About The Red and Black (Athens, Ga.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 10, 1981)
Pages The Red and Black Monday, November 10, 1981 Entertainment ‘The Madwoman of Central Park West’ enjoyable • instant Cash • We pay up to S1.S0 tor records in tine condition • Thousands ot used records, cassettes and books Buying and trading all store items College Clayton and 510 Baxter In Athene Jtistory Village Inn AND CONFERENCE CENTER By MARIA HURT Kcd and Black Huff Writer "The Madwoman of Central Park West” starring Phyllis Newman was nothing but pure entertainment Although it was billed as an autobiographical musical about Newman, it was instead a showcase of her talents as a singer, comedian and impersonator It also shows why she should stick to entertainment and leave playwriting and songwriting to others. The subject of the show was Newman's struggles as a wife, mother and entertainer Problems such as these have been dealt with in literature so much that in many ways the show's theme was cliche. The presentation of her problems in the comedy format was a very wise choice by Newman and her co-author Arthur Laurents Newman's one-liners and sudden impersonations of stars startled and delighted New man began her career at age 3 as an imitator of singer Belle Baker Her experience as an impersonator is evident in her portrayal of the posture and mannerisms as well as the voices of singer-actresses from Barbra Streisand to Katherine Hepburn One of the better musical numbers in the show was the “Talk Show Medley" which illustrated Newman's ability to do a range of singers and to quickly switch from one to the other The music for the score came from a variety of successful composers and lyricists. "Don't Laugh," one of the most exceptional songs of the show, was written by Mary Rodgers, Martin Charnin ("Annie") and Stephen Sondheim ("Sweeney Todd”). Other songs came from such Broadway teams as Kander and Ebb ("Woman of the Year") and Bock and Harnick ("Fiddler on the Roof”). "Up, Up, Up" by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green was the most disappointing considering the normal caliber of Bernstein (“West Side Story"). Considering the impressive list of composers and lyricists which contributed songs to the show, it is a wonder that Newman chose to include two of her own songs (with John Clifton) in the score The first song “My Mother was a Fortune Teller” lacked "Broadway show " quality. It simply was not a good song especially when used to open and close a show which has high quality music in it. The best number in the show was the “No One's Toy Medley" (arranged by Glen Roven). The medley combined a variety of songs from the past few decades in all styles of music which illustrated women as objects which belonged in the home or in bed. Newman has an outstanding voice, good comedy timing and good stage presence. She maintained the high energy level that is required of the one-woman in a one-woman show Only once did Newman let the audience down. Her portrayal of herself as a singer in Greenwich Village which sought to amuse through absurdity did not even deserve a laugh Perhaps the real incident was not very funny cither Overall, Newman’s talents and the songs of other composers made the show a success. It can be said that a good time was had by all. After all, a good laugh never hurt anybody. ‘A Flag for Sunrise ’ a study of intrigue see is real enough ... That's what Satan is ... Satan is the way things are ... We say they're deluded but reality’s their problem.” A particularly vivid scene between the priest and the child killer presents a perfect study of madness, w ith its terror and delusions It's a scary scene, but in the end we wonder whether madness is a special vision — a direct line on the way things truly are. Stone sets this novel in Tecan, a country ripe for revolution. Appalling poverty in the towns and countryside is set against wealth and comfort enjoyed in the President's Palace. The soft excess of tourists in their resorts is contrasted with the misery of peasants living in shacks or on the streets. One does not read this book without getting a guilty, fat feeling Stone has the characters pose the questions: " ... if most of the world lives in this kind of poverty so that we can have our goodies and extra protein ration — what does that make us?” What, indeed? The reader is left to supply the answers, for Stone gives us no easy outs. He never actually convicts us, but he never absolves us, either The responsibility of judging good and bad, right and wrong, lies with the reader Stone raises some im portant issues and spins a fascinating story at the same time The action is fast, the pace paralleling the rising revolt in Tecan His prase is lean, his descriptions thrifty, but his images are in credibly rich. Characters are complex and well- developed He uses some as symbols, but they never become caricatures. Even as symbols the characters possess intriguing shadow s "A Flag for Sunrise" is a challenge and a provocation At the same time, it is a suspenseful story. It stimulates intellect and keeps one turning the pages Stone has produced a win ning combination. RUSSO “LAST WEEK” HYPNOTIST MIKE HARVEY "Compadre, we are all vulgarizations of history. We have to live it out by the day — life, unlike sound philosophy, is vulgar.” — From "A Flag for Sunrise,” by Robert Stone (439 pages. Alfred A Knopf, Inc., 3)3.95). hopeless Stone's view of things is disconcerting. Because of this, he has written an im portant novel which raises some thorny questions about the interests and role of the U S. in the revolutions of Third World countries. The book's scenario of undercover CIA activities forces consideration of the frontier approach to foreign affairs A macho America, riding into some Latin American Dodge City and making Main Street safe for capitalism, is an image that needs re-thinking. On another, more personal level, the novel forces a confrontation with a terrifying truth: something very evil exists out there, and it may well be inescapable. Unrelenting evil is a force in the book pure, palpable and very frightening. Stone's finely drawn characters are symbolic of this force — Pablo, a mercenary, wired- out on speed and absolutely without morals; Lieutenant Campos, local represen tative of the fascist Guardia Nacional and a dangerous psychotic; Weitling, an insane Mennonite farmer, a hearer of voices and killer of children. One character in the book, an aged priest who is an alcoholic and a mystic, has a theory about the insane They have been chosen to see the truth, he believes, and the sight is so evil and overwhelming that it has driven them over the edge: “Some chemical in the blood, a shortage of sugar in the brain cells and they get the process whole. What they hamburger, he wants to go to The Grill and that makes me feel like I’m going in the right direction." Russo is happy at the success of his businesses, but he said he is getting tired of the long hours he and his wife must work, leaving little time for their personal lives. “I'm not interested in money so much for what it can buy, but I’m interested in being able to buy time," Russo said. "I hope in the long run that I’ll be able to go to an island somewhere and spend a few months, go fishing, kick the sand up between my feet and spend some time with my kids." Russo has an interesting description of his life so far “I’ve been a grillman. I've been a manager, I've been a puffpet, a pauper, a poet and a king." Russo said. "I've been up and down and all around " Russo says his restaurant will always be a survivor. Perhaps that is also true of Russo himself Read This Saturday’s Between the Hedges Shows at 9:30 and 11:00 295 E. Dougherty St. Athens, Ga. 30601 546-8210 Monday, nov.16 fi : 8:00 pm UCA coliseum r From Page I One of the drawbacks ot franchising is the necessity of relocating his family, as well as investing much time in the project. Russo did expand his business last year by opening The Grill, located a short distance down Broad Street from Russo's Gyro. It, too, was a childhood dream come true Russo patterned the restaurant after an old hamburger place on ,’ Broadway in Brooklyn, N Y. "I was fascinated with the ml one I used to go to as a kid," \ Russo siad. Kids, including his own, seem to like The Grill, he said. "My kid, when I was teaching him the alphabet, when I would come to the letter "M” he would say it was McDonalds," Russo said "Whenever I would take him out to eat he would cry if I didn't take him to McDonald's Now if you go up to my kid Rudy, who is four years old, and ask him if he wants to eat a Tickets Still Available Tickets Available Nov 4. Reserved Seating UCA students ST a $8. Available at Memorial Hail Business Office General Admission. Ss t SiO Available at Memorial Hall Business Office. Sanford t Son lAtnensi. Turtles Records (Athens. Gainesville Atlanta - N E Plata Shopping Center. Memorial Drivel By DEBORAH SHARP Knl and Hack Wall Writer "A Flag for Sunrise,” Robert Stone's latest novel, is a tale of insurgence. in sanity and intrigue in an unstable Central American country. It is not an easy book to read. As he did in "Dog Soldiers," Stone gives us a glimpse of the un derbelly of humanity, and an ugly sight it is. The book provokes and disturbs. Stone shows us a grasping, greedy America, an unwelcome meddler in foreign affairs He depicts pervasive political corruption and a moral bankruptcy so complete that the human condition seems Back by popular demand Tuesday thru Saturday MIKE HARVEY, one Of the most entertaining acts ever to play Athens ^FaritasticSanjs ** the original Family Haircutters S™ $2.00 OFF ON ANY $2.00 OFF Adult style cut 'You Never Need An Appointment" E.piralion Date Not Va]ld 0n Saturday November 30 2361 Broad Street Hours: WESTSIDE PLAZA Mon., Wad., Frl„ Sat. |OPENUNDERNEW SHOPPING CENTER !' 6 ... MANAGEMENT: ATHENS, GEORGIA I Anthony A Susan Brownin - * -
