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By Lynn Massey
A??t. Entertainment Editor
You really missed it. Only a thousand or more people came
to witness the resurgence of the Fab Four phenomenon at the
Township last Thursday night when Contemporary Sounds
presented "Beatlemania". It was nothing less than flabbergasting.
Many were saying after the performance things
like "anybody who missed this got ripped off."
The production was anything but a cheap simulation of the
original foursome. It could be called a 60s time capsule,
because the band's songs were illustrated with an incredible
jocumentary depicting the heavy chaos of the riots, the
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use of slides and film reels.
THE SPECTACLE begins with a collage of television and
movie stars while a film clip of John Kennedy in the Camelot
era rolls on the screen centered between the slides. Then it
cuts to the Ed Sullivan show when he introduces the Liverpool
lads to America for the first time in 464. It ends there to
throw the spotlight in the group who lash out "She Loves
you," "I Want To Hold Your Hand," and "Help." Stunning
the audience by sounding, looking, and acting like the
original four, the group held the crowd spellbound from the
very beginning until the grand finale.
What was so profound about this production was that
between sets, film clips of people and events of the decade
were given more exposure which proved to be very enT
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tertaining. Film clips of kids doing the jerk, President t
Johnson's speech on education, and an interview with c
Twiggy kicked off songs "Can't Buy Me Love," and "Day t
Tripper." Star Trek stars, Marlon Brando, Joe Namath, and
other '60s celebrities flashed behind the group.
One of the highlights of the performance was Lenie
Colaeinao as Paul McCartney swooning the small crowd with
"Yesterday" was complemented with different works of art
which reflected the song's gloomy mood. Flashes of Martin
Luther King and heavy artillery backed up the songs "We
Can Work It Out," and "Nowhere Man."
THEN THE BAND showed the transition of the Beatle
music Dy dressing in s>ergeani pepper costumes anu
recreated drug-related songs while footage of John Glenn's
space walk and take-offs of the Apollo rockets made headway
for "A Day in the Life." Slides of hippies with headbands,
peasant blouses, and people rolling joints filled the screen.
However, one of the most spectacular performances was
the multi-media version of "Strawberry Fields Forever"
that was illustrated by a man floating in space and
psychedelic designs of red splotches set off with stoned faces.
Other songs illustrated much the same way were "Penny
Lane" and "Magical Mystery iour."
To end the first act, the band cranked out "Lucy in The Sky
With Diamonds" which could not have been more visually or
audibly stimulating. Beginning with a toy Ladybug twirling
on the screen, the slides progressed with glimpses of comic
n'lncredible Shi
By David Baker
direction is often static and ,VJ
ture using focus so soft that
the screen continually looks ///., jnmi
as if it has been smeared
with butter. advertising executive
(Charles Grodin) and often
WHAT'S INCIIKDIBLK helps him name new
about "Shrinking Woman" is products. As it turns out, the
that not one of these faults is chemicals in the products
severe enough to deprive the Pat helped name are what
audience of a good time. The combine in her system to
movie obviously was in- make her shrink.
tended to be a showcase for The shrinking process,
the talents of Lily Tomlin thanks to Tomlin's exquisite
! and the daffy lady's talents facial expressions and
are more than enough to unique way with a line, is
I make up for the film's hilarious. There's at least
numerous shortcomings. one good laugh every two
Tomlin plays Pat Kramer, minutes in the movie's first
housewife extraordinaire half-hour, but after that they
' and mother of two children. come in increasingly
She's happily married to an irregular intervals.
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ook heros and strung-out hippies. Red lights flashed for the
limax of the song and a strobe light blared strongly enough
a give anyone kaleidoscope eyes.
A SHORT TRIBUTE was given to some rock legends such
is Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, and Jefferson
\irplane. In a studio atmosphere, The 'Beatles' came back
vith a looser format and revealed some tension among
hemselves which later led to their split-up. "Lady
Madonna," "Michelle." and "Come Together." were some of
the songs played while Jon Spa as John Lennon drifted off
and on the stage. "Come Together" energized with reels of
love-ins and clips of Bobby Kennedy during "AJ1 You Need is
Love."
Friction and anguish projected from the screen as the band
played "Revolution" and "Helter Skelter."
While performing "Hey Jude," slides of President Richard
Nixon giving peace signs braced the center screen which
showed the American flag slowly burning away.
THE LAST SET included the songs "I am the Walrus,"
'The Long and Winding Road," and ended with "Let It Be."
[t jalso included a clip of Timothy Leary, the advocator and
:hemist who concocted LSD.
The enthusiastic crowd reacted wildly to the production
and received three encores which did not seem to satisfy
them completely. The boys, originally from New Jersey,
concluded with three earlier hits, "All My Loving," "I Feel
Fine," and "Hard Day's Night."
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ONCE THE pathetically presence, but only Tomlin
underdeveloped sub-plot, could single-handedly make
about a conspiracy to shrink a movie this bad seem this
the rest of the world to Fat's good.
size, is introduced and Pat is
kidnapped and caged, the Coupled with her
only funny moments are delightful characterization
those provided by her next in the current "Nine to
door neighlx>r, consumer Five," Toinlin's work in
advisor Judith Beasley (also "The Incredible Shrinking
played by Tomlin), and her Woman" places her
telephone operator, Er squarely at the forefront of
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can one day find a script
Other comediennes could worthy of her abundant
get away with playing three talent, it surely will turn out
roles in a movie to foe one of the funniest
distinguished only foy their movies ever made.