 |
November 22, 2002 |
||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
Media and performing arts shines a light on a tabloid tale By Beth E. Concepción In the 10 years since being discovered in a West Virginia cave, the Bat Boy (so named because of his appearance as half human, half bat) has attacked a 10-year-old girl, escaped from a Georgia laboratory, endorsed Al Gore for president and recently was hit by an exterminator’s truck and sprayed with insecticide. We have the Weekly World News to thank for this information and for the inspiration for "Bat Boy: The Musical," written by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe. The saga has been brought to Savannah and the Trustees Theater by the Savannah College of Art and Design media and performing arts department, with direction by professor and artistic director Jeffrey DeVincent. The production is equal parts entertaining and shocking (with hysterical thrown in for good measure). The story naturally revolves around Bat Boy, played by video/film major, media and performing arts minor Joe Kinosian in his first major role (What a way to make a mark!). After three teen-agers discover Bat Boy in a cave, he is captured and brought to the house of Dr. Parker, the local vet. Parker’s wife Meredith decides to make him part of the family, much to the chagrin (at first) of daughter Shelley and the residents of Hope Falls, W.V. Through all-out camp that runs roughshod over attempts to categorize it musically (from an eyebrow-raising rap to a Kelly Clarkson-esque ballad), the production brings home the larger message of tolerance, albeit in a black-humored way. By far the highlight of the musical is Kinosian’s metamorphosis as Bat Boy. Kinosian spares no facial expression, high-pitched noise or body contortion in his portrayal of the beleaguered bat. He goes from Mr. Peepers ("Saturday Night Live") to English dandy in just a few songs. "A Home for You," the ballad where he first starts connecting with Meredith is, as a friend of mine would say, "top-drawer high-larious." Kinosian also shows off his singing chops, despite some prevalent microphone problems. more---> |
            |
||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
 Comics editors offer advice to students The sequential art department teamed up with career planning and placement Nov. 15-16 to host a two-day visit by comic book editors from New York. more---> |
 Award-winning alumna puts education to work Sometimes it is the little things that can make all the difference in the world. Savannah College of Art and Design alumna Katherine Lee fondly remembers the extra step that made up her mind to move to Savannah. more---> |
 Arts On Display |
  |
||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Home | Accolades | What’s the Buzz | Art and About | The Reel Deal Book Marks | On the Safe Side | The Bee Line | Classifieds | Contact the Chronicle | Chronicle Archives |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
