The Times from Munster, Indiana • 39

THE TIMES Friday, January 12. 1990 D-7 THEATER Fox hopes 'Simpsons' will be a drawing card New network takes crack at prime-time cartoon i "It was really a struggle to get everybody lined up and facing the same direction, because every one of the animators can draw better than I can." Matt Groening 9 V--. i LOS ANGELES (AP) Life has never been more normal for the Simpsons: Dad gives Bronx cheers at the opera, mom hides valuables in her colossal hairdo and the sluggish son attempts to win Scrabble games with the word "kwyjibo." Pushing all of the conventions of the domestic television sitcom through a paper shredder and then weaving the scraps into new and often peculiar tales, the makers of Fox's "The Simpsons" are trying to establish the first prime-time cartoon since "The Jetsons" and "The Bull-winkle Show" in the early 1 960s. "The Simpsons," seen regularly as short features on Fox's "The Tracey Ullman Show," debuts as a weekly half-hour series on Fox on Sunday at 8:30 p.m., replacing the science-themed news show "Beyond Tomorrow." But don't grab a stack of Pop Tarts and a glass of Tang and expect Saturday-morning fluff: With episodes focusing on themes like son Bart's stupidity and dad Homer's inability to provide for his family, "The Simpsons" bears much closer resemblance to Fox's "Married With Children" than to "The Smurfs." It might be colorful, but it's a little dark, too. "In my comic strip I'm trying to entertain a certain segment of the audience and annoy another segment, and I'm not trying to do that with the TV show," said Matt Greening, the show's creator and the author of the wry and insightful cartoon "Life in Hell" and the related books "Work is Hell" and "Love is Hell." "I know I can annoy people," said Groening (rhymes with raining, sort of).

"It's more fun to try to take an audience and make them laugh in spite of themselves. It's a different kind of challenge. This is a family entertainment show. It's not aimed at kids, though." Groening said "The Simpsons" is "certainly harder-edged than any TV cartoon in recent memory." Which isn't to say it's not funny in a strange, unpredictable way: When Homer taunts animals at the zoo, you don't really xpect a television show much less a cartoon -to show dad pelted in the face with monkey muck. "The Simpsons are on the slow side," Groening said.

"But one of" the good things about it is that we can resist the temptation to put clever lines in their mouths. That's my problem with most TV sitcoms these lines that come out of these characters' mouths are utterly unbelievable. So our cleverness lies elsewhere. "At the same time, I don't think that the show has any i 'V I OH of that superior snottiness. We like the characters they make dumb decisions and they act on whatever emotion occurs to them at the moment, but that's part of the humor.

"The show is ultimately a celebration it's about having a good time." "The Simpsons" will have to survive in a television marketplace where cartoons are either toy-oriented syndicated strips or huggable Saturday morning specials where a real crisis occurs when a bear loses his sweater. It's a new working environment for Groening, who writes and draws his comics in his Venice, home and works on "The Simpsons" on the busy Fox lot. "I got very used to working by myself, but it got lonely, too," Groening said. "And it's really fun to be around people having a blast doing what they are doing. Almost all of the animators are obsessed by the medium and they're passionately enthusiastic about their work when they're not exhausted." The show was created by Groening, and developed by Groening, Sam Simon and Oscar-winning filmmaker James L.

Brooks "Life in Hell," Groening's weekly comic, is admittedly not a work of high cartoon art. "The animators (for The Simpsons') had to learn a more primitive way of drawing," Groening said. "It was really a struggle a get everybody lined up and facing the same direction, because every one of the animators can draw better than I can. There's a simplicity and clarity in the design of my characters that we wanted to bring to the TV show. "In my comic strip I'm limited, because if I can't draw it, I won't do it.

But with The Simpsons' I can think up ideas that I could never draw." Russian rock opera hits N.Y. JllV 1K21 TOfilttltCE Of RIVER OAKS AP Laserphoto DRIVING FORCE: Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman have been hailed as certain Academy Award nominees for their performances in the film "Driving Miss Daisy." Tandy plays Daisy Wertham, a cantankerous Jewish lady trying to cope with her advancing years and the changes in the South following World War II. Freeman plays Hoke Coburn, her chauffeur, who learns over the years to deal with Miss Daisy's temperment. NEW YORK (AP) Russia's first rock opera, set in 1806 with an elaborate avant-garde staging, cast of 60 and a message "to bridge the tORN ON THE 4TH Of JULY (R) no passes, no $3 Tuesday NAZE LOOK WHO'S TA1X1MS (fSl J) SKI PATROL (PC) TANGO CASH (R) INTERNAL AFTAKS (R) no passes LITTLE MERMAID (Q WIZARD (re) 5:00 $3.00 Tuesday suspended until Jin. 9.

1990 distance between us with love," has opened for four weeks at the City Center. "Junon and Avos the Hope" is interesting. Though it will occasionally remind New Yorkers of theater from "South Pacific" to "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Hair" and "Les Miserables," it isn't really a copycat show. Minter has what it takes for film I J350 until 6 p.m. Children under 5 not idmmdrtr 8 p.m.

SENIORS OPEN $10FF 6:15 PM. DOUBLE FEATURE-FABULOUS BAKER BOYS STAYING TOGETHER method actor. I'm mptivated because I want a certain lifestyle." Having made her mark playing tough teenagers, Kelly realizes the need to expand her image. "It's like you either have to be this tough, hard person or you gotta be somebody like Robin Givens or a Cosby-type kid. There's no middle ground." Kelly is advancing into that middle ground by playing an aspiring director in the upcoming "Popcorn" with Tony Roberts.

"I've been up for parts in movies that came down to the wire opposite a white male. I would love to do that. I don't care. This is my career, this is my life. I want to direct it and I want to do something creative.

So that's what time it is on that!" Not one to wait for things to happen to her, Kelly credits her background for her natural toughness and drive. "I come from a big family seven girls and two boys and I'm the youngest," she says. Her mother worked in pharmaceutical supplies and traveled most of the time lecturing to physicians, and was not often home. The children were unsupervised much of the time. "It just got bad," Kelly says.

"I didn't have a place to stay. I've been on my own since I was 14 years old, buying my own clothes, etc. But I never grew up in a ghetto. I come from a middle-class background. I grew up Catholic, but of course I used to lie to the nuns, you know.

"I've had a fast life and I know the difference between right and wrong. In my family, I've seen sisters on heroin, yeah, addicts I guess. I was into drugs myself to a degree, not so much taking them, but involved. I wound up in juvenile halls, I was in girls' homes. I'm like one of those hard-headed types of people: You cannot tell me noth-inY'She is quick to reply when asked why she didn't "just say no." "If you've never been involved in drugs, it's easy to just say no.

If you've never been there, then how can you say it? It's hard out there. I see friends that 1 grew up with, some are in jail, some are dead. Copley News Service Appearing in eight major motion pictures in the last five years, Kelly Jo Minter has what it takes to make it in the film business: looks, faith, self-determination and just a little bit of luck. She was working as a grip at Universal Studios when a friend asked her to read for a part. The resulting footage was shown to director Peter Bogdanovich, who cast Kelly as the young prostitute that Cher chooses for her deformed son in "Mask." "I got a lot of juice from that one," says Kelly.

A development deal with producer Marty Steiger led to roles playing teen-agers in "The Principal" with James Belushi and Louis Gossett, "Badge of the Assassin" with James Woods, "Miracle Mile," "Lost Boys" and "Nightmare on Elm Street." "I have a really young look, so I've been cast in roles" that require her to be "either the wayward bad girl or the girl who has to be tough or something." Kelly readily admits to projecting a natural toughness. "I'm not a method actor," she explains, "I think I'm a natural. I don't prepare for parts like a FOOTLIGHT FARE WAR OF THE ROSES (RWon 2 screens) "I IN SCHERERVILLE WHEN QUALITY COUNTS Screen 1 (Dolby THX)(No Bargain Matinee Except Mon.) Dairy Sat-Mon Screen 2 (Dolby) Dally Sal-Sun CHRISTMAS VACATION (PG-13)(Dolby) Daily Sat-Mon DRIVING MISS DAISY (PG)(Dolby) No Passes, No I P. Tickets Daily Sat-Mon ALWAYS (PGWDolDy) Daily Sat-Mon 35 STEEL MAGNOLIAS (PG)(Dolby) Daily 30 Sat-Sun DOWNTOWN (R)(Dolby) No Passes. No V.I.

P. Tickets Daily Sat-Mon 45-7'45-9 45 BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II (PG) Dally Sat.Mon GLORY (R)IDolby SR)(on 2 Screens) No Passes, No I P. Tickets Screens 1 (No Bargain Matinee Except Mon.) Daily Sat-Mon (Fri-Sat Only Screen 2 Daily 6 15-8 45 Sat-Sun 6 (Frf-Sat Only HARLEM NIGHTS IR)(Dolby) Daily Sat-Mon TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE in (RWDolby) Daily Sat-Mon ALL PERMS 33 Complete (Including Spiral) SCULPTURED NAILS '35 Complete 6430 W.Lincoln Hwy. (U.S. 30) (Between Burr Cline) AT THE WOODSHOP 322-1023 IARGA1N MAJINEEHVHYDtf All SHOWINGS IEFOU 6 KM.

General Cinema $3.50 UTTti MBIMAIP (0)800 UATHHFACI 735-930 IAO( TO THI FUTUHi 1 KH St Mo. 12:30 2 UATHHFACI (R) Sa-Mo JOO-3 66-650-746-840 sponsors an Play Excerpt Festival which was recently hosted by the Community Theater Guild in Valparaiso. A state-wide organization, ITA publishes a monthly newsletter and an annual scholarly journal. LaCasse's pet project over the last two years is promoting works by Indiana playwrights. According to LaCasse, ITA is also developing a computer data base as a reference directory of all Indiana live performance theaters.

LaCasse has two goals he hopes to achieve during his presidency: to make ITA a resource to the theater community in Indiana" and to increase individual and group membership. Donald Headly, also a faculty Member of the theater department at Ball State has become the children's theater representative on the ITA Board. The officers began their term with the new year. Compiled by RICHARD SHERMAN CHMfTMAf VACATION PGO) 530-730 TANOO CASH (R) 9:30 staged in the auditorium at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights. Call (708) 798-0467.

THE THEATRE SCHOOL DE-PAUL UNIVERSITY, at the Blackstone Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Dr. in Chicago. A college musical production of Joe Huber's 90 minute complete with handsome prince and glass slipper. The production runs Jan.

16 through March 3. Performances are 10 a.m. Tues. Thurs. and, 2 p.m.

Sat. Tickets are $3.50. Call (312) 341-8455. THEATER NOTES: Don LaCasse succeeds L. Ross Rowland as president of the Indianapolis based Indiana Theatre Association for the Indianapolis which is a federation of state)wide regional thes-pian groups.

LaCasse has been chairman of Ball State's theater department since 1985. He is producing director of Ball State's Summer Theatre Festival and a board member of The Muncie Civic Theater. The 400 member ITA sponsors auditions and MANCH tG) 1O0 MAtLflA NWHT1 ALWATi (PO) INTERNAL AFFAMS (R) OLOIY (R) 2M 30-700-930 UTTUMIMAIllGII3i7 UU PATIOL (PQ) 1 OIN ON THE 4TH Of JULY R) dark with the comic in Winter's Tale." The adventures" cover 16 years, but The Goodman intends to play with time. Previews begin Jan. 12, and opens Jan.

22 through Feb. 17. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Tues. through 8 p.m.

Fri. through 2:30 p.m. Sun. with selected Thurs. and Sat.

matinees. Tickets are $18 $29. Call (312)4433-3800. PEGASUS PLAYERS at the Truman O'Rourk Center, 1145 W. Wilson, Chicago.

The odd wacky brand of Christopher Durang takes on the categories and genre's of the movie industry in History of American Film." So, don't let the title think you're in for a lecture. The musical lampoon takes on all the Hollywood classics from the silents to the disaster flicks. This spoof of the celluloids. Previews are8 p.m. Jan.

18 through 23 and opens Jan. 24 to run through March 11. Performances are 8 p.m. Sat.and 2 p.m. Tickets are $13 Call (312) 271-2638.

ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL, 17949 Dixie Highway in Homewood. The school third annual benefit doesn't just tilt at windmills when of La Mancha" is presented Jan. 19)21. The cast is set to the Impossible Dream" in the strong musical about Cervantes and his creations, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

The production will be BEEF BOARDS DINNER THEATRE.9301 N. Michigan Indianapolis. The 17th season begins with "Best of Burlesque" as it looks back on the best of vaudeville and baggy pants of Burlesque. The revival runs jan. 16 through Feb.

11. Call (317) 872-9664 for further information. DRURY LANE DINNER THEATRE, 95th St. in Evergreen Park. Begins its new Subscription season with aa delightful comedy, Security." What happens when your cantankerous mother is suddenly dropped by one daughter into the lap of her artsy yuppie daughter? Life styles change and there are plenty of neat twists and turns in this family comedy.

It's also senior citizen love story. It all begins Jan. 17 for an open ended run. Performances are 2 and 8 p.m. 8:30 p.m.

Fit, 6:15 and 9:30 p.m. 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sun. Tickets are $14.50 $19.50 with Dinner Theater packages from $26.50 $31.50. Sr.citizen matinees $12.50 Wed.

and $17.50 thurs. Students 15 years and younger $8. Call for special subscription rates (708) 422-0404. THE GOODMAN THEATRE MAINSTAGE, 200 S. Columbus in Chicago.

One of the romantic plays of the mature Shakespeare contrasts the TANOO A CASH (R) 1 WAI OF THE IOSES(R) 200-4 DOWNTOWN (R) LOOK WHOS TALKING (P013) STEEL MAONOUAS (PG) 600-720-940 VISIT OUR NEWLY REMODELED GRIFFITH STORE NEW LONGER HOURS 7 a.m. 6 p.m., 6 DAY'S A WEEK SAME DAY SERVICE NO EXTRA CHARGE KENNEDY 6735 Kennedy Hessvllle 644-9769 The Rocking Chair Theatre ALL SEATS S3 RKOTT1 INCLUDING SATURDAYl Watch fa UTTLE MIKMA10 Duly 600 SAT. A SUN 230-4-15-6O0 w-jaiw ceieDrauoni WCLEANERS SPECIAL PLAIN POPCORN POP J1.00 CRIMES MISDEMEANORS Friday 6:001 10:16 Saturday 5:00 6:00 6 10:15 Sunday 5:00 4 6 00 Mon. Thurs. 600 no on undar 12 admriied ii Mum turn SIX US, I VIDEO TAPES Daily 7:45 NOTAOOtMfflAM ta Uiimn in SM'ixj liaury HOW.

MAIN GRIFFITH, IN. 924-4343.