The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, July 20, 1983, Page 6, Image 6
.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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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the audience to speak up when questions are
asked on stage, and to react when various
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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.
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