University of South Carolina Libraries
Workshop's by John Vaughan Perhaps the best way to describe Workshop Theatre's presentation of "Annie" is as a "genuine" success. Oh sure, there are flaws in the local production of the phenomenally popular musical. But who cares to point a nitpicking finger at them ? especially when there seems to be so much good will on stage? This "Annie" is one with plenty of real smiles added to enough real talent to result in a really good time for Columbia. HIGHLIGHTED BY an elaborate set and a large cast, Workshop's "Annie" knows first and foremost that it's showtime here. And when the folks on stage are genuinely having fun, it's a sure bet the folks in the audience won't be let down. "Annie," from its roots as a Depressionera comic strip to a smash Broadway musical, through a wonderful soundtrack and a major motion picture to innumerable nfimmprnial cnin_r*ff nrnrliipIc hoc riHrlon o VVIIIIIIVI v a V* > opiil VI 1 pi VMUVIO) IIUO I 1UUVII U crest of charisma that shows few signs of slowing down. With its release for production at the amateur level, the show seems to have gained some degree of "second wind" across the country. IN COLUMBIA, this second wind gave rise to some hot air last spring, when Workshop and Town Theatre each claimed to have slated "Annie" first for the coming season. True to the show's spirit, though, a happy ending has been written for local audiences. Town Theatre won packed houses and rave reviews for its presentation of "Annie" during the summer, and Workshop has sold out a run through Dec. 18, with an encore holdover from Jan. 4 through Jan. 8. The verdict on the latter production? Well, it earned a standing ovation opening night; now it gets a cheer from this corner. DIRECTOR BETTE Herring has injected Golden Spur to cont to provide variety oi By Kelley Braithwaite When Mark Taylor talks about his favorite just referring to where he goes after work ? about where he goes to work. That place is the Golden Spur, and T manager. He's the man responsible for arranging p booking entertainment, and when he talks at enthusiasm is obvious. Taylor said he's proud of the series of conc has presented this year, calling it "a mi semester of entertainment." A ? A .I? ??? i r-vuu me scuicsici i?> nui over yei, ne auaea On Nov. 29, the Spur will sponsor anotl Night together with the Carolina Program I temporary Sounds Committee. Admission wi! with a Molson beer special. Again, prizes will be awarded for top act* encourage diverse acts, from musical to dran ical, and interested students should call the C 777-7130. Another event popular with students in rec been the air bands series, Taylor said, ai publicity has helped it grow. "We purposely waited until the end of th< order to build anticipation," Taylor said, but nual air band competition is set for Dec. 6. Admission to this event will be 75 cent students should call the CPU office at 777-71 Taylor said the Spur also plans to present or before the holiday break, either on Dec. 2 or He said this last band wil! close a solid lin eluded Leon Redbone and Vixen as rn attracters. "The big surprise of the year was The Flz Taylor said. "We didn't get a huge turn-out 1 they put on the best show!" Few students at USC today remember when a little place in the spot most recently used f Station shop. With its expansion to its presei the south end of the second floor of Russe! campus bar expanded its appeal and progran Now the Spur is setting its sights toward and a wider range of acts, the manager said. What does the Golden Spur have in store fc "Just look for bigger and better things," "We've always got a few things up our sleev En terta 'Annie' aloi Oliver Warbucks lowers the boom On the couple who tries to win $50,000 by claii Theatre's production of the popular musical "Annie.' the production with the shrewdness that has built her an impressive track record for holiday family fare at Workshop. Herring knows what adds up to good community theater, and she gives us enough playful asides and effervescent styling to insure a solid show. She has paced "Annie" easily and confidently, in no hurry to follow the classic rags-to-riches story of the carrot-topped girl who goes from a New York City orphanage to the home and heart of a billionaire. inue Special e1 F opto By Mar0arita Pate dLlO "Amityville 3-D," producer to say, is not a sequel to the fi of "Amityville" movies, bar, he's not "The Amityville Horror he's talking "Amityville II: The Possession based on a true story of a sup aylor is the haunted house and its des ? luitw on juh auuui ctuyoi . entered. ,ou8tTa..aht "Amityville 3-D." however, sequel m the eyes of its < . _ because it's a fictitious account erts the Spur sam(; o|d hQuse 3st fantastic "AMITYVILLE 3-D" folk * . story of magazine writer John her Amateur (T^y RoberB[s)> who initjal|y v llb?en50 cents ^us.e,wi,h his phot?8rapfher Clark) to expose a group of con After a brilliantly done firs ?. Organizers with Leora Dana as a scarylatic to com- psychic, recently-divorced PU office at decides he wants a change in and buys the house. He figu ent years has horror stories can't be true, nd increased John Harkins gives an excelh trayal of a real estate broker wl i semester in the place. Baxter's photograph the third an- becomes uneasy about some ] she took of the broker at the h s. Interested Baxter, refusing to believe anything wrong with the house his daughter, Susan, to come vn le more band ancj seiect a r00m as hers. 3. ' e-up that in- SUSAN PICKS the room ajor crow - those two distinctive v that seem to be two sinister imin Oh's," from the outside. or them, but Meanwhile, Baxter's ex-wif Harper) is one of thos the Spur was superstitious types. She prohi or the Union daughter from going to the hoi it location at Susan soon allows her friend 1 House, the couple of guys to talk her into iming. a seance there with a homemac larger events board. The story comes to a hea >r the future? psychic researcher Filliot West Taylor said. 's brought in to meet his i es ? challenge in the Amityville hoi ? Although those paper glass* rr> intnen i ns in genuiri ^ ^v >v^ >*^^ffljj^^9^ I B -% ; M> ^^^MeGyUf ^i??v * fl I IhI *1 1 " -l'..".'i \^u^y 'v'r- ' nwta fey Mary Am Notts ming to be Annie's Song-lost parents in Workshop With its relaxed pace and happy approach from all sides, "Annie" basks in a glow as warm as its lighting. PERHAPS THE nicest thing about this production recalls the term "genuine" again. Performances are filled with sincerity, especially from our central characters. As Annie, 10-year-old Boo Holland is a breath of fresh air. Any fears of the sort of precocious tykes who lined New York streets to audition for the original title role are ffects make 'Ai :reators of that )ws the Baxter i| ? isits the | PRPS^I (Candy B^PP^' artists. ^gjfl ?t scene looking ' KL ' Baxter his life \ -~~~ ires the |/;MiM' ;:v. jnt por- | ^ > 10 owns , ler later | _ pictures I ^nfflnnw w?W . invites Tony Roberts shields Tess Harpei ith hirn The two play a writer and his wife who fit right and remain uncornfortal upstairs throughout the movie, the thn /indows dimensional special effects in this fi "eyes" have viewers jumping in their seats tree limbs, pipes and hands seem e (Tess leap from the screen. e silly bits her THE MOVIE'S best scene con use, but when Harkins, as the real est. I and a broker, is attacked by thousands holding flies. le Ouija Filmmakers used 1.6 million ster male flies for this shot, and thou d when Harkins wore a special latex mask, (Robert reportedly still ended up with flies ultimate his mouth and nose, use. Another scary moment comes wh js never the monster in the abandoned ba o Bra wr* I IC dfJJJUdl quickly dismissed by Holland from her earliest rendition of "Maybe." "Maybe" is a sweet song, and Holland sings sweetly as she cradles the youngest orphan (played by a winsome Childs Cantey) in her arms. She does not possess a remarkable voice; instead, she sings well. From that moment on, the young actress delivers an ingenuous portrayal of the title character, free of brashness or preening. Her affection for her Daddy Warbucks seems quite real and tender. AS WARBUCKS, Bob Waites returns the favor. I was interested and a little surprised to see so much vulnerability in this character, but Waites seems to be keeping stride with Holland by playing Warbucks the only way he felt right with. The burly Waites is recognized as a mush heart quickly, and that's fun. We see the boy behind the billionaire, and his rapport with Annie becomes easy. Accordingly, Waites sings with a voice that reaches tenor areas rather than bass notes, but it's a full-bodied voice that shines on numbers such as "NYC" and "Something Was Missing." Mary Keenan is endearing as Warbucks' personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and lends pretty vocal work ? and a pretty face ? to several musical numbers. NAOMI CALVERT, Mike Dove and Anne Richardson as the evil trio who try to swindle $50,000 from Warbucks by stealing 0 Annie aren't as strong vocally as the leads, but all are exceedingly elastic dancers. Their hot-stepping on "Easy Street" make the number fun to watch. Supporting charisma is in abundance from the orphans, USC professor Ed Beardsley as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and members of his cabinet. Tickets are sold out. Groan. But the show has such an extended run that it's worth the search by word-of-mouth or advertisment to pick up some tickets. Try. mitvuille 3-D' i find themselves in mortal danger in'Amityville 3-D.' 3le ment well ? actually the Gateway to ;e- Hell ? makes his brief but effective 1m appearance on screen. as Though the story line is a bit weak, to and (with the exception of Roberts and Harkins) the acting isn't very convinc- M ing, the special effects make ies "Amityville 3-D" worth seeing. ite of ... . . ? . . MitMAtL wuuu ana tnree 01 nis ile crew that did such a good job on "Poltergeist" were responsible for the effects in this latest Amityville picture. in Kids especially seem to like this sort of movie, not only for its 3-D effects en but for the enjoyment of screaming se- out of sheer fright. ^