered. “It’s going to take years, and decades before things get to the point where we want.” On Prince’s watch, the depart ment has been scrutinized and criticized for a record number of police shootings of citizens, mostly black and Hispanic. In 1986, a 70-year-old black woman was shot to death by an officer responding to a burglary call at her home. After Prince fired the officer, the Dallas Police Association passed a “no confi dence” vote on the chief. Prince had been on rocky terms with the City Council since last year when he lobbied against reforms of his department, in cluding broader powers of a citi zens’ police review board. In January, following the downtown slaying of Officer John Chase, the chief said mem bers of the council, and the mayor, shared some blame for creating an atmosphere of hostil ity toward police. The shooting and the feud produced a backlash of support for the police in Dallas, and the DPA took to polling places on Su per Tuesday and collected 20,000 signatures to usurp the City Council and force a referendum on the review board. . )l i Take a tax break and order any regular frozen yogurt sundae. You’ll get a delicious return for your investment: a medium serving of your favorite frozen yogurt flavor, the hot topping of your choice and any dry topping. Offer valid now through April 17 at Dessert Shoppe 601 University Drive, College Station (409)846-4288 ©1988 Baskin-Robbins Incorporated Store hours:. 10a.m. to midnight Th e T'rlVtSC Wiley Lecture Thought provoking panel discussion with leaders of global scope on an issue of importance to our generation... and generations to come. Wiley Lecture Series NUCLEAR WAR: Thinking the Unthinkable April 26 5 8:00 Rudder Auditorium Tickets on sale now at the Rudder Box Office 845-1234 and at Dillards