European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 5, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                From Shakespeare to prison musicals classics Well done to. A. By Edward Karam staff writer one of the most exciting aspects of live theater is seeing great actors in great roles. Visitors to London right now can choose Between what Are arguably the greatest roles in English and French drama performed by first rate actors. Hamlet with Kenneth Branagh who made his Mark on film i Henry Vand dead again is the hottest ticket in London and with Good reason. Director Adrian Noble s production at the barbican Marks Branagh s return to the Royal Shakespeare company after eight years. Even those who Felt that Reading Shakespeare s play in High school was a chore a at least until the bodies started piling up a won t feel the same about this production even though it runs 4 i hours. Noble has put the emphasis on telling a thrilling Story and his entire cast is so Well chosen that there s hardly a slow Patch. Branagh s Hamlet is always princely whether he s angry anguished or disgusted with himself for not avenging his father s murder by his unde the King. The great speeches Are delivered with clarity Quot How All occasions do inform against me Quot and Quot alas poor Yorick Quot Are standouts. His love for Joanne Pearce s Ophelia is genuinely romantic. Most of Quot be thee to a nunnery Quot is delivered As they kiss feverishly. Although Ophelia is often played As an impressionable adolescent Pearce s Choice to make her a mature Young woman enhances her Romance with Hamlet. The details distinguish Noble s direction. Early on the bureaucratic polonius gently puts his Large coat Over Ophelia s shoulders to take his daughter to the King after Hamiet has upset her. The moment is echoed late in the play As Ophelia gone mad rushes about in her father s oversize bloody clothes. It s sick and scary. John shrapnel s King Claudius dressed in a White suit like some Cigar toting Plantation owner has abundant Charm and Confidence like a danish. Donald Trump. It s easy to believe he won Jane Lapotaire  Gertrude. As Hamlet s Mother Lapotaire brilliantly creates a genteel alcoholic a Glass of something is never far from her hand. When Claudius asks her not to drink from the poisoned Goblet she gives him a scornful look that says they be had this argument before then gulps it Down Rob Edwards makes the thankless part of Horatio More interesting than usual and Richard Moore s Gravedigger in top hat and tails is grandly pretentious rather than the usual Cockney working Man. Bob Crowley has mixed vaguely edwardian costumes and abstract sets that emphasize Black and Gray but Blaze into red in the Middle As sins Are exposed. A few moments Don t work As when laertes Richard Bonneville jarringly pulls a pistol to threaten the King of pistols Are available Why do the guards carry Halberd Why does die ghost carry a real sword Why is there a Christmas tree on stage when the players arrive for Quot lenten entertainment Quot Stilt this is first rate Shakespeare and it s Worth the Effort to try to get tickets. Hamlet plays in repertory at the barbican in London through thursday then moves to Stratford upon Avon on March 18. Kenneth Branagh s Quot Hamlet Quot is the hottest ticket in London. Hen he s flanked by John shrapnel As King Claudius and Jane Lapotaire playing Gertrude Robert Unsay in the title role of Quot Cyrano de Bergerac Quot in the West end meanwhile designer Michael Yeargan has Atso used Black and Gray for Cyrano de Bergerac. But then Cyrano is one of the most colourful characters in literature a Soldier poet swordsman. He composes verses while dueling. He fights 100 of Cardinal Richelieu s men and wins. Edmond Rostand s 1897 classic even has a Cameo by d Artagnan. Director Elijah Moshinsky and his Star Robert Lindsay give full attention to All aspects of this Rich play. Lindsay swagger All Over the theatre Royal Haymarket and still brings out the heartache and comedy of his  what looks like a misshapen potato in the Center of his face Lindsay plays Cyrano like a 17th-Century Quot Hawkeye Quot Pierce glib and self mocking. Quot when i walk out i glitter yes i do Quot he boasts. Scene after scene mixes comedy and pathos. As Stella Gonet s Beautiful Roxane describes the Man she has fallen for Cyrano her Cousin listens closely. A Friend has just boosted his ego and Cyrano a Confidence slowly returns As he thinks he s the one. He nods. His eyes sparkle. Then she says Quot handsome Quot his face Falls but Only for an instant Gonet also shows Roxane s Darker Side. From the Tongue tied Christian played stolidly by dimple chinned Cary Cady whose looks suggest 20th-Century Malibu More than 17th-Century Paris her vanity demands Quot theme and variations Quot on his love. He turns to Cyrano who writes her intoxicating love tetters for Christian. Moshinsky has added some comic business notably in a bakery where the soldiers and poets gather. There the Baker s plump unfaithful wife ogles her musketeer Lover As she kneads a suspiciously Long Baguette. The recognition scene in the last act is incredibly difficult to make believable. It can be tearful if you accept that after 14 years of weekly visits from Cyrano Roxane could suddenly recognize the voice that was under her Balcony. Lindsay and Conet at least make the moment thrilling. Mortally wounded Cyrano Quot reads Quot aloud the last letter Quot Christian Quot wrote Roxane. Suddenly she knows everything. But he denies it. Quot no no i never loved you my Darling  it s one of the most romantic scent s Ever written and if you be never seen Cyrano this one has panache and poignancy. Tvo hot musicals have Little in common 8y Edward Karam staff writer i it s a measure of the sad state of Broadway musicals that two of the most talked about chows this season Are in London Nev York is eagerly awaiting kiss of the Spader woman and the Royal National theatre s revival of Carousel. Kiss oath spider woman based on the 1986 file with William Hurt and Raul Julia an j on Manuel Puig s novel is strange std a for a musical. After All it s about a of i Boyant homosexual and an abrasive it fist forced to share a cell in a brutal or son. In moving from screen to Staje the creators have boosted the t tie role to equal status. The men c july not be More different. As the Gay i Idow Dresser Molina Brent Carver Waves his arms like semaphores and wiggles around his cell in a Pink Hou Sec oat. It s easy to understand in contempt for him that themus Culjai revolutionary Valentin Anthony Giello shares with the guards and o her prisoners in their hellhole the political and sexual outcasts Grac rally come to rely on each other to Surv be and Crivello subtly shows the cd inges of the ideologue who finds his cel late has hidden strength. What help is obsession i facing a dil Enma Aurora the Quot what Movi implores her Aurora tto Chita Rivera Florence Klo z Fedora or in and Ostrich Fira Miranda Rivera an show s by the spider Bigge it top of the e cd a r pop a singles 1. A whole now world Perabo Bryson and Bogina Belle. 2.1 will always Lovs you Whitney Houston 3. Ordinary world Duran Duran 4. Informer Snow 5. No than but a Quot go thang or. Dre 0. I m every woman Whitney Houston 7. Or. Wendal arrested development. B. Hip hop Hooray naughty by nature 9. Don t walk away Jade 10. Bed of roses Bon Jovi top albums 1. Soundtrack to Quot the bodyguard Quot various artists 2. Breath a a Kenny g. 3. Tha chronic or. Dre 4. Soma Gava All Billiy Ray Cyrus 5. Unplugged Eric Clapton 6. Pocket full of Krypton note spin doctors 7. Soundtrack to Quot Aladdin Quot Walt Disney 0. It a your Call Reba Mcenitre 9. Tan Pearl Jam 10. Dangerous Michael Jackson country a singles 1. What part of no Lorrie Morgan 2. Drava South Suzy Boggust 3. All Thesa years Sawyer Brown 4. Onca upon a lifetime Alabama 5. Just Ona night Mcbride amp the ride 0. Try Lnu to hide a Flora in tha dark Billy Dean 7. Passionate kisses Mary Chapin Carpenter 0. Heartland George Strait 9.1 want you bad and thai ainu to goo Collin Raye 10. Queen of Memphis Confederate Railroad ramp by singles 1. Nuthln1 but a Quot a Quot thang or Dre 2. Hip hop Hooray naughty by Nam 3. Gat away Bobby Brown a. Done to walk away jade5. I m every woman. Whitney Houston 0. I m so into you Sov 7. Or. Wanda arrested Dev Loome i 8. Fraak it silk Fli 9. Rebirth of Slick Cool like Oato Able planets 10. Comforter Shai them is Molina s h 1940s movie  summons Juhost of a a movie Queen. What scene Quot he dances with the same High wattage that launched her career 36 years ago As Anita in to Vest Side Story. At 60, Rivera still kicks High and slithers sexily. The score by John Rahder and Fred ebb includes the same sort of Brassy numbers As their cabaret and Chicago. Latin rhythms and maracas distinguish Molina s pressing them up and Aurora s show stopping where you Are. Individually scenes work Well but the Glitz does t always mesh easily with the somber scenes of torture and oppression evoked by director Harold Prince with appropriate Claustrophobia. Aurora s alter ego is the spider woman beckoning the prisoners to give her one kiss a the kiss of you know what. Quot come i am the answer can Stop the pain a am the Rainbow that follows the rain Quot she croons. When she gets her Way it s not depressing but cathartic. Later this month the London cast will a be taking the show to new York Rivera s replacement is Bebeleu Wirth Best known As lilith on cheers meanwhile the Royal National theatre is presenting the smash revival of carouse through March 27. Bring kleenex. The Story of the Ove Between roustabout Billy Bigelow and Mill worker Julie Jordan will have you choked up if not sobbing by the time the cast joins hands to sing you never walk alone at the  chemistry of director Nicholas Hytner s stars propels the show from the first love scene. Michael Hayden plays the swaggering Billy with vulnerability and Joanna Riding laces Julie s innocence with spunk. You May be surprised that a Rodgers and Hammerstein song like of i loved you has so Many sexual Sparks. This show leaps from Peak to Peak Hayden s Soliloquy is the kind of act i knockout curtain number no one writes any More. Most impressive is Riding s plaintive what s the use of wond Riri a even if you know it she makes it sound Brand new. The rest of the cast is generally Superb with Patricia Routledge a standout As the maternal Nettie. She delivers a rousing june is Bustin out All Over highlighted by vigorous dancing from the  National would like to move Carousel to a West end theater but an appropriate one has t come available yet. New York also wants this production for the fall so keep a look out for it. You won t be disappointed. N arrives in the person of swathed by costumer in White tails tie and Emon and Lime sequins thers amp la Carmen Belt out a song icon in her own right is the asset. As both Aurora and Vroman she sings and Chita Rivera dailies As the arachnid temptress and Brent Carver flaunts it As homosexual inmate in Quot kiss of the spider  adult contemporary 1. For Tver in Low Kenny g. 2. A whole new world Perabo Bryson amp Regina Belle 3. Simple life Elton John 4. No me Tepee Patty Smyth 0.1 set your smile Gloria Estefan 0. Faithful go West 7. Isreel stable Cathy Dennis 0. When she Cree restless heart 9. Los be Vanessa Williams 10. Reach out i u be there Michael Bolton classical a albums 1. If you love me Cecilia Bartoli. 2. Tout Lee Melne do Monde Jordal Savall 3. Baroque duet Kathleen batt4.wynton Marsalis 4. Gorecky symphony no. 3, Upshaw. London Sinfu Lett 5. Kathleen Battle it Carnegie hell Kathleen Battle. A 0. In concert Carreras Domingo Pavarotti 7. Horowitz discovered treasures Vladimir Horowitz 0. Operas greatest moments various artists 9. Shostakovich 24 preludes a fugues Keith Jarrett 10. It Ain t necessarily so a Nadia Salerno Sonnenberg a complied by billboard in the wings theater Germany Amborg s stable theater has a dinner theater production of dirty work at the Crossroads an old fashioned melodrama with a wild assortment of characters. Performances Are March 5 and 6 at the senior leaders and civilians club. The bar opens at 5 ., dinner is at 6 and the show at 7 30. Tickets for the dinner Are $7 for adults and $3.50 Tor children under 12 tickets for the show Are $8 for adults and $6 for students and children. The theater will also present Jutes Tasca s classic greek comedy aristophanes s women in Congress in Honor of women s history month performances Are March 25-27 and april 1 -3 at 7 30  Tickets Are $6 Tor adults and $4 for students. Children under 6 not admitted to performances. For More information Call Dan 469-8647 or civilian 0951-300-8647. Bad Kreuz Nacho a Kuhn try theater on Hospital Cavern presents the comedy play on on March 5,6,19.20,26 and 27 at 7 30  Tickets Are $3. For More information Call Dan 490-6481. Giessen s Keller theatre presents baby a musical about the Joys terrors and humor of pregnancy. Performances Are March 12-13,1820 and 25-27 at 7 30  The theater is in ill apr Hall vol Shal Legro Borger Strasse 143. Tickets Are $8 for adults $7 for students and $6 for children 6-12. Children under 8 not admitted. For details Call Dan 343-6515 or civilian 0641-402-6515.the Rhein Neckar theater company presents the touching and amusing drama vanities on March 12,13,19, 20,26 and 27 at 8  Performances Are at the Worms performing arts theater on Takkunen Barracks. Tickets Are $8 for adults $6 for e-5 and below teens and senior citizens and $4 for children under 12. For More information Call Dan 383-7209 or civilian 06241-48-7209. Stuttgart entertainment Branch presents the bittersweet comedy steet magnolias on March 19-20 and 26-27 and april 2-3 at 8  And March 21 and 28 at 3  Performances Are in the Stuttgart theater Center building 3321, on Ketley Barracks in Mohringer. Tickets Are $8 for adults and $6 for students and children 5-1b. Children under 5 not admitted. For More information Call Dan 4212796/825 or civilian 0711-7292-796. Frankfurt a English theater at Kaiser Trasso 52 presents Sandy Wilson s 1920s musical the Boyfriend through March 6 at 8  Ariel Dorfmann a moral thriller death and the Maiden runs daily at 6 ., except mondays through March 31. A sunday matinee is March 28 at 2 30  Tickets Are 35 and 40 Marks for adults and 18 Marks for students. For More information Call civilian 069-24231620. Darmstadt s performing aria Center at Ernst Ludwig Kasorn presents the 1980 Rick Abbot Broadway comedy play on at 6  On March 12-13,19-20, and 26-27. Tickets Are $8 for adults and $4 for children 12 years old and younger. For seating reservation and ticket information Call civilian 06155-697336. Auditions Gormany Stuttgart entertainment Brach has auditions for the musical a funny thing happened on the Way to the forum on March 7-9 at 7  In the Stuttgart Tho Ator Center building 3321, on Kelley Barracks in Mohringer. The cast requires about 20 nulls in singing and no singing roles. Toch Nucal help also is needed. For More information Call Dan 4212-796/825 or civilian 07117292-796. Bamberg s stable theater has auditions for angry housewives a musical about four bored housewives who form a Punk Rock band. Auditions Are March 10 and 11 at 6  The production requires four women four men and backstage and technical help. For More information Call Dan 469-8647 or civilian 0951-300-8647. The Rhein Neckar Thea tar company has auditions for the musical West Side Story on March 15-17. Parts Are available for 24 men and 12 women. For More information Call Dan 383-7209 or civilian 06241 -48-7209. Bad Krauz Nacho a Ruhberg theater on Hospital Cavern has auditions Lor steet magnolias on March 22 and 23 at 7  An All female cast and technical help Are needed. For More information Call Dan 490-7110. Military communities and English language Heaters in Europe May submit information on their theater and musical activities for publication in this column the first Friday of each month. Information for the april column must be received by March 24. Kerns must include performance dates times and locations Cost of tickets and phone numbers to Call for More information. Please Send the information to the stars end stripes entertainment unit �9460, Apo a 09211, or the stars end stripes entertainment Postrach 111437,6100 Darmstadt it Germany. 18 the stars and stripe5 Friday,5, 1993 the stars and stripes 19 \