ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 14, 1997 TAG: 9702140023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Out & About
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKS
You remember Oedipus, the unfortunate king who unknowingly killed his father, married his mother and - horrified when he discovered what he had done - blinded himself in a fit of remorse.
And then there was Antigone, Oedipus' daughter. When her brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, killed each other in a civil war, her uncle forbade anyone to bury Polynices' body because he had attacked his own city. Antigone, determined to give her brother a proper burial, was condemned to death for defying her uncle and banished to a cave where she hanged herself.
Intriguing?
Barbara Carlisle thought so.
The Virginia Tech professor was examining the Greek plays, trying to identify with the time-honored classics.
Something, however, kept getting in the way.
Carlisle said she had lost her connection to many of the ancient works because she could no longer relate to the essentially male point of view. So, intrigued by the human dimensions of "Oedipus" and "Antigone," she decided to retell the stories from a woman's viewpoint.
"Offending Shadows," Carlisle's newest original play, brings the themes of these two Greek myths into our own day and age. The play looks at relationships within families and the meaning of loyalty in modern times.
Carlisle, who has been writing and producing plays for 25 years, says "Offending Shadows" also grew out of her reaction to some current events - the political ups and downs of Newt Gingrich, theories about Nancy Reagan's governing role at the end of her husband's presidency and the disturbing history of the mayor's office of the District of Columbia.
"Offending Shadows" is Virginia Tech's current Theatre Arts-University Theatre production. It runs through Sunday in Squires Studio Theatre. Shows are today at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m.
The production features a cast of 18 students and original music by Tech alumnus Michael Ulrich. The score incorporates the actors' voices, sound effects and computer technology. Bob Leonard of Tech's theater arts department is the director.
Admission to "Offending Shadows" is free, but you do need tickets. They're available at the box office in Squires Student Center one hour before each show.
IT TAKES TEA TO TANGO: The Old Pros, our favorite local big band orchestra, will play for a "Tea Dance" Sunday in New River Community College's T.J. Anderson Student Lounge.
The combo will play hits from the '30s, as well as some modern tunes. These musicians bring back the sounds of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Artie Shaw, the Dorsey Brothers and Woody Herman.
The dance begins at teatime (2-ish) and runs until 5 p.m. Admission is by donation.
Questions? Call 921-1221.
HOW ABOUT A NICE ROMANTIC DINNER? It's Valentine's Day, after all.
Floyd United Methodist Church, 417 East Main St., is where you'll find the candlelight tonight. The people of the church will be serving a delicious dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall.
Sirloin tip roast, baked potato, salad and green beans await you, along with homemade breads and cake.
You'll even be serenaded by local performers while you dine.
Tickets are $7.50 for adults or $3.50 for children under 6. Proceeds benefit the church's Mission and Ministry.
For more information, call the church at 745-4121.
THE NEXT JEFF FOXWORTHY: That's what The Washington Post called John Floyd.
Floyd, a down-home comedian from down home in New York City, performs Saturday at the Bus Stop. Funny guy Henry Welch is also on the lineup for the weekly "Comedy Zone" show at the Radford nightspot, 960 Norwood St.
Floyd has opened for country music star Wade Hayes, as well as other show biz biggies. He travels coast-to-coast performing at corporate events and comedy clubs.
Saturday's one-liners commence at 10 p.m. A $5 cover gets you in.
TALENT, TALENT, TALENT: Some of the New River Valley's most talented musicians will get together this weekend for a "Schubertiade" at Virginia Tech.
The event is a couple of concerts honoring Franz Schubert on the bicentennial of the composer's birth. Schubert was one of the greatest songsters of the Romantic Period.
Baritone Craig Fields will perform several of Schubert's lieder (art songs). You'll hear excerpts from "Schangesang" ("Swan Song"), the composer's last work. Fields, accompanied by pianist Mary Louise Hallauer, also renders Der Elk nig, Op. 1 ("The Erl-King"), said to be the greatest song ever set to music by a composer.
Talented musicians at the Schubertiade also include Jay and Elizabeth Crone on flute and piano, as well as duo pianists Teresa Ehrlich and Hallauer.
Concerts are Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. in Squires Recital Salon. Tickets, available at the student center box office, are $10 for adults or $7 for students and senior citizens.
SUITES FOR THE SWEET: "Valentine Suites" - that's what's on tap Thursday in Radford. The Radford High School Band will play romantic interludes at the Radford Presbyterian Church, beginning at 7 p.m.
You're invited to bring your valentine and munch on sweet desserts while you listen to the band. The event is a fund-raiser for the band's spring concert tour at Disney World.
Tickets are $5 per person. To get them, call 633-1638 or 731-0099.
LENGTH: Long : 109 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: JOHN PRUSAK. Barbara Carlisle's (above) newest originalby CNBplay, "Offending Shadows," brings the themes of these two Greek
myths into our own day and age. The play looks at relationships
within families and the meaning of loyalty in modern times.