Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 24

24 bection 1 wwcago iriDune, luesday, Decern Der 12, 19S9 OVERNIGHT Mallev INC. Witty Something's Afoot' comes across with spirited style Steppenwolfs 'Luck' proves silly, off base ft 0. A a 1 The last picture show Friends of U.S. Rep. Sid Yates couldn't help but notice that his autographed photo has recently disappeared from the walls of Harry Carey's restaurant Now, the only reason that this is at all of interest is that Paul Stepan, an owner of the restaurant, is married to 43d Ward Dem committeeman, Ann Stepan, who's a supporter of Ed Eisendrath, who's challenging Yates for his congressional seat in the Dem primary.

Follow that? A spokesman for the restaurant claims that they never had Yates' photo and that they'd never, ever be so petty. But eyewitnesses tell INC that the congressman's framed visage like that of every other celeb or pseudo-celeb in town was rounded up and hung before the restaurant's opening. And it's not there anymore. The guv buzz Politics makes for strange bedfellows: GOP gubernatorial wanna-be Jim Edgar didn't put a Dec. 1 campaign appearance on his public schedule.

That was the day that the state's most public crusader against drunk driving was the honored guest at a holiday "do" thrown by a liquor and beer importer. Political watchers note that it's not often that Edgar courts support in the liquor industry. Edgar's camp counters that the appearance before beer-truck drivers was labor rather than liquor related. Okay. By Richard Christiansen Entertainment editor She, expressing shock: "He pinched me behind the generator!" He, outraged, but noting her ample rear "What cheek!" If you are, as I am, a sucker for this kind of shameless nonsense, then you should by all means direct your feet to "Something's Afoot," the musical now playing through the holidays at Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace.

Devised by authors James McDonald, David Vos and Robert Gerlach as a sendup of Agatha mysteries, such as "Ten Little Indians," this brainless but quite witty spoof cleverly unspools a mock mystery in which 10 persons trapped on a stormy night in an old mansion are knocked off one by one, until everybody has been dispatched. The Drury Lane production, set in designer Chris Phillips' two-story baronial hall, gives the show a handsome ride, neatly dispensing the special Theater Robert Breuler (left) as Maurice and Alan Wilder as Felix in "The Geography of Luck" playing through Feb. 4 at the Steppenwolf Theatre. Theater By Richard Christiansen Entertainment editor "Just for once," shouts one of the characters in "The Geography of Luck," "I wish we could have a conversation like normal people do." To which, one is tempted to respond from the audience, "Please, please do." But it is not to be. Nobody in Mariane Meyer's play, now on view at Step pen-wolf Theatre, talks like normal people; they propound, postulate, orate and debate, always seeking significance but achieving only a strained silliness.

Explaining how he strangled his wife, the play's hero says, in a burst of passion, was then that she slipped away from me." And, speaking to his slimeball father about their inability to love, he adds, "You and I have no center." Neither, for all its earnest ambitions, does this short but ill-formed play. Set in a symbol-laden Las Vegas, "Luck" is aiming for an exploration of the dark side of the American psyche. From its first words, uttered by a convict who appears to have majored in pseudo-poetry in graduate school, it wants to score big points on the poetry board. But instead of heightening meaning, the language only obfuscates. Dixie, the drama's tortured hero, is a former Top 10 pop singerguitarist, released from prison after serving time for his wife's death.

He wants a job, a home, a sense of stability, a release from violence. Instead, his father urges him to go for some quick bucks on the Vegas lounge scene as a sleazy nostalgia act, and the creepy salesman in his father's used-car lot propositions him. Nothing if not stoic, Dixie ignores this 'The Geography of Luck' A play by Mariana Meyer, directed by Randal Amey, with ecenery and lighting by Kevwi Rtgdon, costumaa by Erin Quigiey and aound By Richard Woodbury. Opanad Sunday at StepponwoH Theatre, 2851 N. Halsted St, and playa at I p.m.

Tuesday through Friday, 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday, through Feb. 4. No 7 p.m.

show Dec. 24. Running time: 1:30. Tickets are $15 to $25, with discounts available lor students and senior citizens. Wheelchair accessible and equipped with Infrared hearing system.

Limited paid parking. Phone 312-472-4141. THE CAST Dutchy Jamea Noah Dixia Jim True Rex David Cromer Maurice Robert Breuler Felix Alan Wilder Teddy Amy Morton Venua Marlann Mayberry With Shannon Cochran. Straight talk Plastic surgery monument Mr. like his mother (who speaks to him from the grave) was.

Enmeshed in this incomplete maze, under the guidance of director Randall Amey, are several good actors at a loss. Jim True, at least 10 years too young for the part, plays Dixie glumly and very gingerly, an inevitable choice considering that there are very few handles by which any actor could hold on to the role. Robert Breuler portrays his father with a pencil mustache and prefab Damon Runyon accent; Amy Morton, as Teddy, acts angry and confused, and with good reason; David Cromer, as the reptilian used-car salesman, has one neat bit, in which he calmly scoops. up and inhales an insect. Kevin Rigdon's scenery divided into an elaborately designed strippers' bar, the car lot, Dixie's prison cell and Teddy's bedroom almost spills out from Steppenwolfs wide, narrow stage; but like the play it decorates, its too much is not enough.

Blackwell barged out of the closet with a vengeance Sunday when he presented the Hollywood Women's Press Club's Sour Apple Award to Roseanr Barr, whose name prompted him to brag, "We're both Then, referring to Angela Lansbury, Mr. said, "If you weren't married, I'd go straight" Enough, Mr. Blackwell, you're breaking our hearts. 'Something's Afoot' A musical with a book, muaic and lyrica by Jamea McDonald, David Voa and Robert Gerlach and additional muaic by Ed Linderman. Directed by Travia Stockiey, with additional etaging by Nancy Tainowltz, musical direction by Tom Sivak, acenery by Chrle Phillipe, costumes by John Naaca, lighting by Eileen Thomas, aound by Bill Wood, props by Stephen Kolack.

Opened Dec. 7 at Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace Thaatra, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, and playa at 8:30 p.m. Wednesdaya through Fridaya, 6 and 9:30 p.m. Satur-daya, 2:30 and 7 p.m. Sundaya, and also at 2 p.m.

Thuradaya, when all aaata are $15, or $13 for senior citizens. Running time; 2:00. Tickets are $20 to $24, with group discounta and meal-theater packagea available. New Year's Eva dinner and ahow pricaa are $40 and $55. Wheelchair accessible.

Free parking. Phone 708-530-8300. THE CAST Lettie Robyn Peterman Flint Oana Weygandt Ciiva David Gould Hope Langdon Susan Somerviile Dr. Orayburn Larry Wyatt Nigel Rancour Rick Boynton Lady Grace Manley-Prowse Sharon Carlson Col. Gilweather Dale Benson Miss Tweed Laurel Cronin Geoffrey Sam Samueleon advance and goes to bed with Teddy, thereclusive (but loquacious) stepdaughter of his poetically inclined former cellmate; and, just in time for a happy resolution to their love, he persuades her to become a casino carddealer, instead of a stripper, Mr.

Blackwell Christmas family gala for the Lambs is delightful 4) By Barbara Mahany Linda Balsom, showing off a bracelet corsage of buttercup and champagne roses presented by her boyfriend Doug, could not contain herself, wiggling her party pumps onto the dance floor. "I feel like Mrs. Astorbilt, all gussied up!" Mrs. As-torbilt, she explained, was a very fancy lady about whom her mother told the most marvelous make-believe tales. Bob Kiler, sipping his Pepsi-on-the-rocks, darted from waiter to waiter, searching for someone who could answer his critical question: "Do you know if they're going to have the flaming bar for dessert, like they had last year?" That (a mile-high mint chocolate pie, served with sparklers), he said, was his absolute favorite part of this party.

Laura Collins, on the other hand, thought to bring along her "Star Trek" book and her Gatorade squirt bottle, both of which she had anchored alongside her butter dish. "That's for during the time when I get bored," she said with rare honesty. Balsom, Kiler and Collins were just 3 of the 180 guests from the Lambs, the Iiber-tyville residence and work village for mentally retarded adults, who polished their brogans, curled their hair or clasped their best pearls for Sunday night's 28th annual Lambs holiday family gala at the O'Hare Marriott, a party hosted each year by the same anonymous donor. With families and staff the guest list totaled 500. And if ever there was a crowd thrilled to be on a guest list, this was it The Lambs, as they're affectionately called, dashed in from the parking lot, breathlessly asking at the check-in table, "Are we late?" (In fact, they were half an hour early.) Once the ballroom doors swept open, they swarmed the soft-drink bar, where effects neededfor the ingeniously executed murders.

Director Travis L. Stockiey and lighting designer Eileen Thomas also have fun by punching up the dramatic moments and the catchy musical numbers with spotlights, strobe lights and whatever other highlights they can dream up. Most of all in this kind of camping expedition, however, the show must rely on the abilities of its cast to act out the various cliches of the form with impeccable style. By and large, the cast assembled for this production fills the bill handsomely. Consider as I do, with increasing affection the buoyant work of Dale Benson as Col.

Shirley Gilweather, the very model of a silly, beribboned English army officer. When he salutes, his arm cranks up in a propeller-like whirl. When he is served a good-night drink in a chamber pot-sized cup, he croons, "Oh, Ovaltine! Ovaltine!" When he dies, he falls down at attention. Marvelous. Similarly, Rick Boynton, as lounge lizard Nigel Rancour, slithers across the stage; Sharon Carlson as the malapropish Lady Grace Manley-Prowse swoops about with grande dame airs; and Susan Somerviile and Sam Samuelson as the toothsome lovers radiate nitwit ingenuousness.

Only Laurel Cronin, as the Miss Marple-ish sleuth Miss Tweed, seems slightly out of sync with the style of funmaking, playing the role more as a smarmy chorus girl than as a proper country matron. She's got spirit, but it's the wrong spirit. Tribune photo by John Bartley Partygoers line up for dancing at a holiday bash at the O'Hare Marriott for the Lambs, the Libertyville residence for mentally retarded adults. TV tidbits "Grand," an NBC-TV series costarring Second City alums Joel Murray and Bonnie Hunt, will debut Jan. 18 at 8:30 p.m., -bumping "Dear John" to Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m., bumping "My Two Dads" clear off the schedule and into a holding partem.

Among the projects standing by to fill in the blanks left by shows yet to be dumped are "Regular Joe" starring Robert Mitchum, "Carol and Company" with Carol Burnett, "FM" with Robert "Airplane" Hays, and "Down Home," starring Judith Ivey. No biz like show biz Last week was the kind that could make you curl up with a truckload of bon-bons, especially if you were Roseanne Bam Her performance in "She-Devil" was universally panned, she got the Sour Apple Award, and boyfriend Tom Arnold was dropped as a story consultant on her TV series. Folks who were at the Ambassador East Hotel Saturday say that sure looked like Kim Basihger heading for a private Ameritech party at Byfield's and it sure looked like she was wearing pajamas. Now filmmaking and finance have merged in yet another curious way: a Gone With the Wind Mastercard, from the Citizens and South National bank in (where else?) Atlanta. Political Shorts Capitol Development Board director Gary Skoien's had enough he won't be filing petitions for a GOP bid for comptroller.

Jeff Smith, seeking re-election as the state central committeeman for the 9th congressional district, was mugged literally, not politically in Rogers Park on his way to file his petitions. The bad guys grabbed his briefcase, keys, glasses and cash. The muggers fled And Smith was last seen trying to replace the 300 signatures he needs to get on the ballot. Positive connections Commonwealth Edison Co. is hiring high-profile lawyer and former U.S.

District Judge Susan Getzendanner to negotiate with the City of Chicago over extending Edison's exclusive franchise to provide electricity in Chicago. Getzendanner is a law partner with John Schmidt, who was Mayor Rich Daley's first chief of staff and is Daley's appointment as chairman of the McPier board. Her former law partner, Bob Helman, is representing the city in negotiations. INCIings Tuesday birthdays: Bob Barker, 66; Grover Washington, 46; WXEZ's Jeff Christie, 36; Connie Francis, 51; Aid. Robert Kellam, 68; Ed Koch, 65; Cathy Rigby, 37; Dionne Warwick, 48; Frank Sinatra, 74.

Lend Me a Tenon Sammy Cahn's stage manager Ray Ruggieri will be pressed into service as a backup singer Wednesday in Cahn's show at the Halsted Theatre Center. The regular tenor will be out of town. Roller coaster maniacs, mark April on your calendar for the debut of Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America. It's 55-mile-per hour ride that covers 2,900 feet of track, has a 90-foot first drop, and two 360 degree loops. Big deal, you say? On this ride, you don't sit, you stand.

The lunch bunch: Political strategist Don Rose and Dem County Board president candidate Ted Lechowicz were spotted dining Monday at La Strada. Rose says the meeting was strictly caloric. floor was packed with dancers who thought nothing of whooping and squealing with delight. Linked arm-in-arm with his sweetheart, resident Mike Kurschner stopped swooning long enough to explain; "This is fun. It's a time once a year for everybody to get out because people at Lambs really don't have time to get out.

A man who we don't know pays for this. But it's really nice because parents who don't have time to be with their daughter or their son get to spend time with them tonight." drinks were free, choices were limited to diet or full-strength cola, and bartender Ed Martin could barely keep up. "Step right up and have a pop! Everything is free! Everything is yours!" he called out, turning to whisper "The slightest little thing amuses and delights them. For me, it's seeing the joy on their faces." There wasn't much idle chatter on the rim of this extra-large dance floor, either. Once the Sheridan Avenue Downbeat Society struck up "Jingle Bell Rock," the NEWSMAKERS mumm ,,1.,,, -rt-Uut vl 1 I '-Z3' tl Erinn at 16 Cosby Mother Teresa released How does one advise a modern saint to relax? Well, for the record, Mother Teresa, 79, has been advised to take it easy for a few days before taxing her new pacemaker.

The legendary founder of the Missionaries of Charity has been released from a Calcutta hospital two weeks after being admitted for high blood pressure and dizziness and three months after a heart attack. Said a spokeswoman: "We thank everyone who prayed for her during the crucial days." Cosby dumps on daughter "She's 23 now. She's never held down a job, never kept an apartment for more than six months. She uses her boyfriends. She wants the finer things, but she can't stand anybody else's dirt." So says "Fatherhood" author Bill Cosby about daughter Erinn to the Los Angeles Times.

Saying she isn't welcome at home, Cosby added that he has become an advocate of "tough love" until Erinn falls into line. "The problem isn't alcohol or drugs at the rehab center her urine showed up negative. It's behavioral. She's very stubborn," he said. His daughter checked out of a drug-rehabilitation center in September after acknowledging cocaine, marijuana and alcohol abuse.

Afterward, she told the National Enquirer, "Looking back, I can't believe how Dad managed to go on with his show every week, portraying America's favorite father, while having a daughter like me causing so much pain." Her comedian father isn't laughing. He said: "It's going to take her hitting HERMAN i I rock bottom, where she's totally exhausted and at that point where she can't fight anymore. Right now we're estranged. She can't come here. She's not a person you can trust." Oh Tannenbums, Oh For a while, it seemed that America's motherlode of gift giving (the Senate) might lose its pipeline to the very poshest of Christmas gratuities: the iunket.

Hallelujah, the Grinch was lalted in a St. Nick of time, and the new pay-and-ethics law can't stop the Senate's Christmas rush to freebie vacations, at least, not in 1989. The new law curtails free vacations for senators and their families, the bills for which often are paid by influential corporations. But, oops, because Senate drafters inadvertently deleted its 1990 enforcement date, the law technically took effect Nov. 30, when President Bush signed it.

Word soon circulated that Disney World was restricted to three days and without the kids, too. Horrors. Just as your nation's senators were hearing the pitter-patter of evaporating Christmas gratuities, along iiaawiaaBM i -T II ss llllllill tl1---'1 imm AP Laserphoto Her Doktor: Fifty-six years after fleeing the Nazis, Nina Rubinstein, 81, returned to Frankfurt's Johann Wolfgang Goethe University to collect her sociology doctorate Monday. A retired UN interpreter in New York, Rubinstein had preserved her 274-page dissertation on political emigration. were in order.

Get out your suitcase again, Junior. Or, in Senate language, "All the trips scheduled in advance of the rules will not be covered by this provision." Richard Phillips came the Senate ethics committee with a Santa-size escape-Clause. Too many holiday travel plans were endangered, said a spokesman for the ethics committee's vice chairman, Warren Rud-man N.H.), so holiday waivers "It woke me up two hours late with a cold cup of coffee." 4-.