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Show Friday, December 7, 1990 The Daily Utah Chronicle - Page Sixteen Miser not usual Yule play old fart is Richard Mathews. Mathews is very good at By Aklene M. Calkins penny-pinchin- Chronicle Theatre Critic Every year at about this time, every theatre company in the valley comes up with a Christmasy sort of drama, comedy, or musical about a nasty old skinflint who, by the end of the second act, redeems himself and gives away all he has. Not Salt Lake City's Pioneer Theatre Company, however. For their holiday treat, they have chosen to bring to the theatergoer Moliere's "The Miser." There is absolutely nothing redeemable about this nasty old skinflint In fact, he's nasty down to the end. There are no helpful angel Clarences getting their wings at the -- 'end of this one, no repentant Scrooges with loving Tiny Tims on their shoulders, and no loving, reformed Grinches returning them on they are a part of him. This is another actor with a good sense of timing. Playing the miser's daughter is Bemadette Wilson. Wilson makes a 180 degree turnaround from her last role with the PTC. Her last role was that of the tragic Lucy in "Dracula." This time, she plays a fun, comedic part, and plays it rather well. Some of her best scenes are played with her "brother," Cleante. Tom Markus directed this classic Playing the role of the feisty, much-love- d gifts. "The Miser" is Moliere's version of the old tale involving a wealthy old man, his children who want a life of their own and their attempts to outwit each other. As in every Moliere work, there are a few plot twists in this one which make it interesting and manage to keep your interest. semi-greed- y g what he does; what he does is define a character who makes sense, holds your interest and leaves you hankering for more. His character never falters and never over-play-s his hand. Mathews is always in control, from his rubber-face- d expressions to his high-- " squeals. To watch a good pitched actor, like this work is worth the comedy, adapted by Miles Malleson. For the most part, he - price of the ticket alone. Unfortunately, that can't be said for all of the actors in this piece. In every Moliere play, he places a buffoon. In this play, it is the character La Fleche, played by Warren Kelley. Kelley is an actor with a list of credits as long as his arm, and with that much experience he should know how to treat an audience. In this instance, d his hand. He he has milks his audience for all it's worth and ends up, in some spots, with sour milk. He pushes the buffoon on the audience and ends up with embarrassing silence when there should be laughs. Bob Kirsh, as the miser's foppish son, Cleante, is hilarious. He parades around in a girdle, wig, and clunky shoes with bows as though he came out of the birth canal with over-playe- The only long lines , does an admirable job. Perhaps he could have toned down the overblown performance by Kelley and found another way to change the scenery. (This is just a personal observation, but I hate cutesy-pi- e scene changes.) The set, designed by Ariel Ballif, was OK until you got to the backdrop, then it lost me. Ballif always does such a splendid job and it was a disappointment to see something which looked A mention should be made of the dog, Thingie, who makes his acting debut. He's a beautiful, big, brown dog with his own sense of timing. Too bad we couldn't see more of half-don- e. him. - The Miser" runs through Dec, 22 at Pioneer Memorial Theatre. are phone lines when you... movies from page eleven bad. Despite the bad publicity, if DePalma can keep the racial undertones on a satirical level and under control, Bonfire of the Vanities could very well turn out to be the most sought out picture this year. Russia House Directed by Fred Schepisi Starring Sean Connery and Michelle Pfieffer Released on Dec. 21 Connery is a publisher who is recruited by British Intelligence to travel to the Soviet Union and get some nuclear physics manuscripts from his contact (Pfieffer). Would you believe that they fall in love during the course be fairly thin and perhaps too cerebral to transfer well to film. students DCE students To Order Faculty 6325 Credit Card Order And Have It Shipped To You Or Ready For You To Pick Up The Next Day Will Process Your VISA kids. Released on Dec. 21 Schwarzenegger is a cop who goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher in order to catch a killer. It's a great concept and, with the casting, should prove to be ideal. Schwarzenegger ought to show off some more of his soft side that surfaced in Twins. But on the other side, his trademark is playing the violent action hero. A believable mixture of the two different characters should be the key to the film's success. Plan on it to make money no matter what happens. " Quaid's Japanese-America- n wife is sent to a camp during World War II in this first of the 8:00 am 5:30 pm Saturday Holiday Hours 9:00 am 5:00 pm UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE OF UTAH . CAMPUS will be shipped the next business weekday. historically inaccurate.' This time he interviewed and researched more before production began. The scope of the film, the trendy theme, and Parker's excellent direction could all add up to Oscars. Look Who's Talking Too Directed by Amy Heckerling Starring Kirstie Alley, John Travolta, and the voices of Bruce Willis and Roseanne Barr Released on Dec. 25 Alley and Travolta are married and now Mikey (the voice of The Godfather III " Directed by Francis Ford Coppola Starring Al Pacino, Diane Keaton and Talia Shire Released on Dec. 25 The Godfather saga continues, this time with Pacino as the mafia leader trying to go straight. Slated as another big contender for Oscars, there is some doubt that Coppola will get this one out in time. of post-producti- on If it's out of its hexed production, Godfather III will once again be a cinematic triumph with a whole bunch of Oscar nominations. But can you really expect three sequels to continue to top each other? Alice Directed by Woody Allen Starring Mia Farrow and William Hurt, Alec Baldwin and Joe Mantega Released on Dec. 25 This semi-secrWoody Allen movie was hidden behind all the fanfare for Scenes from a Mall. Farrow stars as a middle-age- d woman who becomes invisible at et a critical moment in her life. That's all I know about it. See, I t. told you it was Allen always assembles a fine cast, and this one is better than average. It will do well off the name value alone, but Allen fans will watch closely as he returns to some of the zaniness that marked his earlier films. semi-secre- Awakenings Directed by Penny Marshall Starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro Released on Dec. 25 Williams is a quirky doctor at a UNITED STATES FILM FESTIVAL: THE CLASS Studies (tuition Tuesday until 7:30 pm orders far-fetch- ed Park City, January 1 7 -- 27 3 hours credit: Film StudiesTheatre J M-- F All disbelief of his superiors and the purity of the patients is just too to be believable. bunch of racially mixed romances that will be showing up soon. Parker's last film, Mississippi Burning, was brilliant, but took a Your Course AAaterials... Dial UNIVERSITY success with his patients, the voice of Barr). Don't worry, the plot won't get in the way of the film's cutesy comedy. Another big money maker, it probably won't do the business the original did, but it should still make Willis a richer man. lot of flack because it was 581 We students Part-tim- e suddenly bursts into comedy, it's always hilarious. De Niro is as great as always as a man trying to take control of his life before he relapses. It's a tear jerker, and based on a true story. But it seems too simplified to be true. William's Willis) has a new baby sister (the Kindergarten Cop Directed by Ivan Reitman Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and a pack of adorable little Released on Dec. 21 e good straight, and when he of the film? Look for Russia House to make a lot of money, but the plot, which is based on John le Carre's novel of the same name, is said to Come See the Paradise Directed by Alan Parker Starring Dennis Quaid and Tamlyn Tomita Full-tim- chronic patient hospital who uses an experimental drug to awaken De Niro and 14 other patients out of their catatonic states. De Niro and the rest go off to catch up on the 30 years they've lost. Williams will once again try a straight role in much the same color as Mr. Keating of The Dead Poet's Society. Williams is very 180R-50Fil- m 587R-5- 0 $20 special fee) Noncredit: Film StudiesTheatre 18R-5- 0 ($89 $20 special fee) Here's your chance to see and judge independent films in competition plus attend seminars and workshops on film production and get credit for the whole experience. Preliminary class session: January 9, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Fine Arts Auditorium For more information, call Register now through 581-690- 0. Continuing Education, Annex Building, east wing. limine (IitrOGii Clinch c&i QC&t |
