Daily News from New York, New York • 24

An unsung 'Moiher' "Daniel in the Lion's Den," the canonic "VIP" chorus and the "Susan B. chorus. In addition to some excellent cameos, there were imaginatively drawn portraits of Susan by Anne Collins, Virgil T. and Indiana Elliot's brother by Cardiff M. Williams, John Adams by Jan Rabson and Jo the Loiterer by Gary Kozak.

So superior a troupe should be bringing "The Mother" to the rest of the country as a Bicentenial celebration. REPRISE. History will repeat itself in Verdi Square (Broadway at 73rd St.) when opera diva Eleanor Steber and other musical residents of the Ansonia Hotel will ceremonially scrub the statue of Giuseppe Verdi at a dedicating block party beginning today 3 p.m. Miss Steber also will sing "Pace, Pace" from "Forza del Destino," repeating a scene from the 1930s when another renowned American soprano, Rosa Pon-selle, likewise scrubbed the statue of her favorite composer and sang the same aria. WELL LIT.

Kinetic light sculptures by Claudio Marzol-lo are now on view at the Fischbach Gallery, 29 57th through June 18. By RON EYER "The Mother of Us All," In the view of poetess Gertrude Stein and composer Virgil Thomson, was Susan B. Anthony, and the life and works of the suffragette led them into the first women's lib opera a generation ago. A better theater piece in some ways than the same collaborators' "Four Saints in Three Acts," "The Mother" has undergone several tinker-ings over the years and has reappeared lately, not as an opera, but as a play with incidental music, produced by Eoger Cunningham and Nancy Rhodes with the Post Theater Company of Long Island University. This proved fortuitous for the performance I saw Thursday night at Westbeth in the West Village, since the undergraduate student company did not contain any professional singers.

Even so, the work seemed stronger in this form, which allows more concentration on dramatics and characterization and added far more lucidity to Stein's frequently ambiguous rhymed couplets. It was refreshing to find not only that Stein often knew what she was talking about, but that you also knew what she was talking about. With accompaniment of piano, amplified reed organ, trumpet and drums, song was kept to a bare minimum, but there were effective representations of ensembles like By PATRICIA O'HAIRE At about 4 p.m. last Thursday, Ed Bullins got the surprise of his life the New York Drama Critic's Circle Award for having written the best American play of the year, "The Taking of Miss Janie." And why should that be such a surprise? After all Bullins has been writing for some 15 years now, according to his count, and has turned out some 40-odd scripts. Which must make him, at 39, one of the most prolific dramatists around.

About half of his output, has been produced. Still, most of them have been off-off-Broadway, and only a few, like have moved up to off-Broadway. He's never been on the main stem. Hence the surprise. Yet, for the most part, his work usually about life in the ghettos has been labeled "gutsy, harsh, powerful, abrasive, rough." The man himself is a striking contrast.

Born in Philadelphia, he is short and powerful (he was a boxing champ in i the Navy), but in person, he seems gentle and soft-spoken. He prefers not to talk about his private life, but is decisive and articulate about his dramatic ideas: "I come from working people people who worked farms or in the cities. And their idea of what you should do was to get a job, a lifetime job, and rise to the top if you could through perserverence, thrift, cleanliness and godliness. As for my being a writer, well, it just wasn't taken very seriously. "I was encouraged to get a job, and I developed terrible guilt feelings.

For the first 10 years I was trying to write, I had to convince myself that I was a writer, that it was all right to be one." He went to college In California after his Navy discharge, switching from business the world's xm mm 'MMS Ed Bullins worst salesman) to drama before dropping out altogether. Although he was involved for a while with the Black Panthers, the interest in theater stuck: "In the late '50s, early '60s, the whole existentialist thing was coming out Europe, and the beatnik movement was forming. They were all sorts of romantic Ideals for a young mind. And I was one of those young minds. "Black writers, up to a little while ago, were bourgeois.

They were writing to plead the case for talented blacks. "But then a new nationalism began. There was Malcolm, the civil rights movement, all those things. Things started turning around. And writers took the turn, too.

"But in my own work," he continued, "I'm not really concerned about writing for either a black audience or a white one. I am very conscious, of course, of the blacks sitting there. But there are times when I want to be antagonistic or provocative, to I mm wm wmst possesses UTS. fOI8SiiSTSS8SSSiSSSe. News photo by John Pedin stir up something.

Then I direct to a white audience. Bullins left the West Coast In 1967 and headed east to join up with Robert Macbeth at the New Lafayette Theater in Harlem, (now disbanded), where Ed was resident playwright: "There's a lot of ferment here. A lot of interesting things can get done off-off-Broadway. People are willing to take a chance, people like Woodie King and Joe Papp. I call Woodie my most valiant producer, because it takes a valiant producer to do my work.

"One time, you know, I had seven plays produced at once mostly one-acters, off-off-Broadway. And I can tell you n6w, I didn't get much out of it except overwork." JERRY TAPS JOHN. Folk and country singer John Denver has been appointed a member of President Ford's advisory committee on the assimilation of Vietnamese refugees. 1975 TONY AWARDS Best Actor in a Musical JOHN CULLUM BEST MUSICAL BOOS. SHENANDOAH The New Musical starring JOHN CULLUM American Express Accepted 757-8646 Tor Group Sales Only Call.

(Hi) ALVIN 250 W. 52nd St. 757-8646. EV9S. at 8 PM Mats.

Wed. Sat. at 2 PM Tickets also at Ticketron (12) 641-1290 1 PERFS. TODAY AT 2:00 8:00 ROMEO Sc JULIET" LAST WEEKS! THRU JUNE tl SHUROK presents the Spectacular TTUAK1 Mon. TAMING OF THE SHREW; Tues.

Wed. Mat. A SWAN LAKE. AMER. DINER'S CARTE BLANCHE accepted at Box Ofice.

Tickets atso at Bloomingdule's N. Y. A Hackensack and all AtS Stores. METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE, 787-3880 Eves, at 8:00. Mats.

Today Wed. at 2:00 "A FASCINATING Post THE MAGIC SHOW "A Breathtaking Musical" CBS-TV FOR GROUP SALES ONLY CALL 757-9288 CORT THEATRE, 138 W. 48th St. 489-6392 7:30. Mats.

Sat. 2, Sun. 2 5. TUTS ALSO AT TICKETRON (212) TONITE AT 8 P.M., SVN. dt.

7:30 The Negro Ensemble Company Presents THE i'iKST BREEZE UF SIU1AIER oy Leslie Lee 8 P.M.. Sat. Mat. 2 Sun. 7:30 $7.95, 6.50, 4.95.

Sat. 8 PM, Sun. Mat. 2:3058.95, 7.50, 5.95. GROUP SALES: Call 771-6518, 771-6510, 771-6578.

PALACE THEA.B'way at 47 St.PL 7-2626 MAT. EVERY SUNDAY at 3. "LIGHTS UP Times JACK RITA JERK ST WESTON MORENO STILLER Tin the comedy hit with music HE RITZ Sun. 3. Evgs.

8 (ex Thurs) Mats. Wed. Sat. 2. LONGACRE 220 W.

48 St. NY 246-5639 TODAY at A 7:30 WINNER OF 7 TONY AWARDS including BEST MUSICAL THE WIZ The new musical version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz FOR GROUP SALES CALL: 4S9-6i87 Tues. Sat. 7:30, Mats. Wed.

A Sat. 2, Sun. 3. MAJESTIC 247 W. 44 St.

246-0730. Tickets also at-TICKETRON -(212) 541-7290. TCflecaftetr E)DtrecPoirv cm MA ANC042niST. in jtttntAus. rANTASY isttj somes UA MOVIES 1 susiisisuu sussmtm itlll 711-2244 UA PLAYHOUSE skat met isin stum CFHTUS1S ROOSEVELTFIEID SASOUCm tun HUMS JL MJJJ.MJ.

i UA VALENTINE CAST fORDHAM SO. IS -HJ MANN'S ALBEMARLE FLAT8USH AVI. tisimsa a. iii Jtm ClMTtlirS AVALON imessmt i.tinsi sinus SUVIEWmisoaAmr PARKWAY 1417569 A CINEMA SArSMOAl inn no uiti A PLAZA fATCHOCUC (tlti SRS Cfwrvurt YORK miiTWCTBm UA CROSSBAYt QZOKS PASS 141.1731 asTusrs till SAKS GLEN OAKS uitm. iMj4etlJm A MIDWAY fOHsr mis is iirr SlMiMAt CmiMM CENTRAL rHAZA 2 fOKKlMS ttJ4J CCITUHrS MALI mewacmu eeatFtui cmws MAMS FOX PLAZA hYi'i stw oosm UANYACKO.I.

SIAUVCLT (IT4J JSI-U44 UA ROUTE 59 SAStir 1314H23JMI- WESTCHESTER MALI 3 rttusAiti ISI4H2UI27 SUNDAY, JUNE 8 LUCHOWS SALUTES GEOFFREY HOLDER IN PERSON Will MC the cast of Tony Award Winning thi mi No IncrMM InPrfc 110 E. 14 St. 477-4860 n.y.state NEW JERSEY BAYS D.I. ISLAND HGTC. CINEMA 34 MATAWAN CLINTON POINT CLINTON POINT MORRIS PLAINS D.I.

MORRIS PLAINS 00SEVELT0.lt JERSEY CITY SAYREW00D PARLIN SHORE 0.1. FARMINGDALE STARTS 61 i BEACH. PEEKSKIU. BR00KSIDE O.li NEWBURGH 96D.I. HYDE PARK SW CINEMA-STONY POINT SUFFOLK RIVERHEAD WESTISIIP EE OIBIiS" Also in Upstate N.

He Jersey Conn. "A BANQUET OF LAUGHS!" Cum uin feAiJJJl FUl'U UJSNJNIS PAGE WJEAVJSK i'AOi. C'UKX jSHKiS CAHULE IAWStJN A' BSUKIJ ihKoOa SINGULAR i lewis also at Ticketron: dtl-ltm IviusiC BOX, 45 St. W. of B'way.

246-434 fcvss. Sharp. Mats. Today. Wed.

2 Sharp "tofcST AMERICAN COMEDY." AUU A HOIS O'MiSAL, in Jj ovujk town In Comedy Hit by MURRAY SCHISGAL Also starring George S. Irvin9 Directed by ULlailM HUFFMAN BOOTH 45 St. W. of B'way 246-5949 f.nn. mil.

WTO. Ot aj. z. sun. j.

MATINEE TODAat I PM. A I "BEST MUSICAL OF THE YEAR" N.Y. DRAMA CRITICS N.Y. OUTER CRITICS 5 TONY AWARDS "GOES UP LIKE A ROCKET AND NEVER COMES DOWN." Clivv tiainz, N.Y. Times Evas, at 8, Mats.

Wed. Sat. at 2. SPEC. ATT.

TO GROUP SALES 582-9619 Major Credit Cards Phone Re. Acc. 751-6676 BROADWAY 1681 Broadway 247-7992 Tickets also at TWKK1HON: tit) Sjl-7tnu "EASILY ONE OF THE BEST MUSICALS OF THE SEASON. WE ARE GIVEN THREE SUPERLATIVE, KNOCK-EM-IN-THE AISLES PERFORMANCES BY STARS WHO GLITTER LIKE GOLD DUST ALL EVENING." CUve Barnes, N.Y. Times "BOLD, CYNICAL AND STYLISH AS CAN BE 'CHICAGO' IS A MUSICAL TOO BOUNTIFUL FOR WORDS." Douglas Watt, Daily News -'CHICAGO' IS AS DAZZLING A DEM-CNSTRATION OF THE CRAFT OF MUSICAL THEATRE AS YOU'RE EVER GOING TO SEE ON A BROADWAY STAGE.

IT IS AWESOME, A SIGHT TO SEE. A TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT." Martin Gottfried, N.Y. Post GWBN VERDON CHITA RIVERA and JERRY ORBACH Cin HICAGO A Musical Vaudeville Directed and Choreoeraphed by BOB FOSSE th Street Thea. 226 W. 46 St.

NY, 246-4271 EV9S. at 8 PM Mats. Wed. Sat. at 2 PM terns VL.AY 1H7S, NEW YOtth.

DitAMA CKlUCS AWARD AokV UkJlt.lt tTtllJCS AWA1CD TUNY A WARDtibSt Play-Vest Director ill r-r MOUTH 236 W. 45th St. 246-9165 FUK 6KUUP SALE ONLY CALL 76-304. Mmer. txp.

Pnone kes. Accept. 246-ys cv9i. ai tf, ivtcirs. wea.

bat. MAJOR CREDIT CARDS TICKETRON "A MUSICAL KNOCKOUTI" Probst, NBC ii A B'teay uongest Running Hit; Phone Reservations 245-5764 i.iS ALSO at 1 1khei kuN: 1212) 54i-2yo FOR GROUP SALES ONLY CALL 354-1032 Tues-Sat Ev9s Mats Wed Sat Sun i ROYALE 242 W. 45th St. 245-4760 Major Credit Cards PK.Res2Aa:. Hp-aTtiU WINNER OF 5 TONY AWARDS BROADWAY'S BIGGEST HIT MUSICAL COMEDY 5T-RA0RDiNARY MUSICAL THEATRE SPLENDID MAGNIFICENTLY STAGED AND PLAYED." Watt, Daily News IPPIM cv9S.

at 7:30: $12, 10, 9, 7, 6. Sat. evss. is, 12, 10, 8, 7. 6.

Wed. MatS. at 2: S9. 8. 7.

i. S. A. Sat. Mate at 2: $10, 9, 8.

7, 6, 5. Enclose self -addressed envelope. List alternate dates. Group Sales: 796-SG7 iTicltetron: 5il-7J90 IMPE RJAJjrjiea.49W 45th St.CO 5-2314 The 1975 GRAMMY 197 TONY WINNER RBEST MUSICAL A I 1 Tues 8 Wed 2 8 Thurs 2 Fri 8 Sat 2 Sun. 3.

Group Sales 354-1032. Tktron 541-7290 All Credit Cards Res. 586-5555Tktrn 541-7290 LUNT-FONTANNE TlK 205 WJtSt. 586-S55S "ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL MUSICAL! WHAT SHEER I -iiurnt 8. N.Y.

Times R. ODGERS HART Maior Credit Cards Phone Res. Ace. 246-6381 at 8 P.M.; Mats. Wed.

Sat. at 2 HELEN HAYES Th. 46 St W. of Bwy 246-6380 "THE FUNNIEST COMEDY ABOUT LOVE AND ADULTERY TO COME BROADWAY'S WAY IN Barnes, N.Y. Times ELLEN BURSTYN AME TIME GRODIN a comedy YEAR rmn V- NEXT BROOKS ATKINSON, 256 W.

47 St. 245-3430 8 P.M.; Mats. Wed. Sat. at 2.

ACTORS' FUND PERF. TOM'W EVO at 7:30 "MIRACULOUS FUN!" Barnes, N.Y. Times Sherlock HOLMES Group Sales only. Call 796-3074 or 765-3906 All major credit cards Phone Re. Ace.

Tickets also at TICKETRON (212 541-7290 8 P.M. Sat. 2. Sun. 3.

BROADHURST 235 W. 44 St. 247-0472. They gave rthelr all for the team! CENTAUR RELEASEDIST. BY MARVIN FILMS I NOW ATA THEATRE NEAR YOU MANHATTAN BROOKLYN) HSSAU DUFFIELD OASIS FARMINGDALE FARMING PIX 42N0 DALE HICKSVILLE HICKSVILLE MERRICK MERRICK E.

OF B'WAY CINE 48th ST. AND 7TH AVE. BR0WX GLOBE QUEENS CASINO RICHMOND HILL QUARTET 4 FLUSHING STUDIO LYNBR00K ISUFFOLKl NORTH BABYLON SMITHT0WN BAYSK0RE D.l.2 NORTH BABYLON OUTDOOR BAYSMORE PINE CINEMA SMITHT0WN LINDENHURST C0RAM SOUTH BAY UNDENHURST BIALTO PATCHOfiUF. WEST BABYLON TODAY at TOM'W. at P.M.

"RICHER THAN 'GREASE' ABC-TV DANCE WITH ME A Madcap Musical MAYFAIR Theatre, 235 W. 46 St. 391-0063 Ticketron: Sil-7130Am. Exv. Phone R.

8 P.M. Mat. Wed, a Sat. 2, Sun. 3 8 'i 1 4 Tpinr.