The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 33

I i "i 'I I'T'T I i I I i i i i 1 'it I i ti -j I "i 1 POOR QllAirr CI)CCiwuc, Montreal, Saturday, June 13, 1987 C-9 NicfcoSson Ss irresistible Sn Witches Presents J7'llf "A Very Special in Yiddish I I1C Experience" l0.f7 1 PulDoniwlly REVIEW THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK Palace, Laval, Dorval, Versailles "A i 1 JUNE 6 28 A Musical by Jerry Bock, Sheldon Hamick Sherman Yellen Directed by: Dora Wasserman pjoivohm hhi win Muslal Director! JOSEPH MHO Sot i Couture: JOHN 0. DINNINO Trsmlutloo: SARA BOSKNKKLD Lighting Denln: NOti BERTS i. MUNCS ChoMOfrrnphy: OHCAB W0LFMAN By BILL BROWNSTEIN of The GazetU Is there anybody on this planet better suited to play the part of a slovenly, wild-eyed womanizer than Jack Nicholson? Not likely. Nicholson was born for the "horny little devil" role here, and operating in outrageous overdrive, makes the most of the opportunity. The man Is menacingly irresistible, even if he darn near blows his co-stars clear off the set.

A saucy screen adaptation of the John Updike bestseller, Witches is a possession picture with a difference. It's a hoot High-handed hokum, to be sure, but it sure beats the usual parade of head-spinning, grotesque demon tales. Nicholson is cast as the diabolical Daryl Van Home, an eccentric playboy who takes up residence in the quaint New England hamlet of Eas-twick. And while most of the town-folk are decidedly unamused with Daryl's cavalier manner, our pony-tailed rogue does manage to stir the sexual passions of a trio of available Eastwick ladies (Cher, Susan Saran-don and Michelle Pfeiffer). Having long bemoaned the lack of eligible Eastwick men, the women not exactly witches in the strictest sense prove to be easy prey.

Maybe it's his silk bathrobes and tnicmatrhprf multicolored sneakers. "FEW TICKETS LEFT!" Reserve Now To Avoid Disappointment. under his devious spell. Unenviable as it may be to play second fiddle to Nicholson in this sort of setup, Sarandon as the once-prlggy classical musician, Pfeiffer as the naive, pent-up reporter and particularly Cher as the no-nonsense sculptress all rise to the occasion. Literally.

The ladles do a marvellous Job of levitating in Daryl's boudoir. And while Nicholson and his lovely coven of ladies are at home, the film Is certainly a dramatic departure for Australian director George Miller, the man behind the Mad Max trilogy. A sublime, albeit surreal, sex farce is not an obvious assignment for a fellow who made his mark fashioning post-apocalyptic mayhem movies. To his credit, Miller carries off the transition splendidly. But though the picture is impeccably textured and mannered when need be, Miller doesn't entirely fore-sake his roots.

When Nicholson is to suffer from an upset tummy, Miller chucks one of your more graphic, regurgitation scenes at the audience. Parent's Guide: Profanity, suggested violence. Thurs. 8:00 p.m.Sat. 9:30 p.m.Sun.

1 :30 8:00 p.m. reservations: 739-7944739-4816 A 'V, V. i Tnnim mini 7 Watch for "Careers'' Advertising Daily In The Financial Section of The Gazette I Jack Nicholson and his Witches: High-handed hokum, whatever, but they soon tumble WHO fi TOT UR WORLD 1 special guest stars LEVEL 42 INCREDIBLE 0 ft 'it x. NA, A Vs. Jt V.

It, Monday July6and Tuesday July 7, 8pm Montreal Forum Tickets $32.50 at the Forum box office and all Ticketron outlets. service charge) Produced by Donald Donald.