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Portroys movie musical stor Lizas Act is together the examiner Friday Dec 23 1977 Youth CI drowbock NEW YORK NEA So what matter if The Act is the latest reworking of that battlescarred but indestruc tible old theatrical ap paratusthe show about show business Nobody ever has done it better Or at greater length No thats not quite fair Liza Minelli Barry Nelson and diamondfaceted onstage and backstage com pany winged through it for the most glittering opening night Broadway audience in years in twoandahalf hours which is not unreasonable for large scale musical But when it did slow down and that was whenever they were obliged to pay passing attention to the an cient creaking plot it seemed forever especially during the painfully attenuated drippineg sen timental prelude to what eventually becomes smash finale In fact nobody out front would complain if in one of the many hundreds of per formances that appear to be inevitable for this dazzling entertainment package the plot dropped out altogether Miss Minelli portrays Michelle Craig 32 former movie musical star who is opening her first live ap pearance at Las Vegas But not really her first as it turns out because in the first of many inevitable flash backs she remembers break ing in at it at Bobos in Omaha Later shed fallen in love with and married her movie producer Nelson and had some terrible troubles but Ij along the way she appears to have found herself So this is musical about therapy Putting that to one side The Act delivers the most LIZA MINI211 new movie electrifying dance numbers the crispest timing and the most stunningly talented musical theater star to have exhilarated an audience in years Miss Minelli at the same age as the woman she is pore traying almost never leaves the stage making the presenttopasttopresent transformations by the placement of her voice the set or slump of her elegant backbone and the finesse or awkwardness of her movements While this in itself is technical tourde force it is accomplished so unfailingly only because she simultaneously transforms her attitude her personality her utterly intuitive self performer who can ac complish this and at the same time know precisely where she stands in relation to platform that is about to rotate her leading mans position the chorus lines leaping entry and muted trombone riff which cues her next musical utterance that performer is star Today the word has been spread around like free samples of soap yet the com pany of tnie stars is as ex clusive as that of Nobel Prize winners Liza it bears repeating is astar As the husband 20 years older than she Nelson presents totally different force on stage which is precisely what is required Like Miss Minelli he is master of timing neither ever uses the smallest gesture or the largest gesture lift of eyebrow employment of voice or any other tool of their profession unless it is explicitly what is required Even in episodes of the story that could be disastrous in lesser talents they keep it tidy and they keep it moving Noble The chorus line of seven outshines every musical show youve ever seen ex cepting perhaps the long running Chorus Line down the street and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying launched just 16 years ago by pro ducers homer and Ernest Martin who also are joint ly responsible for The Act in companv with the Shiihirt Organization they and Miss Minelli per form the ultimate rouser City Lights which for im pact is almost unsurpassed among dancemusical num bers Yet as effective and lyrically graceful as well is Turning in which the dancers use pivoting poles set into the stage to create an endless variety of circular and elloptical forms The dancers are Wayne Cilento Gayle Crofoot Carol Estey Michael Leeds Roger Minami Laurie Dawn Skin ner and Albert Stephenson all of which names should be bright on the marquee Obviously even such per forming talent doesnt invent such excitement on their own Ron Lewis who has choreographed some of those mirrorpolished dance numbers in Las Vegas is the man immediately responsi ble here But no less evident in the dancing and the whole shows architecture of move ment is Director Gower Champion whose name doesnt appear on the pro gram Listed in his stead is Martin Scorsese suc cessful young film director Mean Streets Taxi Driver New York New York and friend of Miss Minelli who was eased out several weeks ago when the show reportedly was in awful shape Much else to occupy the ear John Kanders music Fred Ebbs lyrics the or chestrations and ar rangements and an agreeable bouquet of witty lines in George Furths otherwise cliched playbook The Zapiece orchestra on stage is another asset Tony Waltons basic Las Vegas stage setting is neither too much or too little and ex actly in key all the time as it changes mood and function as needed llalstons costume 32 designs Tharon Mussers lighting and all other technicalcreativc aspects hold to the standard any theatre regular expects under the Feucr and Martin and Shubert banner Aint that blip Eavla iibbs who plays Florence in tvs The Ieffersons says she suggests dialogue to the shows writers front her memory bank When was young people didnt curse Theyd say blip Like iirI aint that blip Most black people identify with the expressions immediately she says AP Photo can be soys Jone By STEVE CASEY Copley News Service CHICAGO When Jane Pauley joined the staff of the Today program year ago it was the end result of nation wide talent hunt that saw this then 25yearold barely jour neyman broadcaster become part of television institution She was too young it was said Too inexperienced it was said Not enough substance it was said But Iauley has surprised not few people in the last year acquitting herself rather nicely and bringing in her own share of viewers After year shes more at home on the nation wide NBC morning show Its certainly more routine its just my job now she said during an interview in Chicago FOOD WANT QUICK SERVICE Try our bot fast delivery ifFree on orders over $800 in Barrie 10 Discount on PickUp Orders over 5800 Phone 7288811 405 BAYFIELD ST where she had come to pass the day Theres no more sensation when go to work every mor ning that Im being watched un der microscope as was in the beginning In book called The Today Show by columnist Robert Metz author of CBS Reflec tion in Bloodshot Eye Pauley is described as perky blonde The inference is that shes attractive enough com petent enough addition but is tr EXTRAVAGANZA Presented by Simcoe Rescue Squad Live music featuring WILLOW CREEK Hot Roast Beef Buffet Beverages Included Phone 373738 or 7284530 Great Gift Idea for Him or Her not journalism heavyweight And at this point in my career it would be presump tuous of me to call myself heavyweight in this business she said Perhaps one day will be But for now guess Ill have to be satisfied with perky blonde What would make her more satisfied she said is to do more interviews of consequence of substance Besides she finds those easiest to do Gold Chains her publicity agent announcul Tuesday Showings cancelled The wedding was held Sun spokesman for the movies Films Ltlsaid that hopefully day at Westwood United 931 Bill LeBerf Jeweners Canadian distributors Astral the movies will be shown in 105 ANGELES alif iAli Methodist hurch with only the Other Canadian CllliS Actress Sally Struthers who immediate families of the bride Th0 mOVle was briefly kepl plays the daffy blonde daughter and groom attending publicity the screens in the filed in itelevisions All in the agent FredSkidmorc Oln States last Marc l0 me 10 Family has married It is the first marriage for mands by group of Moslcms psychiatrist William ltader Miss Strutliers 29 youll find large selection of gold chains to fit the most discriminating tastes So whatever your tastes we BELLEYILIJC nt iCPi holding 135 hostages in Wash Harold Steenberg Kingston ington have Chum meet bOlh tint concert promoter said The hostages werelaterfreed your budget and your Tuesday his lawyer has filed without injury breachofcontract action Hollywoodmade film was against the anadian rock shown satisfaction 36 30 52 Dunlop St Downtown Barrie 7283343 music group Sweet Blindness The film which dramatixes for what he said was lewd the life of the Moslem prophet Certificate for Christmas any amount makes and indecent performance in Mohammed violates Moslein Kingston on Hut Steenbergs religious beliefs Khan said Al lawyer Robert iraydon of though the face of the actor Belleville said heissucdtheao playing Mohammed is not tion on Tuesday in Hastings shown on the screen his voice County court He said he has is heard written to the American Khan said the film starring Federation of Musicians advise Anthony Quinn has been bane mg them of his action ned in 43 Moslem countries gm 45 IMPERIAL CINEMAS 123 BARBARA JANE BOOKMAN HER DADDY IMPERIAL CINEMASCLOSED are GIFT OWNS THE TEAM SHE CAN PLAY WITH THEM ANY TIME SH TO Superb cuisine nice gift Great Vintage Wines for inservations call Trudy 0i Ernest Zingg 705 5875906 Open to midnight daily Sunday to 930 pm 126 Collier St 7266030 DOWNTOWN BARRIE CALL 7283440 7284681 ANYTIME FOR INFORMATION TONIGHT ONLY YOU LIGHT UP MY lIFE SHOW TIMES 705 905 GLIIII EIIESIWGOII IIIIE GIIIIIIIIEI SHOWTIMES 700 900 ATTRACT IVELY PACKAGED AND AVAILABLE AT DISCOUNT AT BOX OFFICE HENRYVWINKLER SALLY FIELD In world gone madwho needs funny faulu love tory YOU DOIW staning REYDS ERNST Tinding filt one you love is finding yourself IIIERC I55 SHOW TIMES 700 lliRMxix if Sl lR MIANY iRt IllK lit illRt Jl timing HARRISON illtl wnmn by lAMi st ARABH505 Mitt iiy NI siii Mi alt imiu tutARI inmmi by Ji1ltiM pAUl KAAN imamti by IA ll itisiik WMMW 8WIMMNWWWnnymmWDMlWW ixi fit and AVN lltl l4 RMAN III II HNI ll MN HUM WWISW WHUVDHU MWW serous asBig Ed Bookman Screenplay Based upon novel by DIN JENKINS Produced by DAVID MERRIGK Directed by MINNIE RTTDKIE ciiii El GAUNiLiizaniiii WW