Mechanicals make stellar 'Timing'

This weekend, something strange will be afoot in the U-Club - chimps will be able to write literature and flustered couples on their first dates will be able to rewind their conversations and start over.

In "All in the Timing," six one-acts by playwright David Ives, the Rude Mechanicals use the power of language to its full capability, creating surprises and laughs.

The name "Rude Mechanicals" is a reference from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and suggests a group of amateurs throwing together a performance. "All in the Timing" is performed in an intimate setting and uses very few props or set pieces, relying solely on the actors for its effect.

The premises for the skits are farfetched, but "they show a kind of microcosm of life," said LSA sophomore Adam Weiner, the show's director.

JOY JACOBS/Daily Music sophomore Erin Satchell and Engineering junior Mike Newberry "chimp around" in "Words, words, words," one of six one acts om "All in the Timing."

For example, the skit "Sure Thing" shows a man and a woman in a coffee shop on their first date. It gives an idea of what life would be like if people could edit their conversations, something most people wish they could do at one time or another.

"Whenever the guy says something the girl doesn't like, or something not accepted in the social realm, you hear a bell ring and the conversation rewinds itself," Weiner said. The results of the snappy, fast-paced dialogue are clever, insightful, and hilarious.

Another skit, "Words, Words, Words," shows three chimps named Swift, Milton and Kafka trapped in a cage, forced to write "Hamlet."

"That's on the theory that anybody typing to infinity, be it chimps or anyone, will sooner or later produce 'Hamlet,'" Weiner said.

The chimps develop the characteristics of their namesakes during the bit (a chimp spouting off passages of "Paradise Lost?"), and both the verbal and physical comedy make this one of the funniest, but most difficult, skits to perform, Weiner said.

Because of the short length and crucial use of timing and language, "All in the Timing" is often used in speech and forensic tournaments.

"David Ives is so talented in the way he writes it down," Weiner said. "The timing comes out in the reading. Because these pieces are done in forensics, no matter if they're done professionally or by someone mediocre, they're still good because of the quality of the literature."

PREVIEW
	All in the Timing U-Club Friday at 8 and 11 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m.

That doesn't mean the actors and director haven't had their challenges in rehearsing these works.

"It's a different kind of show and in doing it, I didn't know what to expect," Weiner said. "This is a hard, intellectual comedy. Fortunately, we started rehearsals early enough where we could learn about the timing - which is essential - and basically how we can work the plays to their full potential for laughs."

The challenge of the play is what prompted Weiner to suggest it to the UAC committee.

"I first saw (the show) this past summer. It really appealed to me. This is something that would really appeal to the college crowd. It's smart, but you don't need to be an Einstein to get the jokes," he said.

But Weiner explained the difficulty in publicizing a show without a recognizable name as in past Rude Mechanicals shows such as "Macbeth" and "A Few Good Men."

Despite the play's relative obscurity, both Weiner and the show's producer, Business junior Leslie Soranno, said they feel that "All in the Timing" truly exemplifies what the Rude Mechanicals is all about.

"This feels like Rude Mechanicals," Soranno said. "The cast is wonderful; the actors are from all over the University. We're providing the opportunity for students who might not have the opportunity in their particular major, who for some reason decided not to go into performance professionally."

Formerly known as SophShow, the Rude Mechanicals have made substantial changes, following a pattern of doing Shakespeare in the fall and a more modern work in the winter. They have also initiated the State Street Poetry Project, which has gained popularity in the past year.

For the first time, the Rude Mechanicals will be having a special late show on Friday night.

"I think its eccentric and irreverent attitude will appeal to everyone," Weiner said. The show promises to be unlike any other in its ability to make people laugh, and will no doubt successfully expand the creative capacity of the Rude Mechanicals.

Tickets are $6 for students, and are available at the Michigan Union Ticket Office. Call 763-TKTS for more information.

04-01-98