Dammit, Janet! Brad (Reid Vanier) looks on as Dr. Frank N. Furter (Terry Reid) fascinates his bride (Monica Skorupski). "Rocky Horror" hits the Theatre of the Arts stage this week.

Horror to happen without toast tossing

Basques and fishnets, yes, but rice and lighters, no. That’s the etiquette for the UW drama department’s production of “The Rocky Horror Show”, which opens with a preview performance Wednesday and runs this week and next in the Theatre of the Arts.

“Rocky Horror”, a musical by Richard O’Brien, was first produced in 1973 and mixes the joys of transvestism and promiscuity with the horrors of science fiction and an isolated castle by night. On stage and later in film, the show “has become a cult classic,” publicity from the drama department notes, “garnering an enormous following of devoted fans. It is an emblem of counter-culture, attracting the part of our selves that feels like an outsider.

“The play draws upon many sources, ranging from 19th century novels such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, to the 1950s double feature B movie. Its musical heart lies in the rebelliousness of early rock ‘n’ roll.”

It even has a plot. Says the department’s news release: “The play’s protagonist, Dr. Frank N. Furter, embraces his standing as an outcast. He looks for fulfillment in self-expression without deference to gender barriers and builds around him a community of outcasts who break with convention, each in his or her own way. One day they are visited by Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, the hero and heroine of the play, a wholesome, innocent couple — society insiders. This proves an eye-opening experience for Brad and Janet, who undergo rites of initiation and the loss of innocence. The intersection of two worlds colliding brings us to the tolerant middle ground where no one is perfect, nothing is perfect and life is a creative struggle to survive.”

Which brings us to the audience’s creative struggle to join in the show, often coming in costume and equipped with rice to toss during the wedding scene, yelling insults at Janet when she yields to temptation, and so on.

For the UW performance, “we’re encouraging people to wear costumes,” says Robin Atchison of the drama office, “but are asking them not to bring props that they might bring to traditional screenings of the movie. This is partly for safety reasons with live actors on stage, but there’s also the clean-up factor. However, at the midnight performance only, goodie bags will be available to purchase which have sanctioned participation props. We’re hoping to find mini squirt guns, for one item.”

The midnight show is this Saturday night. Other public performances are Saturday at 7 p.m., and this Thursday and Friday and November 15-17 all at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the Humanities box office. The by-invitation preview is Wednesday at 7 p.m., and the drama department is also hosting school matinee performances.

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Optometry notes major alumni gift

by Andrea Carthew, office of development, from the School of Optometry newsletter

At the centre of optometry’s Continuing Education weekend in June was the announcement of a truly extraordinary commitment from 1979 alumna Marta Witer and her husband Ian Itinatowycz, president, Acuity Investment Management Inc. Their generous gift of $500,000 is the largest the School has ever received from an alumnus and is a symbol of their vision, passion and dedication toward the profession of optometry and its future.

“My education and experiences at the School of Optometry played an important role in the person I am today,” says Marta. “It prepared me for a rewarding career in eye care; I established lifelong relationships with my classmates; and through the Northern Ontario Outreach program helped me develop a stronger sense of social responsibility.”

Marta and Ian’s donation will be acknowledged through the establishment of the Witer Learning Resource Centre, part of our expansion and renovation project. The Centre will be located on the second floor of the new addition and will expand in both scope and size as a result of the relocation. It will include the main collection room, quiet study areas, study carrels and additional optometric education materials and resources. The Witer Centre will provide students with the space, materials, technology and staff expertise necessary to enhance their knowledge of optometry and pursue academic excellence.

Once the addition is completed in 2009, the School of Optometry will have the pleasure of hosting a formal ceremony to dedicate the Witer Learning Resource Centre and further recognize the support with a plaque bearing the Centre’s new name.

“As we embark on our new addition and prepare for a changing profession, Marta and Ian’s tremendous gift and ongoing involvement will play an important role in advancing our efforts,” says Dr. Thomas Freddo, Director, School of Optometry. “Marta is an enthusiastic volunteer and tireless advocate for the School and the profession and we are very fortunate and appreciative to have her support. “

In addition to the personal support, Marta has been very active in rallying other classmates to give back to the School. With the help of Carol Cressman Foster, Calvin Smith and Melanie Sherk, the Class of 1979 has raised over $278,000 toward our expansion and renovation project. This achievement far surpasses any expectation and will be acknowledged with a plaque naming one of our clinic pods. Marta encourages all alums to contribute to the School either individually or as group just as she and her classmates have done.

Marta’s other passion lies in the area of optometric outreach to underserviced populations. The School’s Northern Ontario outreach program, which was very active in the 70s and early 80s, had a significant impact on her and many others but ended when government funding had ceased. The value of this educational and personally rewarding experience has inspired Marta to seek ways to reinitiate this meaningful program. The School of Optometry is also eager to see this program once again become part of our student experience and provide essential optometric care to underserviced populations. We are currently exploring the opportunities and hope to establish a sustainable program in the near future.

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Other notes; was that a snowflake?

A story appeared yesterday on the Maclean's online news site talking about UW's plans for a campus in the United Arab Emirates. The story, by political science student Carson Jerema, noted that "Various UW faculty will spend four to eight months at a time" teaching at the overseas location. Last week's meeting of the UW board of governors heard an update on the project from provost Amit Chakma and dean of engineering Adel Sedra, much like the one they gave to the university senate in mid-October. Officials are stressing that the project isn't a done deal, as a series of approvals from the UAE government are still necessary.

Registration opens today for WatITis, this year's Waterloo Information Technology and Information Systems conference, to be held December 4. "Our theme this year is Life After Fifty," notes Vic Neglia of the arts computing office, the program committee chair. "This one-day conference will again bring you and your colleagues from across campus face-to-face to exchange knowledge and experience." Multiple sessions will deal with many aspects of computing under the headings of Teaching, Research, Institutional Support and General Interest. Announced topics range from "E-Portfolios as an Integrating Tool" to "Sun Identity Management at UW" and, ain't it the truth, "The Myth of the Paperless Office". Details, and registration, are online.

Also along technological lines, there's word from Koorus Bookan of information systems and technology about an event dealing with "IP-based Videoconferencing in Higher Education", on November 8. He writes: "Each year the Megaconference connects people from anywhere around the world through Videoconferencing technology. The focus of this connection is to use the power of Internet technologies to further assist education, research, and collaborations in Higher Education. Last year's Megaconference VIII connected 360 locations, including 5,000 people from 25 countries across 5 continents. IST is hosting a view into this day-long event as part of an investigation towards providing central support and services for videoconferencing across the campus. Come join in this event, see what Megaconference IX and videoconferencing looks like, and ask questions. . . . We will be hosting this event through videoconferencing technology between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Thursday in the ICR Board Room (Davis Centre 1331)."

The engineering faculty's e-newsletter reports that civil and environmental engineering graduate student Adam Arnold has won the 2007 American Water Works Association LARS Award. Only one such award is given annually, to an outstanding graduate student from Mexico, the United States or Canada — and Arnold is the first Canadian to win. Arnold is also the winner of the 2006 Walkerton Clean Water Centre Scholarship for graduate studies and a 2007 UW outstanding teaching award.

A plant operations crew will be making repairs to the University Avenue overpass, on the parking lot side, from today through Thursday. • Epilepsy Waterloo-Wellington is looking for volunteers (and customers) as it prepares to open a gift-wrapping booth at Conestoga Malal during the Christmas season; the number to call for information is 519-745-2112. • The UW Theatre Centre says the "Paranormal Show", which has been heavily advertised for Saturday night, November 17, has been rescheduled to February 29.

And . . . I'm starting to hear mentions of UW departments (and student groups) that are planning charity projects for the Christmas season. As always, I'd like to make note of such activities in the Daily Bulletin as space allows, so please send along the details.

CAR

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