VOCK Mythic beast worth the THE men’s move- a 4 ment ultimately : ride became something of a laughing stock once Robert Bly’s drum and taiking- stick became com- mon knowicdge. E OF course, laughter is Friday the 13th, March NEWS photo Cindy Goodman DEAN Wray (left) and Michael O’Shea are a powerful presence in Slaying Dragons. a defence mechanism too. Whether or not males need to reclaim their maleness may be a moot point, but the process of self-acceptance, in whatever form, can be a frightening and even dangerous onc. Local author Michael St.John Smith’s play Slaying Drayons tackles head-on the intriguing possibility of change for men mired in pig-headed defence of who they are, rather than what they could become. I saw an carlier version of the same script some two years ago, and while I still have some reservations about iis structure [love the way the majority of the characters have developed in tandem with the play’s themes. The jaugh quotient has increased too. What I found curiously exhilarating abour this production at Presentation House by I.T. Productions was the question of whether I was laughing at or with the there ac all. Mutual antipathy, stereotypical assumptions, skepticism, sarcasm, sex- ism and the potenual for violence — in a word: maleness ~ make the possibility of trust and change a less than likely possibility, In fact, that’s one of the problems fF have with the structure. Why do these unhappy men stay and why do they come back? Their need to be there is not apparent carly enough in the journey. Nevertheless, [ am glad they do. The dialogue crackles with horrific, but hilarious (Hey, it’s funny if it’s not about you!) put downs that esca- late to such outright misogyny that at one point the theatre audience drew a collective breath of shock on opening nigit.Great stuM Ir’s a good cast with standout performances from Michael Cram, characters. We mect an idealistic psychologist who hopes to study the way a group of men might support each other in honesty, just like tribal aborig- inals. But that idea gets battered to the floor in short order as the other five men in his “group” can’t even agree what they should be talking about, how they should conduct the mictings cx whether they should be Glorified sc Playstation: Riven IN case you haven’t heard the hype, Riven, the PC nitle- cum-console game, is “The Sequel to Myst.” Like most sequels, it’s bigger (five discs!), brighter, more detailed and as absorbing as ever. Absorbing, _ that is, if you have no life. I didn’t like Myst and I don't like Riven for one basic rea- son: Like most .90’s guys, I have the attention span of a gnat and the point-and-click quest-capacious “requires way too much thinking and not nearly enough gameplay. Sure, Riven sports the best graphics ever seen combined with excep- tional sound to make it the quintessential mystery-within- a-dreamscape, but where’s the fun in that? Locai Women reieased Through the recent efforts of Rob, a new stylist’ at Marquis, women have been released from lengthy styling routines each day. “E believe that the emphasis zt the salon should be on the cut, sot the styling.” says Rob, who has completed exiensive training al the world renowned Suki's academy. “The client who leaves witha good cut will find her styling options numerous, exciting. simpler and quicker.” To acsange for a tree 15S Mminuie conmsultanion or ta make an appointment. Call Rob 986-5552 125 E. (Sth St. N.Van. ?'m holding on to this title just in case T break my legs in a skiing accident and find myself laid-up for eight weeks ~ could happen, I'm a terrible skier. ior now, Riven is just a glorified if oxy- moronic interac- tive screen-saver. OK rental. OK purchase. Playstation: MDK It seems that “They” have invented a new name for this type of title: the “Corridor Shooter,” which i 1G natural, ommmonia free. 8 Great fot of nair types, colored, Py streaked oF tinted. ‘Hair Design 922-4911 worth the basically describes any vast and spacious 3D action/adventure game in chase-camera mode limited by walls and/or boundaries. In ADK, you may roam far and free but you may not roam far and wide as the category suggests. However, that does not limit gameplay in any way. In fact, {DK is one of che more exciting games of its kind, almost unique in that it assumes cer- ~ NATURAL STREAKS NATURAL COLOUR fag. $45 SHAMPOO & SET HAIR CUT CUT & STYLE 15% off phos 2490 Marine Dr, West Van (next to Capers) tt : -. ~ ye Casa ride on this mythic beast. tain playful innovations in a futuristic wholzsate killing spree. Some enemics, for example, will wave a titde taunt in your direction before you blast them to smithereens. Your decoy devices look like bozo-the-clawn blow-up dolls. And the massive machine-gun mounted to vour arr has you running in 2 perpetual slouch (call the chiropractor). Cute carnage, if you will, 18 ‘20 tam oD 7 * cridpurchase’abgessary, © ONE COUPON-#ER CUSTOMER » AVAILABLE AT THESE LOCAT 1262 Marine Dr., #.Von, (Next to Sove-On-Foods) 333 Brooksbank, N.Voa. (Park & Tiford) 1564 Lonsdale, W.¥on. (Lonsdale ut 16th) (Expires Morel: 20/58) 5 Jason Metz and Dean Wray. Director Kico Gonzalez-Risso handles the second act's whirligig of assumed identities with a deft touch and sure sense of timing, while the understated ending — based as much in sym- bolism as anything spoacn — moved me immensely. Slaying Dragons ultimately offers few answers, but the questions arc Take the intrepid intrigue of Tomb Raider, add some ballsy butchery a la Duke Nukem and the super-sly sniper mode from Goldeneye and you've got MDK, a tres cool action adventure humorously holding it's own in a genre rapidly becoming saturated. Great rental. Good Purchase. Who says cheaters never win? ADK: At the tide screen press Left, Cre, Te, Up, Sgr for any level select. Top Rentals: 1. Gex: Enter the Gecko (Psx) 2. V Interstate 76 Arsenal (PC) 3. Bloody Rear (Psx) 4. Seven Kingdoms (PC) 5. Jeopardy (N64) (Sponsored by InterAction Computer Entertainment 120 East 3rd Street. (604) 987- 3472. 1998 — North Shore News — 23 SATURDAY SPORTS: NCAA Basketbell Tournament CBS starts its coverage of the 1998 college showcase at 9 a.m. on chan- nel 33. Weekend coverage continues tomorrow at 9 a.m. MOVIE: woke Marianne and Juliane Director Margarethe von Trotia’s 1982 story of owe sisters, One a feminist editor the other a political terrorist, is based on the truce story of Gudrun and Christiane Ensslin. On the Knowledge Network, channel. ,. 5 at 10 p.m. . SUNDAY ANIMATION: tek Faust Czech surrealist Jan Svankmajer’s work has been deseribed as a combina- tion of Walt Disnev and Luis Bunuel. On BRAVO, channel 28 at midnight. MONDAY MOVIE: &e%% 4 Little Girls Spike Lee’s 1997 documentary abour the 1963 racist bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama interviews the fami- lies and friends of the four young victims. On the History Channel (ch. 44) at 6 & 10am & 5&9 pm. TUESDAY TALK SHOW: Late Night with David Letterman Scheduled guests include John Travolta, Van Morrison and The Chieftains. On CBS, channe! 33 at 11:35 p.m. WEDNESDAY HISTORY: Aszalai - Caravan of Wirite Gold The history of the ancient city of Timbuktoo and the North Affican saft routes thzough the Sahara Desert. On the Knowledge Nerwork, channel 5 ar 10 InN, TH URSDAY MOVIE: *a& Highway GI Classic 1991 Canadian comedy. The adventures of a barber and 3 roadie as they travel from Northern Ontario to New Orleans. CBC, channel 3 at midnight. ERIDAY MOVIE: *& tk ¢% Devil in the Flesh Vealian mav- erick Marco Bellochio upset the censors as usual with this 1986 film of a woman torn between ovo men. The film ~ + stars Maruschka Detmers and Federico Pitzalis and airs at 14:05 p.m. on Showcase, channet 24. — Jolm Goodinan RPiteze Engineered and built in Germany It's the allergen-clean vacuum cleaner pe 2433 Marine Dr., West Van ® Excellent 3 stage iiltration with HEPA or Electrostatic Filters (doesn't blow dust back into the air} ® Easy to use adiustable wand with swivel hose * Maintains high i power even when the dust bag is nearing capacity re 922-9335 Visit our website ut www.westvanvacuum.com ren ~~