St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 112

Ehilyii Williams Recreates Charles Dickens IG Nov. is, 1970 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 5am Leaner Ruth Gordon Has EMLYN WILLIAMS, Britain's Green," in which he starred opposite Sybil Thorndike in London, and which served Ethel Barrymore in America. He acted in numerous other plays in including "The Wins low Boy," and "Montserrat." His many films have included "The Citadel," "The Stars Look Down," "Major a a Gone Full Cycle Daily Newe Service NEW YORK, Nov. 14.

RUTH GORDON, famous stage and screen actress, iuthor, playwright and Jong-time wife of the equally famous playwright v'and filmmaker, Garson Kanin, says she "has more steam than actresses at 30" although she is 74. 5 m7? "Hatter's Castle" and "The Last Days of Delwyn." He even appears as a crook in the re cent "The Walking Stick." celebrated actor-playwright-director, in presenting hi3 one-man show on Charles Dickens at the American Theater Nov. 24-28, will be recreating Dickens's own famous readings from his literary works on a sensational tour of the United States in 1867. On his tour, beginning with i a Hall in New York City, Dickens, a man with a fantail beard and finely drawn features, stood in front of a desk wearing a frock coat, frilled shirt, white gloves and a red geranium in his buttonhole, and in the flickering gaslight acted out such characters as Tiny Tim. Nicholas Nickleby, Fagan, Micawber, Mr.

Podsnap and many others. He was the a of New York. Tickets to his performances, priced at $2, were sold by scalpers at $20. Women fainted when they saw him or beseed for locks of his hair. "1778," THE MUSICAL about UK it I the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which has J.

been a smash hit on Broadway since it opened there in March 1969 and repeated in London this year, will come to the As if to prove it, Miss Gordon, her frisky little pony tail tying off her chestnut hair and her swingy, doll-like figure in a miniskirt, gave a super demon-s a i of nonstop talking about her 55 years in show business following a recent New York press preview -of her latest extraordinary cinema accomplishment in the new film, "Where's Poppa?" The people in charge had American Monday, Nov. 30 for a three-week run regarded as I one of the highlights of. the lo cal season. The national company to be seen here includes Patrick Bed I ford as John Adams, Rex Ever- Such leading American men of allotted her about 15 minutes hart as a i Franklin, George Hearn as John Dickin before moving her on to anoth- letters as Longfellow, Dana and I I son, -Jack Blackton as Edward er round-table group of inter- Holmes gave lavisn parties lor PATRICK BEDFORD as John Adams and Rex Everhart as Ben Franklin in "1776," the musical hit about the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which will open at the American Nov. 30 for a three-week run.

Rutledge, Truman Gaige as Stephen Hopkins, Jack Murdock, for years a St. Louis actor and television personality, as John Hancock, George Backman as Thomas Jefferson and Gary viewers. Time had to be allotted also to her costar, George Segal, the victim of her incredible possessive momism in the black comedy film, and to Carl Reiner, the multi-talented man who directed the movie. Miss Gordon, who won the him. DICKENS'S FAME as a novelist overshadowed the fact he was, like Williams, also an actor and director in the London theater.

He played six different roles in "Mrs. Nightingale's Diary," which he directed, and wiala a fin CJiallnw in "Tha EMLYN WILLIAMS as Charles Dickens. This year, in commemoration Son," "The Battle of Life," "Lit-of the 100th anniversary of the' tie Dorritt," "A Tale of Two Uakes as Richard Henry Lee. Ruth Gordon It is based on a conception by Sherman Edwards, who also "Uncommercial Cities" and Traveler." LAST TVO WEEKS 1 1 1968 best supporting actress Oscar for her 'black magic witchery Wiveg of Windsor." lin "RAcomorv'e Pa Kit fr catr in Rosemary's Baby," hastened to say: wrote the music and lyrics. The book is by screenwriter Pe Williams, who tirst gave his ter Stone, and it was directed death of the great author, he is touring more than 50 American cities.

He enacts more than 40 characters, although retaining the Dickens costume throughout. He will give readings from "Our Mutual Friend," "Christ by Peter Hunt, 1 WILLIAMS WROTE many plays, including the hits, "The Late Christopher Bean," "Night Must Fall," in which he starred NOW THROUGH SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28 depiction of Dickens in New York in 1953, has presented the show through North and South America, New Zealand, Australr ia, Asia and this year, for the first time, in. vi e-t Russia. I I 1 ft I "The most remarkable thing about my career is that I've bridged the gap between 1915, when Eva Le Gallienne, my contemporary, was playing in black face and frizzy wig, and today, with in which I bit George Segal on the behind. I would say that I have made it in show business.

"I am I since I went into movies. Gertrude Stein used to say: 'I am I because my little dog knows But it's better to on the stage and which was SAT. NOV. 28th 8:30 KIEL OPERA HOUSE twice filmed, "The Com Is mas Stories," "Dombey and have people know you than your dog. l' 1 Tlf TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ALSO MONDAY, NOV.

23RD 8:30 P.M. "I PROBABLY am a hippie. I do very well with the younger IT Tllr: lOVlCn New Exciting Program On Performance Onfyf A DAZZLING, MARVELOUS SHOW FEATURING THE LAT-EST BROADWAY SHOW HITS, POP FOLK SONGS! bunch. iney uun i wani iu pux me away, mey recognize me WEDNESDAY MATINEE 2 P.M. i i SAINT LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WALTER SUSSKIND, Conductor and Music Director "At age 5, I knew enough not to tell my mother what was SATURDAY 6 P.M.

AND 9:30 PM. 4 'I THE IS SHOW closest to my heart. Her concept of proper society was that horses sweat, men perspire and women glow. The generation gap has always been with us. "Now, at my age, you can only go by what you like.

On the -surface 'Where's appears to try only for outrageous laughs. But it aims deeper. It tackles the Vietnam war, baseball, mugging in Central Park and the family, in the language of to-; day. "It's rough language. I've never been in a thing like 'Where's When I saw it at the studio, I flipped out.

Now I'm divided. 1 Jl" "The New York preview audience was mostly show people, beautiful people and movie critics. The whole town turned out for the show. But wait until the average people see it. The film's themes have real meaning for them.

"What do we do about crime in the streets, about war and the young people who are so violently opposed to it? Life today is one indignity after another. "But so long as we can put such diverse films as 'Five Easy Pieces' and 'Airport' up top, we're not saying it like it is only from one point of view. SUNDAY FESTIVAL TICKET PRICES: $5.50, $4.50, $3.50, $2.50 Tickets by Phon 968-0517 Loretto-Hilton 'Center on the eampirt of Webster College 130 EDGAR ROAD ST. LOUIS, MO. 63119 i OF MUSIC LEONARD SLATKlV Conductor I November 22:00 P.M.

ii. TCHAHvOVSiKY Program AMBROGIO, CellUj Tlokati On Salt Dally at Kill Box Off ic, 9 a.m 5:30 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. -5 p.m. MAIL ORDERS Send Self Addressed, Stamped Envelope With Remittanee to Entertainment Enterprises Box Office, Kiel Audi-torlun, 14th Market St.

Louis, Mo. 63103. PRICES: Box, Mezz. and Orchestra $6, Lower Balcony $5 and Upper Balcony $4. Symphony Hall "I WAS NEVER part of the Algonquin Hotel round table in the '20s.

I had something more interesting and sexier to do," said Miss Gordon, hurrying on to explain that although her play the '40s, "Over 21," appeared to be an idealized version of Dorothy Parker, the round table's most quoted quipster, her best theatrical model was i Ruth Gordon herself. "I explain it brilliantly in my new book, 'Myself Among Oth-t which is not just a series of unrelated chapters about the theatrical people I've known best. "There's a little connection in my book, like a Butterick pat Phon. JE 4-1700 lor ticket information ENTERPRISES pj tern. It's a good pudding with all the things that go into a proper pudding." Without further benefit of connecting tissue for her lightning reminiscences, Miss Gordon added: "After all, with 'Hotel I was the first one to play without an intermission.

"I feuded for years with 'Who's Who in America' for listing 'Idly Malone' for 'Lily Malone," a stage character that I had played. People's feelings get very hurt over such small things. "I've got a new film coming up, a musical about how people relate, 'Golden Years with the lyrics by Fred Ebb, who did SAINT LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: WALTER SUSSKIND, Conductor and Music Director i Powell Symphony Hall -Thursday Evening, November 19 at 8:30 Saturday Evening, November 21 at 8 :30 SOLD OUT Sergiu Comissiona, Guest Conductor Na than JYIilstein, Violinist Program ENESCO Suite No. 1 SCHUBERT Symphony No. 6 BRAHMS Violin Concerto TICKET PRICES: Thursday: $2.50, $4.00, $5.00, $5.50, $6.50, $7.50 Saturday: $3.00, $4.50, $5.50, $6.00, $7.00, $8.00.

BOX OFFICES: Powell Symphony Mall, 718 N. Grand JE 4-1700; all Famous-Barr Stores; Stix Crestwood, Westroads, River Roads; Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, University Center; Union Clothing, Belleville; American National Bank, Granite City. SAINT LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WALTER SUSSKIND, Conductor and Music Director Powell Symphony Hall TONIGHT at 8:30 SEKGIirCOMISSIONA, Guest Conductor i IIEXRYK SZERYXG, Violinist By Myles Standish ELVIS-THAT'S WHERE IT IS A loose-knit and sometimes dull documentary about Elvis Presley putting a personal appearance show on the road, starting with a rehearsal in an MGM sound stage, then going to the International Hotel in Las Vegas and Phoenix. Elvis emerges as a deft and cocky entertainer who is probably the kissin'est sing- i er around, but one wishes he would do his soft songs more artistically. At 11 theaters.

TROG and TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACUU-A horror double-bill, with Joan Crawford in' the first as a misun-. derstood scientist who discovers the Missing Link, a half-man, half-ape creature found in a cage, It's cprn all the way; The second, with Christopher Lee as Dracula rising from the dust again to put. the bite on more people, is much better made. At six theaters. THE VIRGIN AND THE GYPSY A visually magnificent film of the D.

H. Lawrence novella about a restless and beautiful young girl in a claustrophobic English country town. To Lawrence, love was- the most important life force. Its anticipation is the movie's moving force and the inevitability of the virgin and the gypsy's affair in no way lessens the exquisite tension between them. Consistently good performances from an international cast including Joanna Shimkus and Franco Nero.

FINE ARTS. THE MC KENZIE BREAK An old-fashioned action movie about a prisoner-of-war camp in Scotland and the German officers, who aren't interested in staying in it. Brian Keith and Helmut Griem as adversaries who want to succeed according to their completely different sets of values add interest to an enjoyable escape picture. NORTHLAND, NORTHWEST, MARK TWAIN. C.C.

AND COMPANY Joe Namath is the man on the motorcycle roaming the picturesque West in search of food, clothing, shelter and sex. Ann-Margret provides some of these. Namath isn't bad. CROSS KEYS, SUNSET CINE-MA II, CYPRESS VILLAGE. A.K.A.

CASSIUS CLAY A well done documentary that is a sort of progress report on the life of one of the folk heroes of the last decade. It chronicles his life and interprets it. LOEW'S STATE. LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS A hilarious comedy which takes a jaundiced and acrid view of wedded bliss, with some moments of poignancy. With Gig Young, Harry Guardino, Anne Jackson and Anne Meara as some of the better-known names in the cast, but all deliver striking performances.

GRANADA, GRANDVIEW, CREVE COEUR, SOUTH COUNTY. THE BABY MAKER Barbara Hershey as an amoral flower girl hired by a wealthy young couple to bear a baby sired by the husband. The wife is barren. Director-writer James Bridges doesn't sensationalize his off-beat story, but allows it to dawdle on boringly through an interminable pregnancy. KIRKWOOD and STADIUM CINEMA II.

ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER Director Vincente Minnelli's slick, melodious and appealing screen version of the stage musical about reincarnation, by Alan Jay Lerner and Burton Lane. Barbra Streisand sings magnificently and, in spite of some early overacting, hits her as an eighteenth century aristocratic English i femme fa tale in the regression sequences. Yves Montand v' lends wry authority to the psychiatrist and sings smoothly and agreeably. SHADY OAK, STADIUM CINEMA I. TROPIC OF CANCER The long-banned Henry Miller novel is brought to the screen by Joseph Strick and has been well made photographically and with Miller's poetic descriptions of Paris in the narrative, but is replete with salacious language and explicit sexual close- ups.

Rip Torn does a masterful job as Miller. MAGIC LANTERN. JOE A low-budget film about a paranoic hard hat who goes on a murderous rampage against hippies, which has stunning impact despite faults in logic, and is the "sleeper" -of the year. Peter Boyle gives a superb performance in the title role and Dennis Patrick is good as an advertising executive drawn into Joe's orbit. BRENTWOOD.

LITTLE FAUSS AND BIG HALSY A story of a strange pair of pals in motorcycle racing, a flamboyant, selfish, love 'em and leave 'em heel, and a shy, bespectacled little guy who idolizes him and is victimized by him. Very engrossing, with vital, bold direction by Sidney J. Furie. Stars Robert Redford, Michael J. Pollard.

ESQUIRE I. DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE The director-writer team of Frank and Eleanor Perry has turned out another "sleeper" hit, about the rebellion of a mousy housewife against her selfish, mentally cruel, supercilious husband by having an affair with a lover who turns out equally insufferable. A real acting find in Carrie Snodgress and 'i with other good performances by Richard Benjamin and Frank Langella. Even if the characters are unsympathetic, it is written and directed with such pith and pungency it is engrossing. ST.

ANN, LEWIS AND CLARK, SUNSET CINEMA I. JULIUS CAESAR Badly directed, shoddily produced, gen-'t erally miscast version of the Shakespeare tragedy. John Gielgud is too old for Caesar, arid consequently weak. Charlton Heston hams a bit too much as Mark Antony. Jason Robarts has an atrocious flat, colorless delivery as Brutus.

Only Richard Johnson stands out as Cassius. HI POINTE. Program Overture to "Semiramide" Concerto in Minor for Violin and Orchestra i Manfred (Symphonic Poem, ROSSINI SCHUMANN TCHAIKOVSKY FINGERING HER string of love beads, her numerous charm-bracelet memorabilia, including tokens of love and admiration from such "Young Ones" as Mia Farrow, Natalie Wood and Barbra Streisand, and flipping her pony tail, she let herself be whisked away. Segal, handsome and almost boyish without the drooping mustache that he wears in "Where's Poppa?" said: "I am a character actor, not a handsome hero. I can't do the hero thing.

I came from slapstick comedy, but my face suggested melodrama. "I'm the original wall flower kid. I was the last one to get a date, the last one invited to a party. I had to find a disguise. In the film, I carry the weight of my whole miserable life on my bent shoulders.

But that's really me when I'm carrying a weight off the screen, too. My key to movie acting is relaxation, whatever that means. Behind the mustache I feel good. I don't like Opus 58.) TICKET PRICES: $2.00, $3.50, $4.50, $5.00, $7.00 Tiffin? lirmr am vi WWW I mice tvcciia ml i BOX OFFICES: Powell Symphony Hall, 718 N. Grand JE 4-1700; all Famoui-Barr Stores; Stix Crestwood, Westroads, River Roads; Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, University Center; Union Belleville; American National Bank, Granite City.

9tfi St. CE 1-7000 S.HUROK PRESENTS "The Theatrical Experience of a Decade!" 24 PERFORMANCES Mon. thru 8:30 P.M. Matinees: Dec. 2, 9, 16 2 p.m.

Saturday Matinees: Dee. 5, 12, 19 2 P.M. No Sunday Performance mm myself as a profile actor." "Where's an R-rated film, sets some kind of new score in dirty words for the screen, by the way. But Segal feels they make up the language of the time, and nobody expects any dialogue bleeps. "GEORGE WAS very helpful in developing the script," said director Reiner.

"But Robert Klane wrote the screenplay from his as-yet-unpublished novel and the original madness is all his. "It was gutsy of us to show it as it is to our betters the critics. We took our lives in our hands. But everybody involved 'L with it now feels we have a winner." Even so, Reiner said he had to acknowledge with gratitude i-' the suggestions of such "very good friends" as Neil Simon, Mel Brooks, Anne Bancroft and Shirley MacLaine, among many oth-er "friendly enemies" who attended the press preview. as KHBR S6H Celebrating the Dickons Centennial Year, W0 Premiere Of Play By SIU Professor first The adaptation was Bftt ft THFM 1M book, published in 1963 in a "MASTER OF THE AISLES!" "The Director and the Play- ACTING!" BROOKS ATKINSOM neikTin SpeclaJ to the Post-Dispatch CARBONDALE, 111., Nov.

14 An English adaptation of a classic Russian play of the last i--' century, Gogol's "The Inspec-ri'tor General," by Charles -A. Leonard, visiting professor of theater at Southern Illinois Uni-V versity, is now having its pre- miere run at California State College at Fullerton. I llSlf AMERICA'S i WMidf AWARD WINNING 5 Nwuuf musical untn -WALTER KERB wright," by Russian actor-director Michael Chekhov. Leonard worked with Chekhov on the book and completed the manuscript after the Russian's death. Leonard is a screenwriter and playwright-director; fTSj 8 PERFORMANCES ONLY! Not, 24 thru Nov.

28 IZ. Mat. Wed, Frl. and Sat. 2 pj.

Sth St. Ctiarles CE 1-7000 BEAUTIFUL BILTMORE CLUB Prices; Tibs, thru Sat. Evening; Orch. and tez. S5, Bale.

$4 S3, 2nd Bale. 2 Matinees Orch. and Mezz. $4.00, Bale. $3.00 $2.50, 2nd Bale.

$2.00 SEATING CAPACITY 1,000 Celebrate your birthday er nniyeraary. No charce tor oakei. Mon. thru Fri. 4 Sat.

Wed. Sat. Thurj. Eves. Eves.

Mat. Mat. Orch. Men. $9.00 $10.00 S5.00 $6.00 Balcony 7.00 8.00 4.00 5.00 Bale-Rmdrv 5.00 6.00 3.00 4.00 2nd Bale.

3.00 3.00 2.00 3.00 Saturday Evening. Nov, 21 Cheshire Inn, The Cupboard and Open Hearth, "fli PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION to and from Amerl- GENE MOYER'S Orehestrt With th Big Band Sound con Theatre. For reservation call 647-7300. Package Price lull count Prli 'Wizard Of Oz' Film Reissue The 1939 film musical, "The Wizard of Oz," starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr and Frank Morgan, has been reissued for children's matinees at 20 area theaters. It opened yesterday and will have another matinee showing today.

'h PLEASE GIVE SEVERAL ALTERNATE DATES WITH MAIL ORDERS j1 Please enclose stamped, self-addressed envelope wlte money order or cneek payable to i AMERICAN THEATRt, 9th 6 ST. CHARLES, ST. LOUIS J. MO. 11 Convenient Box Offices American Theatre and 10 A.M.

to 6 P.M. at all Stix and Famous Branch Stores 10 to P.M. Rib. cnicken, or 6 other dlnnert, I All ct-upi for evening. I I $5.95 per person.

I SEE NATIONALLY I KNOWN TREE HOUSl 1 fiL No cover charge, I itx Out Gravtli MtA llllx Dl 3-1 125 OR JfXA IN "WUSA," (the call letters of a radical-right New Orleans radio station) Paul Newman (right) plays an itinerant, alcoholic disk jockey; Joan Woodward plays a prostitute; and Anthony Perkins is a wide-eyed social worker. The film is coming to the Crestwood, Village, Towne and Esquire. 1 Group Rates for Theatre Parties CE 1-13S0 WAWUVWI Group Rates for Theatre Parties CE 1-1380 ftmVWAVA BOX OFFICE CE 1-7000 VWmWJWWJVi mWWAV BOX OFFICE CE 1-1000.