The Lawton Constitution from Lawton, Oklahoma • Page 20

20 THE LAWTON CONSTITUTION, Wednesday, February 4, 1976 Lawtoh HE BRIGHT lights flicked.on:.again at McMahon Memorial Auditorium last night; for a musical; the first time in three and it was an exciting and worthwhile evening in the theater. Viewing "Man of La Mancha" again was like meeting an old friend since shaving bowl and believe it is a golden helmet. When he lapsed into his final illness, collapsing floor in. death, there were more than a few damp eyes and lumpy throats in the audience, the same reaction Atkinson's characterization evoked, in 1969. Bill Crawford's Column the now classical musical played here Nov.

7, 1969. The bus and truck company of "La reaches almost, the. same quality as its big brother production seven, years, Although.the house was sparsely populated with only 452 theater-goers', their applause more than made up for the void seats. (A near" capacity crowd of 1,384 McMahon Theatre League patrons attended the '69 production.) It's no surprise that "Man of La Mancha" has been revived for the hinterlands; it has been more than a few seasons since Broadway has dispatched touring productions the quality of "La Mancha." DAVID ATKINSON, who played the dual role on Broadway as well as on tour in earlier years, gave a sterling performance as Cervantes and Quixote. Atkinson is "Man of La performance last night even surpassed his characterization here in 1969 as the crack-brained Knight of the Woeful Countenance.

Atkinson's acting, sing- AL1CE EVANS was properly vulgar. vital, and convincing as Aldonza, the whorish scullery maid whom Quixote mistakes for his lovely Dulcinea. Her singing voice wasn't always consistent, but she turned in an excellent performance last night, especially her reprise of "Dulcinea." Aldonza's abduction scene with the muleteers was more sensuous than in the earlier road show production. Mark Ross provided the correct amount of humor as Sancho, Quixote's devoted man servant, and kept the mu- the singers to match the needs of an unusually strong singing cast demanded" by "Man of La Mancha." The ensemble works well together. Although "The Quest" stands out as the hit song, there'are others just as enchanting, such as "Dulcinea, "Little Bird, Little Bird," "I'm Only Thinking of Him," and the title song opening the A salute to musical director Milton SeLzer and his small': off-stage combo, providing beautiful accompaniment.

And glory be, the stage was not over amplified. Producer Tom Mallow's touring "Man of La Mancha" indeed was a special treat last night to kick off a week of musicals in the Lawton-Fort Sill community. Let's hope it's not another three years before a touring New York show the calibre of "La Mancha" finds its way to the civic auditorium. John Denrtey as Pinion McLooergan takes a snooze to insure privacy for the courtship of his daughter, Sharon, played by Chris Soli, by Woody Mahooey, played by Doug Burton, in a scene from Lawton Community Theatre's production of "Pinion's opening Thursday night at the Playhouse. (Staff Photo by Jeff Dixon) 'Pinion's Rainbow' Casts Ready For Openings ASTS FOR two musicals opening Thursday night at Lawton Community Theatre and Fort Sill's Cabaret Supper Theater are busy applying final rehearsal polish for the productions.

Capt. Cleve Hale and Pam Moss are cast in the lead roles as Curley and Laurey in Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma. 1 at the Cabaret. John Denney in the title role, Doug Bruton, Chris Soli, Doug Burton and Mark Gish play lead roles in LCT's "Finian's Rainbow," Complete casts and crews of both musicals include the following. MICKEY HAYES as Aunt Eller; Karen Johnson as Ado Annie Carnes; Pvi.

John Brittingham as Will Parker; Ted Stevens as Jud Fry; Jason Evans as Ali Hakim; Maj. David L. Miller Jr. as Ike Skidmore; Bill Powell as Slim; Pfc. Mike Gregory as Fred; Ruth Moore as Gertie Cummings; Chaplain (Lt.

Col.) Goff Petersen as Andrew Carnes; Don Cheatham as Cord Elam, and Laurie Booras and Ronnie Moss as lead dancers. Dancers Deborah Lynne' Fugitt, Bill Powell, Sissy Ridings, Donna Rogers, Christi Schackel, Sandy SchackeL Chorus Karen Bonnell, Pfc. Russ Brown, Spec. 4 Charles Cantrell, Lorrie Ann Crockett, Sally Evans, Cindy Ferguson, Spec. 5 Helen R.

Gage, Pfc. Mike Gregory, Lisa Hayes, Kim Lowden, Dot Miller, Lynette Phinney, Johanna Seignious, Jenny Sullivan, Myra L. Tolliver, Misty Dawn White. Children's Chorus Andrea Lynn Bonnell, Christy Bonnell, Toni Sue Crockett, Dana S. Hart, Bill Irwin, Mark Seigmous, James Stackowiak, Mark J.

Stachowiak, Debbie Westmoreland, Tim Duane White, Janie Williams. 'Pinion's Rainbow' MARY DENNEY as Susan; William Merrill as Billboard Rawkins; Joey Amacker as Howard; Weldon Davis as Shears; Charles Kimball as Robust Joe a a i a i McKindra as John, the preacher; George Wesley, Clarence Pierce, Malcolm Stoughtenborough as the Gospe- leers; Tom Ramsey and Hha Van Tobr- uk as a geologists; Chris Tyson as Henry and Dan Collier as Buzz. Dancers, under the'direction of Jack Storey, are Tommy a Lyn Brock, Linda Carter, Royce Crosby, Dawn Graham. Malcolm Grant, Sharon Hutchins, Melissa Jueschke, Dawn Graham, Georgia Mayes, Mary Ann Meyers, Bob Reynolds, Gordon Rodger, Albert Vaughn Jr. Singers, directed by Boyd Fees are Cynthia Bolinger, Patricia Davis, Frederica Grant, David Kemp, Paul Landoll, Marian Miller.

Melissa Sessions, Carolyn Smith, Jimmy Spann, Greg Tener, Linda Watts, Shelley Watts. Children in the ensemble are Julianne-Harveland, Linda Hawkins and Mark Prater. The orchestra, directed by Carl Reno, includes: Kathy Hickman, rehearsal pianist; Leslie Cullen, viola; Kent Fountaine, percussion; James 'Harsh, reed; Patsy Gardner, Vanessa Kibbe, violin; Lee Lattimore, flute and piccolo; Jeff Merrill, oboe, English horn; Peggy Myers, trumpet; Michael Radcliffe, horn; Alan Turner, violin II; Robert Watkins, bass; Laurie Wolford, violin II; and Steve Wren, reed. BIG MAMA'S BOUTIQUE Specializing in Stout Sizes 18 to 52 Handtini aistom lit bras 1107F. 357-7156 MAD DOG SALOON 1311 Cache Rd.

Live Entertainment Weekly Beer Pool Foosball Happy Hour 5 to 7 p.m. Daily Open 5:00 to Midnight Daily Royal Coach Inn's Specials ROYAL FILET Ues) 3" PRIME RIBS Thu 4 75 (Wed Thurs) ROYAL Includes salad baked and hot bread $075 Gore Resv. 357-5690 Party room available. Stage In Review ing and clear enunciation are superb as he flits from illusion to reality. Truly stirring was his interpretation of "The Quest" Cto dream the impossible dream; to fight the unbeatable the musical's hit song.

The term actually is a slight misnomer for "Man of La Mancha." It's more of a play or drama with music and an intertwining passionate plea for idealism and illusion through the eyes of Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes and his immortal fictional creation, Don Quixote, IT'S A play-within-a-play, in which Cervantes, thrown into prison by the Inquisition, enacts, with the aid of inmates, episodes from the adventures of the wonderful eccentric Don Quixote. Atkinson carries the production from start finish. At all times, he is completely credible as Quixote, the blind idealist, the mad gallant figure who sees a prostitute as a noble lady, a dreamer who can wear a barber's SUGAR! Now in both locations 3144 30 S. Cache Road Sheridan sical bogging down i preachy portions. MY BIGGEST quarrel with the production was unnecessary stage bits of sloppy slapstick, definitely not needed.

Donald Tango's characterization of the barber was almost too much. Walter -Blocher's Padre was but too gibberish at times with tinges of unforgivable upstaging. (Jackie Rohrbacker made an imposing Inquisitor). Overall, this touring company has PRODUCTION STAFFS and crew for the musicals LCT--Robert Plumb, director; Harold Hunt, stage manager; Larry Abbott, Catherine Johnston, Jean Hammond, Lynda Plumb, assistant managers; Bo -Bowman, light design; Boyd. Fees, music director; Jack Storey, choreographer; Kathy Hickman, rehearsal pianist; Carol Lockhart, costumer; Opal Ford, Jo i i a Cecil George Smith, Sherry Ziska, costume assistants.

Also Jan Ward, make-up; Delores Delluomo, Mary. Alice Prater, property gatherers; Paul Harveland, master carpenter; Tonya Prater, Gofer; Lorena Fullerton, Barbara Henry, box office; Kathryn program, and Doris Anderson, promotion, and Bobbie Glasby, ushers. CABARET--Todd Lane, director; Raymond Shermeyer, producer; Logan Walker, music director; Pfc. Edward Zavora technical director and set design; Doris Anderson, box office; Thelrna Regan, costumes; Cleta Davis, pianist; Carol Regan, Cabaret hostess; Also Duane Proctor, assistant director; Laurie Booras, Ronny Moss, Judy A Susan Booras, a Lynne Fugitt, Sissy Riddings, Donna Rogers, Christi Schackel, Sandy Scha- cel, choreography; Kim board; Denise L. Lacey, Jim Regan, Elaine Anderson, follow spotlights; Sgt.

Russ Phinney, properties; Scott Brooks, Spec. 4 Charles Cantrell, Pfc. Russ Brown, Duane Proctor, set construction; Scott Brooks, Lt. Dennis Madigan, grip. CordelPs Roberta Knie Debuts At Met Opera 4 VIDEO I A SCREEN 1 Box office 7:00 shows 7:15, 9:10.

Adm. $2.00, $1.00. SCREEN 2 Box offiM 7:00, 9:30. NORMAN (Special) Soprano Roberta Knie, a 1960 University of Oklahoma graduate from Cordell, recently returned to the United States after more than a decade of singing in Europe to make her American opera debut. She sang the role of Isolde in the Civic Opera's production of and early in December and followed with her Metropolitan Opera debut in New York as Chryso- themia in earlier this month.

While working toward a bachelor of music education degree at OU, Miss Knie studied with Elisabeth Parham and Dame Eva Turner in the School of Music. Her voice coach for the past 10 years has been Judy Bounds Coleman, an OU voice graduate from Madill. Miss Knie is the top soprano at the Graz Opera House, one of Europe's leading opera centers. She recorded and performed "Tristan and Isolde" in Montreal last August and has appeared three times in Buenos Aires at one of the largest opera houses in the world. ART CLASS SET "Basic Art" for service wives is being offered at 10 a.m.

Wednesdays at Lawton's USO. The classes will continue every Wednesday indefinitely. Free nursery will be provided. For information call 355-5520. 4 CINEMA I A SCREEN 1 Box offke 6:45, shows 7:00, 9:20.

Adm. $2.00, $1.00. HMESCMN ROBERT DUVAlL THE KILLER ELITE' Uniled Annlsl Phone 355-2435 CHINESE AMERICAN RESTAURANT 62nd anJ Cache Road ROLLER SKATE Thursday-Friday-Safwrday 7-10 p.m. Saturday Afternoon 2-5 p.m. Closed All Day Sunday SCREEN 2 Box offkt 7:15, shows 7:30, 8:45, 10:00.

All scots $2.00. (R) WEDNESDAY NIGHT SPECIAL CATFISH ALL YOU CAN EAT 3.15 11 Children Under 1C 9Oc Special From 5 p.m. til 9 p.m. Every Wednesday! Includes: All the Catfish You Can Eat, Your Choice Salads From Salad'Bar, Choice Potato or Hush Baked: Bread, Cherry or Apple Cobbler, Coffee, Tea or Soft Drink. FREE SECONDS ON EVERYTHING.

EVERYONE MUST HAVE A PLATE. NO DOGGY BAGS PLEASE. ndartiiooax At the Medicine Park Hi-way Box office 7:15, 7:30, Adm. )f (PC) J( TOE WAY WE WERE 'fK 4 Box 7:15, shows 7 JO, 9:20. Adm.

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