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Page 12 ? March 27, 1985 E ntertainment THE GAMECOCK Tn\n/n Thpatri WW V H I I VM ^1 ? By Andy Duncan "There's no point in playing a game without playing it to the hilt," says a character in Anthony Shaffer's "Sleuth." Town Theatre's production of the awardwinning mystery does indeed "play it to the hilt," making a thoroughly enjoyable evening of murder, deception, treachery and dark h 11 in r* r Mystery fans should take special delight in Shaffer's intricate plot, which twists virtually every cliche and convention of the classicBritish detective story to meet its own fiendish ends. THE TWO-ACT play, directed by Emmalee Robbins, is set in the murky mansion of mystery writer Andrew Wykc. As the show opens, Andrew is putting finishing touches on his latest improbable novel, a task interrupted by the visit of Milo Tindle, played by Bill Arvay Jr. After some small talk. Andrew acts down to business: "I understand you want to marry my wife." 'Amadeus' swi a?,??i n rium Mssuuiaiou rioss LOS ANGELES ? "Amadeus," a soaring dr and a celebration of Mozart's musical genius, w; eight Oscars, five more than its closest competitc Cambodian war story "The Killing Fields." Tl Oscar winner was "Ben-Hur" with 11 in 1959. Sally Field claimed her second Oscar for best courageous farmer in "Places In The Heart" as Academy Awards ceremony Monday night tel< of the world, including China for the first time "The Killing Fields" took home three Oscars tory of Haing Ngor, a Cambodian refugee, ma tional high point in the presentations. NCiOR, WHO ENDURED torture in his ho mirrored the agonies of his movie role as an newspaper reporter, held his Oscar aloft and d< is unbelievable. But so is my entire life." ti ~ .J- * J ? i iic j /in ctwcuu;> wcui uown in msiury as one ever: three hours, five minutes ? 40 minutes year's marathon telecast. Recipients, hounded I lights and threats that the orchestra would cut tl exceeded the 45-second time limit, kept accepi short. "A Passage to India" and "Places In The He two Oscars. Best actor of the vear. F. Murrav Abraham o! told the TV audicnce of an estimated one billio would be a lie if I told you 1 didn't know what I've been working on this speech for 25 years, none of those speeches fit the time limit. ABRAHAM, 45, WHO portrayed Mozart's Salieri, expressed regret that he could not share rn.ctar anrl nnminPA TAm Unl^a eighteenth-century Austrian composer. "There's only one thing that is missing for n that is to have Tom Hulce standing by my side Miss Field, 37, claiming her second Oscar for the courageous farm woman of "Places In Th cepted her award through tears. "This means so much more to me this time, tKinl/ tllO f I rrf t irnn I li ? i uinrv 11 iv- iiiji nine i iaai ui j ivu 11 uttau^t n w SHE WON IN J979, portraying another woman in "Norma Rae." The gowned, bejeweled and tuxedo-clad cro Angeles Music Center gave a standing ovation tc James Stewart, recipient of an honorary Oscai Cary Grant. With typical modesty, Stewart, 76, thanked and movie audiences, saying: "You've given m life. God bless you." Best supporting actress winner Dame Peggy charismatic English visitor of "A Passaae To Ir sent, having remained in England for the funeral Sir Michael Redgrave. Her award was accept Lansbury. THE 77-YEAR-OLD Ms. Ashcroft, recently "Jewel In The Crown," once said, "I've never ^'o he a film star, fi scenti. id lead only to tax p V. The c^ily best picture nominee to end thc.nigl ;Qscars|Wq(j "A Soldier's Stpry." Tho'Videily predicted "A'faadeus" sweep beg; ^howwith awards for makeup, sound, art diret clevgri and screenplay adapted by Peter Shaffer pla Milos Forman, the director who guided thi Orion picture, hailed the collaboration < Czechoslovakia, saying, "This kind of recoj couraging ior more man Dox-omce reasons.'' Forman, 52, who won the best director Osc; "One Fiew Over The Cuckoo's Nest," le Czechoslovakia 16 years ago. "Amadeus" was there since he became a U.S. citizen. The award for best foreign-language fi "Dangerous Moves," a Swiss film about a che: 5's 'Sleuth't Andrew then persuades Milo to commit the "perfect crime" to earn enough money to keep the woman in question in "the style to which she was not accustomed before she met me, but now is." Milo wholeheartedly approves of the scheme at first, but he soon learns that Andrew is playing a much more sinister game. The rest of the play is an accelerating stream of plot twists, red herrings and surprise enHines that the New York Times called "as clever as a wagon-lead of monkeys solving (he crossword puzzle of the Times of London and as intricate as the Hampton Court maze." "Sleuth" won the 1970 Drama Critics Circle and 1971 Tony Awards for best play, and the marvelous 1972 film version starred Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. But this production is well worth vour time even if you've already seen the movie; those familiar with the rollercoaster mysteries of the plot can concentrate more on the artistry of the two stars. none nrodirtal L^u|ja |j ^uiu iu i *JV; ama of rivalry altzed off with )r, the true life ?\ le all-time top ' actress as the r^JaBMKP a streamlined iviscd to most ^ flT ;, with the vie- M? a rking an emo- \ ^ meland which assistant to a eclared, "This of the shortest less than >y red warning lem off if they T: :ance speeches . - art" each won - ^ ' '"Amadeus," - ' n viewers: "It > to say because " But he said ' - -, - ^ ^ -- 1 / = r jealous rival, ;^':-w; the Oscar with .o played .he ?A p|u||| T? ? le tonight and "nd to"1 he said. best actress as __________________________ le Heart, ac- i " she said. "I 1984 Acad as so new. strong-willed *UA V . i . wu a. ,?c .A., i ne major winners 'r "re/emed'b0; Awards ?e follow> his colleagues BEST MOVIE: "A e a wonderful Ashcroft, the BEST ACTRESS: S idia," was ab- I The Heart' I of her friend, ed by Angela BKST ACTOR; F seen in TVs "Amadeus" really wanted I ? .UU.V .BEST KUPrOKTl it without any ' Ashcfcttt . ^ V'A P#S< an early in the ,r ri. , Ngor "ror "The Killin (* .mo/In L. V-I.VV1I IIIHUV, if artists in Snition is en- BEST DIRECTOl "Amadeus" ar in 1976 for ft his native i his first film BEST SONG: Ste^ Called To Say I Love1 ilm went to i? vy-A ?? < ss match. 111 KCO* I wists surprisir AL McNEELY DOES a magnificent job as the crafty Andrew, and he gets the lion's share of the eood lines. Referrinji to his hated wife, he mutters, "Marguerite romantic? Marguerite could not have gotten Johann Strauss to waltz." Later, he proclains, "Sex is the game, marriage the penalty." But McNeely also does well when he isn't saying anything. He looks at the audience, slightly smiling, as he contemplates some new wickedness; and his slow ascent of the staircase, loaded revolver in hand, is one of the most chilling stage moments you're likely to see. McNccly's past Town Theatre roles include Dr. Watson in last year's Sherlock Holmes play "The Crucifer of Blood," and it's good to see him working the other side of the law. Equally good is Bill Arvay Jr. as Milo, although to say too much about his performance would give 4he game away. But any actor who can commit burglary dressed in a lie 1984 Acadi He best supporting actress award ?I emy Awards f* >) \ for the 1984 Academy ^ >aiiy rieia ior rlaces in $ . Murray Abraham for V. ING ACTRESS: Peggy, 4 iage To Indfa" ' I'.fffi v'AJH Hairtg; g Fields" : sgk R:, Milos Forman for BnCSI zie Wonder for 44I Just Vou" from "The Woman Tom Hulce "Amadeus" I The film wvoi lg storyline " j clown suit with size 28 shoes and still be believable deserves commendation. In Milo's more comic moments, Arvey strongly resembles Monty Python alumnus Michael Palin. if that means anything. BOTH McNKELY AND Arvay do tcrrific British accents; this confirmed Anglophile didn't detect a false note. Steve Mueller, Ray Alfred and David Goodrich give their sup- a porting roles everything they're worth. ^ J Director Robbins can be credited for a seamless, smooth production, although she docs have a near-flawless cast and script to work with. Special mention is due David Dunlap's set design and the special effects in- \ volved in dynamiting safes and shooting Dresden shepherdesses off the mantel. 'ClA,.?Un > 11 run VVo/lnoiHav.^ntnrHav tTllUlll v?lll I till ?? vuiiv.iv.m; lvm. v. v?v and April 9-13. Tickcts of $7 for adults and $4 for students can be ordered at 799-2510. But be warned. At one point, Andrew tells Milo, "Thirgs arc rarely as they seem." The ? game, as they say, is afoot. emv Awards mmr iiP. ^ H HHKHHBHniHHBBnHBBHHHHHHMHRBir r ^Msapifr jWh L . **+ "*w 1 m 1 ?m^i and best actor of 1984 F. Murray Abraham of ^ taw their film sweep the 1984 Academy Awards. ^ i a total of 8 awards.