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[NOV. 21, 2001]   "100 One-Night Reads," David C. Major and John S. Major, Ballantine Books, 2001, 312 pages.

A treat for book lovers everywhere, "100 One-Night Reads" represents "one hundred books that can be delightfully consumed in one quiet evening. … This addictive volume recommends books to match all your moods." Authors David C. Majors and John S. Majors seek to introduce readers to a compilation of titles they themselves have read and treasured over the years.

They attribute their shared interest in reading to the early influences of their mother. As children they would always complain that they had nothing to do, to which their mother would respond, "Of course there is. Get a good book and read it." That kind of encouragement, combined with a quality collection at the local library, helped the authors develop their lifetime love of reading.

Comparing today’s spectator-style forms of entertainment (television, movies, etc.) to reading, the authors explain that "reading … is an activity. Reading challenges and engages one’s mind. A reader is a participant in his or her own recreation and finishes a book with a sense of accomplishment, a feeling of engagement, and an awareness that he or she has been restored and refreshed in a way that spectatorship cannot provide."

The 100 books chosen are arranged alphabetically by the authors’ last names. There is also a cross reference of authors by category or genre, including:

• Fantasy and Saga
• Fiction
• History, Public Affairs, and the Environment
• Humor
• Memoirs
• Mystery and Suspense
• Science

• Travel

Each entry contains information on the author, a synopsis of the book and its story line, a critique on the book’s literary merits, and pertinent bibliographic data.

Many well-known authors and their works are found here. Selections such as Jules Verne’s "Around the World in Eighty Days," Willa Cather’s "Death Comes for the Archbishop," James Joyce’s "Dubliners" and Sarah Orne Jewett’s "The Country of the Pointed Firs" offer the reader a chance to relax and enjoy some of the great writing in the English language.

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One of the true joys of this book is that it recognizes quality literature by lesser-known yet equally talented writers.

Shirley Jackson’s 1959 classic, "The Haunting of Hill House," goes beyond the theme of ghosts in a haunted house. Jackson, according to the authors, "is asking us to look at the nature of fear and the irrational by setting us … in a situation that does not seem to admit of conventional, rational explanations."

Hailed as "one of the heroes of modern environmentalism," Aldo Leopold’s "A Sand County Almanac" is considered a seminal work and "has inspired readers with its impassioned call for radical change in human attitudes toward the planet that sustains us."

One book that is no surprise to local readers is William Maxwell’s "They Came Like Swallows." This 1960 work is a "short and intense novel set in the last weeks of 1918" and describes the lives of a family in a small Midwestern town during the Great War and the influenza epidemic.

The authors recognize Maxwell’s contributions to American literature through his work as fiction editor of The New Yorker magazine and praise him and his literary style: "His work is not hard to read, still less hard to grasp, but it does demand that you pay attention, that you be alert to nuances and subtle emotional currents beneath the calm surface of his narratives. Maxwell is a writer to be read seriously, and he offers serious pleasures in return."

"100 One-Night Reads" is a treasure for those of us who love a good book. The authors’ compact yet informative analyses of these classics make selecting your next read a true pleasure.

In the introduction the authors write, "We know from experience that reading more is one of the easiest and most satisfying of all ways to enrich and enlarge one’s life. This book is our attempt to share with you some of the joy we have found in books. We hope that our book will be a useful companion for a long time in your reading life."

This book is highly recommended for readers for all ages, tastes and reading levels.

For more information visit the library at 725 Pekin St. or call (217) 732-8878.

[Richard Sumrall, Lincoln Public Library District]

• Lincoln Community Theatre

• Logan County Arts Association

[NOV. 21, 2001]  Logan County Arts Association presents classical guitarist Christian Culleton at a concert and artist reception on Sunday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 402 Pekin St. in Lincoln.

The performance will include works by Pilkington, Bach, Carcassi, Sor, Granados, Tarrega, Villa-Lobos and traditional holiday favorites.

This is a limited seating engagement. Tickets at $5 are available from board members, Lincoln Library Annex, Serendipity Stitches and Gossett’s Decorator Studio.

[Logan County Arts Association news release]

[NOV. 15, 2001]  When the curtain rises for the Lincoln College production of "12 Angry Jurors," a new face can found behind the scenes. Guest director Tom Quinn will inspire theater students to get into the mind-set of 12 jurors who will ultimately make the decision between life and death.

Quinn was asked by Lincoln College Fine Arts Chairman Dan McLaughlin to direct the performance. Quinn says he jumped at the chance to direct a show that is topical and introduces the students to critical thinking. "I have the challenge of motivating actors who have just moved from the high school level to college level. It’s a jump from just doing a show to asking them to critically think about illusions and truth. The show starts to look at life with an adult perspective."

The entire cast is on stage for the duration of the show. Quinn says it is a great learning experience for young actors. "Most learning comes from being in front of an audience, and with everyone on stage at the same time, it challenges the actor to learn how to keep the story interesting."

Quinn says he is working with students who are experiencing their first time on the stage. "I’m working with a group of kids who represent a mixed bag of talent. The running joke among the cast and crew is to keep your eyes on the ball. My goal is to achieve balance for the entire performance, which hopefully will give our viewers something to think about."

Quinn is no stranger to the stage. He is an Equity actor, and his experience ranges from working at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago to helping with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in Bloomington. He even directed a production of "Grease" by Lincoln Community Theatre. He feels he learned his trade from working on stage at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. "The quality of directors that I worked with at the Arena were known throughout the world, and they taught me how deeply personal acting can be."

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Quinn, originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, came to central Illinois about five years ago to finish his bachelor’s degree at Illinois State University. He and his wife moved to Lincoln after she got a job teaching vocal music at Lincoln Community High School.

Quinn says his plans for living in Lincoln were short-term because of the limited opportunities of creative outlets available. "I’m a rare creature in central Illinois because I’m probably the only equity actor who lives in Lincoln. I am glad that I’ve found places like Lincoln College and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, which allow me to keep my creative juices flowing." Quinn is hoping to direct more at Lincoln College and is currently directing the winter play, "Crimes of the Hearth" by Beth Henley, at LCHS.

"12 Angry Jurors" opens tonight at 8 at Lincoln College’s Johnston Center. The show runs Friday and Saturday with performances at 8 p.m., and there is a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available at the door for $5 for adults and $3 for children and senior citizens.

[Jean Ann Miller, Lincoln College]

[NOV. 12, 2001]  Lincoln College Theatre Department opens its second production of the season, "12 Angry Jurors," on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Johnston Center for Performing Arts.

The drama "12 Angry Jurors" was written by Reginald Rose. It is a story told against the backdrop of a murder trial in which a young man has been accused of killing his father. The 12 jurors who have heard the testimony and seen the evidence must decide the fate of the young man. In the initial vote, one juror stands alone with a vote of not guilty. What unfolds is a story of people facing their own past, their convictions about illusion and truth, and ultimately discovering the truth about themselves.

Guest director Tom Quinn feels this play will help people to explore and understand prejudice, stereotyping and the concept of reasonable doubt. "This play was first presented on television in the late ’50s, and the subject matter and theme in this production remains as important and insightful as it was then," he says.

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Cast members include Jemel Washington of Decatur as the Guard, Rachel Brancecum of Canton as the Foreman, Chad Pedigo of Springfield as Juror 2, Ashley Lyons of Waverly as Juror 3, Michael Heath of Annawan as Juror 4, Ben Fulks of Rushville as Juror 5, Larry Jones of Hartsburg as Juror 6, Kelly Wiegand of Henry as Juror 7, Nichelle Bringham of Oak Park as Juror 8, Nathan Beagle of Muskegon, Mich., as Juror 9, Annemarie Windhorst of Mahomet) as Juror 10, Jessica Buck of Effingham as Juror 11 and Courtney Cooley of Springfield as Juror 12.

Show time is at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15; Friday, Nov. 16; and Saturday, Nov. 17; with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18.

Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $3 for children and senior citizens. To reserve tickets, call (217) 732-3155, Ext. 280, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

[Lincoln College news release]

Lincoln Community Theatre’s website is at www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre/index.html. Pictures from past productions are included.  The LCT mailing address is Lincoln Community Theatre, P.O. Box 374, Lincoln, IL  62656.  E-mail: lincolncommunitytheatre@yahoo.com.

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