The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

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Arts & Entertainment

ARTIST OF THE WEEK

David Schwimmer (1966) By JOSH HAMERMAN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

When the television series, “Friends,” was first broadcast on NBC in the fall of 1994, it became an instant hit with audiences and skyrocketed its six cast members to stardom. David Schwimmer, who plays Ross Geller on the show, has used his celebrity from “Friends” to acquire motion picture roles and venture into the worlds of directing and producing.

The son of two prominent attorneys, Schwimmer was born in Queens, N. Y. and raised in Los Angeles. He was first attracted to acting while a student at Beverly Hills High School. After graduating from Northwestern University, he founded the Chicagobased Lookinglass Theatre Company with six of his college classmates.

In 1989, Schwimmer received his big break when he appeared in the television film, “Dead Silence.” He soon joined the cast of the ABC television series, “The Wonder Years,” for one season. In 1994, he played Henry Winkler’s son in the shortlived Fox TV series, “Monty.”

Later that year, he filled the shoes of “Friends” character Ross, an oldfashioned romantic with a deep crush on Rachel Green, his sister’s old friend from high school, played by Jennifer Aniston. Schwimmer’s sensitive and charming performance earned him a 1995 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

With bona fide television success under his belt, Schwimmer went on to build a respectable film career that includes The Pallbearer, Six Days, Seven Nights, Apt Pupil and

Kissing A Fool, which he also executive produced. His role in the film All the Rage

garnered him a Garden State Film Critics’ Association award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama of 1999.

Schwimmer made his directorial debut in the television film “Since You’ve Been Gone” and during the 19992000 season, he became the first “Friends” cast member to direct an episode of the successful series.

Recently, he signed a lucrative contract along with his “Friends” costars that entitles each of them to $750,000 per episode over the next two years. Hopefully, Schwimmer will win his long overdue Emmy sometime in the near future.

4 pork chops 1/ 8 tsp. nutmeg 1 tsp. canola oil 2 tart apples, peeled and sliced 2 tbsp. dark brown sugar 31/ 2 tbsp. chopped pecans 1/ 8 tsp. cinnamon 2 tbsp. salted butter Dash of salt, pepper

Lightly coat pork chops with oil and place in a hot pan, cooking 6 minutes. After chops are evenly browned, transfer to another dish and keep warm in the oven. Combine sugar, salt, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl. Add butter to a heated skillet. Once butter is melted, add sugar mixture and apples. Cook for 4 minutes with lid on top. Remove apple mixture with a spoon and decorate over chops. Sprinkle with pecans before serving. Carmel Apple Pork Chops

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We welcome your input and opinions. We also

welcome your story ideas. Please write: michelle@ goleader. com

WITH KERRIANNE SPELLMAN CORT Take the Stage

By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

WESTFIELD – The air becomes brisker, the leaves blush with brassy colors and the longsleeved shirts push their way to the front of wardrobe closets. Even tumblers of lemonade and iced tea are replaced with warm mugs of apple cider.

Fall is here and the cornucopia of activities to accompany this season is abundant. From scarecrow contests to pumpkin picking, meeting Miss Fanny Wood to getting your face painted at Scotch Plains Day, now is the time to bundle up a little and enjoy all our communities have to offer.

Scarecrow Contest

Forget Bush and Gore, who is your favorite candidate for… scarecrow? Well, $500 and other prizes are at stake (pardon the pun).

Williams Nursery, 524 Springfield Avenue, Westfield will hold its first Scarecrow Competition on Sunday, October 1. The categories will be Contemporary/ Traditional and Political. The deadline for entry forms is Monday, September 25. All creative creations will be displayed from October 1 to 29.

David Williams of Williams Nursery enthused, “I am very excited about this event. I saw my first scarecrow contest at Peddler’s Village in Lahaska, Pa., but I wanted to add my own touch.”

“I think that lots of fun can be had with the political category during this major election year,” Mr. Williams continued. “Maybe it will help scare voters out of the

Photos Courtesy of SPBPA and Joanna B. Marsh

1Face painting at Fanny Wood Day 2Halloween Crafts at FestiFall in Westfield 3Painted store windows in Scotch Plains Towne Centre 4Parker Greenhouse’s Mum Festival

total of $500. An entry fee of $10 is refundable and will be returned when the scarecrow is brought to Williams for exhibition. Scarecrows must be brought to the nursery on October 1 from 10 a. m. to 3 p. m. Votes for favorites will be cast by the public from October 222, with winners posted by October 27.

For full details, please call (908) 2324076. More information and a downloadable entry form is available at www. williamsnursery. com.

Bushels of Mums

Garden containers will be bursting with gorgeous homegrown mums in a variety of hues and

sizes at Parker Greenhouses annual Mum Festival on Saturday, September 16, and Sunday, September 17. Located at 1325 Terrill Road in Scotch Plains, Parker will also vend bundles of pansies, fall perennials, shrubs and gardening supplies.

While parents and guardians are shopping for their fall blooms and decorations such as cornstalks and scarecrows, children can have their faces painted or visit some new friends at the petting zoo. Youngsters can also take shelter under Parker’s giant straw fort after meeting “Bubbles the Clown.”

Whatever you do, don’t leave without picking a couple of pumpkins to carve, paint, dress up or deliver as gifts.

For more information about the Mum Festival, please call (908) 3225555.

Places to See, Be Seen

Westfield’s 11th Annual FestiFall celebration, sponsored by the Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce, is one of the many downtown extravaganzas that will spring up this fall in our area. On Sunday, September 24, from 11 a. m. to 5 p. m. Elm, East Broad and Quimby Streets will be packed with entertainers, artists and craftspersons. In addition, many politicians will be present to bend ears just in time for the upcoming election.

A short drive over to the Borough of Fanwood from noon to 5 p. m., and you’ll find yourself meeting former Heavyweight Boxer Gerry Cooney during Fanny Wood Day. Local merchants, vendors and crafters will tempt with their unique goods, while an antique car show

and petty zoo entertain children young and old. The dedication of the borough’s new fire truck, a pie baking contest and the everpopular Little Miss Fanny Wood Contest will also be on tap. Don’t forget to shake Miss Fanny Wood’s hand and get her autograph!

Saturday, October 7, will be the date for Scotch Plains residents to celebrate their township’s heritage. Seasonal crafts and food vendors line the streets of the Towne Centre while music, dance, martial arts and fashion demonstrations enthuse visitors. The annual USATFcertified 5Mile Road Race is always an anticipated part of the day.

President of the Scotch Plains Business and Professional Association (SPBPA) Ray Pardon opines that the festival helps to “bring together and recognize the spirit of the entire community of Scotch Plains.” The event is sponsored by SPBPA, as well as the township’s Parks and Recreation Commission, the Health Department and the local Lion’s Club.

Oh, What the Hay!

Take in the autumn air and some unforgettable scenery with a hayride at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside on October 13, 20, 27, and November 3. There’s no better way to spend a Friday evening.

Sponsoring hayrides and pumpkin picking from September 30 to October 29, Williams Nursery will also sponsor a mystifying Hay Maze throughout the month of October. The garden center will entertain youngsters with pony rides during all weekends in October from 12 to 4 p. m. and on Columbus Day.

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Pumpkin Picking to Hayrides: A Bounty Of Activities Can Fill Your Fall Schedule

Paper Mill’s Anything Goes

Would Make Cole Porter Proud

By KERRIANNE SPELLMAN CORT

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

MILLBURN — In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking, but now, God knows Anything Goes is still the greatest musical of all time.

Filled with the incomparable music of Cole Porter, this depressionera romp has thrilled audiences for years. Set aboard the luxury ocean liner SS American, the musical takes you on a transatlantic voyage brimming with stowaways, mobsters and adorable gunmolls.

The original book was written by Guy Bolton, P. G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse. This Ethel Merman starvehicle opened on November 21, 1934 at The Alvin Theater in New York City and ran for 420 performances. An OffBroadway revival followed in 1962 at The Orpheum Theater, and starred Hal Linden and Eileen Rogers.

In October of 1987, a revamped and rewritten version of Anything Goes opened in New York at The Lincoln Center Theater and starred Tony Award winner, Patti LuPone.

This new rendition was penned by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman and included many of the old Cole Porter favorites from the original, as well as some lesserknown Porter hits that have since become classics. Who can resist the sensual ballads of Porter, such as “I Get a Kick out of You,” “Easy to Love,” and “All Through the Night,” or the toetapping tunes, “You’re the Top,” and “Friendship”?

The production of Anything Goes

that opened on September 6 at The Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn is the 1987 version and would no doubt make Cole Porter very proud. This flawless rendition is a joy from start to finish, with laughoutloud humor and breathtaking performances. Every single actor and dancer on the stage at Paper Mill was having such a great time it was contagious. The merriment spilled out into the audience and took patrons on a delightful journey back in time.

In the leading role of Reno Sweeney, the Evangelistic nightclub singer, twotime Tony Award winner Chita Rivera is a powerhouse. Ms. Rivera is polished and perfect from the moment she appears onstage, and it is a genuine honor to watch this lady at work. This amazing performer sings, dances and flirts her way into your heart with almost pixielike charm. She is a treasure.

George Dvorsky, a Paper Mill and Broadway veteran, is simply

fabulous in the role of Billy Crocker, the Wall Street assistant and dear friend of Reno. Hopelessly in love with debutante Hope Harcourt, he stows away on the ship to try to stop her from marrying an eccentric Englishman. Mr. Dvorsky is elegant and appealing, and possesses an absolutely clearasabell singing voice. He is the quintessential leading man.

Patrick Quinn exquisitely portrays Billy’s nemesis, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. This actor is simply perfect, expertly handling this massive comic role. One could easily play Lord Evelyn way over the top, but Mr. Quinn is polished and whimsical. He grabs your heart in an instant as he bumbles through his journey. This is a terrific performance.

Bruce Adler nearly walks away with the show in the role of Moonface Martin, Public Enemy number 13. A gangster with a heart of gold, Mr. Adler is hysterical. He had the audience howling as a mobster disguised as a Holy Man, complete with machine gun in his violin case. Mr. Adler is an exceptional performer.

Lovely Stacey Logan is perfect in the role of Hope Harcourt. Ms. Logan has an exquisite soprano voice and also adds a little spunk to the ingenue part, which is so refreshing. Ms. Logan and Mr. Dvorsky are dynamic together, creating the consummate romantic duo.

Colleen Hawks is an endearing Erma, Moonface Martin’s partner in crime. Sweet and sexy, Ms. Hawks bumps and grinds her way through the play, stealing scenes and breaking hearts. She shines in her big number, “Buddie Beware.”

Westfield resident, Eleanor Glockner, is wonderful in the role of Evangeline Harcourt, and fine performances are also turned in by Ryan Hilliard, Dimitri Christy and Don Stitt. The entire ensemble is marvelous, with every fallen angel and dancing sailor a delight.

Kudos to Paper Mill Casting Director, Alison Franck, for assembling this fabulous cast. Veteran Paper Mill favorite, Lee Roy Reams directed this fantastic production, and Michael Lichtefeld skillfully choreographed the remarkable cast. Tom Helm conducts the refined orchestra, and the scenic design by Michael Anania is stellar.

All in all, this is a brilliant production. Be sure to catch it before this ship sets sail.

Anything Goes opened at Paper Mill Playhouse on September 6 and will run through Sunday, October 15. Tickets range in price from $37 to $60. There will also be special signlanguage interpreted performances on Sunday, October 8, and Friday, October 13. garden and into the polls.”

First prize is $250 cash, second prize is $100 cash and Honorable Mention is $25 Gift Certificate. The Best Overall from all of the categories will win an extra $250 for a

Handmade For the Holidays

Handcrafted items created from the imaginations of talented and uniqueminded artisans will be featured at area craft shows this fall. Whether you are stocking up for stocking stuffers or looking for some rare decorations for the home, here are a few places you might find them:

·Nomahegan Park in Cranford’s Annual Craft Fair, October 7.

·Trailside Nature & Science Center’s Craft Fair, October 7.

·Center For Hope Hospice’s Golden Goose Boutique Craft Show at the Westfield Tennis Club, 129 North Chestnut Street,

Westfield. The event is slated from October 11 through 15. A $1 donation is requested.

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