The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 21, 1983, Page 14, Image 14
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
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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
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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
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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. ^