McHenry Public Library District Digital Archives

McHenry Plaindealer (McHenry, IL), 19 Jul 1985, p. 12

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Movie review INDEX/SECTION B Section B Area talent on display this summer at Hemmens By Joe Agnew iHerald staff writer 3 Area actors and actresses both *yeung and old will be displaying 3tlieir talents in three productions - a classic comedy and two musicals - 2to be staged at Elgin's Hemmens ^Auditorium during the next several weeks. J First will be "Arsenic and Old *Lace" a classic comedy about two 2 elderly aunts who put lonely men lout of their misery, to be presented • at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays j beginning this weekend until Aug. 3 | at the Hemmens Playhouse. • Next will come the dance musical "Sweet Charity," which will be pre- ! sented in the Hemmens Auditorium j July 26, 27, and Aug. 2 and 3. at 8 ip.m. , ! Followihg "Charity" will be the ' classic Jerome Kern musical "Show • Boat," which will be performed J Aug. 9,10,16 and 17. Curtain time is jalsoSp.m. While "Arsenic" is being present- fed by Elgin's Independent Players, jthe two musicals are featuring the /{talents of many younger and older "Fox Valley residents involved in El- jgin's Summer Theater. i The youth section, which repre­ sents actors between the ages of 16 iand 26, is presenting "Charity," iwhile the older actors are present­ ing "Show Boat." Many of the youn- jger actors are also doing double iduty by appearing in both ^productions. • Written in the mid-sixties by Neil Simon, with music by Cy Coleman, j"Charity" is about a perky yet {downtrodden dance hall hostess who is constantly falling into bad love. Because Charity is eager to please, she is constantly encountering male losers at every turn. Some of the memorable songs from the "Charity" include "Big Spender," "If My Friends Could See Me Now," and "Baby, Dream Your Dream." Robert K. Mott, who founded the Youth Theater 13 years ago, said that "Charity" is a heavy dance show, particularly for its lead char­ acters. The Elgin High School En­ glish teacher said that most of this year's cast are returning from last summer's production of "Annie Get Your Gun," and that they have had to "pick up the dance steps and work hard" in the six weeks they have been given to rehearse. The "Charity" cast is comprised of college students home for the summmer, as well as a large share of high school students looking to get experience working in a big musical, according to Mott. "Charity" features Robin Irwin, 18, of McHenry in the title role. Also featured are Michele Berlin and Scott Shallenberger, both of Wood­ stock, and Amy Ferraro of Crystal Lake. There are a total of 65 cast members, most coming from Elgin, Dundee, Carpentersville, Algon­ quin, Streamwood and Bartlett. As founder, Mott said he has been responsible for three-quarters of the productions under the youth pro­ gram. He noted an added bonus of the program is that students who participate are eligible for theater credit from Elgin Community College. Betsy Armistead, program coor­ dinator for the City of Elgin, says McHenry's Fiesta Days feature fun for family McHenry's annual summer festival, Fiesta Days, is now well into a fourth decade of fun and entertainment as it presents the 1965 eight-day gala, "Let Us Entertain You." Launched with its Famous Food Fiesta beginning at noon on Sun­ day, July 21, Fiesta Days con­ tinues until the following Sunday, July 28, and each day in between is packed with something special for all ages. Co-chairmen Sue Low and Trey Covalt and their committees have come up with events that cover sports, fine dining, dancing, music, shopping, arts and enter­ tainment of every description. Highlights of this year's offer­ ings include: Food Fiesta with a mouthwatering array of menu specialties from restaurants throughout northern Illinois; a classic car show; Name That Tune team competition; the noteworthy River Run for diehard athletes; outdoor roller-skating party for kids; Chicago Sting Soc­ cer Camp; plenty of sporting events for participants and observers; canoe races; sidewalk sales; Art in the Park with its im­ pressive lineup of craftspeople and fine artists; the popular concert-in-the-park; entertain­ ment by a dance company; the music of Trilogy for an exciting evening of outdoor dancing; chicken barbecues; special enter­ tainers throughout the week, and the gala parade concluding the events. « Overall reigns Miss McHenry and her court, adding to the beau­ ty and vitality of a carefully plan­ ned eight days that makes sum­ mer fun, a treat to the family pocketbook, and a travel-free ex­ perience for all. McHenrv is located on the banks of the Fox River at the intersection of Routes 31 and 120. Most events will take place at Petersen Park, easily reached form Route 31 North. The McHenry Area Chamber of Com­ merce has a special Fiesta Days Guide available for a nominal fee. It lists each day's events in detail. The book also contains money- saving coupons to be used both during and after Fiesta Days, making the guide as big a bargain as Fiesta Days itself. Contact the Chamber Office at 815/385-4300, or write for a Guide, enclosing your check or money order for $1 to: McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce, 1257 North Green Street, McHenry, Il­ linois, 60050. i|; AU through last spring and for the better part of ttyji summer, the ; movie industry has been appeasing older movie-goers complaints about the glut of teen comedy and and science fiction flicks by hailing the imminent return of "The Western.'* But first they gave us "Rustler's Rhapsody," a "Blazing Saddles" rip- off so terrible it even made the idea of staying home and clipping your , toenails seem like colossal entertainment. Next came Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider," which despite some very ' fine moments and great scenery, was nothing more than a "Dirty Harry" moyie disguised in spurs and a cowboy hat. Now, with (he recent arrival of "Silverado,M it appears that reviving the western has been about as successful as kicking a dead horse. I It's not that "Silverado" is a bad movie; it's just that it's not nearly up to the hype, talent and money that went into making it. The $20 million-plus that was bankrolled to make this film apparently > all went to its Sante Fe locations, scenery and costumes. It appears ttiat -' little or no energy was spent on creating script that's entertainingly ' * concise and easy for the mass audiences to relate to. By Joe Agnew Herald stiff writer Adelines perform at South Bend A group of Sweet Adelines from the Chain O' Lakes Chapter will be joining other Sweet Adelines from Region No. 3, July 19-21, at St. Mary's College in South Bend, Ind., for a musical weekend of work, fun and fellowship. If you like to sing, Chain O' Lakes Chapter is opened for members. Join us on Thursday nights and learn to sing four-part harmony, barbership style. No formal training is necessary. Rehearsals are at Mundelein High School in the choral room. Woman 16 years and over are welcome. For further information, call (312 ) 356-7526, (312 ) 362-0886, 455- 9075 or (815) 338-2475. It appears that Cobb and Kline $ character know each other from way back when, and Cobb begins to use his influence over him to run the two brothers out of Silverado. Although his real reason is never made clear, it seems that either the brothers represent a protection of sorts to their sister and brother-in-law, who oversee the documentation of all the area's land claims, or were also involved in the murder of one of the sheriff's friends awhile back. The black man also earns the sheriffs ire because he has the guts to stand up to his henchmen. From reading this synopsis, you may may be thinking that the story sounds like the basic western fare you can probably come close to duplicating by staying home and watching the Saturday rodeo movie. You're rigjht. In order for the Western to make a comeback, it's going to have to giye us ntore than gun fights and horse chases; it's going to have to take all that stimuli ana make it refreshing. Although his efforts are notable, Kasdan fails to give us the feeling of a unique Western town, a sense of history, or even one Indian for that matter. The prominent featuring of big name stars in the "Silverado" adver­ tisements is also misleading. Rosanna Arquette, Jeff Goldblum and Monty Python's John Cleese are all given prominent billing, but all three spehd very little time on screen. When they do, they have little or nothing to say. About the only performers who create any feeling for their characters ate Kline and Linda Hum, who plays the operator of Sheriff Cobb's saloon. The tiny Hunt, you may recall, walked of with an Academy Award several years back for her performance, of a Vietnamese photographer in "The Year of Living Dangerously." Her performance is the best teg about this movie Its hard to see how Kasdan could have flubbed this project, seeing that he IS one of the most talented people working in films today. With directing credits for "Body Heat" ana -'The Big Chill," as well as screen te.'Retu%ofthe Jedi" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" under HIS belt, ireasy to lee why he was given permission to make "Silverado." And as for the return of the Western? Well, studio execs, we're still waiting; > Director Lawrence Kasdan, who co-wrote "Silverado" with his broth- n er Mark, gives us rustic western scenery, smoky saloons, brawling ' bandits, wagon trains, stampeding cattle and beautiful horses. It's just ' too bad that most of its action falls on dead air. K you don't get excited when the good guys take off after the bandits, - nor do you laugh very hard at what are supposed to be this film's lighter *' moments. • . ; i! "Silverado" tells the story of four outsiders vho band together to help I each other and some down-trodden locals deal with the lawless Ways of the Old West. Two are brothers; an ex-con (Scott Glenn) and a acrobatic ' gunsjUnger (Kevin Costner); one a drifter (Kevin Kline) and the last a black man (Danny Glover), who is returning to the West to help protect , his family's land from thieves. They also share a common bond in the ^Kt that all are expert marksmen. E,< The four eventually make their way tb the corrupt little town of tne £: movie's title, where its self-appointed Sheriff Cobb (Brian Dennehy) is seeking to control everyone and everything. And God help anyone who E <falls out of his favor. Opinion Page IBB Regional News... Page 9B Soaps ... .Page 12B Classified.. Pages 14B-19B Comics Page 13B Dear Abby Page 2B

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