Kara Naig
Staff Reporter

Fools, a Neil Simon reproduction of an Anton Chekhov play, offers a silly, silly farce said NIACC performing arts instructor Tim Slaven.

Slaven said this particular play was chosen as a compliment to the fall play, which was serious in comparison.

Slaven said Fools is a series of corny jokes making fun of stupid people.

"It's purely for entertainment purposes," Slaven said.

The lead character Leon Tolchinsky, played by John Hammen, is a school teacher who has recently moved to a rural Ukraine village.

The village has fallen under a curse that has denied the people of the village the ability to learn.

Therefore, Leon finds himself surrounded by a community of stupid people.

Leon falls in love with Sophia Zubritsky, the daughter of the village doctor, cast to Hiroko Hattori, NIACC sophomore.

The catch is that he now has 24 hours to get her to learn or he will fall under the spell as well.

Slaven said the play will be performed in the round in the Black Box Theater on the NIACC campus, which will provide a different experience for people.

Cast members include John Hammen, Nina Castellanos, Kurtis Kramer, Pat McLinn, Ross Herrig, Aly Farlinger, Shawn Hoffman, Heaven Harper, Hiroko Hattori and Matt Meyer.

Fools debuts on Friday, March 23 running through March 26 with the performance beginning at 8 p.m. each night.

Thomas Beveridge
Staff Reporter

On a cool, breezy Friday after a long night at work, not to mention a long week of school, I changed out of my khakis and tie, grabbed my coat and began my brisk walk to the CoffeeCat, a relatively new local hangout in downtown Mason City.

At first glance, one might think it looks like just another hole in the wall, but that idea was thrown out the window after spending a little time there.

To my surprise, the atmosphere was bursting with energy. The front room was covered with smiling faces murmuring in conversation. A woman from behind the counter greeted me.

I introduced myself, and reminded her of the phone call we'd had earlier in the day.

Catherine Fields had become the owner of what used to be Caf'e Bean in November.

Fields has done some remodeling, a lot of painting and even added a stage into the back room, which is where she directed me for my interview with Dr. Marc Weber, the featured performer for "Acoustic Music Fridays." As soon as I reached the hallway I could hear the melody floating throughout the room, blending with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Fields may be someone readers recognize because she was the NIACC Student Senate adviser and Housing head-resident until June of 2004.

Her goal for the CoffeeCat has a much larger focus than coffee, Fields said. She said she wants to open her doors to anyone that wants their abilities exhibited.

"It's a place for local artists and musicians to showcase their work," Fields said.

There is plenty of wall space in the back room, some comfortable chairs and couches around a casual setting.

All in all, CoffeeCat offers a relaxing getaway from a hectic schedule.

Open Monday through Wednesday 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday 7 a.m.- 10 p.m., the CoffeeCat is just north of Cousins Sports Bar, in the Brick and Tile Building at 5 S. Delaware.

There's great music on Friday nights. Watch for other up and coming special events, or stop in for 'game night' Thursdays, dubbed that by friends of Fields' who bring in various games to play.

In addition, the CoffeeCat offers free wireless Internet for customers to help create a place to work or play.

To find out more about the CoffeeCat, its menu, and the opportunities for local artists and musicians to showcase and perform their work, visit http://www.coffeecatonline.com, e-mail Fields at cat@coffeecatonline.com or just stop in for coffee.

Thomas Beveridge
Staff Reporter

Those who take the time to visit the new coffee spot CoffeeCat have the opportunity to catch local talent Dr. Marc Weber when he performs on Friday nights as the featured performer for "Acoustic Friday Nights."

The Southern California native is a compilation of teacher, composer and performer.

Weber has more than 100 students who study music with him from Waterloo to Mason City.

He writes his own music, including pieces for orchestras, and he manages his own Web site, which he sells his music on. Each week he gives a performance that is a medley of the moment. As Weber improvises almost the entire session, he has only a few notes "written down for reference."

Weber said he started to play guitar at the age of 17 to accentuate his poetry.

Although he had previously attended piano lessons, Weber self-taught himself the notes and chords he needed.

It wasn't until the age of 22 that he started to read music.

Why so late with reading? Weber said because he didn't need to. "Everyone can play Jimmy (Hendrix)," Weber said, meaning he wanted to focus on his own music.

Weber said he would rather play his own music, his own style, which comes from inside him.

He does admit that reading music is very useful.

There are many things that affect his style of music. He said this includes everything in everyday life, from people to art, even nature and a recollection of sitting in the library at Yale University.

"I was sitting there trying to concentrate," Weber said. "When I started to concentrate on the coughing."

These coughing pipes he referred to were actually the students in the library, from all different corners, coughing. This was in addition to the constant humming of the radiators in the background.

To Weber, everything in life has a rhythm, and anything can be an influence. As long as music is well played, imaginative and honest, Weber said he considers it to be good music.

Weber said his own listening interests include Mozart, Van Buren and They Might Be Giants.

Weber teaches and plays anything from woodwinds to percussion, the piano, the guitar and all band instruments.

For lessons, questions or a good conversation, one can catch Weber Fridays at the CoffeeCat, online at http://www.iowacreativemusic.com or via e-mail at marcweber@mchsi.com.

Chelsie Anderson
Entertainment Editor

CDANDERSON@NIACC.EDU

Remember all those TV child stars that captured our hearts? It was all of the cute little children who made family sitcoms what they were.

Well, when those child stars grow up, I doubt many people would be able to recognize them from the mangled lives they live. Year after year, it seeems like there are more stories of child TV stars that have committed suicide, robbed stores or abused drugs.

In a recent interview on Good Morning America, Jodie Sweetin, Stephanie Tanner from TV's Full House, admitted to using methamphetamines daily.

I mean, come on. Stephanie Tanner, the little girl who said "How rude!" What could happen in her life to push her towards this deadly drug?

The answer to that loaded question doesn't come easily. Sweetin doesn't attribute her addiction to her fallen career. However, Sweetin did say, "It is kind of hard to figure out who you are when you've lost your job at age 13, when that was basically how you identified yourself."

These child stars become their characters. Honestly, how many people do you think would see her and say, "Oh my gosh, that's Jodie Sweetin!" No they would say, "That's Stephanie Tanner!"

Often when the shows are over, the stars feel like their identities have been lost.

This causes an empty feeling and need for attention that makes them lash out, hoping to find a new identity.

The TV viewers don't make it any easier for those actors to find new jobs. I know when I see a former child star I think to myself, "Oh man this show is gonna bomb."

TV viewers everywhere need to realize these former child actors are not their characters; they have many ranges in talent. I don't know if it's due to the ugly past of child stars, but lately there haven't been many new shows that have young children on them that become really popular.

Maybe it's lucky for those children who want to be on TV shows. It all seems like a glamorous life until they grow up, the show is cancelled and they lose their identity.

I know I would rather remember those cute little children who were happy and made me laugh and smile.

I don't want to think about them as drug-using, depressed, young adults.