jane devin

An adapted format of the Jane Austen play "Pride and Prejudice" will be presented Oct. 4-6 by the Jefferson College Drama Department.

As this adaptation was written in the chamber style, it can be presented in an entertainingly efficient manner, Jane Sullivan, the play's director, said.

Chamber theatre is a method of adapting a literary work's original text using minimal and suggestive settings. The actors move between narrating themselves in third person and performing dialogue.

"I think it's the best of both worlds," said Sullivan, a Jefferson College speech and drama professor. "It allows us to tell the story in a briefer, manageable way."

"Pride and Prejudice," which has been depicted on film and television, remains a romantic comedy of great interest to the public, Sullivan said.

"Jane Austen's story is still very popular," she said. "Elizabeth Bennet is the heroine of the story. She comes from a family of girls. It was a time when women did not have much opportunity other than to marry. Their mother is dedicated to finding a husband for her daughters. But, Elizabeth is interested in marrying only for love.

"Two gentlemen come to the scene. One falls immediately for her older sister. The male main character, Mr. Darcy, is kind of taken with Elizabeth, because she is outspoken and not like other women of her time. But, he doesn't make a very good first impression. She sees him as a prideful person she doesn't want anything to do with. He wins her over with his actions."

The cast includes Tom Doyle, Barnhart; Justin Rice, St. Clair; Kristin Gardner, De Soto; Nicole Gambill, Cedar Hill; Jessica McKee, Crystal City; Rachel Webster, Festus; Mike McGrane, Festus; Nick Branson, St. Louis; Sarah Kingsland, De Soto; Devin Przygoda, Festus; Chrissy Welk, Barnhart; Alicia Aubuchon, Festus; Shana Payton, De Soto; Amanda Zimmerly, Festus; Jessica Lee, Pevely; Gail Kniffin of Tiff; and Ashley MacDonald, High Ridge.

In addition to Sullivan, the crew consists of Wes Robertson, technical director; Danielle Rodriguez, student director; Marilyn Brookings, costumer; and Emily Robinson, choreographer.

"I think this is for anyone familiar at all with the story," Sullivan said of the play. "I think any age beyond small children can enjoy it."

Performances are scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, and 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Fine Arts Theatre on the Hillsboro campus. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children, students and senior citizens.
The Philly concert circuit is in full swing in October, with everything from reunion shows (Van Halen) to an Italian rock star (Zucchero) to jam bands (Gov't Mule, Phil Lesh & Friends) on the calendar. New Jersey's favorite son, Bruce Springsteen, returns with the E-Street Band next week, while the regrouped Smashing Pumpkins plays three nights at the Tower Theatre later in the month. Sprinkled in between are an array of singer-songwriters, too, everyone from local favorites like Devon Greenwood and John Francis to WXPN darlings such as Erin McKeown and Mary Gauthier.

Springsteen's tour -- his first with the E-Street Band in more than four years -- coincides with the release of his new album, "Magic." Springsteen was recently quoted as saying that the album is a full-blown rocker, and "it's just built" to be played live.

"I wrote with a lot of melody, and with a lot of hooks, and there's a lot of band power behind the stuff that I wrote this time out. So I'm excited to hear that come straight off the band," Springsteen said.

Concert favorite Erin McKeown plays the World Cafe on Oct. 5 -- the same night as Springsteen's first of two shows at the Wachovia Center. McKeown, 29, is touring in support of her just-released live album, "Lafayette."

Named for the address of New York's much-loved Joe's Pub, "Lafayette" is the acclaimed singer-guitarist's first official live album and an invitation into her other world, the stage, where she spends more than half of every year knocking fans over nightly.

"This one landed somewhere in between a live album and a studio album in terms of what's on it," McKeown said recently by phone, adding that she loves touring "in a sort of pathological way."

"I can't go without playing live," she said. "And this album was the perfect medicine; it's where my audience's tastes meet. You get a little bit of everything." McKeown said she's happy with the direction of her musically diverse career and that "people, on some level, get what I'm about."

Also this month, music fans can see what the fuss is all about when Italian rock star Zucchero performs with his band at Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pa., Oct. 7. A huge star in Europe, Zucchero has recorded with Sting, Eric Clapton and John Lee Hooker, but remains a word-of-mouth favorite in the states.

The following is a partial listing of shows for October:

Monday: Van Halen with guest Ky-Mani Marley, Wachovia Center, 7:30 p.m., $49.50 to $149.50. VH1 You Oughta Know Tour featuring Brandi Carlile and A Fine Frenzy, Electric Factory, 8 p.m., $18. Melvins with Big Business, Fillmore TLA, 8 p.m., $16.

Tuesday: Twiztid with Ill Bill and Mower, Fillmore TLA, 8 p.m., $20. A Quiet Night In with the Mekons, World Cafe Live, 7:30 p.m., $16, $18. Sonata Artica, Trocadero, 7 p.m., $19.

Wednesday: Van Halen with guest Ky-Mani Marley, Wachovia Center, 7:30 p.m., $49.50 to $149.50. VH1 Hip Hop Honors Tour with The Roots, MC Lyte and Big Daddy Kane, Electric Factory, 8 p.m., $15. Michael Franti & Spearhead, Fillmore TLA, 8 p.m., $25. Missy Higgins, Tin Angel, 8:30 p.m., $15.

Thursday: Strung Out with Evergreen, Terrace, and I Am Ghost, Fillmore TLA, 8 p.m., $14. Joe Thalman, Tin Angel, 8:30 p.m., $10. Balkan Beat Box with March Fourth Marching Band, World Cafe Live, 7:30 p.m., $15. Rodney Crowell, Sellersville Theatre, 8 p.m., $29.50. Cannibal Corpse with Black Dahlia Murder, Trocadero, 7 p.m., $20.

Oct. 5: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Wachovia, Center, 7:30 p.m., $68 and $98 (sold out). Cartel with The Honorary Title and Weatherbox, Electric Factory, 8 p.m., $18. Erin McKeown with Joshua James, World Cafe Live, 7:30 p.m., $20. Dave Mason and John Mayall, Keswick Theatre, 8 p.m., $29.50 and $39.50. Pinback with MC Chris, Fillmore TLA, 9 p.m., $14. Loudon Wainwright III with Lucy Wainwright-Roche, Sellersville Theatre, 8 p.m., $29.50. In The Round: Devin Greenwood, Carsie Blanton, John Francis, Devon Sproule, Tin Angel, 7:30 p.m., $10. Johnette Napolitiano, Tin Angel, 10:30 p.m., $15.

Oct. 6: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Wachovia, Center, 7:30 p.m., $68 and $98 (sold out). Gov't Mule with Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Tower Theater, 7 p.m., $27.50 and $30. Country Joe McDonald's tribute to Woody Guthrie, Tin Angel, 7 p.m., $16. Milton & The Devil's Party, Tin Angel, 10 p.m., $10. Never Say Never Tour with Charlotte Martin, Ken Andrews with First Wave Hello, World Cafe Live, 7:30 p.m., $17. "Provoked" with Henry Rollings, Keswick Theatre, 8 p.m., $29.50. The Waiting Room: Peter Gabriel/Genesis tribute, Sellersville Theatre, 8 p.m., $23.50. Sneaker Pimps, Trocadero, 8 p.m., $15.

Oct. 7: High on Fire with Mono, Panthers and Coliseum, Fillmore TLA, 8 p.m., $17. Nik Everett, Tin Angel, 7 p.m., $10. Zucchero, Keswick Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $28 and $38. Tierra Tango with Katie Viquiera, World Cafe Live, 7:30 p.m. $20. Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, Sellersville Theater, 7:30 p.m., $39.50. Overkill, Trocadero, 7 p.m., $14.

Oct. 8: Minus the Bear with Subtle, Fillmore TLA, 8 p.m., $16. The Donnas with Donita Sparks and American Bang, World Cafe Live, 7:30 p.m., $14. Ingram Hill, North Star Bar, 7 p.m., $12.

Oct. 9: Klaxons, Fillmore TLA, 8 p.m., $16. Pete Best Band, Tin Angel, 8:30 p.m., $20.

Oct. 10: !!! with The Field, Fillmore TLA, 8 p.m., $17. Marc Silver Band, Tin Angel, 8:30 p.m., $8. Raul Midon with Morley, World Cafe Live, 7:30 p.m., $25. Fionn Regan, World Cafe Live upstairs, 7:30 p.m., $8. Of Montreal, Trocadero, 7 p.m., $15.

Oct. 11: Andy McKee, Tin Angel, 8:30 p.m., $20. Matt Nathanson with Cary Brothers, Fillmore TLA, 8 p.m., $20. Eric Andersen, World Cafe Live, 8 p.m., $20. Charlie Hunter, World Cafe Live upstairs, 9 p.m. $15. Toubab Krewe, World Cafe Live, 20:30 p.m., $12.

Oct. 12: An evening with Phil Lesh and Friends, Tweeter Center, 8 p.m., $39.50 and $49.50.

Oct. 13: Maroon 5 with The Hives and Sara Bareilles, Wachovia Spectrum, 8 p.m., $40.50 and $50.50. Tiger Army with Street Dogs and The Static Age, Fillmore TLA, 9 p.m., $14. Josh Joplin, Tin Angel, 7:30 p.m., $15. Joey DeGraw, Tin Angel, 10:30 p.m., $10. Lonestar, Commerce Bank Arts Centre, 8 p.m., $35 to $67.50.

Oct. 14: Hot Hot Heat with Bedouin Soundclash and De Novo Dahl, Fillmore TLA, 8 p.m., $17. Catie Curtis with Lindsay Mac, World Cafe Live, 7 p.m., $20. Frank Stallone with guest Skip Denenberg, Sellersville Theater, 7:30 p.m., $19.50. Circa Survive, Trocadero, 6 p.m., $15. Project/Object: Music of Frank Zappa, World Cafe Live, 7:30 p.m., $18.

Oct. 15: Tori Amos, Tower Theater, 8 p.m., $34.50 to $49.60. IAMX featuring Chris Corner of Sneaker Pimps, North Star Bar, 7 p.m., $12. Insane Clown Posse with Necro and Motown Rage, Electric Factory, 8 p.m., $26. Coco Montoya with Sarah Ayers, Sellersville Theater, 8 p.m., $19.50. Yonder Mountain String Band, Fillmore TLA, 8 p.m., $22.50. Robert Hazard, Tin Angel, 7:30 p.m., $15. Three The Hard Way, Tin Angel, 10:30 p.m., $10. Issa (Jane Siberry), World Cafe Live, 7:30 p.m. $15.

Oct. 16: Red Jumpsuit Apparatus with Amber Pacific and New Year's Day, Electric Factory, 8 p.m., $15. Eileen Jewell, Tin Angel, 7 p.m., $10. Nightwish and Paradise Lost, Trocadero, 7 p.m., $24. Christopher Denny, World Cafe upstairs, 8 p.m., free.

Oct. 17: Bad Religion with The Briggs and Jena Berlin, Electric Factory, 8 p.m., $20. Po'Girl, Tin Angel, 8:30 p.m., $12. Static-X and Shadows Fall, Trocadero, 6 p.m., $21.50.

Oct. 18: Kelly Clarkson with Jon McLaughlin, Tower Theater, 8 p.m., $39.50 and $49.50. Rodrigo y Gabriela with Alex Skolnick, Electric Factory, 8:30 p.m., $27. Brian Seymour, Tin Angel, 8:30 p.m., $10. Eve, World Cafe Live, 9 p.m., $45. The Limeliters, Sellersville Theater, 8 p.m., $25. Serj Tankian with The Nightwatchman, Fillmore TLA, 8 p.m., $25.

Oct. 19: The Smashing Pumpkins with Explosions in the Sky, Tower Theater, 9 p.m., $39.50 and $49.50. Power House 25 featuring Kanye West with Rihanna, Akon, Ne-Yo, Eve, and more, Wachovia Center, 6 p.m., $9.99 to $99.99. Spoon with The Ponys, Electric Factory, 8:30 p.m., $20. Toots & The Maytals, with Fear Nuttin Band, Fillmore TLA, 9 p.m., $22. The Wallflowers, Keswick Theatre, 8 p.m., $29.50. Antje Duvekot and Peter Mulvey, Tin Angel, 7:30 p.m., $12. Chris Kasper, Tin Angel, 10:30 p.m., $8. Ryan Montbleu with Peter Prince and Jesse Dee, World Cafe Live, 7:30 p.m., $12. Nowhere, The Law, Trocadero, 6:30 p.m., $15.

Oct. 20: Puddle of Mudd with Saliva and Deepfield, Fillmore TLA, 9 p.m., $25. Julian Velard, Tin Angel, 7 p.m., $10. Garrison Starr, Tin Angel, 10 p.m., $12. Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers, with Patrick Grant & The Rising, Sellersville Theater, 8 p.m., $19.50. Witchcraft with The Saviours, North Star Bar, 9 p.m., $12.

Oct. 21: The Smashing Pumpkins with Explosions in the Sky, Tower Theater, 9 p.m., $39.50 and $49.50. Alter Bridge with Another Animal, Electric Factory, 8 p.m., $19.50. Dark Horse: A Tribute to George Harrison with Jon Perry, Tin Angel, 7 p.m. $15. Cheryl Wheeler, World Cafe Live, 7:30 p.m. $20. The Buckinghams with Steve and Steve, Sellersville Theater, 7:3 0p.m., $33.

Oct. 22: The Smashing Pumpkins with Explosions in the Sky, Tower Theater, 9 p.m., $39.50 and $49.50. Blue Rodeo & Friends tour featuring Ron Sexsmith, Luke Doucet and more, World Cafe Live, 7:30 p.m. $20.

Oct. 23: The Smashing Pumpkins with Explosions in the Sky, Tower Theater, 9 p.m., $39.50 and $49.50. The Hold Steady with Art Brut and Demander, Electric Factory, 8 p.m., $18.

Oct. 24: Danzig with Gorgeous Frankenstein and Doom Riders, Electric Factory, 8 p.m., $28. The Tragically Hip, Fillmore TLA, 8 p.m., $25. Robbie Fulks, Tin Angel, 8:30 p.m. $15. Dan Wilson (Semisonic), World Cafe Live, 8 p.m., $20. Twelve Girls Band, Keswick Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $38 and $48.

Oct. 25: New Found Glory, Senses Fail and Bedlight for Blue Eyes and The Receiving End of Sirens, Electric Factory, 7:30 p.m., $23. She Wants Revenge with Kenna and Io Echo, Fillmore TLA, 9 p.m., $16. Mary Gauthier with Lucy Wainwright Roche, World Cafe Live, 7:30 p.m., $20. Ralph Stanley & This Clinch Mountain Boys, Sellersville Theater, 8 p.m., $37.50.

Oct. 26: New Found Glory, Senses Fail and Bedlight for Blue Eyes and The Receiving End of Sirens, Electric Factory, 7:30 p.m., $23. Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers with Pete Francis and Tyrone, Fillmore TLA, 8:30 p.m., $16. New Pornographers with Neko Case, Trocadero, 7 p.m., $19. John Jorgeson Quartet, Tin Angel, 8:30 p.m. $18.

Oct. 26: David Poe, Tin Angel, 7:30 p.m., $12. Lelia Broussard, Tin Angel, 10:30 p.m. $12. Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Sellersville Theater, 8 p.m., $33. REO Speedwagon, Keswick Theatre, 8 p.m., $38 and $48.

Oct. 27: Pepper with The Expendables and Pacifier, Electric Factory, 8;30 p.m., $18. Boris Garcia with The Rowan Brothers, Sellersville Theater, 8 p.m., $17.50. Bayside, The Sleeping, Trocadero, 6 p.m., $14.

Oct. 28: The Nightbirds, Tin Angel, 7 p.m., $8. Kathy Mattea, Sellersville Theater, 7:30 p.m., $49.50.

Oct. 30: Type Negative O with Lordi, Trocadero, 7 p.m., $26.50. Sean Hayes & Jenny Owen Youngs, World Cafe Live, 8 p.m., $10.

Next week commemorates the 26th anniversary of Banned Books Week Saturday through Oct. 6 sponsored by the American Library Association.

The observation encourages students, teachers and others to read books that have been banned in libraries and schools.

This program was first observed in 1982, and reminds Americans to exercise their democratic freedom, according to the association's Web site at www.ala.org.

Books are banned because they are unorthodox or unpopular, according to the Web site.

Some popular books that have been under scrutiny have been the Bible, "Of Mice and Men," by John Steinbeck and a sex education book for children, "It's Perfectly Normal" by Robie Harris.

Each year, the association receives material that has been challenged.

It is reviewed and then determined what is most challenged throughout the year.

Recent challenged titles include J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series. Most complaints are that the series promotes witchcraft among children.

English Instructor Jane Focht-Hansen said books that receive criticism are recorded by librarians and then reported to the American Library Association.

"Banned Books Week is about freedom of opinion and the right to express it," Focht-Hansen said.
Ashley Finn got so fed up with the doctors touching and pressing her belly, she took a magic marker and wrote "$5 per poke" across her middle - prompting her oncologist to laugh and fork over a $10 bill.
Brave Ashley, 9, recently finished her fifth, and hopefully last, round of high-dose chemotherapy treatment at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Now she's back home recuperating in Rolling Hills with her parents, Shannon and Devin Finn, sister Emma, 7, and dog, Sasha.

Sasha experienced mental depression during Ashley's hospital stays, moping around the house and barely eating, Mrs. Finn said. Ashley, on the other hand, has continued to maintain her natural optimism and cheerfulness during her five-month ordeal, she said.

Burkitt's lymphoma, a rare type of cancer classified as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is the disease the fourth-grader has been battling. It was discovered after she started becoming extremely tired, coming home from the Old Bowie Streetfest in late April and collapsing in bed, and falling fast asleep on the school bus twice. May 1, a pediatrician determined she had severe anemia and ordered her to the hospital that very day.

In the months that followed, Ashley suffered agonies from her medical treatment but rarely complained, her mother said. "She cried when I told her she was going to lose her hair, and cried last month when she was throwing up and having diarrhea at the same time.

Other than those two moments, she's been unbelievable," Mrs. Finn said.

Ashley has endured 14 spinal taps, two major surgeries, significant blood loss during one of the operations, irregular heart beats, high fevers, assorted infections, facial puffiness to the point where she was almost unrecognizeable, body swelling, constant poking and pressing of her sore belly and - worst as far as she's concerned - hospital food. "I won't eat hospital food anymore, even if it's Cheerios," Ashley vowed.

Seeing her now, it's hard to grasp the trauma Ashley's been through, except for hair loss associated with chemotherapy. She's bright and conversant, at her proper weight, able to play with Sasha and to engage in her favorite, cherished activity - reading. "Ashley is a very active student and a good student," said Sudha Srivastava, her teacher at the Robert Goddard Montessori School in Lanham and a former longtime Bowie resident.

Second to reading, Ashley enjoys her American Girl doll ("Kit" from the Great Depression) and, like her young peers, the uplifting TV movie "High School Musical."

Burkitt's lymphoma is a fast-growing cancer. With Ashley it progressed so rapidly, she could hardly walk by the time she got to Children's Hospital from the pediatrician's May 1. "All of a sudden when I got her to the hospital, her stomach started hurting and she had to unbutton her pants," Mrs. Finn said.

"Literally, they took 30 tubes of blood. They took X-rays and did a sonogram. I called my husband and he came. Within a minute of him getting there, they said, 'She's got a huge mass in her abdomen.' They went ahead and put her in intensive care. The next morning, a doctor came up to me. He had 'oncology' written on his coat. I said, 'Does my daughter have cancer? And he said, 'I don't think it could be anything else.' " A biopsy confirmed his suspicion.

Mrs. Finn, like other parents with seriously ill children, couldn't help but obsess over the unanswerable question, why? Why does Ashley have to be so sick? "I guess we are never guaranteed anything in life and this is no different," Mrs. Finn wrote in her journal on the CaringBridge Web service, which provides Web sites for people going through health crises. "We just assume with our children that they will always be here until you're faced with the possibility they might not ... I know that I will never be the same. I will never take my children or my loved ones for granted again."

Ashley had to have her gall bladder and part of her intestines removed. Her appendix was taken out as a precaution. In intensive care after surgery in late July, she was given massive painkillers that made her talk in her sleep, yelling at her little sister Emma and ordering her dog Sasha to "drop the ball."

When she wasn't getting chemo at the hospital or through a Broviac catheter inserted into her chest, Ashley was taking antibiotics, which made her susceptible to infections. She'd get a fever indicating a possible infection and would have to be readmitted to the hospital. Last month, she came down with life-threatening toxic megacolon, making her colon too inflamed for her to digest the antibiotics. "The doctors did an experiment on her that's only used with adults," Mrs. Finn said. "They gave her enemas that contained an antibiotic. They said if that didn't work, they were going to remove her bowels."

Fortunately, that chilling option proved unnecessary. So far, Ashley's chemotherapy has worked but she isn't home free yet. In mid-October, she'll return to the hospital for radiology scans to make sure the cancer is really gone. If so, her Broviac will be removed and she will transition to monthly check ups at the hospital and scans once every three months, her mother said