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Spotlight Monday, February 3, 1986 * 5 Review ? Check into 'Hoi By MARY JO MILLER Spotlight editor When you've got those low-down, tired of corny community theatre blues, how do you spell relief? II ~ # I n ? i . ! - - n-vj-i-i u-a-i-i-i-in-o-r-e. Or perhaps a better answer would be Reid Davis. Davis, a USC senior, is directing "Hot 1 Baltimore," Lanford Wilson's award-winning play, which opened Friday at Workshop Theatre. Davis, who breathed life into Columbia community theater last year with his production of "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You," is doing the same again with Lanford Wilson's proven script and a talented cast, drawn largely from the k annals of USC's theater department. Wilson's play is s?t on Memorial Day in 1973, in the lobby of a seedy, flophouse hotel. Every city has a Hotel Baltimore. It's the kind of place no one is interested in until it's about to come under the wrecking ball, and by then the only people interested are antique dealers. i nesc are the circumstances in which we meet the residents of Wilson's imaginary hotel. The assortment of hookers, transients and eccentrics who call the aging Baltimore home have just received their eviction notices. Girl (Erin Thigpen), the youngest resident of the hotel, is hit hardest by the news of the hotel's eminent destruction. She is an exuberant teenage prostitute who changes her name as often as she changes her mood and doesn't understand why people can't commit themselves to dreams. Thigpen, a USC student, is both visually and dramatically convincing as the romantic Girl. New reporters meeting Wedr R^n 11 1*1 I n rnnm Oil O.. ?ww !*. . in i uuill Oi. I nussc -^v rx Send A Messa \^/ To Your Sweeth See Page 6 For C ?i reD.f J 5-12 I Cleaners II Sub City 1^1 I Contact Lens J Clinic V Kopy Kat 1 . Gamecock I J ^ Travel I 4 v \ & Sweet Expressions^ \JCountry Store l? * M t1 Baltimore' During the course of the day, she develops an attachment for Paul Granger III (John Finley Emerson), a handsome loner in search of his transient grandfather. In most of his scenes, Emerson's Granger is both physically and emotionally estranged from the Other cacf mpmhcr? Granger's spacial separation from the cast members is especially effective in ensemble scenes, such as the characters sharing a champagne toast with a departing prostitute. While the hotel regulars hold their glasses aloft with a cheerfully ironic, "To us," he stands to the side, amused by their happiness yet unable to capture their spirit. Granger does establish a chemistry with Millie (Peggy Beasley), the hotel's eccentric psychic. Although Beasley delivers one of the play's strongest performances, Millie comes across as a warm and very sane woman. This creates a paradoxical situation, however, when Girl tells Millie she doesn't really live in this world and sometimes can be "completely crackers." This alleged instability is not evident in Beasley's otherwise strong performance. In addition to Girl, the hotel boasts two other prostitutes: April (Nancy Pope) and Suzi (Lori Calvert). Calvert's Suzi is a charmingly silly foil to Pope's April, a foul-mouthed earth mother in polyester mumus. Other notable performances include Mr. Morse (Gary Heilsburg), a crotchety, old widower in the hotel; Jackie (Helen Baldwin) and Jamie (Arthur Diehl Morton), a pair of emotionally disturbed siblings following their screwy dreams; and Bill (Randy Hanna), the desk clerk who lends a touch of sanity to the hotel's chaos. esday, |parn Pvfr ill House I wul fc*riM Serologicals, Inc. is in r If you qualify for our could earn up to $160 [ information call . . . ige ieart i ji Serolo [ X] 2719 Middle >etails i@r ColU2ki Serologicals ffmai SB ML. i 4 | B In the Ru&f J pres /[ A lifin / I l\ PHC ?\ ^ Come s Spectacula The Kings of Beer? Several people view "The Kings an The display was sponsored by Budw Fashion shov A fashion show to benefit South Carolina Special Olympics will be held Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Russell House Ballroom. Many top Columbia stores will sponsor clothes modeled by both students and models from Jenny Trussell Modeling Studio Agency in Columbia. Tickets arc on sale until noon Wednesday and may be purchased at Hair Performers on 2131 Devine St. in Five a Money ieed of Type B blood, plasma program, you jer montn. t-or rurther |j fiicals. Inc. I 5burg Dr. Suite 105 jj )ia, S.C. 29204 [i 54-6537 I mm \ malt ) >ell Houcse ents esviP 11 ee this r Display d Queens of Africa" exhibit in the second eiser and featured paintings of the rulers v aids Specia Points, the Jenny Trusscll Modeling Studio ARencv. Columbia Hall's front desk and at the door before to the show. Tickets will be $2.00 for students and $5.00 for the general public. The event is coordinated by Hair Performers and Columbia 1 CONTACT ' NOTE: Contact lenses for Bifocal (Monofit), A< ] Offer Ends Api j | CMLY"WEAR 1 SOFT CONTACT LENSES : j S5 ?,^2sC.M03 ( J Follow Up Power Range j J Care Kit +6.00 to -6.00 . 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