Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 29

SECTION Asbury Park Press March 9, 1991 PLUS 3 IV i A 3J i A INSIDE I TV ads American movie stars sell products in Japan. paged Minicams They bring a merger of news and home movies. pageCA il i VK 1 1 i a iU AbbyFood for neighbors. pageC5 Doonesbuty lac occ a spoof. pageC5 Tops on TV "La ifaroto.

page C6 Don 't slam The Doors' By MICHELLE QUINT PRESS CORRESPONDENT As we speak, I am still recovering from one of the best movies I've seen in a while. "The Doors," Oliver Stone's new film, depicts the life of Jim Morrison and the band that etched his name in stone. In 1965, Morrison (Val Kilmer) met up with keyboardist Ray Manzarek (Kyle MacLachlan) in Venice Beach, Calif. CELESTE LaBROSSE Asbury Parfc Press David Chalian amid memorabilia of past plays. Morrison's dark poetry inspired Manzarek to get a band together, and the two were soon joined by guitarist Robby Krieger (Frank Whaley) and drummer John Densmore (Kevin Dillon).

These four became one of the most influential bands of the late '60s, the Doors. MICHELLE The story focused on Morrison: his wildly bizarre stage antics, his love of sex and alcohol, and his obsession with death. But all came to an end when he was found dead in his Paris apartment in 1971. The cause of death was listed as a heart attack, and he was 27 years old. The movie's camera work was pretty fantastic, with a lot of aerial shots and odd angles.

The acting was incredible, and Val Kilmer looked so much like his character that it was spooky. Billy Idol even made an appearance, though his part had been reduced because of last year's motorcycle accident. I'd recommend taking all of your friends to see this movie at the same time it was definitely a group experience. Loud music and concert scenes filled most of the two hours, and made them all the more enjoyable. Not many people know much about the mind of Jim Morrison, but "The Doors" gives us a chance to find out.

1 The world's his stage during their time together in "On Golden Pond." "He's a very agreeable and eager young man, and we do have a great relationship. I have three kids of my own and he's like a fourth," Tuckman, 49, said. "During that show we talked a lot about life and life experiences backstage," Tuckman, of Marlboro Township, explained. "David's an easy kid to talk to, and he likes to ingest as much as he can. He's very talented, very mature without being an old man in a kid's body.

He can relate to adults and to kids his own age as well. And I think that's very unusual." This spring, David takes on the role of John the Baptist in his high school's production of "Godspell," and this summer he returns to summer camp at Camp Kweebec in Pennsylvania, this time as "director-slash-teacher, directing 11- and 12-year-olds." Then, he's off to college. "I've never said I wanted to do anything else," David said of his acting aspirations, "and I know I'm lucky. I get a lot of support, and I'm having a great time." At one time Tuckman was concerned that David might be upset by the community theater's occasional light turnouts, so Tuckman gave the teen some advice that David has taken to heart. "He said it doesn't matter if it's only 18 people in the audience," David explained, "because you're performing for yourself.

And I really believe that. I love to do what I do, and if at the same time it's pleasing the audience, then that's great. But, even if there's nobody out there, I'll still do it. Because I love it." This is part of an occasional series about the movers and shakers in the area's community theaters. By BOB COYNE PRESS CORRESPONDENT At an age when most kids are still dreaming of becoming firemen, cops or astronauts when they grow up, David Chalian was already on the road to discovering what he wanted to do as his life's work.

"In elementary school, in the second grade, I got this part," the 17-year-old Marlboro High School senior explained. "I was the 'Tawny Scrawny Lion' in our second-grade play that's what sparked my interest. "I was up there and I did something that I had always rehearsed and I got a laugh out of the audience," he said, "so, then I improvised throughout the rest of the performance I just completely hammed it up and did things that I never rehearsed, and I had the audience hysterical. I really played off the audience for that show, and I really just loved being up there. So, the seed was sown." It must have been a powerful seed.

Not only has David continued to act in school and community theater productions ranging from "Bye-Bye, Birdie" and "The Music Man" to "I'm Not Rappaport" and "Rehearsal For Death," but he has decided to pursue the craft as his chosen profession. "It's going to be my major in college," he said, "and, hopefully, it will be my career for life. Michelle Quint is a sophomore at Marlboro High School. 'Shipwrecked' for younger kids By JAIME RUSZALA PRESS CORRESPONDENT A problem in the beginning, action for little kids toward the middle and a happy ending. Sound familiar? Please, let me explain.

The movie "Shipwrecked," which is only about an hour and 30 minutes long, is a typical Disney movie. What's wrong with that, you ask? Those of you who are 11 years old and older helped him get through that troubling period of his life. "Especially when I got involved with the Monmouth Players (in high school)," David explained, "I felt that the theater was a tie to him. The old-timers there knew him, and we would always talk about him it was a bond." At 15, David found a new friend and a role model in Harlan Tuckman, an acting veteran with a long-standing connection with the Marlboro Community Players. "Harlan played the Henry Fonda character in 'On Golden my first Marlboro Community Players show," David explained.

"I played the kid, and we had a grandfathergrandson-type relationship off-stage as well as on stage. I enjoy listening and learning from him, and I think he has taught me a lot he's like my mentor." Tuckman, a past president and currently a trustee and vice president of the Marlboro Community Players, said he found David to be a surprisingly mature and eager-to-learn young teen Realistically, though, I do have backup plans. I'm very interested in law, and I'm probably going to minor in political science. But I want to try Broadway, and if it doesn't work out, well, I'll probably go on to law school. "But first, I'm going to live the life of waiting tables and running to auditions," he said with a laugh.

While David has found no real theater experience in his family's background, his mother, Carol Krimko, has her own idea as to where his talent comes from. "Your father was a ham," she said, laughing, "and you inherited it from him." "My dad," David agreed, "put a microphone in his hand and he was happy. He just loved the limelight, a life-of-the-party-type. I always wished that he could see me now." Bob Chalian died in 1984, when David was 11 years old. David's blossoming interest in the theater I know what I mean.

It is the story of a young boy who is the son of an injured sailor and how he sets out on an adventurous journey to pay off a family debt. When he arrives at his ship he meets all the crew members, including Jence, with whom he immediately t. JAIME Christopher, who has never seen a human before. This is a great addition to the NIMH series. I would suggest that interested readers first read "Mrs.

Fishby and the Rats of NIMH," and then the sequel, "Rasco and the Rats of NIMH." SUMMER OF THE DODO By Patricia Baehr. Macmillan. 1990. 145 pages. $12.95.

This story is about a girl named Dorothy Penny (nicknamed Dodo) who longs to be a part of the "in crowd" with three of the most popular girls in the school, even though they make her feel out of place. RIVERKEEPER By George Ancona. Macmillan. 1990. 44 pages $13.95.

Dhave just read a true story about a famous riverkeeper named John Cronin. A river-keeper is a person who takes care of a river or stream, making sure that the body of water is not being polluted in any way. A riverkeeper also tries to have government make new laws so as not to pollute any kind of water. I think this book is very up-to-date because at this time many of our lakes and rivers are polluted. John is one of the riverkeepers of the Hudson River, who tries his best to keep its 315 miles clean.

The reviews of books for young readers are written by children who have been selected by Monmouth and Ocean county librarians. The reviewers are volunteers who responded to notices, requesting their participation, that appeared in county libraries. R-T, MARGARET, AND THE RATS OF NIMH By Jane Leslie Conly. Harper Row. 1990.

260 pages. $12.95. This is the third book in the "Rats of NIMH" series. It is a wonderful story you will want to read from beginning to end without stopping, even if it takes all day. Jake Ruddiman, Grade 7 St.

Gregory the Great School Allentown Exciting things happen when she spends the (' i summer at her aunt's bungalow. There she 1 DANCING ON THE TABLE By Liza Ketchum Murrow. Holiday House. 1990. 120 pages $13.95.

Jenny doesn't understand why her grandmother isn't coming to visit anymore. But when she finally does with news that she's getting married Jenny makes two bad meets a real Dodo Dira named Darwin. Darwin is The book has many de- tailed pictures to go with When two children get lost in the North Woods, there's no way out until a I addicted to junk food and Yrr- TV. Dodo is determined 1 because it tells you the becomes friends. Throughout the story, Jence teaches the boy how to become a true sailor.

When the ship reaches London, a pirate who has disguised himself as an English officer boards the ship to take charge. Since Merrick, the pirate, is only second in command, he drugs the captain so that he can take full charge of the crew and make them search for his treasure. When they run into a storm, everyone must abandon the ship and the boy wakes up on a deserted island. While searching the island in hopes of finding Jence and Mary, a stowaway, he comes across pirate weapons, a treasure and an article that reveals the truth about Merrick. Now what about the action, you ask? There's the turmoil on the ship during the storm, a 10-minute chase between the good guys and the bad guys to see who gets the treasure and the crowd of viewers rushing for the exits at the end of the movie.

In the end, of course, the good guys win and the boy pays off the debt and everything turns out well. As I said before, don't get me wrong, Disney did an excellent job, but as usual the movie is better suited for kids between the ages of 6 and 10. If you are over the age of 10, save your money. 'U --r A warm-hearted NIMH rat IT" Y'j named Christopher many functions and re 11 sponsibilities a river- keener has in Derforminc CUUltO IU tilt 1v.01.uv. NIMH, incidently, is an acronym for National Institute for Mental Health.

The NIMH rats, as we know from the first 1 1 his job. It also makes you more aware of the damage pollution can cause to 'Site. A. Usfti wishes on her lucky rabbit's foot. When those wishes come true, Jenny realizes that her grandmother loves that man more than anything.

Jenny makes one more wish, that her grandmother and new grandfather live happily in their life together. JAKE t0 save mm DV teacn'ng him how to survive out-STEPHANIE Side the house. Dodo teams up with Tamara, one of the popular girls, to save Darwin from extinction, but something happens that helps her understand the importance of being herself. This is a great book. I like the way the author gets the readers to relate to the characters.

I think most kids will enjoy reading this book because it is a light-hearted fantasy and because of the humorous way the author gets you to think about peer pressure, friendship and survival. Stephanie Jenkins, Grade 5 St. Benedict School, Holmdel Township ELISSA RICHARD the fish and other wild life, as well as the damage of the shorelines being littered with trash. I would highly recommend this easy-to-read book to all people who are interested in fishing and boating as well as those concerned about the environment. Richard E.

Goldbeck, Grade 4 Conover Road School ColtsNeck Township book, have super intelligence due to an accident at the NIMH facility. They escaped and formed a new society of rats with human intelligence. R-T and his sister, Margaret, have unwittingly stumbled on the secret home of the Rats of NIMH, and as in the classic fairytale scenario of children lost in the woods, they enter a new world and face unexpected challenges. There are some comic and not-so-comic drawbacks to their Gulli ver-in- Lil liput setup. But nothing can overcome the touching friendfiip between R-T, who can't speak, anoj This is an easy book to read.

I like it a lot and recommend it to anyone who has been through a similar experience, or for third- and fourth-graders. Elissa Ebeling, Grade 5 Cedar Drive School, Colts Neck Township Jaime Ruszala is a seventh-grader at Lake-wood fiddle School..