ENTERTAINMENT

Andres

Poulimenos (L) as Baron Scarpia with John Fredric West as Mario Cavaradossi

DIVINE

BORN TO "BE CHEAP"

BRAVA "TOSCA"

Stephanie Sundine English Cast "Tosca"

This season, the Michigan Opera Theatre is offering a variety of performances. These include Puccini's Tosca, Biget's Carmen, Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, and Tigranian's Anoush in its American permiere. Carmen is presently being staged after six performances of Tosca, three of those in the original Italian and three in Joseph Machli's fine English translation. Puccini operas are well noted for their intensively dramastic nature. In other words, to successfully perform a Puccini opera you cannot get away with just hewing great singers, but you need great actors as well. In Tosca, Puccini used his musical ability to mitigate the harsh text originally inspired by Sardoi's play. With his art, he managed to soften brutal situations like the horror of the torture scene taking place in the second act..

The Michigan Opera Theatre's English performance of Tosca was superior to its Italian one in acting, singing and enunciation. In the English, performance of Oct. 9 Baron Scarpia, sung by Andreas Poulimenos, had the facial expressions, movements, and air of arrogance necessary for the characterization of a true villian. Just by looking at him, you automatically knew that he was the "bad guy." His singing and his acting went quite well together, even though at times. he may have exaggerated in his characterization.

The interpretation of Floria Tosca by Stephanie Sundine was another job well done. With her "bella voice" and her actions she showed jealousy for Mario Cavaradossi in the first act, desperation, anger, and hate in the second, and love and sorror in the third. Strong scenes were her killing of Scarpia towards the end of the second act "This is the kiss of Tosca!" and her reaction to Mario's death near the end of the third act moments before she jumps from the parapet to her death.

Mario Cavaradossi played by Jon Fredic West also seemed better in the English version. Again, the characterization was superior to the Italian counterpart. There seemed to be more feeling and emotion even though the singing at times seemed too deep and hallow.

The stage sets for the first and second acts wère excellent and the lighting effects showing the sunrise for the third. act were superb. For the third act, though, the stage set for the terrace of the Castel Saint Angelo seemed overcrowded. The firing squad's actions called for more room in the set.

Overall, the performance was good and the chorus sang well. We encourage those who haven't gone to any of the performancés to hurry up and not miss Carmen or any of the other three works. The Michigan Opera Theatre is doing a fine job in bringing in culture to the city of Detroit. Michael Marrero

"A Chorus Line" Oct. 7 thru Nov. 14 Fisher Theatre

DIVINE APPEARS

BY MIKAL SNELL

The 300 pound DIVINE came racing into the Roostertail parking lot on a chauffeur driven motorcycle, in a chic striped Halston dress, sporting wonderful glitter make-up, with her tossled white hair blowing in the wind.

Farrah Fawcett, eat your heart out. DIVINE was then escorted through the mob of fans and up to the stage where he tore into his version of "The Name Game." After a sleazy 20-minute rap with the audience, he performed his current hit, "Born To Be Cheap." The remainder of the evening consisted of a costume change, and the signing of autographs and a Polyester costume contest. Simultaneously throughout the complex, clips from POLYESTER (DIVINE's new movie) were being shown on video screens. All in all, the evening with DIVINE was enjoyable. Really like a big party..

However, there was some confusion involved with the event. Although the tickets read "Evening With Divine," all of the ads read, "The Detroit Premiere of Polyester And In Person-Divine." This lead a lot of people to believe they would see the movie Polyester. It was after all, billed as "The Detroit Premiere of Polyester." We

got DIVINE, but we only got to see parts from the movie Polyester. That left many people pissed off.

Alan Sklar, one of the promoters of the show was reached for comment; "I feel very bad about the whole situation. I billed the show as an evening with DIVINE, and we had originally been promised 40 minutes of the 70 minute film, which I consider a premiere. At the last minute. though, the film company changed their mind and only sent ús some clips from the film." But the question that arises in my mind is why did the promoters of the show bill the event as a premiere if they knew all along that they were only getting 40 minutes of the film? I mean, wouldn't you expect to see the entire movie if you were going to a premiere? Not just most of the movie?

So in reality, needless to say, the evening didn't come off quite as planned. However, there is a flicker of hope for all of us waiting to see POLYESTER... Sklar said he is working with the film company and TRYING to bring the movie POLYESTER into a local theater at a reduced prize. Like $1.00 night or something similar. To in some way, make up for the "unfortunate misunderstanding" that took place. We'll have to wait and see what happens next.

As for DIVINE, he's busy at work putting the final touches on his book titled, "How To Be Simply Divine," which is to be published this coming December. He's also busy rehearsing for his first Broadway musical, THE THORN. And early in 1982, we will see the first album by DIVINE. So keep your ears open and your eyes on this DIVINE star!!!

ISSUE 59

PHOTOS BY MIKAL SNELL