Ukiah Daily Journal from Ukiah, California • Page 6

6 JAN. JAN. 27, 1996 ArtaSEntertainment THE UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL Tracy Ullman takes on HBO By SCOTT WILLIAMS AP Television Writer NEW YORK She is small, slender and subdued. Her face, devoid of makeup, is a pale oval underneath dark brown hair. Dressed in black T-shirt and slacks, she seems to recede under the lights of the room.

This is Tracy Ullman, creature of a thousand guises? It makes sense that Ullman would take refuge off-screen in the non-costume of black-on-black, with no images to project and no personalities on call but her own. In HBO's premiere of the half- hour comedy "Tracey Takes On she translates herself into a half-dozen other people. Each of her characters represents a perspective on the night's given topic. This week it was "Tracey Takes Romance," but in coming weeks she'll take on fame, charity, and maybe a few of the less deadly sins. The British actress and comedian first showed U.S.

audiences her willingness to submerge herself in character in 1987, when her variety showcase, "The Tracey Ullman Show," debuted on the fledgling Fox Broadcasting Co. She and it won Emmy Awards in 1989 and 1990, when it left the air. Film work followed "I Love You to Death," "Robin Hood: Men Tights" and "I'll Do Anything," while she resisted returning to series TV work. "I've never wanted to do just the one character," Ullman explained. "I just couldn't tie myself into situation comedy where you have the sofa in the foreground and the stairs in the background, and you're always the same person and you come in that door and there's two cute kids." "How many funny things could you think of do with the staircase? I couldn't do it." Ullman, in her Emmy Award- winning 1993 HBO special, "Tracey Ullman: Takes On New York" introduced some of the characters you'll meet tonight.

They include Fern Rosenthal, Long Island matron whose exquisite pronunciation of the Yiddish "tookus" rolls off her palate; Linda Granger, former Broadway star; self-made "upper-class bitch" Susan Pillsworthy; and jut-jawed Trevor, the gay flight attendant. "I love Trevor. I've always wanted to do one of those gay air stewards because they're always so lovely to me. As Linda says (lower- ing her voice to the throaty, teeth- clenched contralto of the washed- up Linda Granger): "I have a wonderful homosexual fan base, and I love them!" Ullman also makes a lewd, leering pig out of Chic the cab driver, a hairy dude from somewhere in the Middle East who's utterly certain he's irresistible to women. "I did Chic just once, at 1 in the morning, driving around in that cab," Ullman said.

"I filmed eight monologues." Say, just how many souls really are teeming in that head? "Oh, limitless, limitless. I create people nowadays just to prove a point," she said. "I take on men now. I'll try anybody now, although I think I'd have trouble doing Shaquille O'Neal." There's only one place you'll see Ullman as herself in each show, and that's at the opening of each episode, as she word-associates her way into the night's topic. "You can see me as me a little brunette girl with a big nose and then you get into the main body of the show," she said.

"I don't want to waste time being me. It's not funny." Barry "The Fish" Melton Band, which Includes Peter Albln, Bob Flurle, Peter Walsh, Barry Melton and Spencer Dryden will play In a benefit for the Ron Brown for Superior Court campaign Saturday at the Ukiah Grange. Hot bands play in political benefit Saturday A rock-blues celebration to benefit Ron Brown's campaign for Superior Court judge will be held Jan. 27 at the Ukiah Grange Hall. Headlining will be Barry "The Fish" Melton's band (above) along with Animal Mind featuring Nick Gravenites.

The "Blues for Brown" show starts at 8:30 p.m. and tickets are available at the Mendocino Book Company and the door. Melton's band includes Peter Albin of Big Brother and the Holding Company fame, Bob Flurie, formerly with the Pointer Sisters and Hoo Doo Rhythm Devils, Peter Walsh of Sea Train and Hoo Doo Rhythm Devels, Melton, who co- founded Country Joe and the Fish, and Spencer Dryden, former drummer with the Jefferson Airplane. Dryden will be in Cleveland at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inductions Jan. 27 and his place will be taken by Dave Getz, also an ex-Big Brother member.

Billboard Continued from Page 3 Musicfcst entries still sought LAKEPORT Winter Music- fest entry forms are still available at the Lake County Arts Council Gallery, 325 N. Main Lakeport. Auditions will be held at the gallery Saturday, Jan. 27 from 2 to 6 p.m. "The response to date has been Auditions Continued from Page 3 Susan Block-Reiner produced the critically acclaimed independent feature "Rosters" (Edward James Braga), has worked closely with high-level cast and directors in such mainstream movies as "Ironweed" (Jack Streep) and "The Running Man" (Arnold Schwar- zenegger), and has executive produced several dramatic television 'specials including one starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Val Kilmer.

Block-Reiner is extraordinarily -well-connected to the casting and agency community, and has solid hands-on film-making experience. excellent," said Jillian Maggzu, executive director. "But we can still accommodate a few more entrants." The Musicfest is an excellent opportunity for local musicians to display their talents, either solo or group. Lake County residency is required, but (here is no format on age limit. The Musicfest will take place at the Clear Lake High School Saturday, Feb.

24. For more information, call 263-6658. Square dance set in Lake County LOWER LAKE Konocti Kickers Square Dance Club of Lake County will hold their 35th Delicious ROASTED RED PEPPER FETA SALAD with bread Anniversary Dance Saturday, Feb. 10 at Lower Lake High School Multipurpose Room, Lower Lake. Pre-rounds will be cued by Ted Sierakowski starting at 7:30 p.m.

Guest caller Nate Bliss will call a dance (red light, green light), starting at 8 to 11 p.m. Refreshments will be served and there will be a drawing. Donation is $4 per person. Citrus Fair wants student volunteers CLOVERDALE The Youth In Action division of The Cloverdale Citrus Fair, held Feb. 16 through 19, wishes to enlist student participation as exhibitors and vol- LOW PRICES! "Call us Before you Buy" 6a.m.-8p.m.

MUTT HUTT CA1 732 S. 'State. Ukiah 468-5376 Redwood Factory Outlet 3400 N. STATE UKIAH 462-3599 8-5 PM take children to places that they have only dreamed about. Newspapers seem like magic to them because the images that reinforce the printed word are created in their own minds, not in some TV studio miles away.

This is where a child's imagination is stimulated and nurtured, allowing true creativity to blossom. "The newspaper is my pal," one young reader told us. "It's there every day for me." Be there for the youth of our town. Become a' classroom partner and put newspapers in the hands of young readers.You'll both enjoy the ride. $70,00 per month witl one classroom, We want to join the Ukiah Daily Journal in the fight for literacy! Sponsor Name: Contact Person: Address: Phone: Fax: We will sponsor classrooms $70 per month for eight months.

We would like to contribute instead of sponsoring a particular classroom. Check enclosed. Please bill us monthly. Authorised Checks mid questions ctttt be directed to: Thv Vkitth Dtiily Jounutl Vkinh CA (707) 3ilU unteers. The Fair theme is "Classics in Citrus." Entries may be made from individuals, classes or groups.

This year's feature booth is video production (for more information, please refer to the exhibitor's guide book). Volunteers and student advisors are needed to assist staff. By working as a volunteer, youths can earn points toward free admission at the Fair. Volunteer positions include design, building layout, decoration and general "you-name-it." Call or come by the fair offices for exhibitor's guide books and entry forms. The phone number is 894-3992.

Local news, weather sports in the Journal SOUTH STATE EXXON LUBE, OIL FILTER 15 Minute Fast Lube FAST Oil Change Lubrication OH Filter Performance. Protection. Quality." WORKS UKff LIQUID BALL BEARINGS South State Exxon 734 S. Ukiah 462-351 5 Full service vehicle maintenance also available Owned and operated by Redwood Tree Service Stations Inc. SB A Under Machinery and Equipment Furniture and Fixtures Leasehold Improvements Land Building Lines of Credit Business Cash Flow Leasing Company Vehicles Office Computer Testing Equipment Construction Equipment Equipment Automation Systems Medical Equipment Factors Accounts Receivable Fir Let NBR help you choose the right one.

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