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F.mntinnal By Nancy Young Staff Writer Perhaps it was a coincidence that Death of a Salesman opened a week before the fourth of July, as it is generally regarded as one of the most important dramas in the American theatre. Willy Loman, as playwright Arthur Miller described him, "is the classic American figure ? the chnmn -0? ? r who believes in the slogans and the banalities." Charles Whetzel, in this IJSC production, was illuminating as Willy, a perfect personification of Miller's description. His pathetic yet tender characterization drew the audience into a close circle and created a feeling of unity. By shows end there wasn't a dry eye in the theatre. The play's somber message made a powerful and gripping impact on audiences back in 1949 when it was first produced; it still does. Death of a Salesman is a definitive, laconic statement of twentieth century American life. The USC Repertory company put the drama on last week with the appropriate amount of intensity required. i ne siory concerns willy Loman, striving to become the successful businessman while pushing his sons in\o the same profession. Summer rrn By David Baker Film Critic Th?? I? Because of the increasing number faithful of new movies in town and the Benchle decreasing amount of space in which to write about them, I'm giving up my regular review this week in order to make a few brief Tfl comments about each of the films I a will not be able to devote an entire column to. 1 The Blues Brothers: $30 million j went down the drain to make this ;, bomb, most of it on expensive props (more than 100 cars were destroyed, along with a 32-store V shopping mall). The story concerns the Brothers' attempts to ' ' raise the $5000 needed to save the ; , nrnhanaffp in u/hifh thpv trrpw iir? " " ?'~J O**"' "KDan Ackroyd's Elwood character I is funny when the script (which he co-wrote with director John / jy Landis) allows, but John Belushi's Jolier Jake is silly and nothing I. U more. In cameo roles, James Brown and Cab Calloway are ;} p \ J exceedingly fun to watch (and , j \ti\ lief an f a\ D o P i f uotv/ii iv/ ivat^u IV. J i Brubaker: Powerful stuff - a bit , too powerful, perhaps, for most )} audiences. Robert Redford stars ( as a prison warden bent on reforming the penal system. The U problems he encounters ? sadistic trustees, worm-ridden food, slave Moot labor and murder ? seem in surmountable, but his willingness BHH to face them is quite inspiring. | _J Redford's performance is his best in vears and the movie itself looks like a sure Oscar-nominee. Its j opening sequence ? a slice of life I behind prison walls ? might even help keep potential criminals in, _ line for the next few years. Rated | The Empire Strikes Back: Just I "v. when this Star Wars sequel (the K second of a projected nine-part [": y series, in which the original is #4 j and this one is #5) irretrievably : - hooked, it ends, leaving your mouth literally watering for the [ v = I1CAI IIISUIUUICIU VIVCVCU^C U1 U1C j- ,v Jedi). Irvin Kershner has directed in the best George Lucas tradition K: . and the special effects actually E j- ; surpass those of the original. It's v too bad the original's wit and I-- ; humor were deleted. All of the original cast ? Mark Hamill, jHlIlP Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, I Anthony Daniels and Sir Alec I Guiness ? have returned. Rated I 3_\. 'Salesman His sons fall short of his expectations, and eventually even he fails to realize his dream. Richard Jennings played his eldest son Biff, the spoiled son as a result of his father's lavish exnenditnre nf attention and money. His lack of responsibility and discipline cause him to give up the chance of going to college and a successful career as a businessman. Jennings was able to render a sympathy and loathing for his character. As the younger son, Happy, Jeffrey West fell into the role with ease. This pathetic man who seemed to forever be babied never realizes any self-worth or satisfaction. He never fulfills his promise to get out of the house and get married. Nor can he ever hold Ull ll> U JUU OI Illdlldgc I11S MlUIICy . Sally Welch proved to be an actress who is able to give light and shade to her role. As Linda Loman, she is the pillar that stands among the ruins. Welch made her convincing as the typical American housewife, standing behind her husband all the way. This group of talented actors come from all over the country. Whetzel is assistant professor of theatre at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. West is a candidate fT a master's degree at the University of Virginia. Welch has played in theatres in ovi es:cowb land: For the most part, a prising, since B screen adaptation of Peter the script). T y's best-seller (not sur- pirates in Caribbean ? i A ? ' J: i. ?? !._ uirecior ivncna* work, though he with less than 1 and gore. Mich< Warner co-star Urban Cow comedy-drama couple (John T ?ft?j|18|l^^ y take new partn ^ ^#1 eac^ other j wSMj$ ^ent Rffij rflHH ^jngerSisntheh| .1/ . I'veseenl f in which the I f^L^mZSS actress does anl ^echanical brj flJUMH highlight. Rat el HT^ Wholly Mose ?1/ f^BSaBsSHHa company ha> jflB ' ultimate Biblic Iffl I story about Am Herschel. The (set in 1980) u I've seen this y e in 'Wholly Moses!' Weif' 3a^s at,t! trade are side nwsss NOW SHOWING - ADULTS Of 1. Beach House 2. China Dolls Starts Friday, June 27 /oijilimT ^ Introducing and Starring TAR A CHU nammm mmmAM uuii IUIW HJUUBH wmutatmt UMU MVU 2 REUNIO j I Rated X ] Continuous showing ? Escorted women ha J-j Air Conditioned ' ahcnyhc ai rifi/iiaiu uuurfffr^u/ VVf?w?->wr -? Nashville as well as starring in the offBroadway production of Medea. Jennings is a resident professor who has proven to be a fine, professional director as well as an actor. Jim Patterson directed the production admirablv. enmhasine the weakness of his characters while still giving them that oys,corned enchlev also wrote Dicture tends to lose foci he plot ? about time period changes, the modern-day rather mechanical ant is far-fetched, but toward the end. Moore, 1 el Ritchie makes it superb throughout a ; could have done so reason enough to place one-tenth the blood ael Caine and David RatpH R Vi w Jrregn; boy: Outstanding (\ Cou about a Texq&, X p ravolta and Debrjjjjy' ifter a tempestuous "ft $175 Monday-V ere ?'just to make } $200 Saturday ealous. Travolta's y ti onvincing, but his ft .... ? .. 0. e right place, and 1411 Barnwell SI most exciting new y This in years. The scene pouty-faced young erotic dance atop a I :? ?u?1 ^ mcu la uic ciuauiutc s: Move over Monty udley Moore and f re concocted the / n .-ft :al parody with this w the false prophet f "%54S<X125-minute prologue / > the funniest thing / ear ? director Gary I le Holy Land tourist I -splitting- ? but the I HHHBi Ir^a ilk. in sILY HCCXOO I <5o> i B too IA?>?S I rk ano a Bl MS feJk (XNuiMtN m.- .; - -.: , ; . _ . ovt# at ' -.Hr .-:" : ] inc iiisiiii mtMw mubtt Hi- -.- - ^'_* nttMtyAY*S]bTAi i WtVBT PPOl i~r c-"V^-:-i ^ rj-=-^- - ---? .-^^,7.3/ V & i?V, It-price idience I I i . " : '.V .: .< . * > -, "V4-V" /V:"j '-A-'-* . f n J b> id Sally Welch in 'Death of a Salesman' critical element of hope. The dark side of the drama was deeply felt by the audience. The next production in the summer series is Lu Ann Hampton Oberlander. Later performances of Death of a Salesman are scheduled for July 9,10,13,18,26 and August 1 and 3. All shows are at Longstreet Theatre, show time is 8 weekdays, and 3 on Sundays. v and prison ^ M is when the near the top of one's must-see list. becoming James Coco, Laraine Newman and J tiresome Richard Pryor are excellent in lowever, is support, though the latter could nd that's use a bit more screen time to flesh the movie out his Pharaoh schtick. Rated PG. ancy Termination 1 inseling Available J LH neg. shot included y /eunesuay-r naay (\ he Ladies Clinic <\ ;. Columbia, S.C. 254-7553 ft is not a referral agency. X - _h|[! {. : __ ^|rir? l RESTfiURfiflT JrlfclE: (vj and SflLOOD