A Mental Escape

Soccer behind bars provides relief from despair

Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes that every person has the right to leisure. For many people, leisure consists of playing soccer, especially with goals, referees, out-of-bounds lines and other standard conditions — including opponents. These things are not so easy to get at the Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP), I discovered when I came to play there as an outsider in a prison soccer match. Continue reading 

Comedy’s Top Mensch

Molière’s 17th-century French farce gets a 21st-century makeover

Playwright David Ives (A Flea in Her Ear, Venus in Fur) calls his play The School for Lies a “translaptation” of French playwright Molière’s classic 1666 farce The Misanthrope. Lies is now playing at University Theatre under the direction of Tricia Rodley. Ives has maintained much of the source material’s language. The play is written in rhyming verse, and Ives adds well-timed modern zingers for comic effect.  Continue reading 

Halloweentown

All Hallow’s Eugene

The second annual All Hallow’s Eugene, put on by the Eugene Film Society and City of Eugene Cultural Services, was a grand slam downtown, which just goes to show what a family-friendly place the heart of the city can be with expansive, well-executed city programming. Hundreds of costume-clad pets, teens, college kids, families and Halloween diehards strut their stuff in the costume parades from the Hult Center, down Willamette and then Broadway, where businesses handed out treats. Continue reading 

Sipping Thanks

Seems like only a minute ago we were sweating BBs in 104 degrees, high heat in high summer. A minute later, our granddaughter Meagan is donning her Katniss Everdeen Hunger Games costume for Halloween. Then we’re suddenly into the feast days, fussing about wines to serve, as Mole would say, “wit’ da boid.” He means turkey. I’m pretty sure. Continue reading 

Hip-hoppapalooza

Vince Staples

Vince Staples

The “Rocky and Tyler” tour features A$AP Rocky and Tyler the Creator, but Vince Staples is the rising star to watch. Staples, who supports two of the biggest names in rap on this tour, says he’s glad to make his “contribution to hip hop” and “do these nice little shows.” But shows like the gig at Matthew Knight Arena are going to be the furthest thing from small. This is a huge hip-hop lineup, especially for Eugene.   Continue reading