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Wednesday, March 5,2008
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Old Story, New Look
Theater Reviews
Far
from the visiting Broadway puppet shows of the Downtown theater
district, Andrew Edwin Ross and Daniel Koester spoke an old familiar
dialogue from Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men as the tragic story was brought to the stage by the UW-Milwaukee Department of Theatre and director Rebecca Holderness.
Everything
was just a bit out of sync of expectation for one of America’s most
popular novels. A lot of thought went into the stark (perhaps
minimalist) set and the use of space onstage, but in the end the
production felt like a fully costumed, finely tuned dress rehearsal.
The muted production elements did owner
(Evan Weisfeldt) to the violent yet doltish emissary of the White
Citizens Counsel (Jason Will) and the waitress’s would-be suitor (Mario
Andre Alberts), seem to doubt themselves and their surroundings. Olivia
and the cafe proprietor’s teen daughter, Sally (Kathryn Mooers), appear
unwavering in their fight for and support of democratic justice.
Acacia’s
usual prerogative to produce Christian-themed drama extended not only
to the church and preaching milieu of which Olivia spoke to justify her
controversial actions and informed civil rights protests. A variety of
recorded soul gospel plays before the play and during intermission. And
in looking back at that tempestuous time, Blessed Assurance alludes to the furtherance of racial harmony today.
serve
to focus all attention on what the characters were going through
remarkably well, however. Lennie (Ross) wasn’t that much bigger than
George (Koester), or anyone else for that matter, but Ross’ portrayal
of the doomed man was sympathetic enough to cast the character in a new
light. He didn’t slur his words or over-exaggerate Lennie’s mental
dimness.
With Lennie seeming just a bit more like a human than a force of nature, the play’s central conflicts almost looked new again. Of Mice and Men closed March 2. UWM’s next show, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, opens in April.
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AP - President Barack Obama says he wants Congress to pass legislation giving the government greater regulatory authority over financial institutions like American International Group.
Sources: Pentagon to stop forced tour extension
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AP - The Army will substantially reduce use of the unpopular practice of holding troops beyond their enlistment dates and will pay $500 to those still forced to stay in the service, defense and congressional officials said Wednesday.
AIG head shares US anger of bonuses but backs them
(AP)
AP - The chief executive officer of failed insurance conglomerate AIG acknowledged Wednesday that the company's multimillion-dollar bonuses were "distasteful" to many and had provoked a firestorm of wrath. "I share that anger," Edward Liddy, chairman and CEO of the American International Group Inc., said in testimony prepared for Congress.
Analysis: White House, Dems backpedaling on AIG
(AP)
AP - For the first time since last fall's election, Democrats and the Obama administration are backpedaling furiously on an issue easily understood by financially strapped taxpayers: $165 million in bonuses paid out at bailed-out AIG.
Pence: Return AIG donations
(Politico)
Politico - House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence is urging politicians from both parties to strongly consider returning campaign contributions from AIG.
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Top Stories
AIG head shares US anger of bonuses but backs them
(AP)
AP - The chief executive officer of failed insurance conglomerate AIG acknowledged Wednesday that the company's multimillion-dollar bonuses were "distasteful" to many and had provoked a firestorm of wrath. "I share that anger," Edward Liddy, chairman and CEO of the American International Group Inc., said in testimony prepared for Congress.
Obama seeks greater rein on financial institutions
(AP)
AP - President Barack Obama says he wants Congress to pass legislation giving the government greater regulatory authority over financial institutions like American International Group.
Consumer prices rise by largest amount in 7 months
(AP)
AP - Consumer prices rose in February by the largest amount in seven months as gasoline prices surged again and clothing costs jumped the most in nearly two decades.
Crude
