Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 79

ASBURY PARK PRESS I SUNDAY, NOV. 1 2, 2006 1 I OUTTAKES QKS PLUS CELEBS mum Retro restaurant serves juon Freehold author examines Mara-Giants legacy waters; til CALLUS: Katby Dzielak Entertainment Editor (732) 643-4265 Chris M. Junior Copy Editor (732) 643-4254 THEATER ALfiOIIQUIII'S JACK LAFOIID LOOKS AHEAD Music 2 Television 2 Movies 5 Best Bets 5 Backstage 5 New York 7 Columns 8 Puzzles classic comfort food international fall looks (shown: Thalia) 10 By ELEANOR O'SULLIVAN Movie Writer I 1 1 A v. 1f rflM t. JACK LAFOND SAYS HIS tipping point in wanting to be new executive director of Algonquin Arts in Manasquan came down to a happy 9 1 Vfl I AA 1 Jack Laiond, Algonquin Arts Theatre executive director, and Dale Wegener, chairwoman oi the theater's board of directors.

MICHAEL SYPNIEWSKIStaff Photograph "One of strongest reasons I took the job was that my father was a projectionist in drive-in movies in Maine when I was growing up," he said. "So, when I learned that the Algonquin Arts had free movie nights on Mondays in the summer and projected the movies on a wall, with upwards of 500 people attending, sitting on their lawn chairs or in their sleeping bags, I thought, 'I've always wanted to do that. This is a match made in So was his bonding with outgoing executive director, Fran Drew, who with her husband, Jack Drew, created in 1992 a community-minded arts organization that presents live See Lafond, Page E4 Karen Starrett Better speaks about her series of paintings chronicling nor oxperlence with ovarian cancer. With her In her Ocean Township home Is her dog, Kobe. Belter's cancer Is In remission.

Staff photos: Tanya Breen TV rindin gher (ft 1 zone com TELEVISION Eleanor O'Sullivan SB'S LATEST HAS A SHORE FEEL TILLIE RULES. Craig Singer's new horror feature film, "Dark Ride," opening nationwide Friday, begins with a shot of the beloved Asbury Park icon Tillie. "We did exteriors in Asbury Park, and our scene-setter is in Asbury Park," said Singer of Fair Haven. "You could say that Tillie was my mojo, the mood-setter for me." "Dark Ride," set to open on about 500 screens, will be released by Lions Gate Films. Singer co-wrote the screenplay with Robert Dean Klein of West Orange, and he directed.

Chris Williams, also of West Orange, is producer. While the movie is set in Asbury Park, major parts were shot in California. "We shot it mostly on the Universal (Pictures) lot (in California) about two years ago," said Singer. "It was inspired by my memories of those dark rides you took as a kid at the amusement park. But I was first aware of and had my first nightmares from a horror movie when I was 6.

"My parents took me to a drive-in theater in Paramus to see 'Night of the Living Dead' yes, there were woods in Paramus back then!" But "Dark Ride" isn't a gore-fest, Singer said. "I really believe that you need to give audiences characters they can care about, so I fought for them to be developed," he said. 'Dark Ride' is really a homage to '70s horror movies, and another big influence is a Diane Arbus photograph of the interior of a dark ride at Coney Island." Most of the scares comes from suggestion and the movie's villain, Jonah, a version of the devil. Jonah preys on college students who wind up at an amusement park and hang out at the dark ride for thrills. Speaking of thrills, Singer said he was thrilled when composer Christopher Young Boys," a graduate of Rum-son Fair Haven Regional High School and a former resident of Asbury Park, offered to compose the title song.

"He wanted to because he said he loves all things Asbury Park," said Singer. "When I heard he wanted to do it, I told him I couldn't afford him, but he said he would make it work." The movie was made for less than $5 million, a modest sum by today's industry standards. It has a cast of young actors, including Jamie Lynn Sigler of "The Sopranos," plus Patrick Renna of "Sandlot." Singer, who lives with his wife and two children in Fair Haven, says he has been urged to move to California by various movie industry associates. Nothing doing, he says. "I can always travel there and do what has to be done, and shoot there when necessary," said Singer.

"But this is where I want to stay." New arrivals Movies scheduled to open this week include "Casino Royale," the latest James Bond movie, this time starring Daniel Craig; the cartoon feature "Happy Feet," about the life and fun times of penguins; "Fast Food Nation," a film version of the best seller about iffy food production in the United States; and "Let's Go to Prison," a prison comedy starring Dax Shepard and WillArnett. Eleanor O'Sullivan: (732) 6434269; eleanorapp.com. irt helps SUI DAY'S WIN BES cancer patient conquer fears By MIKE HUGHES Gannett News Service 4 By BOBBI SEIDEL Staff Writer ''Vi 'aren Starrett Belter's paintings shout of fear and pain. They whis-Iper of loss and sorrow. They mur mur of hope and healing.

Large, abstract figures in flowing strokes of orange, yellow, red, these paintings vividly portray the whirlwind of emotions the Ocean Township artist has experienced as an ovarian cancer Visit our Web site, WWWtSpp-COIII, and click on Entertiilisiieiil and this story for links to Jersey Shore University Medic el Center, Eighteen of her paintings will be on display Tuesday in a free exhibit, "Ex-pressions of Ovarian Cancer," at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. Society, National Ovarian Cancer CoaRUon and the Ovarian Cancer National AMance TONIGHTS MUST-SEE "Masterpiece Theatre: Prime Suspect: The Final Act," 9 p.m., PBS, Channels 12 and 13; concludes Nov. 19. When the first "Prime Suspect" aired in 1992, the fictional Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) was a clear-cut hero. London's first female detective superintendent, she brought strength and wisdom.

Now the seventh and final "Suspect" takes a brave detour. Nearing her retirement, Tennison has major flaws: She's an alcoholic, avoiding treatment; her skill is blurred. Mirren is an amazing actress. Anyone who sees this alongside her movie "The Queen" will want to weld the Oscar and Emmy into a single monument. Frank Deasy's script starts with the murder of a teen girl, then adds deft detours.

Viewers will struggle with some of the accents, but it's worth the trouble. Phillip Martin beautifully directed a great cast. Laura Greenwood, as Penny Phillips, delivers a moving performance that suggest the best young Pattys (Duke, McCormack) of Hollywood's past. Other choices tonight in-elude: "The Simpsons," 8 p.m., Fox, Channels 5 and 29. Homer somehow ends up in an Army boot camp.

This is not good news for our military. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," 8 p.m., ABC, Channels 6 and 7. The team helps a mom, 26, who has breast cancer. i. 5- 1 i V'' "As scary as it is for me to share myself with people I don't know, I wanted to share what I had gone through for two reasons," Starrett Belfer says.

"One is to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. I had never heard of it before I was diagnosed, and I'm not an idiot. See Artist, Page E4 EXPRESSIONS OF OVARIAN CANCER An open house art show of "Figurative Testimonials" by Karen Starrett Belfer p.m. p.m. Tuesday Talks by Belfer, 2 and 7 p.m.

Jersey Shore University Medical Center, first floor, Brennan Conference Rooms Route 33, Neptune Light refreshments Information Free (888) 538-8314 Karen Starrett Better's painting, "Surviving Myself," reflects her experience as an ovarian cancer patient..