Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Page 7 PHOTO BY JOE LESTERIOVE Bananaland Conjures Up Central American Circus k.d. lang: Is She or Isn't She...Patsy? You will enter through the door which is open but only after the door has been opened by someone who is standing on the inside. Consider yourself an outsider in this matter. One who must by necessity buy a ticket in order to enter. Those on the inside know something which you do not know and it is your job to find out what it is. Welcome to Bananaland! Where everything is bananas south of the border. Where Somoza smiles when he says "Frequently you will be told what to do and where to go. I like that." And he grins some more as he chews on his cigar with his teeth. George Nikas, as Somoza, has never looked better or happier in a uniform as he oversees the Plaza area where you may be seated at a few select tables and be entertained by the enchanting duo of Rodger French and Nita Hardy. Here in the Plaza you will have the opportunity to slurp a banana smoothie or drool over a banana popsicle. You may want from the top banana in propaganda-Edward Bemays (played by Kent Whipple) who will speak to the effectiveness of a good public relations campaign in keeping the natives quiet while stealing away their land. Let's hear it for the United Fruit Company and the capitalist way. After the museum tour you will find your way to the tour of Guatemala, or vice versa as the case may be. And here you will find the most effective use of political theater in Neil Bogan and Jim Brooks' presentation of "Operation Success." See how the CIA replaces a democratically elected leader with a puppet government in a few easy song and dance numbers. Very imaginative work that holds one's attention with a focus and clarity that is sometimes missing in other parts of the show. Bananaland is a multi-media extravaganza approach in creating a theatrical environment I found it visually amazing that anyone could come up with so many different images of Actors Nita Hardy and Rodger French appearing in "Bananaland" at 7 Stages July 7-24. to check out the tourist hut for pre-Columbian artifacts and other good deals like authentic Panama hats and banana napkin holders. You may also want to check out the propaganda booth in an attempt to get serious. In fact, this may be a good cover. Buy a good book, a Panama hat, sit at the table with the hat pulled down over your eyes, and pretend that you are not having a good time and that bananas don't interest you a bit Pretend you are CIA on a counterintelligence mission in enemy territory. When you have exhausted that fantasy or another of your own choosing you will want to visit the Museum. It's not that you will want to visit the museum but you will have to visit the museum. Because that's the way it is in Bananaland. Freedom of choice is an optical illusion. You will begin to understand. Slowly. For instance we as Americans support the right to democracy in Nicaragua-as long as the Contras are in control. While in the Museum area you will hear bananas under one roof, but you may leave never wanting to see the face of another banana again. Some of the show's messages get buried in the busyness of the production and I found myself wondering if those without strong background information on Central American politics would get all the references alluded to. I didn't And I also found myself feeling sort of dazed, wandering around aimlessly waiting for the next event to begin, then marveling at the wonderful metaphor I had been presented with...because it's so very similar to what American policy is in Central America. Wandering around aimlessly with nowhere to go, waiting for the next event to begin. Hats off to Ruby Lemer and George King for a thoroughly imaginative show/experience. Bananaland runs through July 27th at Seven Stages Theater. 523-7047 for reservations and information. -Debra Hiers Does Patsy Cline give you chills? Brenda Lee make you cry? Loretta Lynn get your feettappin'? And what about Kitty Wells? Have you checked into k.d. lang? She's a Canadian-up there they call her the Alberta Rose-from Consort, Alberta (population 674-sometimes small towns produce the strangest folks). At the closing ceremonies of die Winter Olympics she got the athletes on their feet dancing with a kickin' rendition of "Turn Me Round" from her "Angel with a Lariat" album. That's a fine album-lots of raucous roadhouse music guaranteed to get you dancing just like those athletes. But hidden away on the album are two slower songs: "Diet of Strange Places” (written by k.d.) and a cover of the Patsy classic "Three Cigarettes in a Ashtray." I wanted more. And now we've got it "Shadowland," an album produced by Owen Bradley, arguably the finest Nashville producer ever, is out and it's everything we could have dreamed of: couple of Western-type numbers a la Marty Robbins ("Western Stars" and "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes"), some Big City Blues ("Black Coffee" and "Busy Being Blue”), a bit of Big Band ("Shadowland") and enough classic country to make Patsy proud, wherever she is. The first thing to mention about led. is The Voice. Best guess is she's got a four and half octave range; the lower register rich like "Black Coffee," the upper register crystal clear. And emotion, lots of emotion. If some of Patsy's broken heart songs tear you up, listen closely to "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" or "Lock, Stock and Teardrops." Generally speaking, I like to avoid comparison to other artists, but comparing k.d. to Patsy is inevitable. k.d. herself seems to invite it: her band's called "The Reclines," and the credits on "Shadowland" include a thanks to "patsy." Like Patsy, k.d. has remarkable control over a remarkable voice, an amazing ability to take the corniest c-w lyric and, with a careful break in the voice, turn it into a heart-wrencher. And k.d. claims to be a reincarnation of Patsy. No kidding. She really does. And then there's "Honky Tonk Angels' Medley," a medley of "In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down), "You Nearly Lose Your Mind," and "Blues Stay Away from Me." The thing that makes this a memorable cut is that it's a quartet featuring k.d., Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, and Kitty Wells. Only Patsy is missing. k.d. spent two years convincing Owen Bradley to come out of retirement to produce this album. With a little help from RCA artist rep Mary Martin and an appearance on "The Tonight Show," he did, and the result is an exceptionally well produced album. Play it loud when you think you can't possibly feel any more depressed, or just to enjoy one of the best voices on record. She's touring the US now, but as of this writing, there is no Atlanta date set When there is, I'll see you there. -KC Wildmoon Voices Carry... The word is out on ComQuest, the matching service for men: • No fees over $30 • Satisfaction guaranteed • A detailed application form Call for free brochure and application. The Computerized Gay Matching Service 1-800-633-6969 (24 hours a day. 7 days a week.) The Actor's Grou^ " Presents arve^Ftersteirr s A,ug. 3~6 S 9~13j (8:00 pm) run to Benefit's^ r 7£14' AID Atlanta ^ ^z2r\(3 : 00pm) „ TAGES BACK DOOR J. 1105 Euclid Ave. □ To charae tickets call 523-7647 m vtiii m iiTrn iTTi x 11 x 1111 itttttw