The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 49

IMsM Names Faces D2 Ask Beth D10 Book Review D10 Ann Landers D15 Learning D16 TV and Radio Comics D18.D19 Classifieds D21 THE BOSTON GLOBE FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1997 rx mi Ifili' iva iOflBws 0 and the box office has followed. There isn't a success among them, and each is hoping that a Tony on Sunday or two or three -will mean commercial success on Monday. There's reason for fans of the Broadway musical to hope so. The critical failure of scheduling aside, the new shows say some very encouraging things about the state of the musical. Taken collectively, "The Life," "Titanic," "Steel Pier," and "Jekyll Hyde" are not masterpieces, but for the most part they're solidly constructed, intelligent, enjoyable, tuneful musicals.

Throw the A Ml 0NlR RADIO Rivals accuse 'BCN's Oedipus of unfair play By Jim Sullivan GLOBE STAFF The always-hot Boston rock radio wars have ignited again, with two stations charging that ratings leader WBCN-FM (104.1) has threatened to stop airplay of acts that perform live for other stations. "Why does this man" WBCN program director Oedipus "have to squish and squash us?" asks Stephen Mindich, owner of WFNX-FM (101.7), who says Oedipus has acted against bands that perform in-stu-dio events or public concerts for other stations. "This is restraint of trade and unfair competition. I believe it is illegal, assuming the allegation can be proven." "In some cases," says Dave Douglas, program director at WAAF-FM (107.3), "the bands, and, more so, their management, are being completely manipulated" by WBCN. If Oedipus did what is alleged -if he exerted this sort of pressure to keep certain artists from participating in performances that promote his competitors is that illegal? Unethical? Is it restraint of trade? Oedipus says none of these questions pertain.

Asked if he ever used threats, veiled or otherwise, Oedipus strenuously responds: "Absolutely not. I don't do business that way. I tell labels the opposite. If you play these other radio stations, that's fine with me. What do I get in exchange? All I'd like in exchange is proportional to my ratings." And WBCN is the top-rated rock station in Boston.

In the latest Arbitron book (measuring audiences in winter through March 26) jbr listeners 12 and older, WBCN got a 4.8 share, WAAF got a 2.9, and RADIO, Page D8 dustrial, torture-chamber school when it sets several scenes in an LA nightspot designed along those lines. Movie Review you go for a good time if your idea of that was the Spanish Inquisition. By contrast, most of the good stuff happens in a vintage user-friendly apartment complex in the MOVIE, Page D5 The ladies of "The Life," which has won a surprising number of award nominations. As Tonys near, Broadway ablaze with a burst of smart musicals mostly successful restagings of "Can-dide" and "Chicago" into the mix and Broadway is offering a bonanza rather than a shortfall of good musicals today. Unfortunately, they may kill one another off "Play On!" has already closed but if they manage to limp along, mavens of the musical should not be dissuaded from spending time on Broadway.

So why the long faces on the New York critics and short lines at the box office? There are a few reasons: 1) No big stars like Julie Andrews; 2) No show that seems to be taking the musical in a new direction like TONY, Page D4 By Ed Siegel GI.OISK STAFF EW YORK -This Sunday's Tony Awards may mean the salvation of sev-eral Broadway musicals, which would be only fair. The awards almost meant their downfall. In a misguided attempt to beat the deadline for Tony nominations, eight musicals opened within the space of two months in March and April. The reviews were tepid at best, 4 a X3 ML Hoi 1 a I wit Two 1994, at his last two Potter's will profile of Potter, and "The its very sexual Television Review Dennis Potter's undying legacy of and creativity 1 I il i I J' tmi inr-itwiiiiin-i linn niintn 1 By Michael Blowen GLOBE STAFF Jeanne Tripplehorn (right) consoles Sarah Jessica Parker (center) in Til There Was You." Looking for love in all the wrong buildings months before he died of cancer in June the age of 59, Dennis Potter completed teleplays "Karaoke" and "Cold Sunday night at 8 p.m. with brilliant final interview, the Bravo network show both miniseries in addition to a star Albert Finney.

It's a week to remember. the author of "Pennies from Heaven" Singing Detective," shook television to soul with his alchemic mix of pop tunes, frankness, religious inquiry, and, most of all, devilish wit. The medium had gotten so bogged down in its outdated language that David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" was hailed as a work of genius. But Potter took it further. TELEVISION, Page D7 1 71 Albert By Jay Carr GLOBE STAFF Til There Was You" is a sweet but mushy romantic fairy tale that believes in fate, true love, and humanistic architecture.

On the whole, the architecture comes off best. Not since "Beetlejuice," in fact, has a film had as much fun with habitats, sending up the jagged, spiky, metallic, post-in Finney In cold storage in "Cold Lazarus." The Music section The synth-pop duo Erasure (Andy Bell at right) kicks off the Harborlights season. Page Dll Veteran rocker Jon Bon Jovi reinvents himself. Page Dll Movies "Twin Town" puts a darkly comic spin on life in Wales, Jay Carr reports. Page D5 "Trial and Error" wants to be "Seinfeld" but fails.

Page D6 Stages Women in the spotlight. Page D3 Video Jay Carr's capsule reviews of new releases and cable movies. Page D16 "IP.