The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 147

LOS ANGELES TIMES--. A Woman's 'War' a Bit of a Viewer Battle iti-n FlOoc WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1994 even the tenor of the memoirs, written with ladylike restraint, holds viewers at a distance. W'Mary Silliman's War" airs at 9 tonight on cable's Lifetime channel. Las VegasLaughltn 'ft Schecter and written by Schecter and Louisa Burns-Bisogno, Nancy Palk plays the dutiful wife and mother who goes beyond the expectations of her sex in those exceedingly patriarchal times to win the release of her husband, State Atty. Selleck Silliman (Richard Donat), who is held for ransom by the British.

Palk conveys Mary's strength of purpose, matched by Donat's dignified presence, but both carry a hint of historical monument about them, as do other characters in the film so much so that when violence occurs, it has a sense of unreality about it, not the strived-for shock of recognition. Based on "The Way of Duty: A Woman and Her Family in Revolutionary America," by Richard and Joy Day Buel, the film uses Mary's diary entries and letters as Palk's voice-over narrative, but i ii By LYNNE HEFFLEY TIMES STAFF WRITER It took six years and many scholarly historical advisers to make "Mary Silliman's War," tonight's fact-based saga on Lifetime about a Connecticut woman's trials and tribulations during the American Revolution. The effort for authenticity shows in gorgeous misty shots (in Nova Scotia) of the town, riverside and country, and in portrait-come-to-life images of townspeople, posed and lit with a milky glow. It shows in the faithful re-creation of 18th Century buildings, costumes, furniture and music. And it shows, regrettably, in an overly reverential treatment of a text that, for the most part, infuses what is intended as a very human and timely story about politically inspired, neighbor-against-neigh-bor hatreds with the impersonal remove of a distant history lesson.

In the film, conceived by Steven 1 a-- Cat 1 A if" LONG BEACH CIVIC LIGHT OPERA presents V' trance is located west of Circus Circus' big-top-capped hotel-casino-circus midway complex. For more TWWWfc-iE iinMllWN law I The world's largest permanent circus is among the Circus Circus HotelCasino on the Las Vegas under the pink-and-whlte big top of the Free circus performances are featured 13 hours daily. i Visitor named 1 -millionth guest at Grand Slam Canyon information, call (702) 794-3939. For room reservations, call (8O0)-- 444-2472 or (702) 734-0410. 2 FOR 1 TlX! TCNSTE AT 8 i4 1310859-2830 In J.

4 Mitt a 1 ii Sarajevo Documentary "Sarajevo Ground Zero," a controversial documentary capturing the brutality of civil war in Sarajevo, debuts on cable's Cinemax tonight at 8. Produced by a multiethnic group of Bosnian filmmakers, the movie was turned down for broadcast by the various networks. mm STREISAND Available 310473-1000 714.832-5800 OPENS TONIGHT AT 7:30 TOM'WAT8 i lH.li. NOW THRU MAY 29 "A SPECTACULAR IfijtJ UJ DivMTw Mark Taper Forum IT 136 N.Grand Aw, BY ANTON CHEKHOV LosAngelee SPLENDID Unda Rom, ABC Radio TONYAWARD WINNER BEST ORIGINAL MUSICAL SCORE BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL Music, Lyrics, Book by William Rnn Book Direction by James Lapine Now thru July Ahmanson at the DooUttle 1615 N. Vine Street, Hollywood it if.

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The Canyon Blaster achieves speeds of 40 miles per hour and goes through sandstone cliffs rising 140 feet, and into tunnels, grottoes and a 68-foot waterfall. It is the only indoor double-loop, double-corkscrew roller coaster in the United States, according to Circus Circus. Grand Slam Canyon is now under expansion and will have more attractions by early summer. Grand Slam Canyon's main en- Kohji Suzuki will perform at Gold River Kohji Suzuki will perform at the Gold River Resort and Casino in Laughlin Monday through May 21 and May 23 through 28. His musical selection ranges from pop to country, and he sings in Japanese, English and French.

Suzuki grew up near Tokyo, dreaming of becoming an entertainer like American artists he saw on TV and heard on records. Suzuki is now considered one of the most dynamic entertainers in Southeast Asia. He regularly appears on television in Southeast Asia and hosts his own weekly radio show on Tokyo FM. For information on the shows in Cody's Video Poker Lounge at Gold River Resort and Casino, call (800) 835-7904 or (702) 298-2242. ft 1 eV All Rooms PER PERSON PER NIGHT DOUBLE OCCUPANCY Sunday Thru Thursday MAGICAL REALM.

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