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■ SMALL SCREEN
6 • The Red and Black • Thursday, July 27 1989
A&E
The week's top TV shows: A firstplace tie between NBC's
"Cheers” and ABC's "Roseanne.” followed by A Different
World,” "The Cosby Show” and "Dear John.” NBC came out on
top for the 56th consecutive week,
Shouse fuels strong ‘Streetcar’
A review of “A Streetcar named
Desire," starring Amy Shouse
and Eric Hamilton. Directed by
Charlie Kidd. Now at thbe Athens
Community Theater.
By KEVAN WARD
Entertainment Editor
Amy Shouse.
In order to decide whether or
not to go see the Town & Gown
Players’ production of “A
Streetcar Named Desire," that
e name is all you need to know.
Shouse is Blanche Dubuise, the
downtrodden Southern Belle who
comes to live with her sister and
low-class brother-in-law after the
loss of the family plantation. Her
performance is nothing short of
magnificent.
The actress, who wowed audi
ences in March as Annie in “The
Real Thing," here confirms the
talent she hinted at in her first
appearance with the Players.
She plays Blanche in a sort of
breathless hyperspeed for the en
tire play, but never once lets her
lines get confusing or indeciphe
rable. She takes Tennessee Wil
liams’ less-than-natural dialogue
and makes it real, forging it into
w 1 'it '.ppears to the audience to
lie a real person, who’d actually
■ THEATER REVIEW
say these things in these situa
tions.
She even makes Blanche’s
Southern Belle act work to her
advantage, rather than her detri
ment — a difficult thing to do
Most other interpretations of
“Streetcar," and any number of
unrelated films (including
“Crimes of the Heart" and the
current film “Shag"! provide
shining examples of actresses
who couldn’t do believable
Southern Belle personas if their
lives depended on it.
But I’m gushing. 1 hate it when
reviewers do that. Let’s just say
that Shouse is a true actress, not
a pretender.
Not to slight the rest of the
production.
All the other actors and ac
tresses do solid jobs, although
they pale in comparison to
Shouse (How could it be other
wise?).
Eric Hamilton’s Stanley is
noteworthy. Hamilton plays the
character as a very intelligent
man, common more by circum
stance than by nature, imposing
more by attitude than physique.
It’s a refreshing change from the
too-oft seen interpretation of
Stanley as a rnusclebound moron.
Although his vocal inflections get
a little repetitive, especially in
the third act, Hamilton gives a
good performance.
Tern Bickley, as Stella, has
more trouble. Although her
acting is good enough, her
Southern drawl fades in and out.
She remembers it at certain key
phrases or vowels and then
quickly forgets it again. It’s also
clear she’s never been pregnant,
for when Stella is close to term,
complete with padded tummy,
she doesn’t walk like a pregnant
woman She leans too far for
ward If someone who was really
pregnant — especially that preg
nant — walked like that, she
would fall over. These are small
details, not big enough to detract
from the production, but small
things deserve just as much at
tention from the performers.
The director, Charlie Kidd,
shows real talent. He has a knack
for keeping the action moving
and keeping his characters busy
on stage. He also makes the ex
cellent decision not to have a cur
tain call, although a note in the
program to let the audience know
would have been nice.
Although, overall, this is not
the definitive “Streetcar,”
Shouse’s powerful performance,
along witn some solid support,
make it well worth the ride.
‘Candy’ worth price
A review of "Hard Candy, m by An
drew Vachss. Published in hard
back by Alfred A. Knopf 242 pages.
$17.95
By JEFF RUTHERFORD
Entertainment Writer
City vultures never have to leave
the ground.
I was standing on the upper level
of the Port Authority Bus Terminal,
waiting in the November night.
Back to the wall, hands in the
empty pockets of a gray raincoat.
Under the brim of my hat, my eyes
swept the deck.
Andrew Vachss’s latest novel
“Hard Candy," begins with these
words and it never lets up
Vachss’ fourth novel featuring
Burke, an ex-con living in New
York, is a novel of introspection
and infcight mixed with a high body
count.
The word is out on the street
that Burke is a gun for hire. This
doesn’t sit well with Wesley, an old
childhood aquaintance of Burke
who is now a cold-blooded assassin
for the mob. Wesley comes after
Burke and nothing can stand in his
way, not even Burke’s brother on
the street, Max the Silent — an
oriental warrior who is deaf and
doesn’t speak.
Burke goes up against Wesley
and he’s forced to deal with emo-
■ BOOK REVIEW
tions and feelings that he’d rather
not face.
In Vachss’ latest novel, Burke
and all of his pals are back — The
Prophet, a black street con who
raps out his wisdom, Michelle, a
transexual prostitute who is saving
money for her operation, the Mole,
an electronics genius who lives in a
junkyard where he plots his fight
against the Nazis, and Pansy,
Burke’s 140 lb Neapolitan Mastiff.
“Hard Candy” continues the ex-
loration of Burke’s character as
e wades through the depraved
cesspools of humanity and tries to
main true to his ideals.
Vachss’ prose is powerful. The
narrative drive of the novel hooks
the reader and doesn’t let go. The
lot twists and turns, gradually
uilding in supsense as Burke is
pulled along towards a frightening
climax.
This novel isn’t recommended
for people who are easily offended.
“Hard Candy" deals realistically
with life on the street and the body
count is high as Burke fights the
forces lined up against him.
Vachss’ four novels have dealt a
stunning blow against the cnmpy
cop novels which fill the paperback
stands. “Hard Candy” presents an
accurate picture of street life which
most people want to ignore.
Andrew Vachss
’Hard Candy* is an example of
some of the best crime fiction being
written today, “Hard Candy" is a
must.
3
S izzling Summer Indooi
D 0
3!u(
lewalk ,S a le
WNTOWN ATHENS
July 28 & 29 • 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
361 E. Clayton Street (former Austin’s Furniture location)
Northeast Georgia s largest combined clearance sale featuring cool shopping and hot, hot savings!
You Can't
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hWith Our
Saronc
RECORDS & CASSETTES
(NOW HALF PRICE)
50< EACH
FREE POSTER
WITH PURCHASE
LOADS OF NEW STUFF
ON THE CORNER OF
COLLEGE k CLAYTON
'Xml
Gigantic
Clearance
50%-70%off
Clothing &
Accessories
Fri.&Sat. in Austin's Bid
ALL SALES FINAL
264 E. Clayton St. 353 1739
Take a Break!
Treat Yourself to
something good at
BAKERY
On Lumpkin in
Downtown
M HOLLAND ■
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BOUTKJUE^^
DICK FEKCUMIft
1/2 Price Sale
Selected items up to
75% off
Traditional Clothing for Men and Ladies
Since 1934
335 F.. Clayton St. 548-7246
Custom Designs in
Dried and Fresh
Holland Flowers
A Dozen
Red Roses
$19.95
DOWNTOWN
174 E Clayton St
Athens. Ga 30601
(404)354-8010
M KUM'S % s .
FASHIONS
SHOES
$5 OFF,.
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t&L vans
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Across from C&S on Clayton, Downtonwn
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Summer Sidewai
indoors
(It’s TOO HOTOutsi
Come by, have some fun, and save lots of dollars!!
We’ll be serving pink lemonade, playing beach tunes
(We can pretend, can’t we?) and Keeping the A/C on, *
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beautiful summer clothes away! (Well almost)
The j!arty Sale starts Tbur. July 27th.
Downtown Athens 543-0702 9am-5:30pm
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146 E.
Clayton St.
Near C&S
Downtown
ATHENS
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549-3360
Open
Mon.-Sat.
9-6
Super Sports Closeout!
Coaching Shorts $9.00
Special $5.00 Rack
Special $10.00 Rack
at the former Austin's Furniture Locationl
146 E. Clayton St.
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