Theater

Connie Tarbox described her drama studies senior project, Waisted, which ran February 18-19 in the Humanities Theater, as “a violent, multi-media solo performance focused on American consumption and self-destruction, with backup dancers and free beer.”

Theater is experiential in nature. It’s an act that can’t be captured and reproduced, even though cast albums and filmed shows try to do that. However, every once in a while a show comes along that takes the experience to a new level. Fela is one of those shows.

Fela tells the story of Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti, pioneer of Afrobeat, a combination of American funk and traditional African music. Kuti’s music was fiercely political, criticizing the militaristic dictatorships of his homeland and capitalist regimes.

The trend on Broadway right now is to bring in high-profile film and television actors to star in short runs on Broadway. Fall of 2009 alone saw Hugh Jackman, Daniel Craig, Jude Law, John Stamos, Sienna Miller, and James Spader–many of whom have had significant stage experience on the resume already–star on the Great White Way. The biggest similarity: they are in straight plays.

Electricity is something that most of us take for granted. But sometimes, it’s important to think of all the wonderful things that wouldn’t exist without electricity such as lamps, refrigerators, computers, or vibrators. No electricity, no Hitachi Magic Wand.

Many might wrongfully assume that vibrators are a fairly new invention. They were actually the fifth household appliance to be electrified, according to Rachel P. Maines’ The Technology of Orgasm, right after the sewing machine, fan, teakettle, and toaster.