The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

Arts & Entertainment

person who is not happy with the miracle. Harry wants to see the rest of the world and knows that he can never leave Brigadoon. He is desperately in love with Jean, yet he has to stand back and watch her marry Charlie. Mr. Castillo is heartbreaking as a young man suffering through unrequited love. He is also a skilled dancer and expertly executes some difficult choreography. This was an admirable performance.

Justin Restivo is great as Mr. Lundie, a local scholar, and Julie Ann Takacs dances beautifully as the grieving Maggie Anderson. Amy LaPosa is entertaining as Meg, the local harlot, and Bryan McGowen treated the audience to his exceptional bagpipe talents.

Again, the entire ensemble was terrific. Every clansman, dancer or local merchant was outstanding. The firstclass orchestra was led by Musical Director Ilene Greenbaum and the costumes and scenic design were fabulous.

The only negative thing I can say about this production of

Brigadoon is that it isn’t going to run forever. It is a crime to see a show this wonderful come to a close. The work that went into this production was stellar.

Everyone involved should be extremely proud.

Brigadoon opened at The Victoria Theater at NJPAC on Thursday, July 20, and closed Sunday, July 30.

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Brigadoon

Calling Drew’s poem “prophetic,” Ms. Rose added that she believes other children could learn from “I Opened A…” because it “encourages intellect and creativity.”

The editors at Highlights explained that every year its readers submit about 35,000 pieces of artwork, poetry, riddles, recipes, book recommendations or letters to the editor. However, space limitations only permit less than 2 percent of those submissions to become published works.

Highlights grants two complimentary copies which include the published work to the reader.

While Drew is one of the youngest to pen a poem on the pages, joining another 6yearold from Phoenix, Ariz., his words obviously speak volumes beyond his age.

Mrs. Pecker concurred with Ms. Rose, “He’s a deep person, but I didn’t know he could express himself in that way.”

Drew told The Leader and The Times that, while he wasn’t really inspired by a certain incident or teacher when he took pen to paper for the assignment, he doesn’t think poetry is something he would pursue in the future.

Instead, Drew aspires to be a doctor. Until then, he will focus on some of his favorite pastimes – playing tennis, rock climbing and practicing gymnastics.

Still, he wouldn’t trade his experience as a published poet for the world.

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Drew Pecker

Local Laureates Local Laureates Local Laureates Local Laureates Local Laureates

Ignorance

Ignorance speaks 1000 words. In the United States of America, how is it possible with so many races, that people are so ignorant? What is it? Is it that different races generally don’t mix or associate with each other? I think so.

Ignorance speaks 1000 words. Couples of different nationalities – Are they a sociological study or are they just two people who fell in love? According to the USA, they are a study, not a couple. Go to the bookstores and the relationship between an Indian woman and a Japanese man will be under sociological studies, not relationships.

Ignorance speaks 1000 words. If you are Black, you listen to rap and reggae – that’s it. The Rolling Stones or the Spin Doctors are out of your realm. If you are Asian, you are automatically a mathematical genius and know karate.

Ignorance speaks 1000 words. You’re Black/ Hispanic, he’s European. The stares are endless, disrespectful and full of hate. Black woman look at you, their eyes saying, “What are you doin’ with that Euro man?” Black men look at him like saying, “What are you doin’ with my woman, my BLACK! Woman?!” EuroAmerican women and European women look with jealous states at the Black/ Hispanic woman with her European man.

Ignorance speaks 1000 words. People give you their opinions

about your relationship with your European man. Who are they? Will you become less Black/ Hispanic they say? Will you become a snob? Will you associate with only Europeans? Are you just with him for the thrill of being with someone European? I tell them, “Get a life. It’ll happen to you one day.”

Ignorance speaks 1000 words. It happened to a Black man who fell in love with an Irish/ German woman. “Interracial?” I think now. That’s just politically correct, like the word “AfricanAmerican.” It’ll happen to you. Watch out, it’ll keep happening in the United States and around the world. You’ll see. Your relationship will make up part of the percentage.

Ignorance speaks 1000 words. What are you doing thinking that that EuroAmerican or European is cute? You’re not supposed to look at them. You’re Black/ Hispanic and he’s just a little White boy anyway. You can’t go to his church, you’re EuroAmerican. Only Blacks can worship there. Sounds like the 1960 Jim Crow laws reversed, huh? Then again, this happens now, in 1998, entering into another millennium! What will become of society?

Ignorance speaks 1000 words and those 1000 words must be changed before it’s too late.

Altagracia Hicks Canela

Cheri Rogowsky for The Westfield Leader and The Times SENDING HIS LOVE... In July, Mike Love sang with his buddies, “The Beach Boys,” at a concert hosted by PNC Bank Arts Center in Homdel. Leader/ Times photographer Cheri Rogowsky was close enough to catch the “Good Vibrations” and snap a super picture of the legendary crooner.

Teddy Alvaro 1 & 1/ 2 popcorns

What could very well be a man’s greatest dream fantasy turns into his worst nightmare.

Suffice it to note, it involves a wife and a mistress. But just in case you’re determined to see this movie that wouldn’t die (it lurches on for 20 minutes longer than is necessary) despite this critic’s advice to the contrary, you shan’t be told exactly how these two entities become intertwined, so to speak.

But name a thriller... any thriller, and chances are that writers Sarah Kernochan and Clark Gregg borrowed a thing or two from said film whilst fashioning this gothic gobbledygook for the masses. An unintentional homage to its genre with special emphasis on Hitchcock, the only thing that could legitimize What Lies Beneath would be a bibliography included in the closing credits. And therein lies the sad little horror— a mere specter of a movie with no body to inhabit.

The derived mechanisms, sensibilities and styling cues, though more curious than entirely distracting, assure that director Robert Zemeckis’ schlock imitation never achieves a vitality of its own. Even the semispooky score by Alan Silvestri copycats Bernard Herrmann.

Those disclaimers noted, attendees to these excessive doings will treat themselves to one of the most outlandish bathroom scenes to besmirch the silver screen in a gargoyle’s age. And while heretical praise in some far gone corners has compared the devastating sequences to the horrific alchemy so masterfully evinced in Psycho (1960), this secondhand treatment will doubtless have viewers repondering the relative safety of their own water closets.

You may want to install a few grabhandles, maybe bring along a snorkel, and perhaps even wear a helmet on your next visit there.

Of course, by the time you reach this hairraising point, you will have endured all manner of twist and turn with little payoff. And yet the movie drones on and on, attempting one scare tactic after the next, as if to guiltily admit that nothing quite seems to work.

But don’t blame that on the actors. Both Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer contribute journeyman performances as Norman and Claire Spencer, at first blush the ideal couple living the idyllic university town existence.

This includes a perfect Victorian home on a pristine Vermont lake and a bright young daughter just recently delivered to her college dorm. Who would think that Claire would suddenly start seeing a ghost — the apparition of a younger woman her husband just might know?

Norman, a renowned doctor in genetics, occupies an esteemed chair at the local hall of higher learning. And it appears that supportive Claire is the consummate wife. But of course you know that appearances can be deceiving.

Well, that is the hackneyed point, isn’t it? After all, what fun would it be if the perfect couple didn’t pathetically obliterate into something far more dysfunctional than our own families by the time all the bloodcurdling screaming was over?

Of course, how well the originally pretty picture unravels into sheer horror and dire despair is the measure of this film phylum. But What Lies Beneath offers little style or grace in that department. Loosely connected subplots and angles awkwardly feint and jab in an at

Westfield’s Teddy Alvaro Joins Stagedoor Manor’s

She Loves Me Production Village Green Concert

On Tap for August 3

SCOTCH PLAINS – The Scotch Plains Cultural Arts Committee will welcome Captain Hawkers and the All Stars to the Village Green on Thursday, August 3, from 7: 30 to 9 p. m. The concert is free to the public.

Captain Hawkers take their audience on a roller coaster ride through the roots of rock and roll, revitalizing the classics with authenticity and energy.

The 13piece band recreates the sights and sounds of the 1950s and 1960s through their music and choreography. The band has been collaborating for over a quarter of a century and is based in North Plainfield.

Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for comfort. Free birch beer will be provided courtesy of the Scotch Plains Volunteer Firefighters Association.

In case of rain, the concert will be moved to the Scotch PlainsFanwood High School auditorium on Westfield Road.

For more information, please call the Recreation Office at (908) 3226700.

POPCORN ™

One Popcorn, Poor • Two Popcorns, Fair • Three Popcorns, Good • Four Popcorns, Excellent

By Michael S. Goldberger

What Lies Beneath

Can’t Creep Above Its Flaws

tempt to throw us off balance. And apparently believing that something done poorly is worth doing twice, and even sometimes thrice, the movie goes overboard and eventually wobbles out of kilter. Only the solid performances in the wake of a scriptdoomed project keep the creepy doings from being entirely laughable.

Shades of Gaslight (1948), Pfeiffer does the Ingrid Bergman thing with considerable believability, feverishly questioning her sanity as things go bump in the night, as well as during the day. Keeping her company at the Ouija board is Diana Scarwid as best friend Jody. The horrible realization is, if Claire’s not crazy, then she’s in mortal danger.

Box office dynamo Harrison Ford in the Charles Boyer role tries out a risky and brave new persona, sporting more shades of gray than Hollywood likes for its leading men. And while he doesn’t quite approach the character actor dimension that Donald Sutherland has perennially achieved in similar roles, he fares well considering the script’s limitations.

Hubby is understanding — but just up to a point. He’ll be the first to tell you what an important scientist he is, and a psychotic wife in tow is hardly the ticket to increased research funding. So he eventually ships her off to the shrink (Joe Morton), where we find out that what lies beneath Claire’s otherwise accepting exterior is a concert cellist who gave it all up to make her man happy. Get it? Get it? What lies beneath?

And make no bones about it. Dr. Spencer has a few skeletons jangling in his closet, too. The question is, is he really bad to the bone or simply a victim of circumstance?

You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure this one out. Watson with a bad head cold could piece it together. But the venerable gent might divine what’s afoot only through intuition and a knowledge of trite movie scenarios.

For there is no logical progression of evidence here. What Lies Beneath makes its own inconsistent rules along the way, hopping hither and thither from ghost tale to detective yarn, committing to neither and failing to satisfactorily mesh the two. Director Zemeckis merely plays the supernatural card, employing phantoms and the such as a convenient deus ex machina when the plot has nothing better to move it along.

Granted, there are a couple of scenes that could very well cause liftoff for easily frightened viewers not tethered to their chairs. But if you were compiling a list of recent mystery/ horror films worth seeing, What Lies Beneath wouldn’t have a ghost of a chance for inclusion.

* * * * *

What Lies Beneath, rated PG13, is a DreamWorks release directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Harrison Ford and Diana Scarwid. Running time: 130 minutes.

August Art Exhibition Slated At Hospital

WESTFIELD – Fifteenyearold Teddy Alvaro of Westfield has followed in the footsteps of such noted young actors as Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leign, Mary Stuart Masterson, Robert Downey, Jr., Jon Cryer and Helen Slater by attending Stagedoor Manor this summer, a unique theater camp in the Catskills, N. Y.

In each of the summer’s three sessions, youngsters ages 817 spend three weeks rehearsing 11 shows, which are then performed for the public either at one of Stagedoor’s five theaters or at one of the nearby Catskills resorts such as The Raleigh or The Concord.

Teddy appeared in the production of She Loves Me.

MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS... The Sally Judd Scholarship recently enabled three Franklin Elementary School pupils to study music at the New Jersey Workshop for the Arts. The scholarship is given to students who exemplify fine character and outstanding talent potential, maintain high grades, display advanced technique with interpretation and possess community volunteer experience. Pictured, left to right, are: Registrar of the Westfield Summer Workshop Patricia Hayes, Will Harbaugh, Mia Arlington, Thomas Sheridan and Leonard Judd, who has endowed the scholarship fund.

County Will Go Country With Mustang Sally August 9

MOUNTAINSIDE – Union County’s free Summer Arts Festival concert at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside on Wednesday, August 9, at 7: 30 p. m. will spotlight Mustang Sally’s allstar country music.

An allgirl band, Mustang Sally, blends assorted instruments, classic country songs and edgy performances to create a dynamic stage presence.

The band performed almost 200 shows last year all over the country and plans the same schedule for this year.

Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and

picnic baskets. A refreshment stand will be available at approximately 6: 30 p. m.

In case of rain, the concerts will be held at Cranford High School on West End Place in Cranford. For uptodate concert/ rain information, please call the Department of Parks and Recreation’s 24hour hotline at (908) 3528410 after 3 p. m. on the day of the concert.

For other concert information, please call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 5274900.

Nobody knows A& E like the A& E staff of The Leader/ The Times!

The Web site for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently reasserted: “There is no federal law or regulation that gives the FCC the authority to prohibit radio and television stations from presenting religious programs. Actually, the Communications Act (the law that established the FCC and defines its authority) prohibits the FCC from censoring broadcast material and interfering with freedom of speech in broadcasting.”

The statement continues: “The FCC cannot direct any broadcaster to present, or refrain from presenting announcements or programs on religion and the FCC cannot act as an arbitrator on the insights or accuracy of such material. Broadcasters, not the FCC, nor any other governmental agency, have the responsibility for selecting the programming that is aired by their stations.”

To this, I say, “Thank God.” watch the one show that represents

the antithesis. Recently, an email, which CBS is calling fictitious and a rumor, circulated about a cancellation of “Touched” due to the name of God being mentioned. Rumor or not, it made my blood boil. CBS promises 24plus episodes for the future, but it is certain that the program will remain under attack.

Will you be at the front of the battle line, fighting for a program with real backbone? If so, please express your views to: Touched by an Angel, c/ o CBS/ MTM Studios, 4020 North Radford Avenue, Studio City, Calif., 91604 or email audsvcs@ cbs. com.

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Editorial

MOUNTAINSIDE – A unique exhibition of Chinese folk paintings, photography and oil paintings will be mounted and on display for the public at Children’s Specialized Hospital (CSH) in Mountainside in August and September.

Landscape photographer J. J. Raia of Edison will exhibit, along with Impressionist painter Stefanos Sideris of Readington Township and Chinese folk painters from Jinshan Township which is Southwest of Shanghai.

The exhibition is open to the public from 8: 30 a. m. to 8: 30 p. m. daily at CSH, 150 New Providence Road in Mountainside. Visitors should use the Ambulance Entry to attend.

The artists’ works are offered for sale. A portion of the sale proceeds will benefit CSH.

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Ballooning

A variety of food and beverages was also available to tempt every palate.

A portion of the proceeds from the annual festival benefit the Children’s Miracle Network, which supports two pediatric hospitals in New Jersey.