The Battalion
LIFESTYLES
Thursday, July 19,1990
Stage Center’s ‘Rain’ sustains suspense,
drama with strong performances, script
By DON ATKINSON JR.
Of The Battalion Staff
Any drama teacher will tell you
that conflict is the heart of a good
story, no matter how peaceful it may
appear on the surface.
The members of Stagecenter un
derstand this concept and prove it
with their latest production of W.
Somerset Maugham’s “Rain,” a play
adapted from “Miss Thompson,” an
earlier story written by Maugham.
Interestingly enough, the version
of “Rain” currently being performed
by the group is an original adapta
tion by Stagecenter member Jimmy
Schooley, also based on the Maug
ham story.
Another version of “Rain,” writ
ten by John Colton and Clemence
Randolph in 1922, also exists, but
the language and references are out
dated. The Schooley adaptation is
clearly superior for today’s audi
ences.
“Rain” takes place in 1938 on an
American Samoan island, Pago
Pago, at a boarding house owned by
Dr. Joseph Horn (Harold Presley).
During a heavy rainstorm, a ship
is quarantined, and its passengers
are forced to stay for 10 days on the
island. Among them are the Rever
end Robert Davidson (Michael
Rose), his wife Esther (Cathy McW
horter), Dr. Donald McPhail (Don
nie Wilson), his wife Jennifer (Lynn
McDaniel) and Sadie Thompson
(Kathy Schultz).
Sadie is an uninhibited woman
whose behavior is a constant source
of aggravation for the Davidson’s.
Within a short period of time, the
reverend and his wife prove to be
overtly religious, prejudiced people.
Mrs. Davidson mentions in disgust
that Horn is not only a negro, but
college-educated at that.
Sadie proves to be their focal
point for righteous indignation, and
she is hounded mercilessly. The rev
erend even goes so far as to have the
Pago Pago governor issue a re
straining order against her.
“Rain” is a complex play .with sub
tleties hidden in almost every ges-
Harold Presley plays Joe Horn and theater Thompson in
arts major Kathy Schultz stars as Sadie “Rain.”
ture and phrase. The fact that the
Stagecenter cast and crew were able
to pull it off as effectively as they did
is a credit to them.
Since the entire cast did such an
excellent job, it would be hard to
mention above-average perfor
mances. However, a few of the ac
tors really outdid themselves and de
serve the credit.
Among them is Schultz for her
performance as Sadie. The charac
ter is wild and flirty, but Schultz
played her with a touch of sensitivity
and innocence. She garnered the au
diences sympathies early, which gen
erated a great deal of suspense as to
the outcome of the story.
Also worth mentioning are Rose
and McWhorter as the Davidson’s.
Both had to play their characters full
of religious fury, a touch of hypoc
risy and even a hint of sexual fixa
tion on the part of the reverend.
Rose and McWhorter deserve a lot
of credit for adding the proper el
ement of friction to the play.
Director Rick Landmann also de
serves a round of applause for giv
ing the actors room to develop their
characters. The action is neither
overdone nor bogged down in its
own seriousness.
“Rain” deals with the idea that
people full of moral, righteous va
lues can actually be detrimental to
Photo by Sondra Robbins
Stage Center’s production of
society. Maugham was a homosexual
and no doubt suffered from those
acting out of religious indignation.
In a sense, the play actually asks
the audience to imagine a world
without these irritating do-gooders.
The Stagecenter production of “R-
ain” is an example of what good the
ater is all about. Prepare yourself for
a moving experience.
Stagecenter is offering three more
presentations of “Rain,” today, Fri
day and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets
are $7 for adults, $6 for students, $5
for senior citizens and $3.50 for chil
dren under 12. For additional infor
mation, call 846-0287.
Garfield’s comedy special ends with hilarity
By TODD STONE
Of The Battalion Staff
Laughs, laughs and more laughs.
That’s probably the best way to
sum up Garfield’s Thursday Night
Live comedy special. Anchored by
nationally popular comedians Gary
Bun Richardson and Ron Shock,
TNL expanded to five hilarious
shows last Thursday through Satur
day.
This past weekend was a rare op
portunity to see two national come
dians perform in Bryan-College Sta
tion. Richardson was certainly the
busiest comedian of the weekend.
He performed on all three nights.
Comedians Dan Merriman and Mike
Sterner joined Richardson on
Thursday.
Shock, who performed two shows
on Friday and Saturday night,
proved just why he’s on the verge of
superstardom. Considered a “mo
dern day Will Rogers,” Shock told
tales of sex, giraffes, and what he de
scribed as “the best dope story you
ever heard” (It was).
During the special’s final show on
Saturday, Shock gave Oral Roberts
credit for getting him into comedy.
When he was looking for new
material, though, Shock prayed.
“I prayed to God for a joke, and
God gave me Jim and Tammy Faye
Baker. You just can’t write stuff this
good,” he said.
“It’s my job to think of this stuff.
Comedy is easy, just read the news
paper.”
Places as much as people become
a victim of Shock’s humor. He
claimed Des Moines, Iowa was a
French term meaning “void of life.”
Shock’s performance highlighted
a strong evening of comedy. Re
sponding to a standing ovation.
Shock returned for an encore that
stretched his performance to more
than an hour-and-a-half.
Gary Bun Richardson performed
before Shock, and he lived up to his
claim of being a “Good ’Ole Boy.”
Richarson howled throughout his
show, and he delivered his jokes with
cheerleader enthusiasm.
His charm was contagious. Most
of the audience howled with Rich
ardson as he described the curious
relationship between people from
Texas and Louisiana.
“People in Louisiana will deep fry
a rock, and Texans will try to eat it,”
he said. “People over there (Loui
siana) don’t buy their meat at the
store, they run over it.
“Contrary to popular belief, some
people around there have front
teeth.”
Aside from his friendly jokes
about Louisiana, Richardson’s hu
mor centered on Texas.
“The Texas economy has had it
George Bush Drive will
always be Jersey to me.
That (name change) was
the biggest Eddie Haskell,
butt-kissing move I’ve ever
seen.”
— Jason Porter,
Comedian
rough lately,” he said. “Even Ethio
pians were telling Houston jokes
with pictures of skinny oil men.”
Richardson is an entertaining co
median, but his performance did not
match the quality or hilarity of
Shock’s. Still, he was the perfect set
up man for Shock’s escapades.
Local comedian and A&M student
Jason Porter returned to TNL as the
opening performer for Shock and
Richardson on Friday and Saturday.
Porter is the opening act for TNL
during the fall and spring semesters.
Porter’s style is somewhat similar
to comedian Richard Lewis, but he’s
certainly not a Lewis-clone because
his off-beat humor is unique, witty
and most importantly, funny.
Porter took advantage of his fa
miliar surroundings with a barrage
of local jokes that kicked-off the
show in good-time style.
“George Bush Drive will always be
Jersey to me,” he said. “That (name
change) was the biggest Eddie Has
kell, butt-kissing move I’ve ever
seen.”
The audience roared in
agreement.
Porter also offered some candid
insight about men and women.
“I figured out why women look at
mens’ butts,” he said. “It’s because
that’s where we keep the wallet.
Guys, now you know what side of
your pants to keep your wallet.”
Porter will return to Thursday
Night Live this fall as the opening
performer.
The final performance of the
comedy special climaxed a laugh-
loaded stretch of comedy for Bryan-
College Station. It was rowdy, off
color fun.
TNL will go back to its regular
format today with comedians Jim
Villanucci and Steven J. Moore.
Showtime tonight is 9, and tickets
are $5. You must be 21 or older to
attend. For more information, call
Garfield’s at 693-1736.
Ron Shock’s performances at Garfield’s highlighted a
strong weekend of .comedy.
Local comedian and A&M student Jason Porter returned to
Garfield’s with strong opening performances on Friday and
Saturday.
TM4
Todd Stone
845-I
Classics, unknownsf/oo,
video stores this week
By TODD STONE
Of The Battalion Staff
There will be a flood of new films
appearing at your local video store
this Wednesday. Unfortunately,
most of them are poor B-films that
were never good enough for theater
release.
In spite of the gluttony of low-
budget films, there is good news.
MGM is continuing its re-release of
classic films on video.
Mutiny On The Bounty (1965)
will please any Marlon Brando fan.
He plays the first mate and mutiny
leader Fletcher Christian. Although
not as good as the classic 1935 ver
sion with Charles Laughton and
Clark Gable, this film is entertaining.
Trevor Howard also stars as Captain
Bligh.
“Sound of Music” may be the true
Julie Andrews classic, but fans of the
actress will enjoy Hawaii (1966).
This film is a lavish production
based on the James Michener novel
that explores the western disruption
of Hawaiian culture. It’s a bit Sappy,
but fun.
Other classics appearing Wednes
day are A Bridge Too Far with Rob
ert Redford, Michael Caine and
Sean Connery, Raintree County
with Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth
Taylor and Eva Marie Saint and Quo
Vadis with Peter Ustinov, Deborah
Kerr and Robert Taylor.
Hard To Kill
Rated R
Release Date — Wednesday
You wish this was an anomaly, but
the fact that “Hard To Kill” is one of
the dumbest, most unbelievable
films of this year and yet, also one of
the most successful and popular, is
unfortunately no black sheep.
Moviegoers should be ashamed
for seeing this garbage tale of a po
lice officer ambushed and shot at his
home, subsequently sent into a
seven-year coma.
New clod on the block, Steven
Seagul, stars as the tough, but hated
officer, Mason Storm, who we are
led to believe is able to fully recoope
rate from his seven-year coma in a
matter of weeks.
Once recovered, Storm of course
sets out to avenge his shooting and
the death of his wife. Coincidences
conveniently pop up left and right,
explaining the safe return of his as
sumed dead son, and his previous
assailants discovery that Storm is in
fact not dead.
Seagul is utterly awful aside from
Video Spotligl
Dead Calm
Rated R
If you're looking for suspens
“Dead Calm” is the film for you
Made by Kennedy/Miller, tl*
same producers who gave us t?
“Mad Max” trilogy, “DeadCalr
is a film guaranteed toputyouc; JFaii
the edge of your seat and ket {mag
you there.
Starring Nicole Kidman (“Da,
Of Thunder”), Sam Neil
Billy Zane, “Dead Calnfcoim
a husband and wife on a sailu
vacation at sea to recover fn
the death of their baby, killed
an auto accident.
Things seem okay until the
encounter a derelict vessel will
one survivor (Zane) who tuns
out to lx- loony-tunes.
The husband gets strandedo;
the derelict, and his wife is
ducted in the other boat. Wt
the wife struggles with a nud
man, the husband must
the sinking vessel and give chase
T he best moments in “Dea;
Calm” involve the madmai
Played by Zane as some sort
demented stand-up comic, is
eree
with
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creates a formidable adversar corp<
for the other characters. his pi
“Dead Calm" is a dvsturtm outsi
but enjoyable film full of ®
pense and definitely worth rm
mg.
Grade: B
• DON ATKINSOKjl
his martial arts routines, and hisloi
interest (the utter heartbreak of!
dead wife dispels real fast), KellyW
Brock, is also a disgrace. Them
lence is explicit and exploitative,
plot unrealistic and the action repe;
five.
For those of you who haven't see)
“Hard To Kill" — do yourselvesi 1
vor and don’t demean yousdfi»
seeing it now. If you get off tow
lence for violence’s sake, thanatlei
go for the real thing and rentaCfc
Eastwood flick.
•JOHN RIGHTS
Other Releases:
The Dive, Raven Red Kiss-OS
A Summer Story, Peacemaker
Night of The Fox, Hanussen.
Vietnam, Texas and Couraji
Mountain
in
By J(
Of Th
- release date is July 25 forallfilmil
Previewed videos and releas
dates are courtesy of 2 Day Video.
Youi
Atlai
‘Quick Change’ amuses,
lacks blockbuster luster
Quick Change
Starring Bill Murray, Randy Quaid,
Geena Davis and Jason Robards
Directed By Howard Franklin and
Bill Murray
Rated R
drive anyone to crime. In fact,tilt
point is driven home right at tht!
start of the film with a clever siel
gag-
By DON ATKINSON JR.
Of The Battalion Staff
I have to admit I had high
hopes that “Quick Change,” the
new comedy starring Bill Murray,
would be the first real blockbus
ter of the summer.
The 1990 summer movie sea
son has been a dud. “Dick Tracy”
didn’t live up to expectations,
“Total Recall” wasn’t the box-of
fice monster it was predicted to
be and just about every other film
released in the last two months
has been a sequel.
Ho-hum.
Unfortunately, I have good
and bad news about “Quick
Change.”
The good news: “Quick
Change” is an entertaining film.
The bad news: It won’t be the
summer blockbuster I had hoped
for.
The reason is that “Quick
Change” is a subtle film, full of
clever writing and plot twists that
will delight most audiences. The
only thing holding this film back
from blockbuster status is that it
doesn’t have a lot of easy jokes
and quick catch-phrases (“We
came, we saw, we kicked ass!”)
like Murray said in the mega-hit
“Ghostbusters.”
What “Quick Change” does
have is a lot of really good acting,
especially Murray, and an endless
succession of hearty chuckles.
Murray told Premiere mag
azine he wanted “Quick Change”
to be a film about New York. The
main character, Grimm (Murray),
is fed up with the city and com
mits a robbery to vent his anger.
On his way to the airport, how
ever, the city retaliates and
throws every obstacle imaginable
at him and his cohorts.
Murray succeeds in portraying
New York as a city that could
Quick Change” opens withal
beautiful panoramic shot of the "
city, but when the camera pull
back, the audience realizes it was i:
only a photograph on a subwai j
billboard. As the camera contin :
ues to move, the real New Yorl i
becomes visible with passed-oui ?
drunks and graffiti everywhere.
Murray, dressed as a clown,sits
in the midst of this scene looking
like a man who no longer cares.
He stares straight ahead with a
dead expression on his face anda
glaze in his eyes.
From that point on, “Quid
Change” involves the audiencein
66
Quick Change’is a
subtle film, full of clever
writing and plot twists that
will delight most audiencei
— without a doubt one of
the best films I have seen
this summer.”
an intricate
an teed to keei
plot that is guar-
ip anyone guessing.
Ina ^
Geena Davis (“The Accidental
Tourist” for which she won an os
car), Randy Quaid and Jason Ro
bards.
As the plot unfolds, it becomes
clear that each character servesarl
specific function in the film. Phyl |
lis (Davis) is the emotional
anchor, the character who gives
the film human qualities that the
audience can relate to. Loomis
(Quaid) contributes to the overall
chaos as a whining, panicky cry ;
baby who is as burdensome as the
city. Rotzinger (Robards) adds
the suspense element by relent
lessly pursuing the trio to the air
port.
“Quick Change” is without a
doubt one of the best films I have
seen this summer. Although not
blockbuster material, it’s incred
ibly enjoyable and should please
most movie-goers, especially
Murray fans.
UFGC