Tallahassee Democrat from Tallahassee, Florida • Page 66

DANCE THEATER I i- f1 i i A i 4 vt i ft--' Si- "iMtice and Lovage" opens tonight al Tallahassee Little Theatre. By Steve MacQueen DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER Though it sounds like a play about an affair in a vegetable patch, "Lettice and Lovage" is actually a comedy about a tour guide in an English manor house. It was written by, Peter Shaffer, known best for his intense plays "Amadeus" and "Equus." This play is in a different category. "The play's got a message, a nice message that beauty can survive in the world, as Lettice's life shows us," explained director Jon Mark Fletcher. "But basically, we'll all just have some laughs." The play centers on Lettice (Elizabeth Chesnut) who works as a tour guide at an English manor house.

Since the nature of the job is dull repetition, she has taken to embellishing her stories to thrill the crowds. This runs her afoul of the woman who runs the place (Jeanne Elias). Then there's an inspector (Anthony Arkin) who comes in to observe and forms an allegiance with the offbeat Lettice. The play won two Tony Awards in 1991, one for Maggie Smith and one for Margaret Ty-zack as featured actress. Peter Shaffer wrote the lead part of "Lettice and Lovage" specifically for Smith, so, naturally, the idea that Maggie Smith is Lettice makes it a fairly imposing role for actresses.

"When you look at a role written specifically for an actress, you have to think about what the author had in mind, what qualities of the character would be served by the actress," said director Jon Mark Fletcher. Elizabeth Chesnut, memorable in such plays as OfJ-Street's "Hedda Gabbler" and "Cockroaches," plays the part, her first for the Little Theatre. It's actually a first-time event for most of the cast. The play brought several new faces to the Little Theatre's stage, such as another Off-Street regular, Jeanne Elias. Jon Mark Fletcher makes his Tallahassee debut as director, and Anthony Arkin (we'll just say this once yes, he's Alan Arkin's kid) is also a newcomer to the Tallahassee stage.

In fact, he's a newcomer to Tallahassee, flying in from New York to play the MIKE EWENDemocrat Left to right: Anthony Arkin, Elizabeth Chesnut and Jeanne Elias. Ballet for spring Brian Wilson, meet Pyotr Tchaikovsky. That more or less sums up the artistic ground covered in the Tallahassee Ballet's special 20th anniversary presentation of "Dance for Spring" tonight and Saturday in Ruby Diamond Auditorium. The evening starts with a musical tribute to Wilson's Beach Boys with a medley of California hits. After a sweep through neoclassical ballet and a romantic ballet, the concert ends with the much-loved "Aurora's Wedding" third act from "Sleeping Beauty." "We have fabulous guest artists this year," ballet artistic director Joyce Straub said.

Lynn Aaron from the Feld Ballet will dance the part of WHAT: Peter Shaffer's "Lettice and Lovage" WHERE: Tallahassee Little Theatre DATE; Tonight, Saturday and Thursday-May 15 at 8 p.m.; Sunday and May 16 at 2 p.m. PHONE: 224-8474 COST: $9 general admission, $7 for students "'1 ONTV Prime-time Bobby Since Bobby Bowden has let Burt Reynolds hang around at FSU games for so long, It seems only fair that Reynolds return the favor. So Monday night, Bowden turns in an appearance on Reynolds' successful "Evening Shade" TV show (Monday, 8 p.m., Channel 6, cable 9). Bowden plays a role he knows Inside-out himself and acquits himself very well. It's good to see a major-college football coach look an upset parent In the eye and say, "I'm sayln' that football ain't nothin' but a game," like he means it.

part, then flying back. "We're testing the territorial lines between Off-Street and TLT, opening the creative community up a little and expanding creative borders. And hoping to see the light of day after the show." The cast went through some early changes, as the original actresses left the show for different reasons and technical help became a little harder to find. Fletcher said the trouble was worth it. "The show is -a lot better now than it was early on," Fletcher said.

"New elements came out that weren't there before. Elizabeth brought a lot of vitality to the roie-" Naturally, there are plenty urn il Jokes about the University Miami and missed field I i i 'finale PHIL COALEDemocrat.