Arthur Miller once wrote that he could tell a lot about the political climate in a country just by knowing that his play, The Crucible, was popular there. Deborah Austin, director of the upcoming Asheville Community Theatre production of Miller’s classic, must be heartened, albeit in a strange way — to note that this year … Read more
In his book Thinking About the Playwright, drama critic Eric Bentley presumes to know the mind of Moliere. Bentley presents his theory as to why the 17th-century French satirist created his infamously slick villain, Tartuffe — and then raises a philosophical eyebrow at the playwright’s intentions. “In Tartuffe, Moliere may have wished to get at … Read more
Urban Grind — Atlanta’s foremost rock/rap band — never troubled itself with the dilemma that seems to irk so many other rhythmically cross-pollinated groups today: how to avoid media-induced entrapment in a single musical style when their sound makes fervent use of so many. Instead of worrying about how they might be misrepresented, this savvy … Read more
Asheville’s continuing drought is costing us more than just the privilege of watering our lawns: The Water Authority needs $160,000 to buy water from Hendersonville, Asheville Water Resources Director Tom Frederick told City Council members during their Feb. 2 work session. That’s in addition to $174,750 worth of other drought-related expenses: buying extra chemicals to … Read more
The Buncombe County commissioners unanimously passed a moratorium on new telecommunications towers in the county, at their Feb. 2 meeting. The second reading of the resolution — which was approved 4-1 at the commissioners’ Jan. 26 meeting — was delayed by the late arrival of the Baptist preacher who was to give the invocation. In … Read more
Wheeling and dealing As every parent knows, having a kid is expensive. There’s food, clothing, insurance and childcare, not to mention the transportation to and from the child-care provider. But while many low-income parents work — often relying on the city’s bus system to get there — delivering their kids to the daycare center can … Read more
