European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 02, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Pei shop boy weird and riveting by Walt Morrissette staff writer j. A the word was out that the pet shop boys were going to do it differently on their 1991 world tour. V they had always wanted to do a theatrical concert but Neil Tennant said he and fellow pet shop boy Chris. Lowe could t afford it until now a five years and five albums after blasting the u s. Pop charts with West end girls with a year off in 1989=to write and produce hit albums for Liza Minelli and Dusty Springfield. The computer generated music wizards hired London theater director David Alden and stage designer David Fleming to transform their dream into reality. The result is performance a a unique pop concert disguised As an off Broadway play containing two one hour acts around a 15-minute intermission. Each of the 18 songs was a scene in the play and the players changed costumes and scenery after each song. In the show last thursday at the fest Halle in Frankfurt Germany about 5,000 fans saw a show with no onstage musicians. Most of the orchestral sounds and effects came from a massive rack of computerized music equipment a augmented off stage by guitarist . Belle keyboardist Scott Davidson and by occasional Moog. Playing by Lowe. Their sound system bathed the ear in Crystal Clear sound. A performance combined some of the weird less of the Wall with the body heat of a chorus line. A How weird imagine hip hop dancers wearing Black suits and fedoras with Angel wings. Tennant and Lowe started the show by entering the stage at the end of a line of Rowdy parochial school students dressed in Gray blazers shorts and beanies to sing this is the place i be waited years to leave. Tennant sported a beige suit and Fedora while Riding a surfboard on what have i done to deserve this the hit that resurrected Springfield although i prefer the cd sound to the dance track used in the play. R. A in the wings theater Germany Giessen s Keller theater presents the musical comedy Oklahoma May 2-4 at 7 30 pm. And May 5 at 2 . The theater presents w. Somerset maugham s sophisticated comedy the constant wife May 31 and june 1/6-8 and 13-15 at 7 30 . Tickets Are $5 for adults $4 for students and $3 for children 6 to 12. Children under 6 Are not admitted. The theater is in Miller Hall Grunberger Strasse 143. Call ets 3436515 or civilian 0641-402-6515. Niernberg s stage 13 presents the musical my fair lady May 2-4 and 9-11 at 8 . Tickets Are $8 for adults and $6 for students. Stage 13 is in building 13, . Darby Cavern Furth. Call ets 460-6609 or civilian 0911-719397. The Frankfurt playhouse at 150 Hansa Allee presents the a comedy steel magnolias May 2-4 and 9-11 at 7 30 . The playhouse presents Little shop of horrors May 30-31 and june 1, 6-9,13-16 and 20-22 at 7 30 . Frankfurt s candlelight dinner theater on Drake Cavern presents Deathtrap May 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31 and june 1. Cocktails Are at 6 30 ., dinner is at 7 . And Showtime is at 8 . Call ets 3205835 or civilian 069-151-5835 weekdays 3-6 30 . Stuttgart entertainment presents the musical Gypsy May 3, 4,10,11,17 and 18 at 8 . And May 5,11,12, 18 and 19 at 3 . At the Stuttgart theater Center 5th general Hospital bad Cannstatt. Tickets Are $8 for adults $7 for students 13 to a 18 and $6 for children 5 to 12. Children under 5 Are not admitted. Call ets 420-6148 or civilian 0711 -819-6148. Bad Kreuz Nach s Ruhberg theater on Hospital Cavern presents Neil Simon s a comedy last of the red hot lovers May 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 7 30 . Tickets Are $5. Call ets 490-5739 or civilian 067lv92739. Quot Mannheim entertainment presents the farce Boeing Boeing May 3-4, 9-11 and 16-18 at 8 . At the performing arts the pet shop boys wore Elvis hairstyles and glitter As they sat by a computer terminal surrounded by dancers in Blue suits and fedoras pig faces and pigtails in opportunities a satire on Money hungry yuppies and How do you expect to be taken seriously a satire on How pop stars react to their fans. The highlight was a-1y october symphony a melancholy Ballad about a soviet composer struggling to finish a tribute to the red october revolution. In the end Tennant and love walked up a ramp toward the Clouds carrying their suitcases amid waving soviet flags and flashing messages. Weird and deep. They kicked off act ii with so hard while wearing Black leather and Don King hairstyles. Next Tennant Sang in Suburbia while appearing to be in a mental institution strapped to an electric chair and surrounded by dancing nurses attendants and a pair of ballerinas. A amps Michael Abiam. Neil Tennant his hair on end and umbrella in hand opens act ii of the pet shop boys Quot performance then it was on to an Uptown n ight dub for jell me secrets featuring singers in evening Wear and Bird. Mask West end girls and rent which showcased the vocal talents of Sylvia Mason James Derek Green and Pamela Sheyne. The duo covered u 2, s where the St Mots i Lave no name with Tennant adding a i love you baby and if it s quite All right i need you baby. Quot for the encore the cosmic cowboys in White tuxedos 10-gallon hats and Angel wings went to bed singing Quot you were always on my mind Quot with dancers in Whito Satin. I applaud the pet shop boys for daring Tojo something different and making it work. It was weird but riveting and thoroughly enjoyable. If the pet shop boys releases a concert video from this tour buy it and savor it. Quot a the pet shop boys tour continues in Gormany and Britain this month chock the on stage listings on pages. 14-15 for the schedule. A. Center in Worms. Tickets Are $8 for adults and $4 for children Call ets 380-6132 or civilian 0621-730-6132. The Baum older playhouse presents the comedy lend me a tenormay.3, 4, 10, 11,17 and 18 at 8 . Tickets ire $5 for adults and $2.50 for students. Parental discretion is advised. Call ets 485-6420 after 6 . Wil Flecken entertainment presents come Back to the rive and dime Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean May 16-18 at 8 . In the recreation Center lounge building 31. Tickets Are $6 in Advance and $8 at thet Loor. Call ets 326-3607. Kaiserslautern entertainment presents Neil Simon s comedy Brighton Beach memoirs. Wine and cheese performances Are Quot a May 16 and 24 and june 1 at 7 15 . Tickets Are $10. Dinner theater performances Are May 17,18, 25 and 31 at 7 a . Tickets Are $15. Regular evening performances Are May Quot 19 and 26 at 7 . And May 23 and 30 at 8 ., and a matinee is june 2 at 2 . Tickets Are $7. Performances Quot Are at the performing arts Center Mannheimer Strasse b-37across from Danner Cavern. Call ets 483-8139 or civilian 0631-4118139 weekdays noon to 6 . The Wiesbaden theater Center at 7 Pauline Strasse presents William Inge s comedy bus Stop May 17, 18 and 31 and june 1, 7 and 8 at 8 . Tickets Are $4 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Children under 6 Are not admitted. Call ets 337-5060 or civilian 0611-705-5060. Mainz s Center stage theater at Mccully Barracks presents the thriller fatal attraction May 24, 25 and 3.<1 and june 1, 7 and 8 at 7 30 . Tickets Are $6 for adults and $3.50 for children 6 to 16. Parental discretion is advised. Call civilian 06132-2704. A. -. Schweinfurt entertainment presents the comedy 5/r>e/ magnolias june 7-8 and 13-15 at 7 30 . At the Ledward Barracks entertainment Center. Tickets Are $5. Call ets 3546460 or civilian 09721 -96-460.compiled by Anita Gosch auditions it Germany a Stuttgart entertainment has auditions fur the musical nonsense May 5 and 6 at 7 . At the Stuttgart theater Center. The cast requires five women with Good voices. Performances Are in september. Call ets 420-6148 or civilian a 0711-819-6148. Heidelberg s Roadside theater has auditions for the comedy bedroom far e May 6 and 7 at 7 . Parts Are available for four women and four men. The theater is on Stem Cavern off autobahn 656, Between Heidelberg and Mannheim. Call ets 380-7073 or civilian 0621-730-7073 after 1 . A a a Frankfurt s candlelight dinner theater has auditions for nonsense May 6 and 7 at 7 . Performances Are in june and july. Call ets 320-5835 or civilian 669-151-5835 weekdays 36 30 . Bamberg entertainment Center has auditions for the a comedy the foreigner May 23 and 24 at 6 . Parts Are available for five men and two women. Call ets 469-8647. A r Hanau s five pfennig playhouse on old Argonne Cavern has auditions for the comedy a Midsummer night s dream june 3 and 4 at 7 . Performances Are in july and August. Call ets 322-8031 or civilian q6181-88-8031. A Kaiserslautern entertainment has auditions for the comedy marriage co round june 3 and 4 at 7 . At the a performing Quot a arts Center. Parts Are available Tor two men and two Call ets 483-81 39 or civilian 06-31-411-8139 weekdays noon to 6 . Military communities and English language Heaters in Europe May submit information on their theater and music activities for publication in this column in the first stripes Magazine of each month. Information for the june column must be received by May 29. Items must include performance Dales times and location Cost of tickets and phone numbers to Call for information. Please Send the information to stars and stripes entertainment Apo 09211 or Postrach 11 14 37.6100 Darmstadt 11, Germany. A May 2, 1991 Stripey Magazine 7
