The Signal from Santa Clarita, California • 38

In is El 10 The Newhall Signal August 1, 1986 WEEKEND Page Comic Book Stuff Should Be A Top-Ten Renter IRON EAGLE, the inimitable Chappy Sinclair (Academy Award-winner Louis Gossett, a retired Air Force colonel, and Doug Masters (Jason Gedrick), an 18-year-old hotshot pilot, imundertake a seemingly mission to save the possible life of Master's father (Tim Thomerson), an American flier captured by a Khadafy-like leader of a terrorist-oriented North African country. Masters learns that Washington's hands are tied and sadly, Thomerson's goose is cooked as his captors plan to execute him but not before a high profile trial. But wait, Masters has been flying all his life and plans to cop an F-16 and fly halfway round the world and rescue his dad. It's a suicide mission to be sure, but enter "Chappy," an Air Force colonel and buddy of Thomerson, who agrees to help the lad learn all the tricks of combat. Certainly this is comic book stuff, but going male and half-female.

to be a top-ten renter. PRAY FOR DEATH is one Teaming with "Iron Eagle' of the best "'Chop Socky" acIS director Wolfgang tion entries to come along in Petersen's ENEMY MINE, a some time. Kung Fu star and sci-fi epic that went down in Master Ninja, Sho Kosugi, flames at the box office. The plays a Japanese immigrant film begins in deep space, with a wife and two sons who where Dennis Quaid is a buys a restaurant in a runfighter pilot, who engages in a down neighborhood. That deadly shoot-out with a wouldn't be so bad in itself, member of the dreaded but hanging about the place is "Drac" fleet.

Both crash on a a gang of murderers and nearby uninhabited and to- thieves led by the sinister tally inhospitable planet. James Booth eventually Well, a is a lizard-like Kosugi and his family cross being from the planet of their paths with deadly results. Dracon. Quaid survives the Kosugi turns out to be a Mascrash and tracks the Drac ter Ninja, skilled in the arts of down (Louis Gossett and murder and mayhem, but after initial hostile exchanges, makes every effort to put his the two come to realize that warrior past behind him. That their survival depends on co- is until his wife is brutally muroperation and mutual trust dered and one of his young something not easy for either sons is body-slammed! one of them.

After some time Naturally it's time to put aside together on the planet, Gos- peaceful ways in other sett reveals that he's preg- words, it's time for war! nant! Draconians are half- Ion stagel Yuppie Version Of 'Fantasticks' By Cheryl Jensen Heather McPherson plays a duction is a light dinner or chamSignal Staff Writer wonderful mute. She can rival pagne brunch served as part of Marcel Marceau any time on the the ticket price. The evening Plenty of paisley, posies and proper way to use brick and mor- meal is a shrimp salad and hors plaid are on hand in the Granada tar in the art of mimicry. She d'oeuvre plate with tangy dressTheatre's production of "'The also adds a wonderful touch to ing. A better idea is to serve the the flowery scenery.

meal during the performance in This "yuppy" version of the The musical needs more tradi- the style of old-fashioned dinner off-Broadway musical is a de- tional dance numbers using theaters. The intermission was light, in spite of the overdone McPherson, who has profess- too long, so some people left to pink, green and yellow scenery. ional dance training. get some fast food. Presented through Music El Gallo (pronounced El But they returned before the Theatre International, the Gieyo), played by Chris Belyea, second act.

The "Fantasticks," supporting actors in the musical iS a dashing and dangerous which has been on off-Broadway are the real stars of the show. character, and well-liked by the for 20 years, is the longest runnThey are a delight to watch, audience. His narration of the ing musical comedy. The perforespecially the two fathers, story is unnecessary, the story mances by the Granada Theatre Hucklebee and Bellomy, played can tell itself. is worth the long wait through inby Don Melton and Larry Ges- Belyea would make an excel- termission.

ling. In one scene they dance to- lent character actor in Holly- "The Fantasticks" will be gether, adding a lighthearted wood or professional singer. His playing at the Granada Theatre touch at the right moment. rendition of the song "Try To on weekends until Aug. 31.

FriDon Melton is convincing as Remember" was a highlight in day and Saturday evening shows the overprotective father of his the musical. start at 8 p.m., with a light supteenage son Matt (John Fen- The story has two fathers in- per following the Saturday night nell). He speaks well, managing volved in a scheme to have their performance. to say the punch lines at the ex- children marry, complete with There are two performances act moment to get the most such memorable songs as "Try on Sundays. The champagne laughs from the audience.

He To Remember" and "Soon It's brunch show starts at 11:30 a.m., makes the character jolly, using Gonna Rain." with a late afternoon show and a teddy bear-type quality which Rod French and Joe Miele are supper at 5:30 p.m. wins the audience's hearts. great comedians, using their So come in out of the lazy days Terese Noel's depiction of Lu- characters in a classic slapstick and hot muggy nights of sumisa is so soft that the au- routine. When they run around mer to see "The Fantasticks." dience could barely hear her the theater in pirate costumes, in The Granada Theatre is located sing. With training, she could be true "Pirates Of The Caribbean" at 10648 Balboa Blvd.

in Granada more convincing. She portrays style, they look like real bucca- Hills. the character for television ra- neers. For reservations and informather than the stage. A unique feature of the pro- tion, one may call (818) 363-6887.

Steve Miner, who delivered the shocks in Parts and 3 of 2 Friday the 13th saga, is back with HOUSE, a chill-a-minute haunted house horror. There's no Jason around to hack up one victim after another, but Miner keeps us on the edge of our seats with plenty of monsters and eerie apparitions. William Katt, a Vietnam vet and horror novelist, moves into a genuine haunted house his aunt has recently hung herself in one of the bedrooms, and Katt is still. a bit skittish about the memories of growing up in the creepy old place. If that were all that was bothering him, would not have much potential, but he's also having recurring nightmares about his experiences in Vietnam.

He's a mess and figures that moving into the old place will give him the solace and solitude he needs to sort things out! The year was 1897. A widow living on the outskirts of the small town of Aurora, Texas reports an encounter with a mysterious "stranger" thus, THE AURORA ENCOUNTER. A schoolgirl walking along a dry riverbed discovers a curious spacecraft and a large diamond-like jewel. The town rogue plays an unforgettable game of checkers with an "uninvited guest, and three little girls are saved from a mine cave-in by a disappearing guardian. Aurora has discovered an alien friendly and mischievous, with an incredible innocence detectable through his kind eyes and smile.

This film plays loosely like a low-budget "E.T. Goes Min.) By Jim Williams CROSSWORD PUZZLER ACROSS 37 Seed Answer to Wednesday's Puzzle 1 High mountain 38 39 Abstract Entrance being CASE PEW RATE The sweetsop 40 Encountered ORE ETON 8 Fasten 41 Article ERASED DEVOID 12 Inlet 42 Caudal ESTER YELLS 13 Animal coat appendage 14 Learning 44 Chemical EDIT TELL 15 Transgress compound WAS COPES SOB 18 Stamina 47 Destitute OR TEN DO 18 Trades for of money money 51 Period of time NEW BEATS DEW 20 Paradise 52 Century plant RAID SITE 21 Faeroe whirlwind Islands 53 54 Son Outfit of Seth PRINT ARARA 22 Twisted 55 Young salmon LATTER SMILED 23 Small valley 56 Nerve network ALEE OWE TEND 27 Distant 57 Diocese NESS TEA EROS 29 Aeriform fluid 30 Monster 10 Part of circle DOWN 31 Spanish article 1 War god 5 Playing card 11 Confederate 32 Shallow vessel 2 Unit of Italian 6 Church officials 33 That woman currency: pi. 7 Ponder general 34 Paid notice 3 Reception room 8 Defame 17 Concerning 19 French article 35 Composition 4 Simians 9 Vast age 22 Pale 10 24 Forenoon 25 Permission 12 13 to use 26 Finishes 15 16 27 Give food to 28 In addition 120 29 Merry 30 Condensed moisture 22 (23 125 26 32 Mate 33 Torrid 130 36 Therefore 37 Goddess of 32 33 the moon 38 Goes in 135 136 137 136 40 Distance runner 41 Equally 39 40 43 Three-toed sloth 42 43 45 46 44 Actual being 45 Great Lake 50 46 Rant 47 Baby food 53 48 Guido's high note 56 49 And not 50 Drunkard 1985 United Feature Syndicate.