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.entertainment Children's play op By John Vaughan Children will be in the spotlight and in the seats at Longstreet Theatre today, as USC's 1983 summer repertory program enters its fourth and final production into the season lineup. "Crossroads," a children's play written by a pioneer in the field, is aimed at involving its younger audience in the action on stage. It's a play that offers music, dancing, creative costuming ? and a chance for kids and adults in the audience to participate in ^ the theatrical goings-on. WRITTEN BY Englishman Brian Way, the play has a clear moral tale, and is described by director Ann Dreher as "a pacifist play." Way is renowned for his work in this area, _ * * the USC director said in another interview. llMi' "He's famous in the world of children's " cKA o o ?r\ ini;^nt!*HPQ nf lliwat^l I dilV OOIU. I AV All VIUVU HiV IMVU V ? participatory theater" for youngsters. ||||| m While the playwright recommends the pro- Ipf % | duction be presented in a simple room ? not \ J on a stage ? and no special lighting be \ employed, (JSC's show will not adhere to ^ those ideas, Dreher said. CLAUD For "Crossr "WE'RE GOING for a more theatrical ef feet," she said. "Children's theater can be But the din very exciting because it's more frankly will be enjoye theatrical than adult shows." she hopes ma 'Trading Places' unevc By Allison Stein What would happen if a ghetto hustler and an arrogantly preppy commodities broker were to trade places? In "Trading Places," Eddie Murphy and Dan Ackroyd do just that, ending up with a sometimes funny movie that is the best comedy release of the summer. Eddie Murphy plays hustler Billy Ray Valentine, who scrounges the ghetto disguised as a blind and crippled Vietnam vet looking for handouts. DAN ACKROYD plays snobby Louis Winthorpe III, a wealthy brokerage executive. He's got a butler, a preppy fiance and a status position. 1 A1 sh< a ens today at Long: * yjj?y< m ?BPnr IA ANDERSON, RICH BERG AND SUSAN YOUNG LOOK OVER DESIG oads," the children's show staged as the final summer repertory pr ector said she believes the show that reason, an evening perfc :d by adults as well as kids, and scheduled tonight along with tod n\7 I 1QP ctnHpntc wfill cpp it Fnr nrpcpntatir\n ;n, but best comedy mc To settle a personal bet. the billionaire Duke brothers. played by Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche, frame Winthorpe for theft and drug dealing and replace him with Valentine. Can Valentine comfortably adjust to a townhouse and $80,000 a year? Will Winthorpe resort to a life of crime? What u ? 11 1 ...i uapjjcus iu an luncciucu wiicn me uci is seilicu: Ackroyd's characterization is so excellently snotty that I would have liked'to hit him. MURPHY IS a madman, proving true the rumors of his be ing the brightest young comedy star on the rise. While being funny on cue, he shows signs of dramatic talent as well. Together, Ackroyd and Murphy are truly inspired; their col nrruetorthc MTZ. MX*. /tmMHk /<&&/** 4S* %j? laQITlvCOC n 1 students who wo 1*1 i 1 it UKe to worn on tn< Gamecock ould attend a meet t 6 p.m. Wednesd. in room 321. 7 Russell House For more information 11 nnn m edit / // -/ JLOJl street Theatre "Crossroads" is the summer troupe's only show that will not go into "rolling repertory" ? in which each production joins a 2 rotation that allows scattered performances % across most of the summer. Instead, "Crossroads" has all its performances in the mornings, today through Saturday and July 27-30. f' W" " TUI? CTADV intm/lnnnr tUo tn a P. m. mmwlj kJ a 1 ill tt uuuvt^ iiiv auuiviivv iv w tramp, who finds himself at the crossroads of the world. Here he meets four spirits who are each vying to gain control of the world. An I angel asks the tramp to help bring peace to V the world the others would wreck. With the angel, the tramp wanders thrnnoli thp dicIpc r?f thfQtpr r?rr\r1Hino the audience to speak up when questions are asked on stage, and to react when various citunfinnc nricp t/lVMMilVlIU V* rn lUVl Chuck Whetzel plays the tramp in USC's v ^ | show, with Hope Nunnery as the angel. As for the four spirits: Claudia Anderson is the ice queen of the North, Rich Berg is the /fTl ^A scientist of the East, Avon Stephenson is the f \ \ s|| proud bird of the South and Charlie Peterson I i sill is the sea monster of the West. SNS Dreher promises the show will pack music, oduction dancing and a lot of fun into its brief, justover-an-hour running time.. >rmance was "Crossroads" plays at 10:30 a.m. and at 8 lay's opening P-m- tonight only. For ticket information, call the box office at 777-2551. ivie of summer laborations are the funniest parts of the film. Jamie Lee Curtis plays a hooker with a brain who takes Winthorpe under her wing. It is a pleasure to see get out of the haunted house and into a good film, though her role could have been expanded. The best performance of the film was given by Denholm F.lliof. Hp was pxrpllpnt as fhp hntlpr a nprfnmanrp rankincx up there with John Gielgud in "Arthur". BELLAMY AND Ameche, as the Duke brothers, were tiresome and stilted, bogging down the film. Despite its faults, "Trading Places" is the best of the summer crop of comedy. \ i i p tlrl UIU e tina ay I, 1