ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 18, 1996 TAG: 9610180029
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: out & about
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKS
Jesus is born in an apple cart outside a motel near Gainesville, Ga.
The wise men bring gifts - a gold American Express card, an expensive bottle of Jade East cologne.
He grows up to be a good ol' boy, spreading the word that "man cannot live by grits alone."
This is the gospel in 1980, the musical account of the life of Christ drawn from a book by civil rights activist Clarence Jordan with tunes by the late Harry Chapin.
This is the Southern fried version, the "Cotton Patch Gospel."
Since it opened off Broadway in 1982, "Cotton Patch Gospel" has joined such hit shows as "Godspell" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" on the list of popular musicals offering contemporary interpretations of the New Testament.
The play homes in on Southern wit and humor, retelling the story of Jesus' life in diverting (but never desecrating) fashion.
There's the Good Samaritan - a black truck driver who helps a down-and-out Interstate pilgrim shunned by a gospel quartet heading for Nashville. Is it any surprise that the four-flushers have a hit tune called "There Ain't No Busy Signals on the Hot Line to God?"
Corny?
Not really. Unless you're a turnip, you can't help getting caught up in the spirit of this musical. The songs (called "the best Harry Chapin ever wrote" by Rolling Stone's Dave Marsh) range from foot-stomping hoedowns to sweet harmonies. The 16 original tunes were Chapin's last. He finished them shortly before his death in an auto accident.
Troupe America, a theatrical company out of Minneapolis, will bring a touring production of "Cotton Patch Gospel" to Virginia Tech's Burruss Auditorium on Tuesday. The show - part of the Virginia Tech Union's Entertainment Series - starts at 7:30 p.m.
The five-man show features actor Jay Nickerson (who creates the 33 characters in this two-act musical) and the Special Consensus, a bluegrass quartet. Curt Wollan is the director.
Tickets are on sale at the box office in Squires Student Center. They are $15 for adults, $7 for children under 12, $12 for Tech faculty and staff and $5 for Tech students. Call 231-5615 for reservations.
FALL FAMILY AFFAIR: Sinkland Farms, a Montgomery County family farm owned by Henry and Susan Sink, will be open each weekend in October for hayrides, pumpkin carving demonstrations, farm tours and all sorts of family fun.
"We hope that everyone will have an enjoyable time visiting the activities we have planned," says Susan Sink. "We organized this festival with families and family values in mind."
The farm is 2.2 miles off Virginia 8 near Riner. It's open for fall festivals Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
You'll find pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn and corn shocks for fall decorating, as well as seasonal treats like apple butter and cider. A local church group will sell barbecue, hot dogs, beans with corn bread and other goodies.
Added weekend attractions include arts and crafts displays, a petting zoo and an antique tractor display.
For more information, call Henry or Susan Sink at 382-1920.
PHOTOS FEMME: Richmond artist Carrie Collier has an intriguing collection of black-and-white photos on display through Nov. 17 in Radford University's Spotlight Gallery.
The exhibit, "A Tribute to Mature Women Who Live Creative Lives," features 17 gelatin-silver prints.
Eileeen Mott, coordinator of statewide exhibitions for the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, says the photos "celebrate women who thrive rather than merely survive, who make their presence felt regardless of age, profession or circumstance."
Collier, whose work focuses on the experience of being female, sees a youth-oriented culture with a negative view of aging.
"Older women, in particular, are among the most devalued and ignored in our society," she says.
You can see the exhibit during regular hours at the gallery: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, 6-9 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-4 p.m. Call 831-5754.
BANDS FOR GOLD: That's what organizers are calling Saturday's concert to benefit Virginia Special Olympics.
From 2 to 7:30 p.m., you can join the rocking at Top of the Stairs in downtown Blacksburg. Heather Grey and Long Stem Daisies from Radford and the Geoff Sabian Orchestra from Blacksburg will perform. The cover charge is $3.
Virginia Tech's Public Relations Student Society of America is sponsoring the benefit again this year. Last year's show brought in close to $300 and the students are hoping for more this year. All proceeds are used to support the athletes participating in this year's games.
Another reason to be there is the raffle for prizes donated by businesses in the area. You might even win a state-of-the-art stereo system.
Top of the Stairs is at 217 College Ave.
ENDLESS NIGHTS: Those nights when our eyes are drawn to the shadows of the room and our ears listen for those dreadful sounds from the dark ...
Those are the nights Andy Bowyer and his crew have been conjuring lately.
Bowyer is directing Playmakers & Company's 76th production, "The Haunting of Hill House." The thriller is about a group of earnest young psychic researchers who gather for a summer of objective, scientific research. What they get is an eye-opening look at their subconscious fears.
The community theater production continues through Oct. 27 with shows Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in Blacksburg's University Mall. Tickets are $7 for adults or $5 for students and senior citizens.
To make reservations, call 382-0154.
LENGTH: Long : 108 linesby CNB