The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

High 5 Vocalworks To Blend Key Sounds

At Village Green Brass Sextet to Bring Jazz to SP Library

SCOTCH PLAINS – The Ebony Brass Sextet, a performercomposer jazz chamber ensemble formed in 1987, will offer AfricanAmerican music based on the history of jazz and the European Classical tradition on Wednesday, August 30, outside of the Scotch Plains Public Library. The event will be held from 7 to 8: 30 p. m.

The ensemble strives to present a unique, high quality jazz product that is educational and entertaining. Garnering several accolades for their performances, the sextet’s acclaim has allowed the group to expand to a 14member brass and percussion group.

In case of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the inside of the library.

Elaine Silver MOUNTAINSIDE -Singer/

songwriter Elaine Silver will present a special family concert of folk music and children’s songs entitled, “F a e r i e s , Dreams & O t h e r Friends,” on Wednesday, August 23, at 1: 30 p. m. at Trailside Nature & Science Center, 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside.

This program is part of the Summer Wednesday Matinee series sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders for youngsters ages 4 and older with their families.

Ms. Silver, a critically acclaimed performer on the college and folk music circuit for several years, has also built a following as a skilled performer for children of all ages. In recent years,

her creative energies have moved her into a delightful, imaginative world of “Faerieland” where children become

familiar with the enchanting world of faeries and magic.

At Trailside, Ms. Silver will present herself as “Faerie Elaine of the Silver Stream.”

“It’s a blessing for me as I look into each child’s eyes and wish the very best from all the invisible faeries and angels,” reflected Ms. Silver. “Each child has his or her own special gift and I love to touch upon that in each of us.”

Tickets are $4 per person and may be purchased at the door on the day of the program. Children under age 4 will not be admitted.

For more information, please call (908) 7893670.

Singer Elaine Silver to Perform For Children at Trailside Center

2 & 1/ 2 popcorns

As Baby Boomers attempt to stave off the inevitable, odds are there’ll be more films like Space Cowboys

made. Movies designed to assuage anxieties about the future which will mollify frustrated contentions of invisibility in a youthoriented culture. Pictures that will assure the Dr. Spock crowd that not only are there going to be decades in their future, but those years will be lived productively and sexually... maybe even heroically.

In this sense director Clint Eastwood’s industrial strength blast of vintage testosterone is more utilitarian than it is artistic. This Viagra for the brain entertains not necessarily because of its plot savvy or style (though Ken Kaufman and Howard Klausner’s script is visualized quite handsomely by Eastwood), but because of the promises it makes.

It’s nothing new. Teen movies have been supplying the pimpled set with vicarious popularity, peer security, and the fulfillment of fantasies for years. Hence the glands being served by Hollywood remain the same. Only their chronology is different.

None of this is to say that the director’s assemblage of geriatric astronauts, rounded up by their former “Daedalus” leader when a wayward communications satellite threatens untold havoc, will be completely lost on younger viewers. Seeing older folks act out of character often touches a humorous nerve among youth. Unfortunately, many of them view this sort of humor in the same way as they do animals dressed in evening wear.

Yet in all fairness, the casting is inspired. And whether young or old, anyone with an appreciation for the kind of talent that only comes with a lifetime of dedication to the silver screen will at least enjoy this winning ensemble’s pluck and swagger.

Predictably but convivially, it’s all about The Big Last Mission, the ultimate vindication and redemption. We learn why in the opening scenes, atmospherically etched in Eisenhower black and white. You see, back in 1958, poised to be the first men in space, the Air Force fly boys had the carpet pulled from under them and their dreams dashed when NASA took over the space program.

Chief among the spoilers was Bob Gerson (James Cromwell), opportunistic bureaucrat personified. Flash forward to the present. While there is still no love lost between Gerson and Colonel Frank Corvin (Eastwood), leader of the group that never got to blast off, 42 years later the satellite crisis again conjoins their interests.

Things start out in a lovably trite fashion worthy of a Flash Gordon episode. Now retired and since having picked up a doctorate in computer aeronautics or some such discipline befitting a faded aviator, Dr. Frank Corvin and his wife live quiet lives in their desert retreat. But NASA needs him, and sends two upstarts to enlist his help. In good stereotypical form, he at first demurs. And though I paraphrase, I kid you not. For the NASA envoys then beseech:

“Doctor! You designed the program. Only you can solve the problem...... it’s your duty as an American!”

We don’t know for sure if any of this patriotic imploring has its effects. Because it is presumptuous, let alone dangerous, to preach morality to an Eastwood hero. But when Corvin finally agrees to lend his expertise, on the condition that he and his old crew get to man the rescue mission, we know we’re headed for outer space. Oh, just one thing: It’s a Russian satellite.

How did Doctor Corvin’s design wind up in a Soviet space craft? The goldenaged crew is mustered “Magnificent Seven” style by their old commanding colonel, acted with deadpan authority and a humorous streak of threatening cynicism. His overthehill gang includes: James Garner as Father Tank Sullivan, once upon a time project Daedalus’s navigator extraordinaire; Tommy Lee Jones as Hawk Hawkins, ace airplane engineer and the pilot’s pilot; and Donald Sutherland as Jerry O’Neill, generic technowiz and selfappointed ambassador for libidinal oldsters. Sutherland puts a new and kinder face on the term “dirty old man.”

Of course, wormy pencil pusher Gerson, still up to his old tricks, invokes a stipulation. If Corvin and his boys are to really leave the Earth’s atmosphere, they’ll have to meet the same requirements demanded of current NASA recruits. And thus begins, ushered in with Rockyesque fanfare, the slightly precious competition between the generations.

Cute sequences fill the screen as we are convinced that, yes indeed, life begins at 60. For in essence, among the proverbial questions concerning the aging process that

Space Cowboys posits, the recurring inquiry is: Can experience prevail over youth? Save for one whimsically melancholy twist, expect the expected as team Daedalus makes like the Phoenix and heads for its weightless destiny. Problem is, though Eastwood’s cleanly delivered film brims with good cheer and great optimism, it vacillates uncertainly between farce and drama. Granted, the banter, delivered by these old pros is endearing. The more serious aspects are rarely convincing.

Still, if technical talk to the backdrop of impending doom in a trumped up outer space scenario is your cup of star dust, then hitching a ride on Eastwood’s farfetched fantasy is recommended. But for those of us who require more,

Space Cowboys just doesn’t lasso enough of the right stuff.

* * * * *

Space Cowboys, rated PG13, is a Warner Brothers release directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Clint Eastwood, Tommie Lee Jones, James Garner and Donald Sutherland. Running time: 105 minutes.

POPCORN ™

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

By Michael S. Goldberger

Space Cowboys

PieintheSky Redemption

Arts & Entertainment

Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Leader and The Times

BOXING GOODIES... Julio, a student in the Baking Program at the Union County VocationalTechnical School in Scotch Plains, packages delicious cookies for a customer at the school’s Bake Shop. The Culinary Arts Program at the school also instructs pupils to whip up the best fare.

Twilight Culinary Arts Course Cooked Up by Vo-Tech School

SCOTCH PLAINS – The Union County VocationalTechnical Schools, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains, will once again serve up the popular Twilight Culinary Arts course beginning September 6.

Two separate classes will meet five days per week from 2 to 4: 40 p. m. or 5: 10 to 7: 50 p. m. Participants, men and women over high school age, can complete the course in one year by enrolling in both classes. If a single session is selected, course completion will take two years.

The Culinary Arts Program introduces the pupil to a variety of food preparation techniques from cooking principles to gourmet foods. The educational setting is a fullyequipped, stateoftheart commercial kitchen under the guidance of a professional chef and instructor.

Students in the program are taught the preparation of stocks, soups, salads, sauces, meats, fish, shellfish,

poultry and vegetables. Portion control, food presentation, garnishing and preparation of desserts are important elements of the curriculum.

In addition, instructional areas include safety and sanitation, proper use of tools and equipment, purchasing, inventory control, menu planning, diet, nutrition, serving, food service management and kitchen operations.

Graduates of the Culinary Arts Program may choose to enter the food industry as a chef, sous chef, banquet cook, prep cook, line cook or first cook. Many graduates elect to continue their education by pursuing college degrees in the culinary field.

Financial aid is available to eligible students and job placement assistance will be offered to graduates.

Full details about Twilight Culinary Arts may be obtained by calling the Admissions Office at the Union County VocationalTechnical Schools at (908) 8892999.

FULL-FIGURED DESIGNS, PERSONAL SERVICE

Westfield’s Kris Luka Represents élana Designer

Studio in New York City

tened to this customer and she has been underserved. Our design team is ecstatic about designing for her and the initial reaction to our spring/ summer 2000 line has been phenomenal.”

Ms. Luka cited that NPD, a fashion industry group, revealed that women’s clothing sizes 14 and up is the fastest growing sector of the apparel industry. It is estimated that 50 percent of American women currently wear some “plus size” clothing.

She noted that designers and manufacturers point out that “the attitude about this market segment has changed with the biggest change in styling, quality and more attention paid to creating lines that are more fashion oriented and suited to a variety of occasions.”

“Our view of the fullfigured business is about expressing style and beauty,” Mr. DeFeo said. “It’s not about size.”

Élana is only sold through trained representatives by private appointments. Ms. Luka noted that personal service, which élana extends, is currently one of the most important offerings in today’s retail environment.

For private appointments, please contact Ms. Luka at (908) 2338519. the role of Hortense Howard,

Mimi’s provocative friend who has seen it all. Ms. Crowley is elegant and graceful onstage, and her two solo numbers were some of the best in the show. Her professional performance was right on the mark, and she fully captured the spirit of this delightful piece.

Oscar Castillo was superb as the Snooty Waiter and he had some wonderful moments throughout the play. Mr. Castillo expertly handles the humor in his character’s writing, without “going for the laughs.” This was a fine, polished performance.

Jimmy Kilduff nearly walked away with the show in the role of Rudolfo Tonelli, an Italian lothario who is hired by Mr. Egbert to play the part of Mimi’s lover. Mr. Kilduff is goofy and lovable, a true bumbling idiot with a heart of gold. He brought the house down in his three numbers, particularly in the outrageously funny, “I Love Only You,” in which he sings of his romantic escapades to his wife on the telephone.

Thom Pasculli was winning in the role of Robert, the overzealous and charming assistant of Mr. Egbert, who has an appetite for the ladies. Mr. Pasculli is sweet and dear onstage and nicely rounded out this remarkable cast.

Christian Doll and Joshua Hemphill turned in very nice work in smaller roles, and the ensemble of female dancers was splendid.

Similar to the recent WYACT production of Brigadoon, everyone on the stage at Kean University this past weekend was entirely committed to what they were doing onstage, regardless of the size of their role. This is the mark of a fine director, and Ms. Meryl is clearly an inspiring example to her troupe of young actors.

Ms. Meryl directed and choreographed

The Gay Divorce and Andy Pratt and Ted Elias musically directed and expertly played piano for the show.

I look forward to any production that this terrific company may bring our way. WYACT delivers professional, enthusiastic work that is just a pleasure to be a part of.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

Gay Divorce

experiences, she turned to God. Ms. Kirkland was trained in yoga by integral yoga founder Sri Swami Satchidananda, and in 1969 began teaching at the Integral Yoga Institute in New York City, where she stayed for six years.

In 1972, shejoined the Church of the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA), founded by her teacher of 28 years JohnRoger, who ordained her a reverend in 1975.

“What I love is to be addicted to God,” Ms. Kirkland told The Leader and The Times. “I find that with a lot of spiritual energy, there is no negativity.” She has used her ministry of light to perform forgiveness, spiritual blessing, and incite transformational acting workshops, as well as weddings, funerals, memorials, baby blessings, and weekly MSIA seminars held in her West Hollywood home.

In addition, Ms. Kirkland tries to help atrisk children through the EduCare and Ace programs, and was recently nominated by Governor Gray Davis to be on the board of the California Alliance for Artists’ Education.

Currently, Ms. Kirkland is working closely with Elliott Gould to convince Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) members to stand behind the unions’ television commercial strike.

“Actors are only 1.4 percent of what it takes to produce a television commercial, but the advertisers don’t want to pay them adequately. Here they are (the advertisers) – a multibillion dollar economic industry, and somehow our unions are seemingly shafted,” explained Ms. Kirkland, “We’re asking for the same TV commercial residuals on cable television that we receive on network television.”

On July 14, she defended the SAGAFTRA plight at a national television press conference. Along with a monsignor, rabbi and various ministers, Reverend Kirkland led a prayer and meditation service on July 19 at Hollywood First Presbyterian Church for the good of all concerned with the strike.

Ms. Kirkland, who will run for the board of SAG next year, has a full plate. Besides her work with the MSIA and SAGAFTRA, she councils women who have immune system difficulties stemming from breast implants, teaches yoga, and is preparing to film the movie Out of the Dark in Pittsburgh through September 12.

Ms. Kirkland will star opposite her SAGAFTRA colleague Elliott Gould, Dee WallaceStone, and Tyler Christopher.

More information about Ms. Kirkland is available by visiting http:// www. sallykirkland. com.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

Sally Kirkland

WESTFIELD – Wardrobe Consultant Kris Luka of Westfield is the local representative of élana design studios, 570 Seventh Avenue, Ninth Floor, in New York City.

By contacting Ms. Luka at (908) 2338519, private appointments may be arranged to view the debut collection of these designs for fullfigured women during the weeks of August 21 through September 3.

According to Ms. Luka, the company maintains “a fierce commitment to fullfigured women and their clothing and style needs creates its seasonal fashion collections.”

Ms. Luka explained that the office on Seventh Avenue is filled with designer sketches of current and upcoming apparel collections. Fine fabrics from around the world, buttons, special trims and accessories are also abound inside the studio.

Viewed only by personal oneonone appointments, the exclusive élana line is only shown through trunk shows in private settings. Élana is a designer line of clothing specifically for fullfigured women sizes 14W to 24W. As part of Tanner Companies, the founder of direct sales of highend apparel in 1931, élana is a new line debuting this spring.

President of élana David DeFeo stated, “Tanner companies has provided designer clothes to the most discerning woman since 1931. Now, through the introduction of élana, we are providing the same private service and designer clothing for the fullfigured woman.”

“We are designing clothing that reflects modern styling with fine fabrics and designer details,” he continued. “For years no one lisPlease

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Story Ideas to: michelle@goleader.com

SCOTCH PLAINS – Mix a little jazz, pop, swing and classic music and you have the perfect blend for a night of melodies by High 5 Vocalworks. The Scotch Plains Cultural Arts Committee will sponsor the event this evening, August 17, on the Village Green in Scotch Plains from 7 to 9 p. m.

Free birch beer will be provided during the concert compliments of Rene’s Decorating. Specators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for their comfort. In case of rain, the concert will be relocated to the auditorium of Scotch PlainsFanwood High School.

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