European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 10, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                London a rough town for our town by Matt Wolf the associated press Thornton Wilder s our town is having a bad time in London where a new production of the american classic has come in for a critical beating. The revival stars Alan Alda in his British stage debut As the stage manager and Jemma Redgrave Niece of Vanessa and Lynn and american actor Robert Sean Leonard dead poets society As the Young lovers Emily and George. A sure fire recipe for Success not critically. In a capital where reviewers Are generally More temperate than they Are in new York the press showed its Piranha tendency. Quot it s All so warm and winning and winsome that i Felt a Nasty sick headache coming on Quot wrote Charles Spencer in the daily Telegraph in a review headlined Quot pipe smoker s  Michael Coveney in the observer found the play Quot unfocused Quot and  Alda the aforementioned pipe smoker was scorned As Quot Boring and  the play set in a Small new Hampshire town at the turn of the Century is a three act chronicle of daily life told in a style at once Homespun and ironic. The play premiered in 1938, won a pulitzer prize and went on to become one of the most frequently staged american dramas. Recent Home grown productions such As the acclaimed Lincoln Center theater version in new York in 1988-89, have played up the nihilistic aspects of a work whose third act pointedly questions whether life is wasted on the living. But the British perceive a dated folks Ness even As the play s present interpreters insist on its Tough minded timelessness. The surface of our town May be As reassuring and All american As a Norman Rockwell painting but Wilder was far too complicated a even cynical a an observer of the human condition to leave the play at that. Quot it s actually quite a Tough unsentimental even upset tag play Quot said director Robert Allan Ackerman an american concurrently represented on the West end with the Vanessa Redgrave Star vehicle when she danced. As for Alda his laconic from the sidelines amiability is perfect for the leading role even if it does t require the thespian pyrotechnics that the British expect from such local leading men As Derek Jacobi and sir Ian Mckellen. It is seemingly effortless acting of the sort that takes real Effort. The reviews have had Little effect on Box office. In new York conversely such notices would have killed the show at once. Quot London in t new York Quot said Kevin Wallace the show s producer who was grateful for the difference. Quot word of Mouth is important very  Wallace making his West end debut As a producer said the show will survive. He has no intention of cutting Short its limited run through dec. 14. The show Only needs to sell 30 percent of its seats to break even in the 1,400-seat Shaftesbury theater a House often Given Over to musicals. Wallace said our town will recoup its $435,000 Cost if it plays to just under 50 percent throughout the run. Similar figures on Broadway would doom a production which May be one reason Why London offers More openings in a month than Broadway does in  Alda stars in the revival of our town. Our town in t the Only american play to be thrashed in London s newspapers of late. Camille staged by the ridiculous theatrical company of new York was roundly trounced following its Friday the 13th opening in september. But it continues to play to about 80 percent capacity in the 200-seat Drill Hall according to production manager Steve Asher. Last season saw London Boos for off Broadway hit plays other people s Money the mystery of Irma sep and love letters. Even Well received american works such As the Stephen Sondheim James Lapine musical into the Woots and August Wilson s pulitzer prize winning fences closed Early at a  the wings. Compiled by Anita Gosch theater German the Frankfurt playhouse at 150 Hansa Allee presents the musical Little shop of horrors oct. >0-12 at 7 30 . Frankfurt s candlelight dinner theater on Drake Cavern presents the foreigner oct. 18-19 and 25-26 and nov. 1-2. The bar opens at 6 30 ., dinner is at 7 and Showtime is at 8. Call ets 320-5835 or civilian 069-151-5835. Hanau s five pfennig playhouse on old Argonne Cavern presents the touching drama the Heidi chronicles oct. 11 and 12 at 8 . Tickets Are $5. Children under 6 Are not admitted. Call ets 322-8031 or civilian 06181-88-8031. Bad Kreuz Nach s Ruhberg theater Center on Hospital Cavern presents the sound of music oct. 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 7 30 . And oct. 13 and 20 at 2 . Tickets Are $6.50 for adults and $5 for children 6-12. The show is not recommended for children under 6. Call ets 490-5739 or civilian 0671-792739. Heidelberg s Roadside theater presents Noel Coward s comedy Blithe spirit oct. 11-12 and 17-19 at 8 . Tickets Are $7 for adults $6 for students and senior citizens and $3.50 for children 12 and under. The theater is on Stem Cavern off autobahn 656, Between Heidelberg and Mannheim. Call ets 370-7515 or civilian 06221-57-7515. The Mannheim Worms military Community presents Shirley Valentine oct. 11, 12, 18 and 19, and greater tuna oct. 25 and 26. Tickets Are $8 for adults $6 for students and $4 for children. Call ets 383-7209 or 380-6009. Schweinfurt s Ledward Barracks entertainment Center presents the musical comedy a funny thing happened on the Way to the forum oct. 11, 12, 18, 19, 26 and 27 at 7 30 . And oct. 20 at 2 30 . Tickets Are $8. Call ets 354-6460 or civilian 09721 -9-6460. Giessen s Keller theater presents Arthur Miller s drama death of a Salesman oct. 1 8-19, 24-26 and 31 and nov. 1 -2 at 7 30 . Tickets Are $5 for adults $4 for students and $3 for children 6-1 2. Children under 6 not admitted. The theater is in Miller Hall Grunberger Strasse 143. Call ets 343-651 5 or civilian 0641-402-6515. Niernberg s stage 13 in building 13, William o Darby Cavern presents Shakespeare s Macbeth oct. 18-19, 24-26 and 31 and nov. 1 -2 at 8 . Tickets Are $6 for adults and .$4 for students. Reservations can be made beginning oct. 14. Call ets 460-6609 or civilian 0911-700-6609. Stuttgart entertainment presents a dinner theater production of the comedy the four Osterout. 25-26 and nov. 1-2 at the Nellinger Barracks Community club. Cocktails begin at 6 ., dinner at 7 and the show at 8. Tickets Are $16. Advance reservations and payment Are required. Call ets 420-6148 or civilian 0711-819-6148. The Wiesbaden theater Center at Pauline Strasse 7 presents the comedy vanities oct. 25-26 and nov. 1-2 and 8-9 at 8 . Tickets Are $4 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Children under 6 not admitted. Reservations can be made beginning oct. 21. Call ets 337-5060 or c civilian 0611-705-5060. Frankfurt s English theater at Kaise Strasse 52 presents w. Somerset maugham s comedy the constant wife daily except mondays at 8 . Through oct. 31. Matinees Are oct. 20 and 27 at 2 30 . Call civilian 069-2423160. Aschaffenbur s soldiers theater on Graves Cavern presents the musical the Apple tree about Adam eve and original sin nov. 1, 2, 8 and 9 at 7 30 . And nov. 3 and 10 at 3 . Tickets Are $7 for adults $4 for students with ids and children 12 and under. Call ets 323-7316 or civilian 06021-98569. Berlin american Community theater presents the musical the Fantast iks nov. 1, 3, 8, 10, 15 and 1 7 at 7 . Tickets Are $6. Brie and Chablis receptions Are nov. 2, 9 and 16 at 6 . Tickets Are $10. The theater is in building 906, Andrews Barracks. Call ets 3 12-3550 or c civilian 0 10-8193550. Darmstadt s soc theater group presents the it comedy a King s Mare nov. 8-9 and 14-16 at 8 . At the performing arts Center on Ernst Ludwig Cavern est Holl Bruc Ker Strasse. Tickets Are 10 Marks available beginning nov. 1. Call Eis 148-61 28 or civilian 061 51-61 161. Auditions Germany the Wiesbaden theater Center has auditions for Shakespeare s twelfth night oct. 15-17 at 7 . Parts Are available for 14 men and women plus extras. The classic elizabethan comedy will be produced in the original English and staged traditionally. Performances Are in Early 1992. Call ets 337-5060 or civilian 0611 -705-5060. Giessen s Keller theater has auditions for the bittersweet drama steel magnolias of t. 15-17 at 7 . Six women backstage and technical assistance Are needed. Performances Are in december. Auditions for the musical Ain t misbehaving Are nov. 12-14 at 7 . Two men three women and musicians Are needed. Performances Are january and february. Call Eis 343-6515 or civilian 0641-402-6515. Aschaffenbur s soldiers theater has auditions for the Christmas musical Amah and the night visitors Oit. 21-23 at 7 . Performance s arc1 in december. Call ets 323-73 16 or c civilian 06021-98569. Variety Germany Aschaffenbur s soldiers theater presents the variety show sneak preview featuring local Talent oct. 11 at 7 30 . Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children i 2 and under. Call ets 323-7316 or civilian 06021-98569. The Rheinland Pfalz chorus of Sweet Adeline has rehearsals tuesdays at 7 . At the Kaiserslautern Vogel Weh elementary school cafeteria building 1 1 78. The c horns is a worldwide non profit organization for women that pro Mic. Singing in four part Harmony Barbershop style. No experience is necessary. The group part pales  it one it it oct. 26. Call Eis 489-60 57 or c civilian 06 174 5220 military communities and English language Heaters m fun get May submit information on their theater and music activities Tor publication m this i Olumn in the first stripes Magazine of each month information Tor the november column must be received by oct 30 items must include performance dates times and location Cost of tickets and phone nut res to Call Tor mom information items that do not include this information can be run on a space available basis Only please Send the Mlo Malion to stars and stripes entertainment. Apo 09211. Or stars and stapes entertainment Postrach 11 14 37 6100 Darmstadt 11. Germany october 10, 1991 strip s Magazine