Heathen Valley
Questions go unanswered in TCU Theatre production

by Wendy Meyer
staff reporter

An ex-convict murderer or a caring deacon? A wild woman or a loving wife? A dirt-poor hick or a midwife with a heart of gold? Corrupt bishop or bewildered theologist? A valley of heathens or just another community surviving the best way they know how? Playwright Romulus Linney leaves the choices entirely up to you.

“Heathen Valley,” performed by TCU Theatre, is set in backwoods North Carolina where Bishop Ames played by David Fluitt, a junior theater major, and his accomplice Starns, played by sophomore theater performance major Matthew Moore, set about converting a community of lost souls to Christianity.

“Do you remember Jesus Christ?” the Episcopal priest asks Juba, a stout midwife played by Desiree Fultz, a senior theater major.

“Passed through here about a month ago,” she stubbornly replies.

With minimal set and props, the play demands strong acting. Rachel Golden (Cora), a senior theater and radio-TV-film major, sophomore theater majors Travis Willingham (Harlan) and John de los Santos (Billy), Fultz and Moore all meet the challenge with powerful performances.

Starns, Ames and Billy, an orphan, set out for the valley of darkness in order to spread the word of God to its people.

“When the poor of this earth need me, I go,” Ames says.

When the group finally arrives things are somewhat in a state of disarray and Ames leaves Starns in charge of changing the heathens’ lives according to God’s will.

Director George Brown, associate professor of theatre, said the play deals with themes that are prevalent in our world today, like spirituality and religion.

“The dichotomy between finding happiness on earth and fulfilling our duty to prepare for heaven is essential to the play,” he said.

Brown chose the play after falling in love with the script a few years ago, he said.

“I have always been looking for a group to perform it and finally found the right people,” he said.

Golden plays a feisty 20-year-old heathen (Cora) married to a brute, Harland.

“She really kicks butt,” Golden said. “Its fun to get to beat up all these guys.”

Cora constantly engages in stage fights and soothes Harland during his episodes of terrifying illusions.

Harlan and Huckleberry Finns’ dad might be long lost twins. He is one of the most interesting characters of the play because he occasionally redeems his despicable nature with moments of human compassion.

Golden also said it was challenging to explore the different dialect of the heathens. Students worked with Belinda Boyd, head of the acting program, to vocally define the backwoods North Carolina colloquialism, Brown said.

Brown choreographed the fight scenes, based on experience he gained from staging fights and battle sequences for Romeo and Juliet for Theatre Koleso in Russia, Trojan Woman and Macbeth.

The costumes and scenery were designed by LaLonnie Lehman and Nancy McCauley. The costumes are vivid and the bare stage helps evoke the impotence of poverty.

Starns finally does spread the bishop’s religion to the heathens.

The success turns out to be less than satisfying for the spiritually superior Ames, who is never pleased with Starns.

“Ultimately the play demonstrates that these heathens are human,” Brown said. “When we are judgmental about others’ religion, we are all heathens,” he said.

The answers to this play’s questions are not answered by the characters or the plot. Linney ends “Heathen Valley” with each character introducing themselves to the audience again, offering no conclusion as to which of the characters are the true heathens.

The show runs 8 p.m. today through Sunday with 2 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday in Hays Theatre. Tickets are free for TCU students, $3 for children, seniors and all other students and $5 for adults.

Wendy Meyer
w.m.meyer@student.tcu.edu

by David Reese
skiff staff

As the fall season approaches, the anticipation grows for the new television lineup and upcoming movie and music releases. Here’s an in depth look into this season’s hottest movies, music and television series.

Movies

October

Oct. 6
“Get Carter”
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine and Rachael Leigh Cook
“Get Carter” could be the film Stallone needs for a comeback. Based on the 1971 film, “Mean Streets,” Stallone acts the part of a Vegas card shark that attends his brother’s funeral in Seattle. While there, Stallone, along side his niece, Cook (“She’s All That”), seek revenge for a murder.
“Meet the Parents”
Starring: Robert DeNiro and Ben Stiller
DeNiro plays a crazed father in a story of a relationship between a man and his future son-in-law.

Oct. 13
“Bounce”
Starring: Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow
A cocky ad executive gives his plane ticket to Paltrow’s love-struck husband. The plane crashes and Affleck visits the grieving widow. The little visit eventually turns into a romance. Shouldn’t be too difficult for Paltrow and Affleck to act like lovers since the couple has been off and on for years.
“The Ladies Man”
Starring: Tim Meadows
Another “Saturday Night Live” comedy sketch turns into a film like “Wayne’s World,” “Superstar” and “Coneheads.” The trailers look funny, but I’m sure those are the best scenes.

Oct. 20
“Pay It Forward”
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment
Talk about an incredible cast, all I have to say is ... Oscar. Spacey (Best Actor, “American Beauty” and Best Supporting Actor, “The Usual Suspects”), Hunt (Best Actress, “As Good As It Gets”) and Osment (Oscar nominee, “The Sixth Sense”) make this movie worth seeing.

November

Nov. 3
“Charlie’s Angels”
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu
The movie is a remake of the fashionable 1970s television series about three heroines trying to stop the assassination of their fearless leader, Charlie.
“The Legend of Bagger Vance”
Starring: Matt Damon, Will Smith and Charlize Theron
A young World War II hero (Damon) and his caddy (Smith) enter a local golf tournament with hopes of beating the pros.

Nov. 10
“Little Nicky”
Starring: Adam Sandler
A strange and weird plot, even for Sandler.

Nov. 17
“The 6th Day”
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Little information has been released about the film so far, but we know there are less blowups than previous Schwarzenegger films.
“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
Starring: Jim Carrey
The film about the classic children’s book looks to be a huge film with Carrey as the Grinch.

Nov. 22
“102 Dalmatians”
Starring: Glenn Close
Cruella DeVille is on the hunt again, but how many spots can we bare to see?
“Unbreakable”
Starring: Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson
The movie is another supernatural thriller starring Willis and directed/written by M. Night Shyamalan. It could end up being a hit like “Sixth Sense,” but it also may not be worth seeing.

Music

October

Oct. 10
Orgy, “Vapor Transmission”
The rock group that covered “Blue Monday” comes back with the same flavor and flare in their sophomore album.

Oct. 17
Limp Bizkit, “Chocolate Starfish and the Hot-Dog Flavored Water”
The rap-rock oriented band brings us the hilariously titled album which should feature songs much like “Nookie” and “Break Stuff.”

Oct. 31
U2, “All That You Can’t Leave”
U2’s new album “All That You Can’t Leave” shouldn’t disappoint their loyal fans.

November

Nov. 7
Jennifer Lopez, “A Passionate Journey”
Lopez uses her vocals once more with her sophomore recording.

Nov. 14
Ricky Martin, album untitled as of now
He’s been living a crazy life while shaking his bon bon across the world on tour this past year, and he’s ready to hit us with an album which should feature more catchy dance songs.

Nov. 21
Backstreet Boys, “Black and Blue”
Although they are the best-selling boy band on the market, they are definitely feeling the stress of ‘N Sync on their heels. The first single will be “Shape of My Heart.”

Television

ABC
“The Geena Davis Show”
8:30 p.m. Tuesdays
Academy award winning actress, Geena Davis ventures into the realm of television sitcoms with her self-titled series. As a film actress, she has a lot to prove.

“Gideon’s Crossing”
9 p.m. Wednesdays
Emmy award winner Andre Braugher stars as a doctor at a hospital that actually cares for their patients. The premiere episode will be aired without commercials.

“Madigan Men”
8:30 p.m. Fridays
Film actor Gabriel Byrne stars as a single father having to deal with his father and son. This series will be part of the new ABC Fridays, which will no longer consist of the TGIF family programming.

CBS
“Bette”
7 p.m. Wednesdays
Although I think Bette Midler has tremendous talent, I predict her series as the first to be canceled of the new season. Nobody enjoys watching a comedy about a prima-donna, aging actress.

“Welcome to New York”
7:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Emmy and Tony award winner Christine Baranski, known for her portrayal of the alcoholic Maryanne on “Cybill,” returns to prime time. Her acting and comedy is hilarious, much like the early years of “Frasier,” I just hope she finds an audience.

“The Fugitive”
7 p.m. Fridays
The jury is still out about the new version of “The Fugitive.” It stars former “Wings” star Tim Daly as Dr. Richard Kimbel. It may be a winner, although the only thing I definitely know is that the one-armed man killed his wife.

“The District”
9 p.m. Saturdays
Former “Coach” star Craig T. Nelson takes a dramatic turn as the police chief of Washington, D.C. It could be the next “Law & Order,” but only time and story plots will tell.

NBC
“The Michael Richards Show”
7 p.m. Tuesdays at, 7 p.m.
Emmy winner and former “Seinfeld” cast member Richards returns to television sets as a private detective. As long as the “Seinfeld” fans follow Richards, the series will be a hit.

“DAG”
8:30 p.m. Tuesdays
Former “Designing Women” star, Delta Burke plays the first lady of the United States. David Alan Grier (“In Living Color”) plays a secret agent trying to protect Burke. With these two, this comedy could take flight if promoted right.

“Titans”
7 p.m. Wednesdays
An Aaron Spelling creation, “Titans” will revolve around a back-stabbing rich family. The series stars Yasmine Bleeth and Casper Van Dien.

These films, series and albums are just a select few of the upcoming season. Only time will tell which ones will win and which will lose.

David Reese
TCUFrog03@aol.com

Remember the Titans

Members of the newly-integrated Virginia high-school football team don’t have to like each other, but they do have to respect one another.

That is the stipulation Coach Herman Boone gave the Titans when he became their head coach in 1971. Now his words are immortalized in “Remember the Titans,” a first-rate movie based on the real events that followed the integration of T.C. Williams High School.

Denzel Washington plays Coach Boone, an uncompromising man who faces not only the prejudices of his assistant coach and his team, but also of the whole town. Boone and his family left South Carolina to go to Alexandria so he could join the staff of Coach Bill Yoast, played by Will Patton. Instead, Boone learns that he will be taking over the coach’s position, despite the man’s seniority and devoted following.

What follows is anything but ordinary. Before they have any chance at becoming a first-class football team, the players and the coaches first have to overcome the intolerance that has ruled their families for generations.

For football fans, the game scenes are compelling.

For people who like to see the good guys win by overcoming problems, this is the movie to see.
But what makes this movie all the more compelling is that most of these events actually happened.
What started as a campaign to get members of a football team to play together, forged friendships that would last a lifetime and helped make the town of Alexandria one of the most successfully-integrated towns in Virginia.

— Laura McFarland

Photek’s “Solaris” is a study of alienation and detachment. The spare, simple electronic arrangements are enough to weave a spell over you, but never intimate enough to let you get too close to them. The 11 tracks on the album are pure headphone music. Songs bleed into one another abruptly, and leave listeners with little time to catch their breath. Sound effects swing wildly from earphone to earphone, as if crisscrossing your mind. This is techno music in its purest form, and it aims to make you concentrate a little more to appreciate its full effect.

“Solaris” opens with two head-pounding deep house cuts. The elastic funk of “Terminus” puts you in an altered state, and the cold clockwork of “Junk” does its part to ensure that you will not be leaving anytime soon. But the rest of the album isn’t just drumbeats and synthesizers — Photek also performs wonders with vocal samples. They weave them in and out of the fabric of the music, making them echo, linger like a strummed guitar chord, then fizzle out like dying gasps. “Glamourama” and “Lost Blue Heaven” incorporate haunting words and then turn them into instruments themselves.

The vocals on “Solaris” aren’t restricted to mere background noise, though. “Mine to Give” and “Can’t Come Down” are plain and simple techno pop. Both are unashamed love grooves that end with electronic handclaps.

There are times when “Solaris” gets a tad too monotonous — the 8 1/2 minute long “Infinity” is aptly named. Uncomplicated and unfettered, this is an album that will make you both move and think.

— Jack Bullion

The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999, 2000 Credits

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