by Michael Kelly © School Daze, last weekend’s production by Skeena Theatre Arts students, was billed as "remem- bering the forgettable", And there it all was: nearly three hours on the R.E.M. Lee stage taking us back to all the reasons that made it seem sensible to drop out of high school and find something in life to take seriously. The first day in a new school, an introduction to mandatory showers after physical education, confusion over the behavior of the opposite sex, and the general strain of living an ordered life... it was a good performance, and it had to be to make anyone want to remember that sort of thing. There was some bite among these entertaining vignettes as well: an aching self-examination after a sister’s suicide, recounting: the subtle evidence of parental abuse against a friend (long sleeves now have an entire new significance) and.a particularly effective, if somewhat moralizing, portrait of a school drop-out’s struggle by Natalie Michaud. The material in this year’s pro- Memorable reading ‘of the forgettable © duction was not as strong as that. & in Glimpses: The Teenage Years presented last year, but, as director and theatre aris instructor Brian Koven pointed out, "intermediate" level drama material is difficult to come by. Most school theatre programs don’t start until Grade 11 and full-length productions are rare before Grade 12. Providing student actors in a junior secondary pro- 7 gram with material that fallsin the _§ realm of their own experiences is essential for altracting them to an elective program and giving them ahead start in the difficult exercise of getting on stage. School Daze, like all Skeena Theatre Arts productions, was an _ interesting talent-scouting exercise, and it displayed the usual polish that characterizes the core of the theatre arts program. This wasn’t merely an excuse to give a group of students experience in front of an audience. It was an entertaining and sometimes thought-provoking evening. Adults were prominent by their absence from the Friday evening performance, leaving one to wonder about the level of par- ental involvement in this worth- while program. Erik the Viking Starring Tim Robbins, Mickey Rooney, John Cleese. Produced by John Goldstone. Directed by Terry Jones. Rating: PG-13, Running time: 104 minutes. The Great Winter has settled over the land. The sun is little more than a dim and distant memory. There is great violence among men. The vi- kings believe all this has come to pass because the gods have fallen asleep. - But Erik (Tim Robbins) is different. He’s a thinker. And he’s bored silly with all the pillaging and raping. After ac- cidentally killing a girl who’s . honor he was trying to save, he decides to seek out a better life. He consults the local witch woman, who tells him the only way to affect a change is to awaken the gods, and to do that he must travel to a far off island where he will find the horn Resounding. This horn will allow him to safely pass over to Valhalla, the viking equivalent of heaven. Securing a motley crew of fellow vikings who aren’t en- tirely convinced Erik isn’t a few bricks shy of a full load, Erik bids his grandfather (Mickey Rooney) farewell and begins his journey to restore peace and sunshine to the land. I asked my husband, who is of Norwegian descent, if this silly movie is based on an ac- tual legend. He said he hoped not, The Little Mermaid Animated, Produced by _ Howard Ashman and John — Musker. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. Rating: G. Running time: 83 minutes. King Triton, ruler of the seven seas and all the mer- _ people, has several beautiful daughters, all of which he loves ‘dearly, but there is a special place in his heart for Ariel, the tomboy. Ariel is a rebellious teenager. She has been warned repeatedly by her father to not go near the surface because it is too dangerous. But Ariel can’t help herself, she is fascinated by humans. In fact, Arie] has a secret dream — to become human herself. Then something happens one day, something that will change | Ariel’s life forever. She rescues a prince from drowning... and falls hopelessly in love. King Triton is furious when he discovers his daughter has disobeyed him once again. There is a terrible argument, and Ariel, angry and heart- broken, flees from her father’s domain. She soon falls into the clutches of Ursula, the evil sea witch who lusts for King Triton’s power. Ursula says she can make Ariel human. In ex- change Ariel must give Ursula her beautiful voice. It doesn’t seem like much of a sacrifice. Unless the sea witch is after bigger fish. This is the best version of the Hans Christian Andersen tale I’ve seen to date. The blend of animation and character voices is done to perfection. gre MOORS TAMER eB SIV SS te wey REMEMBER THIS? Wish you could forget it? Bobby Basanti and Kevin Oates played the school award nights farce for all it was worth over the weekend in School Daze, a production by Skeena Theatre Arts. “Father's Day Sunday Buffet Brunch at the Terrace Inn Sunday, June 17 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A fabulous feast for DAD (and the rest of the family) Adults $10.95 Seniors §$ 7.95 Children $ 5.95 JOO OR URE. A Father $ Day Treat (all day Sunday) The Terrace Inn will give every father a voucher for 18 holes of golt at the | Skeena Valley Golf and Country Club. We'll make Dad a real ‘swinger’! | Also, Dad can try out our mini-golf course in the lobby for great prizes. | Reservations are recommended. d P.S. Sunday evening Is» Prime Rib Night between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. 4551 Greig Avenue, —— Terrace, B.C. Phone: 635-6630 Fax: 635-2788 pTOLl FREE: 1-800-663- casi] .