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Show l?5 I? kC?5, January 22, 1999 - F ' &' a The Summit County Bee W W k'1 Page A7 r Acting, Dry Script, Leave Audiences Feeling Stranded and... f Over-The-To- p BY JAMES W. POWELL LUeaykaSpaia Editor first act As a matter of fact, aside from introducing In a force about making it big in Hollywood, a few madcap acenea can be expected, maybe - even desired. But in the lateat Egyptian Theatre Company production, Moon Over Buffalo, the acript and the acton take it a bit too for. Written by Ken Ludwig, Moon Over Buffalo ia set in Buffalo in the summer of 1953. The play centen around George and Charlotte Hay, a couacton in Hollywood but who are ple of currently on a downward spiral of struggling acton fighting to get noticed, when a famous director is expected to visit their theatre in the hopes of recruiting them for a new film. Steve Phillips does a fine job portnying George, but his character never really stays constant. In one scene he appean to be a caring, husband, in the next, a womanizer who obviously likes to sleep around. With everyone ! badgering him about cither the plays or his illeqo wonder he gets drank and gitimate child-to-b- e, 'nearly rains his carnet As for Joan Mullaneys portrayal of George's p. She's 'wife, Charlotte, talk about almost if she doesnt trust the just too loud, script to get the laughs so she raises her voice an octave in an attempt to make up for it. Unfortunately, it doesnt work. At least, not in the -- 1 fun-lovi- ng . over-the-to- u - the players, not much works in the first act We meet the straggling couple; their daughter, ' Rosalind (Stephanie Howell), who is attempting to get out of show biz and into advertising; her fiance, Howard (Jeffery Owen), a television weatherman; Rosalind's former .love, Paul (Joe Morgan), who finds himself still attracted to her, Eileen (Anna Greenfield), who is pregnant' with George's child; Ethel (Anita Boohcr), the aging grandmother, and Richard Maynard (Ron Johnson), who wants Charlotte to ran away with ' him. Unfortunately, none of these characters real- -' ly jump off the stage in the first half and most of the supporting cast seem to be forgotten, showing up only to move the plot forward. Most of this can be blamed on a poor script that never develops them, but the ovcranthusiastic, often times too loud acting doesnt help. Even the blatantly obvious failed attempts of cigarette smoking become distracting. With this blend of characters and events, with a prominent director viewing the show while George is severely inebriated, with Ros falling for Paul, and with an weatherman getting in the way as he tries to meet the fomoua couple, its obvioua what is going to happen. Yet even with this knowledge the playing out of the inevitable is . . ' . j what makes this production palatable. Once the Second Act gets underway, the action starts rolling and the humor finally shines through. Several hilarious moments spring forth from Georges drunkenness, including a great scene when he walks on stage in the wrong costume. Although the humor is a little sparse in the first half, the finale does make the play a worthy venture. Most of the scenes make for a good laugh, but for some, the second act could be considered too little too late. Even though the play itself isnt all its cracked up to be, the first thing anyone will notice upon entering die theatre is the wonderful set design. Mamie Sears did an amazing job with the double deck set, placing the dressing room on the 'main stage and the actor's stage on the second level. With five doom in the dressing room leading every which way, the set plays a key role in a number of the more funny scenes. Unfortunately a good set, no matter how great, can't make up for a poor story. Too bad s funny second half cant either. : Moon Over Buffalo is now playing at the Egyptian Theatre in Park City every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. 5. Tickets range from Call (435)649-937- 1 for tickets and information. S8-S1- V : .. Rebroadcasts No KUED Safe Place: Violence Against Women KUED encores its powerful documentary film. No Safe Place: Violence Against Women on Friday, Jan. 29 at 9 p.m. The film, which has won a number of national awards and was broadcast nationally on PBS, was produced by Colleen Casio and award-winnin- g writer milDickson. Each two Mary year lion men beat their partners, and more than half a million women report being raped or sexually assaulted. Producers went behind the headlines and statistics to explore the roots of violence against women, telling the moving stories of women who have been battered, assaulted, and raped, as well as the stories of men who commit these crimes. The program also includes interviews with nationally recognized experts who look at causes and solutions. Since its first airing, the program has generated hundreds of calls and letters from around the world, including those from educators and agencies dealing with the issue, who request videotapes they can use as a resource. A comprehensive companion web site, www.kucd.orgtaosafe-plac- e, continues to generate requests for copies of the program and the accompanying educational resource guide. All public high schools and libraries have been given videotapes of the program and the study guide. No Safe Place emphasizes that while women may be afraid of strangers, it's the most intimate of strangers - a husband, a lover, a boyfriend - who is likely to hurt them. According to a U.S. Justice and sexual assaults are committed by a man the woman knows. More than a recitation of the disturbing statistics, however, the KUED documentary offers a examination the oriof thoughtful violence of gins against women, looking at the biological, sociological, cultural and historical factors Involved. No Safe Place includes interviews with feminists such as Gloria Steincm, who contend that violence against women has been allowed and accepted throughout history. They argue that violence against women can be traced to a 2,000-year-oculture that encourmale domination. ages Biological anthropologists such as Michael Ghighlicri, on the other hand, say that testosterone acts as a kick-startfor male aggression, and that violence is universal from species to species and culture to culture as a male strategy. Jane Caputi, professor of American Studies at the University of New Mexico and author of Age of Sex Crimes, explores the media's role in perpetuating violence against women by portraying it as normal. No Safe Place: Violence Against Women also includes interviews with perpetrators and the women and men who work with them to give insights into why individual men hurt women. The answers are as complicated as the men themselves. No Safe Place is made possible in part by a grant from the Albert and Elaine Bombard Foundation and the Katherine W. And Ezekiel R. Dumke, Jr. Foundation. KUED airs No Safe Place: Violence Against Women airs Friday, Jan. 29, at 9 p.m. ld er lie of viDepartment study, two-thirolent attacks against women are committed by someone the woman of rapes knows, and three-fourths Final Target Explores Threat of Comets, Asteroids To films like Hollywood and "Armegeddon Deep Impact" use outstanding special effects to dramatize the threat of an outer-spaobject colliding with the Earth. KUED-Chann- el 7 takes a more scientific approach to the fearinvoking possibility when it broadcasts "Final Target: Planet Earth Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 8 p.m. The one-hodocumentary explores the consequences of a civilization threatening comet or asteroid striking the Earth. Final Target reviews plans in development by NASA and other space organizations to ensure the survival of humanity if such an event were suddenly to become a reality. Technical and financial hurdles, as well as general ignorance of existing dangers, are largely responsible for the lack of research that has been done to detect and track comets and asteroids that threaten Earth. "Final Target: Planet Earth goes long way to help fill the gap in our knowledge of these potentially ce airy ales. M t I here once was a couple whose monthly payments were so high, by the time they'd paid their bills there was nothing left to way public television presents timely scientific documentaries that increase awareness about our world and universe. KUED aits Final Tkrget: Planet Earth airs Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 8 p.m. Subscribe 9ozv! put into savings. So they walked into a Zions Bank branch where friendly folk helped them open a very special account. The account consolidated t their debts into one lower monthly payment. The money they saved in aHramiiGD sm ' 1 , deadly objects, says KUED Director of Broadcasting Scott Chaffin. 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