The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 22, 1993, Page 4, Image 4
ill
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Town Tht
By PEERS TORDAY
Staff Writer
It began as a tiny amateur stage
society of just less than 20 players,
performing its first productions on
the stage at the old Columbia High
School. The troupe had little money
and virtually nothing in the way
of scenery, costumes and lights.
Now, 69 years later, the Town
Theatre has grown into the oldest
continually operating community
theater in America.
In 1919, Daniel A. Reed, a
young sergeant from Camp
1 An d n ai d a / I f r\ f r\ *? n r\ f b n
jav^ivduu, uttiutu iu luuuu tut
Columbia Stage Society to replace
the touring Broadway shows and
imports that had dwindled since the
rise of the movie industry. Reed, a
professional Broadway director,
steered his tiny group from stage to
stage in the first year, in the search
for a "real theater."
Best Pictur
|jI Academy
W Awards
ft Nominees for
Best Picture
By STEPHEN BROWN
Staff Writer
All five movies nominated for
Be^t Picture Academy Awards are
currently playing in Columbia, so
audiences can now decide for
themselves what film is truly
deserving.
From these distinguished motion
pictures, audiences can learn that:
nothing is what it seems, a man
does not need a medal to have honS
Save" 2
At P
I
Dinner only, $
IprjExaEE
bdl 634 Har
I
*
3, 6 OR 7 NIC
FROM
ONLY.** 49%
^ACJuhAmeric
Vacations
Prices are per person and are valid March 1-31, 1!
details
fJMf
HR'U
:atre has
Their first play, "The Mislez
Lady," was presented on the
tially burned stage of a theater
by Oct. 16, 1920, the society
moved into the old Sloan hous
Sumter Street, refitted to conti
stage, dressing rooms, backs
area and auditorium seating
300. The slightly ramshackle s
lasted tor 4V productions unti
building was torn down.
The Society wasted no time
on Dec. 18, 1924, they opene<
new fireproof building with a
duction of "The Torch Bear
The building at 1012 Sumter !
interesting in its own right a
example of 1920s architec
Because of limited construe
and tight funding, not many b
ings of the period remain.
In this historically regist
building, the Columbia Societ)
e nominee
or, people have charged emo
beneath outward manners, li
like a dance to be savored,
killing a man is not as easy
looks in the movies.
"The Crying Game"
This film can probably take
prize for the most bizarre non
ever. A combination of
Butterfly" and a good Tom C
novel with twists and turns a
certain uncomfortable feeling ;
it all, "Game" is the most pair
witty romantic thriller of n
years.
Actor Stephen Rae lends a
tie, ironic performance as an
terrorist with a heart of gold
befriends one of his host
(played by Forest Whittaker),
Bucks or
ug's in 5 ]
4.00 minimum, bever<
I PUG'S
IN FIVE POINTS
Good times & Great foot
'den Street, Five Points
HOC
!hts /
\ * Hotel Accc
J Depar
\ * Friendly
/ foi
3 ^ 3 B&A
J93. Space is limited & prices are subject to capai
. Air travel via AeroCancun. Some hotels may rec
wa
inner for Two regula
gratuity will be adde
idue Restaur;
hts Weekly from 5:00 p.m.
oths & Semi Private Rooms Avai
Car*
BP
lonff-runrii
tding remained, never missing a seas
par- Their closest call was soon al
.But the official opening with the on
had of the Great Depression. Th
;e on inspiration, determination and co
ain a munity spirit helped them surv
itage the experience.
; for The Town Theatre suffer
>etup another blow when a group of d
1 the illusioned "Townies" broke av
to form the Workshop Theater. 1
, and split has worked well, since et
i the theater provides different types
pro- plays.
ers." Many illustrious people h?
St. is passed through the theater's doc
is an Dancer Martha Graham made
ture. debut there. Poet Carl Sandbi
;tio.n read there before he becai
uild- famous. Violinist Efrem Zimba
played there, and Elear
ered Roosevelt was photographed on
/ has steps.
ss educate ai
tions after Whittaker's death, Rae se
fe is out the London beauty Whitta
and left behind.
as it Newcomer Jaye Davidson pi
this mysterious femme fat
whose complex mind and body
5 the both fully developed. A story
ainee troubled conscience and soul-fil
"M. romance, this is definitely a filir
lancy see before the Oscar show, beca
md a its secrets may inevitably be gi
about away.
ifully "A Few Good Men"*
jcent This movie is fueled by the ;
power of Jack, Tom and De
sub- along with an electric script ba
IRA on a popular play. In the tradit
L He of the Cruise formula, he i;
ages cocky,'good lawyer who lives
and the shadow of his father's succt
\ Dinner GH
Points.
iges not included.
-799-1225 _J
mrt
'Ill ~T - 1
SXZflCE
I AMERICA VACATIONS INCLUDE:
m-stop, Roundtrip Air Travel from Atlanta
)mmodations Roundtrip Airport/Hotel Tram
ture Tax & INS Fee Hotel Taxes and Gratu
, Knowledgeable Destination Representativ
=1 RESERVATIONS PLEASE CALL...
Travel Service...803-256-0547
ks from University of South Carolii
city controls and blackout dates. See operator/participant con
luire and security deposit.
0 OffN
nner
r Two
rly $32.90. One offer per
d to the original bill.
lnt 731-8500
ilable 1^10 Colonial Life Blvd., We:
Dlina!
pass
ing history
on. Many of the Town Theatre's
"ter directors have gone on to bigger
set and better things, such as Delbert
eir Mann, who won an Academy
m- Award in 1955 for his film
ive "Marty" and has also directed several
successful TV shows,
ed The Theatre's membership has
lis- grown from 18 to 4,000. On this
/ay 20th anniversary in 1939, The
Tie State's drama critic Brooks
ich Atkinson wrote, "Nine-hundred
of eighty years from now, I hope the
Town Theatre is a thousand years
ive old."
>rs. The next production at the fown
her Theatre is the romantic comedy
jrg "Pillow Talk," based on the Doris
me Day and Rock Hudson film. It will
list run March 12-27 at 8 p.m.
lor Admission is S8 for students. For
its more information or reservations,
call 799-2510.
udiences on 1
eks es and is intimidated by a woman
ker who understands his slick act. The
drama involves the question of perays
sonal motivations versus following
ale orders in the military,
are Nicholson is the personification
of of an evil good-old boy system that
lied sometimes works and sometimes
t to does not. The courtroom scenes are
use some of die best in movie history,
ven and Cruise's maturity as an actor is
evident as he is confronted with
tough challenges,
star "Howards End" This
m i f i lm i c r\ ti /"? oHontotmn
mi, nun id a lyntai, [A/tut auapiauuu
sed of an E.M. Forster novel by the
ion team of Ismail Merchant and James
s a Ivory who brought "A Room With
in a View" to the screen several years
jss- ago.
T
j $1.00 off
Any Entree On Menu
| Expires 3-31-93
Orlando's
I Bar & Grill
I 919 Sumter Street
| All ABC Regulations Enforced
i mrnmMnMwmaMim
i ftUMitiiSM
; j ring is a wonderful ^
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outstanding
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j |* ' *3888888^
lg. *,*. ffllllllg ..~~.
The Town Theatre at 1012 Si
theatre in America. Plays have
ife, love, ar
The themes about collisions o
class and temperament provide fo
an intriguing English masterpiec*
with an extraordinary cast includ
ing Emma Thompson and Anthom
Hopkins.
Unfortunately, faithfulness to :
Forster novel can translate into ;
film not quite relevant to today'
movie audience. Watching it is ;
lot like visiting a museum.
"Scent of a Woman" !/!]
This film is A1 Pacino's master
wuik, a siy, aiiceung Muiy auuui ?
blind man who takes a student on ;
weekend that will change his life.
Chris O'Donnell plays Pacino':
weekend guardian who gets mor<
than he bargained for along th<
ride. Pacino's near-suicidal tenden
HAPPY BIR
.1 en and .
/S Our fav<
and Ass
ACHEVEMEN'
REMEMBEREI
.: Forever with ArtCarved
Finest Quality * Fastest Delivery
Lifetime Warranty Best Overall Va
Guaranteed Lowest Prices
inteed Low(
February 22 thru l\ies
9am - 4pm
SC Bookstore (Corner of Greene a
^ 11111
W
imter St. is the oldest commercial
been staged there since 1924.
id conflict
f cies mixed with his zest for life
r and his weakness for beautiful
2 women whom he cannot see all
- comprise a magnificent character
/ sketch nicely complemented by
O'Donnell's innocence,
a "Unforgiven" 1/2
a Clint Eastwood's film is a
s Renaissance Western that transoos
a es today's views on violence with
the western genre known for its
1 body count. Eastwood teams up
with Morgan Freeman to collect
a the reward for avenging the brutalia
ty afflicted upon a woman. Gene
Hackman plays the sheriff who
s despises these "men of low charac2
ter," but the tables turn when
2 everyone'sSrue personalities are
- revealed. *+ *
THDAY
Kelly
rite Elephant
ist. Shutterbug
'he Gamecock
?1992 AntUrvcn
ist Prices
day, February 23
nd Main) 5? 2HI