The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 27, 1985, Page Page 12, Image 12
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
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. **+ "*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.