The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 05, 1984, Page Page 10, Image 10
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Page 10 ? October 5, 1984 E ntertainment THE GAMECOCK
'Whodunitl
Hitnhnnnk's 'R
m n ^ u m m m m m
By Tony Thompson
It is mandatory that every student at
USC attend at least one showing of
Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window."
Why is it mandatory, you ask?
Because "Rear Window" is one of the
best films by Alfred Hitchcock, a man
universally recognized as one of the
finest directors of all time.
Thanks to the settlement of a longstanding
legal dispute, (concerning the
estate of Cornell Woolrick, author ot
the novella on which the movie is basedl.
Paramount Pictures is able to
screen "Rear Window" in the United
States for the first time in more than
two decades. It was well worth the
wait.
JEFF, PLAYED by James Stewert,
is a free-lance photographer who
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Confined to a wheelchair in his
sweltering Fifth Avenue apartment, he
finds nothing better to do than spy
inischieviousiy on his neighbors.
Hitchcock's crafty camera looks
through Jeff's binoculars at some interesting
dramas unfolding in the
apartment windows across the
courtyard.
"Miss Lonelyhearts" is flitting
about downstairs while waiting for an
exciting moment in her life. "Miss
Torso" is upstairs and to the left, The
name is perfect. The fire escape couple
is beating the heat wave.
Finally, we come to Lars Thornwald,
played by a Raymond Burr
you'll hardly recognize, who is directly
across from Jeff's apartment and certainly
looks capable of committing the
horrible murder Jeff suspects him of.
AND WHO among the audience will
blame Jeff for his suspicions when the
disappearance of Lars' nagging wife is
soon followed by a freshly dug-up
garden? Lars becomes more sinister
with each scene, as some alarming
Town's 'An
By Jimmy Keller
Give Emmalee Robbins, director a
Theatre, a bigger stage, a bigger budge
company to work with, and you've got
However, her skillful directing is seldo
deserves, what with the obvious limitatio
has to offer. Take, for instance, "Annit
wild-west musical that introduced us to ;
Oakley, Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull.
The show, which is currently playing
quires lavish costumes, elaborate sets an
/ - ?
and-dance company. Because of the larg
several small children, and the familiar s
of watching such classics as "The Wizai
EVERYBODY WATCHES it. E
Everybody remembers the mistakes. It's
If the show is to be successful, the act
the mistakes are not funny and the shortc
serious. The local production is full of th
worth seeing, thanks to the talent of a fe
diligence of the production staff.
This show is full of "it is good" but 1
It opens to reveal a summer hotel, br
technical director Walter O'Rourke. To
of the 40's, the front of the hotel a
dimensional backdrop.
THE "GN-the-other-hand" occurs <
company is on the stage. The audience d<
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dialogues and songs.
The extras look pushed together and a
Many also attempt to draw attention to
the next person through an exaggerated
loud background conversation.
Many times throughout the show, th<
stand in a straight line, and the entire s
This occurs particularly during the fa
the backdrop runs from right to left cen
cut in nan. wnen mis nappens, it iooks n
a beauty pageant.
THE SMALL amount of space cam
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'REAR W
Classic Film
Grace Kelly and James Stewart star in this
House Saturday and Sunday night.
evidence continues to implicate him.
But did he do it? Jeff definitely thinks
so, but Hitchcock is devilishly
mysterious about "whodunit." The
viewer is kept in suspense until the
gripping end of this 1954 color film
also starring Grace Kelly and Thelma
Ritter (you'll immediately recognize
ner as me tunny nurse ana iorget ner
name just as quickly.)
Kelly, one of the most beautiful
woman in the world, plays Jeff's
girlfriend, Lisa Fremont. How could
he sit there peering through those
binoculars while she was in the same
room?
Kelly is really enchanting in this role
and Hitch cock magically and
subliminally enhances her presence
with his masterful direction.
nie Get Your
too. To show a laps<
t Columbia's Town townspeople change
t, and a professional throughout the show
a show. The audience does
m given the acclaim it or, what with the wo
ns a community stage Lucille Bailey of the
; Get Your Gun," the touch to the show.
;uch legends as Annie the townspeople as t
be slightly unnatural
at Town Theatre, re- Some of the extra
id a spectacular song- Thom McAnn. The e
e cast, which includes change their shoes, a
tory, it is reminiscent of a cowboy's pockc
rd of Oz." None of the hats si
men are fashions of
verybody loves it. Bailey has done sue
all a part of the fun. should match
ors must have fun or
:omings become more MUCH CREDI1
ese shortcomings, but Dreiman for the moc
w performers and the do have a 40's lool
transformed into Bii
'on-the-other-hand." There are a few p<
illiantly conceived by worth seeing. Redeei
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auntie iu me ictMinni as a very preuy /vnn
ppears to be a one- else, and the show's !
the stage.
*s soon as the entire Though she plays
3es not know where to pixiness within her.
and twitching during ner shyness and a li
Annie gradually bec<
ppear uncomfortable. McNeely.
themself by upstaging Quite a contrast i
mannerism or ratner Howard as Frank Bu
of anyone, as he pla
e actors are forced to
cene looks staged. IT IS perhaps bee
irground scene where not enjoyed. He po
ter. The small stage is smooth and mellow
ike a theme number in because it enhances t
By the second act
how he has been acti
;es staging problems, not believe that he i
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1NDOW
week's feature movie at Russell
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Review, the intellectual movie-goer
will find "Rear Window" packed with
clever symbolism. The movie also
reveals the "voyeur" in all of us ? we
become just as anxious as Jeff to see
what is going on in all of those interesting
apartment windows.
SO PICK whatever motive suits you,
intellectual stimulation, the thrill and
fun of a riveting mystery or the opportunitv
to Rawk at a stunninc Kellv.
and then see "Rear Window" Saturday
or Sunday night at the Russell
House Theatre.
By the way, just kidding. It is not
mandatory, though it should be. Go
see it anyway. They really don't make
them like this anymore.
Gun' receive
; of time, all Robbins can do is have the
sides, which they do more than once
not seem to mind the movement and colnderful
costumes. Much credit goes to
Theatre Artists Guild for adding the 40's
The dancers, however, stand out among
hey wear short silk dresses. It appears to
s, too, are wearing shoes directly out of
;xtras change clothes often, but neglect to
nd you may even spot a comb in the back
t
lould be plastic, and the hair-styles of the
the 80's. These may be small points, but
h a wonderful job that the accessories
goes to make-up chairman Dottie
)d she has created. Most of the characters
c, particularly Bill Arvay who has been
ffalo Bill.
jrformers that save the show and make it
ming factor number one is Leah McNeely
ie Oakley. She has more fun than anyone
shortcomings are forgotten when she is on
a very good tomboy, there is a feminine
Throuch her touch exterior u/p nn in.
ttle girl ready to blossom. The pace that
omes more of a woman is handled well by
s presented with the performance of Bill
itler. He appears to be having the least fun
iys his role quite seriously.
:ause of his realism that his mistakes are
rtrays the showy and brash Butler as a
man. This is excusable in the first act
he difference between Annie and himself.
, however, Butler should at least realize
ing. We do not see the change, and we do
s in love with Annie.
inctallaHAfi nilnurintt ?rt texnerlence fth'& I
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evening of art appreciation.
"Madonna and Angels ? A Celebration of the Kress
Collection" will be an evening of famous and prec&its
paintings put into ballet form.
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m
"THEY ARE taking the costumes and ideas of the paintings
and acting those out", said Pat Callahan, Publicity
Affairs Director for the museum,
Theevening will consist of a champagne reception, viewing
the collection's Renaissance paintings, the ballet per*
formance and a catered reception after the show.
The paintings selected for the celebration are ?*The Bust
Portrait of a Young Man,'' "Portrait of a Young Lady,"
"Pulcinella Singing with His Many Children and a Lute
Player," and a variety of presentations of Madonnas and
angels.
"The Bust Portrait of a Young Man" was created by
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Renaissance, "The Portrait of a Young Lady,"was
created by an artist known as "Master: of the 'Vierge aux
Balaces,' " identified as an artist working in Milan who
had direct knowledge of Leonardo da Vinci's famous
masterpiece "The Mona Lisa".
THESE TWO portraits have been combined into one
ballet performance called "Two Portraits," choreographed
by William Starrett.
"Pulcinella Variations," choreographed by Anne
Richardson* recreates the scene that AllessandroMagnesco
created in his portrait, "Pulcinella Singing with His Many
Children and a Lute Player.1' The painting depicts the simple,
poor hero surrounded by children in his dilapidated
home.They escape from the world with the pleasures of
General admission tickets are $6.25 and student tickets
are $4.25.
- ' ^
s mixed review
McNeely and Howard do blend together rather well,
however. Howard does appear to enjoy himself when he is
singing, and it is then that the two make the show.
When they dream of love, and sing "They Say It's Wonderful,"
the audience can appreciate the talent of the Howard
and McNeely. She does not have the trained sound that
Howard has, but the naturalness of her alto voice adds to her
character.
SHE ALSO sings a very pretty "I Got The Sun In The Morning,"
and reveals a nice falsetto in "Anything You Can Do,"
which is the best number of the evening.
The townspeople who wander on to be the chorus usually
appear bored, and for a large group, they have very little
strength. There are also blending problems that make the
chorus an inconvenience to the leads.
There are other redeeming factors in the show. The nine
piece orchestra, conducted by Guthrie Darr, is in top form.
They blend well with the lead solos. After a three-day break,
their performance Wednesday night is to be commended.
Margot Rogers plays a very funny Dolly Tate. She is one of
the more gifted performers in the show, and her mannerisms
as ivis. taie are very amusing. She even "takes candy from a
baby well" as she fools Little Jake, played by Christopher
Robbins, into getting the key's to Annie's guns.
LITTLE JAKfc is a part of another positive aspect of "Annie."
He is one of the six assistants to Annie, a type of follow
me ieacier group of Rids that steal many scenes. It is funny
when they turn to look the audience square in the face, and
they sound particularly natural in "Doin' What Comes
Natur'lly."
Others who deserve mention for fine performances are Bill
Arvay as Buffalo Bill and Bobby Craft as The Wild Horse.
His Ceremonial Dance is short, but memorable.
Overall, the show is good, despite flaws that are not funny if
the actors do not laugh with them.
Sometimes, it is a top-rate community show, while at other
times it looks like a high school talent night. Go to see McNeely.
Go to see the costumes. Go to have fun.
The show runs through October 18. For ticket reservations,
call 799-2510.