Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 147

G7 THE HARTFORD COURANT: Sunday, December 7, 1980 repertory theatre new britain, inc AUDITS THE MARK TWAIN IALLK0GM SIXGLES DAKCIXC Every Sunday Night at the HIDDEN VALLEY RESTAURANT live Band John Szpalc Orchestra Free Dance Lessons 7-8 p.m. given by JoeCangemi ROCKY HILL (Off Berlin Tpke.) Will hold OPEN AUDITIONS for The Shadow Box By Michael Christofer December 7, 8, 9 at 7 p.m. at the Repertory Theatre 23 Korden St. New Britain, Ct 06051 223-3147 MASQUERS The Mark Twain Masquers announces auditions for: Plau' Th Sund Murdw rl'' by William Fairchild Whani Monday, DMambw 1980 ww TuMd.r oactmbw 9, 1980 Time: PI 1 PA' Matquwt Sludio rwvB' 170 Kinitwood Rd. WmI Hartford, Conn.

Directed by: Clark Bowltn Show Dates: mr f' i ini mm wm': mmrmmmi Hartford Ballet, Michael Uthoff, Artistic Director, presents it By Popular Demand 2 Special Performances Added: Saturday December 20th 11:00 A.M. Sunday December 21st 6:30 P.M. GOOD SEATS AVAILABLE Jom Lennon and Yoko Ono with The Hartford Chamber Orchestra Daniel Parker, Music Director and The Women's Chorus of the Hartford Chorale Henley Denmead, Music Director $9. 75 Orchestra 1st Balcony front $8.25 1st Balcony rear $6.50 2nd Balcony front $4. 00 2nd Balcony rear December 12-21 Bushnell Memorial Hall John and Yoko Sing from the Heart Tickets available at the Bushnell box office 246-6807 and all Ticketron locations.

'w For group sales, call 525-9396. Christ Church Cathedral presents a musical drama th, JUtivitu according to Saint Luke conducted by Randall Thompson with members of the Hartford Symphony, Soloists, the Cathedral players, Men and boys' choir 7 eataaia Si Sunday, Dec. 14th Christ Church Cathedra Main and Church Street, Hartford 3.00 donation: Doors Open at 6:00 P.M. 7 P.M. Organ Prelude 7:30 Performance (Come Early for Choice Seating miraculous visual fSVk 1 'I I I aArKBYPOPULAHUtlAANDU! Perfect for nu" Symphony on Ice A Toy's the Ticket Tickets on sale now! m' jt.

are, in fact, two halves of the same angry drama. There is no song of reconciliation on the other side of the record, comes close), but apparently things get better for the couple and a child is born (in real life, their boy Sean). Lennon intones the meandering, flowing lullabye "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)," and attempts to pass on some of his wisdom: "Life is what happens to you While you're busy Making other plans." In the tranquil song he also advises his child to be a disciple of Emile Coue: "Before you go to sleep Say a little prayer Every day in every way It's getting better and better." "Watching the Wheels," which musically is quite similar to his earlier "Imagine," is Lennon's description of life without a recording contract. In the skilfully double-tracked vocals, he tells of countless friends and acquaintances who "give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me." Their advice is mostly to get back into the recording studio, but John is having none of it: "I tell them there's no hurry No longer riding on the merry-go-round." The six remaining selections are love songs from Yoko to John and vice versa. "I'm Your Angel" has the air of a '30s show tune and is delicately trilled by Yoko; after her former banshee wails, it's a surprise to discover that she can be gentle and restrained.

It turns out that this is a birthday song. "Woman," with a chiming guitar, careful harmonies and strings, is an apology from John: "Woman please let me explain I never meant to cause you pain." Ono gives forth with "Beautiful Boys," a love song to both John and Sean, who by now is 4 years old. And Lennon comes back with "Dear Yoko," the thematic extension of his nine-year-old song "Oh Yoko!" Like its predecessor, "Dear Yoko" is a bouncy, bright tune of pure joy. The vocal is heavily echoed. "Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him," sings Ono, in what now has turned into a meeting of the Mutual Admiration Society.

The album's final summation is given to Yoko. Titled "Hard Times Are Over," it is a look back over the turbulent times and ahead to the joys of raising a family and returning to the performing life. Her cheerful optimism is tempered somewhat by the song's, and the album's, last line: "Hard times are over for awhile." Despite the preponderance of love songs, "Double Fantasy" never dissolves into a soggy mess. Lennon may be completely in love, but he is still the ascerbic, insightful musical craftsman he has always been. For her part, Ono has given up the voyages into uncharted musical (or non-musical) territory, and is now singing mostly in what may be called the New Wave style.

That means pared-down arrangements, straightforward vocals and a firm, no-nonsense attitude towards the music but then, Ono has always favored that kind of music anywav. There can be no question that of the two, Lennon is by far the most gifted musically. If the album were to have a "John side" and a "Yoko side," I have no doubt which would get the most playing. Of the 14 songs, Lennon's seven have the most musical worth. But Ono's aren't throwaways.

They are valuable contributions to this Heart Play, and they give "Double Fantasy" a poignancy that a solo Lennon album would not be likely to have. By HENRY McNULTY John Lennon and Yoko Ono's new album, "Double Fantasy," is subtitled "A Heart Play," and that's just what it is. The 14 songs are a recap of the last decade or so in the love story that's the life of John and Yoko. They sing about their decision to stop being a typical rock star family; their 18-month separation; the birth of their son Sean; Len-non's and his critics; and love, love, love. Written and produced by John, Yoko and Jack Douglas, it is a cohesive whole, both in terms of music and message.

It's not simply a collection of John's latest material with some new entries from Yoko. Some listeners particularly those who have admired Lennon but think Ono is a musical incompetent will be taken aback by the arrangement of songs on the record. They basically alternate Lennon Ono Lennon Ono "so you have to listen to her no matter what," as one colleague remarked with disgust upon examining the record label. "Double Fantasy," however, only makes sense when viewed as a true LennonOno collaboration. (They don't sing on each other's songs, though.) It has been five years since either Lennon or Ono made a record, and in that time they both seem to have mellowed a little; even Ono's non-admirers will likely find her new, more polished music a lot easier on the ears than her old "experimental" pieces.

The frenetic, jerky hyper-rock that marred Lennon's later efforts is gone, and Ono's shrill electric screeching has mostly departed too, thank goodness. "Mellow," however, is not to be confused with "mushy." The new LP is a taut, superbly produced collection of songs, and although none is a house-rocker, there's no musical oatmeal either. It begins with "(Just Like) Starting Over" and "Kiss Kiss Kiss," the two sides of the LennonOno single that's been out for a few weeks. When John sings "Our life together is so precious together," he is talking about nobody else but himself and Yoko; his suggestion that "It's time to spread our wings and fly" recalls their decision to leave the crazy world of rock for a while. Yoko, for her part, is content to chant "Kiss kiss kiss kiss me love" and perform a kind of "Je t'aime" routine with a few of those infamous stratospheric shrieks and gasps tossed in at the end.

"Starting "Over" has a definite feel of the '50s. It recalls both the early rock songs that inspired the teen-aged Lennon and the confusing mishmash of '50s remakes that was one of Lennon's last solo efforts. Anyway, John and Yoko drop out and become non-celebrities. For a while, things are idyllic and "Cleanup Time" celebrates their newfound freedom: "Moonlight on the water Sunlight on my face You and me together We are in our place." There are faint background wails on guitar and saxophone. It isn't long, however, until trouble rears its head in this idyllic setting.

"Give Me Something," Ono's double-quick song with strong, pulsating New Wave overtones, brings a disturbing message: "The chair's hard Your voice is hard The money's hard The living's hard." (The money reference is not a cry of poverty, but the plea of someone trapped by too many bucks. John and Yoko, after all, are said to be worth more than one hundred million dollars.) The trouble boils over in the next two cuts, Lennon's "I'm Losing You" and Ono's "I'm Moving On." They are almost identical musically, with Yoko responding to John on his terms as the two songs flow into one another. They 1 1 iwi. i 1f 43fej For each seat, you'll also need an unwrapped new toy worth any amount. Your toy will be given to a needy Greater Hartford child with the help of the Salvation Army, the Hartford Police Department and U.S.

Marines' Toys for Tots Campaign. Come to the Hartford Civic Center Coliseum on Sunday, December 14th. It'll be an afternoon of fun for the entire family. The main attraction is beautiful holiday music performed by the Hartford Symphony accompanied by an 80-voice choir and joyfully conducted by Skitch Henderson. Music will fill the air from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., but that's not all.

The Whalers and the Skating Club of Hartford will join your favorite TV and radio personalities for antics on the ice. And there'll be lots more surprises. Pick up a free ticket at the Civic Center Information Desk, the Salvation Army, the Marine Recruitment Center, the Hartford Symphony, the Hartford Police Department or from Peace Train. Symphony on Ice A gift of music from United Technologies in cooperation with the Hartford Civic Center Shops. 7:30, 9:30, also Sun.

Mat. 5:30 4THENEUM CINEMK 600 Mam St Avtry En! 525-1439 DOUBLE FANTASY by John and Yoko Ono. Geffen Records..