Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 17

1 ASB'JRY PARK EVENING PRESS, Feb. 28, 1964 Greirff Smith Singers Give Polished Performance1 Nothing Makes Sammy Run, Reviewer Decides The Orchestra oan neiru, chamber music group, will play the final concert of the series at the Carlton Theater on March 30. 'Luther' Star Sees Musical As First Broadway Vehicle 4 1 arranged by Mr. Smith. Choral music of this nature usually has a limited appeal, specially when given the finished performance heard last night.

It was too finely sung to meet the taste of "Hoote-nanny" fans, yet many of the selections would have enlivened the program, had they been sung in that style. But that is not the type of music which Monmouth Arts Foundation concert goers expect. STRAND THEATRE LAKEWOOD, N. J. "THE VICTORS' Vincent Edwordi Melina Mercourl 4 sacred music and early American hymns, mostly sung without accompanist and interspersed with incidental solos from the compositions.

Virtuosity Portrayed A group of "Gypsy Songs" by Johannes Brahms concluded the first half of the concert. Several singers were heard in solos, duets and quartets, further portraying the virtuosity of the singers. The serious nature of the program was broken somewhat by a madrigal composed by conductor Gregg Smith called "The Fable of Chicken Little," a musical arrangement of the well-known children's story. In this work, soloists took the parts of the six characters of the story, while the chorus sang a running commentary In madrigal style. Also in light vein was the group of folk songs, of which the well known "Blue Tail Fly" struck a responsive chord in the audience.

Three of these were By W. A. PROUTY Press Correspondent RED BANK The Monmouth Arts Foundation varied its current concert season with a choral concert by the Gregg Smith Singers, a mixed chorus of 18 voices which made its debut early this month in New York. About 1200 heard the concert at the Carlton Theater last night. The concert here confirmed the favorable metropolitan reviews which the chorus received for its debut.

The performance was beautifully polished with all the fine points of choral singing. The voices were well balanced, producing organ-like tones. The attacks were clean-cut, there were delicate pianis-simos, unforced contrasts of volume, and effective humming and echo effects which a unique sounding board projected well through the hall. The program was severely classical. Practically the entire first half was composed of '(rWiWALTER READE-STERLINO 'VHjv entertainment guide 1 fl MAYFAIR ASBURY PARK Howard Hawks i STEVE LAWRENCE production Man's Favorite By WILLIAM GLOVER NEW YORK UB Maybe there's a good musical in that saga of a Hollywood heel, "What Makes Sammy but it wasn't on the stage of the 54th Street Theater last night.

Putting the best first, there's Steve Lawrence, a night club singer in his first Broadway show; Bernice Massi, a sultry witch; and a couple of songs in Ervin Drake's score that are jukebox favorites. Sally Ann Howes and Robert Alda, co-stars alongside Lawrence, aren't altogether to blame for the tepid results of their work. True, Miss Howes has a tendency toward pallid behavior, and Alda's nasal baritone is only fitfully pleasant. But they've really been done in by the book by Budd and Stuart Schulberg and Drake's gamey lyric-rhyming. The show is based on Budd Schulberg's novel of some seasons back about Sammy Glick, a pushy lad who swiftly knifes his way to success in the glamorous filmland of a generation ago.

Lawrence brings a lot of animation and vicious vigor to a role of flat cliche. He's at his best in a couple of turns that are simply stretched-out song skits. "A Room Without Windows" and "My Hometown" are standout tunes in a score played with bang-bang volume by the pit band. Matt Mattox provides the dancers with a lot of exercise that most nearly becomes fresh and Interesting in a takeoff about south sea movie epics. The only thing necessary to report about the sets is that they were done by Herbert Senn and Helen Pond; ditto the costumes, by Noel Taylor.

Charged with the overall reruknrru rD TrCHNICOlOR -w -r mum 4 By BARRY ROBINSON Press Staff Writer NEW YORK When actor John Heffernan leaves the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, where he Is currently starring In "Luther," John Osborne's stirring drama about the Protestant Reformation, the stage entrance doorman usually nods and says: "Goodnight, Mr. Finney." "Mr. Finney" is British actor Albert Finney, whom Heffernan replaced a month or so ago. The farewell remark is not meant to imply that Heffernan is living or acting in Finney's shadow. Rather, it is an indication of how completely the Manhattan-born actor has filled the shoes left empty by Finney's departure.

Another indication is the fact that Heffernan, who understudied Finney for several months while playing another character in the play, works without an understudy. It isn't that he doesn't want one; the show's management has been unable to find someone suitable for the job. Demanding Role The role of Luther is a highly-demanding one, and Heffernan is up to the challenge. You may have a doubt or two about his ability when he first walks onstage, but by the time the play ends nearly three hours later, there is little doubt left John Heffernan is a mighty, powerful, awe-inspiring actor. His entrance is quiet, unobtrusive, almost hesitant.

His lean, lanky physique and his pale complexion add to the mood, and you find yourself wondering if this man will survive the first scene, much less the rigors of the entire play. Then, he speaks and you're hooked. It's impossible to take your eyes off him, and you hang on his every word. He suffers with eloquence the torments of self-doubt, seeking forgiveness for sins he never vming out neea not oe expensive when you dine at Bill Green's fine food, lote prices I hrf SI. JAMES COMMUNITY 1 I A.bnry Park TOMS RIVER I "THt GUNS Of MkTCEl 1 r- 1 LYRIC STEAK rH 39 Broiled LUD3ICK I AIL IK" CHICKEN Per Dinner with Salad Potato Roll Butter SALLY ANN HOWES 'A ALSO A WONDERFUL SELECTION FROM OUR A LA CARTE MENU Nominated for 3 Academy Auards Best Actress: Rachel Roberts Best Actors: Richard Harris Albert Finney RICHARD HARRIS staging is Abe Burrows, called to doctor "What Makes Sammy Run?" during tryout tour travail.

The treatment is a couple of box offices short of glittering splendor. SL. RUSTIC LODGE tor. lammerfleldCookman Ajbury Park 774-7440 1 Night and Sunday, "TTLHIDS SPORTING tLDFE" RACHEL ROBERTS TODAY'S ATTRACTIONS Advertised in The Asbury Park Preu Wtl RECOMMENDED 1 FOR ADULTS ONLY Of I SHOWCASE theMbes JOHN HEFFERNAN AS LUTHER CAR1T0M PALACE Bed Bink Mantmuaii Bradley Bmeh Drlre-In committed. He doubles over and.

the ice melted long before the Asbury Park, Mayfalr, "Man'i Favorite Sport," 2:40, 7:20, 9:35. St. James, "The Victor." 2:35, 7:05, 9:47. Lyric, "Thlf Sporting Life," "Saturday Night-Sunday Morning," 7:00, 10:46. Bradley Beach, Palace, "Charade," 2:40, 7:10, 9:15.

Long Branch, Baronet, "Who'i Been Sleeping In My Bed," 2:00, 7:00, "Wheeler Dealeri," 3:45, 8:40. Lakewood, Strand, "The Victors," 2:05, 8:20. Manasquan, Algonquin, "Charade," 2:40, 7:10, 9:15. curtain fell. Then came "The Crucible," with Heffernan In the lead role.

Like most of the city's aisle- borne play has sepcial significance to American actors, who look upon him as a pioneer. Heffernan is one of the first American performers to play a classical British stage role. Up rolls in agony in apparent ephp-tic seizures, and then rises from the floor upon which he was rolling seconds earlier to challenge the faith of the established church. One moment Heffernan is at Cary Audrey Grant Hepburn play a game of danger and delight NOW SHOWING sitters, whose high hopes for the young company, had been damp ened somewhat by its poor performance record, I was a bit to now, British performers had a monopoly on these roles and American actors felt left out. Now, they feel, Heffernan has broken the ice and the barrier is down.

Unimpressed By It Heffernan is personally unimpressed by all this. doubful about Heffernan's first hesitant entrance. "He's been good in school productions up to now," I thought. "But, I'm afraid he's out-classed himself here." I was wrong. By the time Charade a STANLEY DON EN Production tacking the defilement or belief In a bitter harangue; the next, he's cutting away at the defilers with razor sharp humor.

When the peasantry accuse him of betraying their revolution, he rages at them, damning their cause as unjust. Moments later, he tenderly holds his infant son In his arms and ponders his role In the salvation of man. Saw Him In 1950's It has always been pretty "I've been doing nothing but the first act of Arthur Miller's iue -Li i aiuiui iuui PLUS AT THE DRIVE-IN ONLY "GUN HAWK' Neptune City, A.M., "Dead Ringer," 7:00, "Carry On Teacher," 8:55. Freehold Mall, A.I.T., "The Victors," 7:00, 9:35. Pt, Pleasant, Arnold, "Fun in Acapulco," 3:50, 7:00, "Children of the Damned," 2:30, 8:35.

Hazlet, Plaza, "Man's Favorite Sport," 7:25, 9:35. Red Bank, Carlton, "Charade," 2:00, 7:00, 9:10. Toms River, Community, "The Victors," 6:45, 9:25. DRIVE-IN THEATERS, Eatontown, Cartoons, "LlstonCIay Fight Films." 7:21, "Sunday In New York," 7:50, 11:50. Fly-In Drive-In, "The Gun Hawk," 9:50.

Laurelton Drive-In, "Charade," 7:20, "The Gun Hawk," 9:30. Loew'j Drive-In, Cartoon, "Portrait In Black," 7:07, "Man's Favorite Sport," "Curse of the Undead," 11:15. Bowling Billiards, Shore Lanes, Asbury Park Circle, Neptune, daily from 9 a.m. cassical stage for the past few drama about the Salem witch, he and iJS. ta Shakespeare are' pretty classi-Eir'cal.

My playing the Luther role i. much this way with Heffernan. were rigid in their seats, so; BARONET LONG BRANCH may make a difference for some BETTE DAVIS and BETTE DAVIS Karl MALDEH The first time I saw him was intensely engrossed in the play In the late 1950's when he was were we. What might have been a student at the theater division a good production was trans- Wheeur dealer mm appealer of Boston University School of i formed into a great one by Hef- KIpn Iff JAMK fernan's tour-de-force. Fine and Applied Arts.

He was Since then, Heffernan has i4 WHEEIfRDEAliRf in several school productions before he made his professional debut at the Charles Playhouse, one of the Hub's first repertory companies. The season had not been a PAMAVISION md METROCOLORssais worked the summer stock circuit, returned to New York as a member of the Phoenix Theatre Repertory Company, won an "Obie" award for his performance with that off-Broadway others, and, if so, I glad. When "Luther" closes here in late March, it will go on tour to Washington and Boston. After that, Heffernan will be up for an original role in a Broadway show. "I'd like to do a book musical," he says.

"I've been singing for the past year, and I think I'm ready to try it. Either that, or a modern comedy. "I've been doing period plays for so long that I'm tired of wearing wigs, and tights, and gowns. I'd like to be me for a change." Quick reference to reliable craftsmen Directory of Services, classified section. CO FEATURE, DEAN MARTIN "WHO'S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED!" PE ER good one for the Charles play LAWFORD In GATES OTtH :30 M.

-MOVIES AT 7:00 MlTlinSWM.SUI WIH tAIlSOPfNSJO BOVKSAIM0 CWTOOH AA tH MI. SIM. fllSt SHOD 0NII ers. They had practically struck group, played Shakespeare in cut with a dull comedy, the title 1 Central Park, and appeared for of which I can no longer re-! a season in Bertolt Brecht's "A member, and their production of Man is a Man," from which he O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh" moved into "Luther." had dragged on for so long that His starring role in the Os- RocK Hudson. -Paula Prentiss Plui! WAGON WHEEL PLAYHOUSE Chattnut St.

Middlttewn 741-6073 POME) CARLT0M jj" HaTI asbury park red bank MOTION PICTURE M0W B'M I-L .8 KUW Ik0- "CARRY ON TEACHER" TfUnrtPAj. LANA TURNER NEXT! Rock Hudson "MAN'S FAVORITE SPORT" FREE IH CAR HEATERS! 2 'Man Favorite Sport 9 Comes Off as Foul Play cKt out! FUTatoum SWOUWP Presents "TAKE HER SHE'S MINE" Friday Saturday Feb. 21, 11, 28, 29 Cnrtsln 8:40 4dm. Adults 2.20, Student 1.10 KIDDIE SHOW SATURDAY AT 1:30 I SAT. NITE COLOR AFTER LAST I FFAIURt I "JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH" Plui COMEDY RACES AND CARTOONS HORROR SHOW iRSHOK 'CURSE OF THE UNDEAD1 UNDEAD' FOR EVERYONE! SsV 1H W-tTM I NuW IriKU fUESDAY EXCLUSIVE SHOWING at 2 THEATERS 'A rlTS And then, there's the scene In which Hudson's tie gets caught in the zipper of Miss Perschy's I evening gown, and he nearly chokes to death preventing her doing a bare back act.

Finally, Hudson and Miss I Prentiss kiss and disappear. The screen is filled with the picture I of two locomotives colliding 'head on (this is I nvA 4UnM young comedienne who, at times, can be remarkably funny; this is not one of those times. About the only scene in which she gets a chance to display her talent for creating laughs is one in which she and Hudson nearly drown. It would probably be more merciful for them and the audience, if they sank beneath the blue water (and it is as blue as technicolor can make it) and took the rest of the film with them. After three strikes, you're usually out, but the movie goes on for nearly two hours.

So, you sit and squirm and watch Miss Prentiss and Maria Per-schy wrap Hudson's arm in a plaster cast, which they remove with an electric sander. Great fun! Pi LISTON vs i to CLAY pi IMS ASBURY PARK Toward the end of "Man's Favorite Sport," there Is a scene from a vintage movie in which is pro-trayed a comically passionate love scene. This is probably the funniest scene in the entire movie. If man's favorite sport is killing time, the movie of the same name is ideally suited to this reed. It runs for nearly two hours, but somehow manages to seem much longer, especially if you've been nibbling on salty popcorn.

The film is currently at the Mayfair Theatre, and is expected to open early next week in the Neptune City Theatre. 3 Strikes Listed Conceivably, "Man's Favorite Sport'' has the potential to be funny but, in actuality, comes off as pretty foul play. Strike one: a prosaic plot about a fishing expert who can't fish and the publicity gal who inveigles him into entering a fishine tournament. The iripa's appear in wonderful black and white. They kiss a long kiss, a passionate kiss and then the girl pushes the fellow away and declares: "You shouldn't have." "Why not?" asks he.

"Because," she replies, "this is the end of the picture." Thank Heaven! B.J.R. A HIGHROAD rTODUCHCS PWHVOTl 1 MIMA PICTURES RELEA3 i Mm KIDDIE SHOW SATURDAY AT 1:30 GIANT 2-HIT MONSTER-RAMA! "HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER" plus "THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN" Plus At The Lyric Only On Stage The Jersey Beatles Friday and Saturday AIHHE IJ ACTION Iff SLOW MOTION EATONTOWN DRIVE-IN NENG NOW THRU TUESDAY! DA NCING Howard Hawks NOW AT THF FRANK RENDELL BAND 1 Sww Aft PrnJurtwi US L.uiiit i i i i i. -w sl i Try Us Like Us! SIRLOIN STEAK Dinner Evtry Mint Favorite EXTRA ATTRACTIONS RORY CALHOUN IN GUN HAWK" funny, but the staging is stilted and the dialogue, at its best, is clumsily contrived. Strike two: Rock Hudson, trying to be a young Cary Grant, Is the incompetent Izaak Walton, who manages to catch three fish In the most improbably ways, and finally ends up being caught by the athletic publicity lady. Grant would have had his troubles with this film, but all Hudson does is look embarrassed I can't blame him.

Strike three: Paula Prentiss, ho plays the publicist, Is a re? EXTRA BOM'S THE ENTIRE FIGHT OF "LISTOX VS. CLAY" llCHNICOLOf wwHm? i I ARNOLD POIVIT PLEASANT KIDDIE SHOW SATURDAY AT 1:00 AND 3:00 'Abbott Costello Meet Jock the Beonstallc' IN ADDITION TO OUR REGULAR SHOWS plus Comedy Races Cartoons Elvis in "FUN IN ACAPULCO" of.