The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 19

Entertainment PAGE B5 Editor Don Butler, 596-3728 The Ottawa Qteen Tuesday, September 13, 1994 In search of theme atfilmfest BRIEFLY Lakeside Players announce season A Halloween murder mystery, a holiday production of Jack and the Beanstalk, and a farce by Ray Cooney make up the Lakeside Players' 199435 theatre season. The amateur theatre troupe, which performs at Lakeside Gardens in Britannia Park, will begin the season with a Halloween murder mystery Oct. 28; it will be performed as part of a pot-luck dinner theatre. It's followed by Jack and the Beanstalk, a traditional Christmas pantomime and the company's major production of the year. There will be evening performances of Jack Nov.

24 to 26 and matinees Nov. 26 and 27. The company performs Cooney's Run for your Wife May 18 to 21 and May 25 to 28, For more information, call 820-5243. Tickets will be available at the door. Vancouver last stop on Rolling Stones tour VANCOUVER The Rolling Stones will make Vancouver the last stop on their Voodoo Lounge tour of North America.

The Stones will play Dec. 17 at B.C. Place Stadium, Perryscope Concert Productions has announced. Museum acquires rare Leacock items ORILLIA The museum dedicated to the life and work of Stephen Leacock has acquired what's believed to be the second known recording of the Canadian author's voice. The two broadcasts are from 1938, but no one has heard what's on the metal-backed acetate that resembles a record.

The museum is trying to track down a collector or institution that might be able to play the disc and reveal its contents. "It's the earliest known extant recording of Leacock's voice," said Carl Sapldoni, the McMaster University rare-books librarian who owns the disc and who is preparing a bibliography on Leacock work. Publisher McLel-land and Stewart has given the museum 13 wood block prints that adorned the 1948 hardcover edition of Sunshine Sketches of a Utile Town. George Jones critical after bypass surgery NASHVILLE, Tennessee Country music singer George Jones, 63, was in critical but stable condition Monday after triple bypass surgery to correct a coronary artery blockage. Citizen staff and news services ROSINA LAWRENCE: In Charlie Chan mystery In the backroom, Hoffman has videos of six of Lawrence's films, a retrospective video of her career compiled by her second husband, Jack McCabe, 130 publicity photographs from Hollywood studios, and other Lawrence memorabilia that has been donated by some of her remaining Ottawa-area relatives or that Hoffman -2.

in Laurel and Hardy movie i i n'l TORONTO ear COMMENT I boss: Hang ing in at Toronto International Film Festival, as requested. Receipts coming separately by parcel post. No luck in finding overriding theme of festival, al Toronto Film Festival JAY' STONE though every- one here sure seems to like films a lot. Article in Toronto newspaper on how to go to a festival suggests bringing pen-light to theatre so you can research program in those valuable wasted minutes between sitting down and opening credits. Search for controversy similarly unfruitful, unless you count fact that some film-goers complain of movies starting 15 minutes to half hour late.

However, this could be technique to give them more program-reading time. Only scandal able to uncover is plea from former Indian outlaw Phoolan Devi asking festival not to show Bandit Queen, movie by director Shekhar Kapur about her life: Open letter to festival from Devi, recently released after -11 years in jail, who says she didn't authorize movie, humiliated because it portrays her being raped, threatens to sue festival if it is shown before she sees it. Attached open letter festival director Piers Han- dling says producers and director of film paid Devi fee for her story, which was based on book about her life. Handling says film doesn't condone denigration of women, announces screening to go ahead. Otherwise, things quiet here, if you consider 296 movies in 10 days quiet.

Dedicated cinephiles who are organized can see five movies a day, if they play cards right. I seem to have mislaid cards. Glad to report that most movies still based on old boy-meets-girl, or boy-meets boy, or, increasingly, girl-meets-girl. May be other combinations as well, but I'm usually asleep by then. Take in two movies on theme of interracial romance.

White Man's Burden, directoral debut of actor Gregory Hines, is story of affair between 30-year-old white man and 17-year-old black girl. White man is naive liberal with lots of unfocused ideas about racism in America and girl is naive student who looks up to educated tutor. Story ends tragically, leaves you with idea that all is hopeless. Go from there to screening of Double Happiness, story of Chinese-Canadian girl, played by Nepean native Sandra Oh, growing up in strict household where interracial dating view- ed as something close to cul- rural genocide. People behind me in line say, "I hope it's not sweet." Probably disap- pointed.

Double Happiness is sweet touching portrait of. growing up with first-genera- tion immigrant parents. Girl compares it to the Brady Bunch with subtitles. Lots of offbeat touches, great perfor- mance by Oh. Leave with idea that maybe not all so hopeless? after all.

Head from there to gala performance of Strawberry and Chocolate, latest film by Cuban director Tomas Gutierrez Dlea, whose work is being honored-, in retrospective here. Strawberry and Chocolate a boy-meets- girl, meets-boy, meets-girl film' about earnest but uninformed, Cuban Communist youth named David (he thinks there was U.S. president named Truman Capote) and friendship with gay literary type named Diego. David feels he has to expose Diego's unrevolutionary attitudes, not to mention dan-; gerous sexual orientation. Film is funny and sensual look at modern-day Cuba that doesn't flinch from critical examination of extremist official attitudes toward gays, intellectuals.

"Without me you'd be missing a piece," Diego says. Film ends with another message of hope. Glad to report that world seems to be carrying on. Guess that message of festival so far is that it's still the same old story, a fight for love and gala tickets. Respectfully submitted, The movie person seven-decade career COMMENT her movie career has been generally forgotten ex- cept by the most 4 )(r die-hard pursu- 1 1- ers of Hollywood i trivia.

But a if flame of Law- rence-mania still Artifacts burns in Nepean, largely because PAUL of tne efforts of GESSELL Dan Hoffman, di- rector of the Nepean Museum. Hoffman has built something of a shrine to Lawrence in a corner of the museum that delights in celebrating hometown achievers. The Lawrence display includes photos, biographical information and a giant poster showing the actor sitting on a horse and cos-ying up to Laurel and Hardy, her co-stars in such films as Pick A Star (which is generally rated as a dud) and Way Out West (a highly acclaimed classic slapstick comedy). Other movies in which Lawrence had a role include The Great Ziegfeld, General Spanky, Music and Magic, Charlie Chan's Secret and Mr. Cinderella.

i HI CO-STARS: Rosina Lawrence all in nearly 1977: Jessica Tandy and William Hurt in Long Day's Journey into Night 1937 staging of Twelfth Night. But after coming to the United States in 1940, Tandy languished during a midcareer dry spell in which she was relegated by Hollywood to endless supporting roles. "That was a tough time," she admitted in a 1974 interview. "It mattered terribly that I should make a living, and I couldn't" She almost gave up on acting. Tandy's career turnaround was achieved through the efforts of her second husband, Canadian Hume Cronyn, whom she married in 1942.

cleared the way for DTH Canada to beam about 100 channels to receiving dishes small enough to perch on a window ledge. The consortium, a Who's Who of cable and broadcasting companies, will offer a wide selection of TV channels, movies and special-event programs beginning in mid-1995. It'll market compact dishes for about $1,000 to the half million Canadian households without cable. Some criticized the CRTC for favoring the consortium and the cable industry by rushing its decision without holding public li 6- 1 (I r. 1 Rosina Lawrence to return to roots for museum tribute This is a story of an old woman returning to her roots and a sprawling suburban community seeking an enchanting heroine to call its own.

The woman is 81-year-old Rosina Lawrence. The community is Nepean. The two are to be reunited this month when Lawrence travels to her old hometown from Brooklyn, New York, for a visit Nepean plans to roll out the red carpet. Lawrence's name probably means little to most people around here. After all, it was almost three-quarters of a century ago when she, as a child, left her home in Westboro (it was part of Nepean then).

Her English parents found the winters too cold here. So they moved to warm, sunny California. Young Rosina took up dancing, partially as a form of therapy to combat some medical problems. It was perhaps the smartest decision of her life. 1930s film career Lawrence soon danced her way into show business in the 1930s.

She never became a huge star, like fellow chorus girl Rita Hayworth. Many of her films were panned, most of her roles were definitely supporting, and some of her favorite scenes were cut. Nevertheless, Lawrence landed contracts at big studios, including Twentieth Century Fox, MGM and Roach, and had some interesting parts, appearing in everything from Charlie Chan mysteries to comedies with the Little Rascals and Laurel and Hardy. There was even a flirtation with Italian cinema. Then, with the Second World War, Lawrence ended her career to raise three children.

Lawrence still gets telephone calls at her home in Brooklyn from a few loyal fans, although Tandy did it By Paul Hodgins Orange County Register LOS ANGELES A small, exclusive coterie of actors seem as timeless as they are talented gracing our televisions, movie screens and stages year after year with such luminous and consistent performances that we think they've always been with us and always will. Jessica Tandy was such a rare performer. The actress, who died Sunday at 85, did it all, and for an exceptionally long time. Her nearly seven-decade career includes an Oscar (for her performance as a crusty Southern matriarch in the 1989 film Driving Miss Daisy), four Tonys (including one for her legendary portrayal of Blanche DuBois in the original production of A Streetcar Named Desire in 1947, and another for lifetime achievement) and an Emmy (for a television adaptation of the play Foxfire in 1987). Tandy's ability to find longstanding commercial and artistic success on stage, screen and television is almost unparalleled among American actors; what made her memorable, though, was the sense of intrinsic Tightness and poise she brought to her roles.

Born in London, Tandy made her London stage debut at 18 and found immediate success. Notable early triumphs included Ophelia in John Gielgud's 1934 production of Hamlet and Viola (opposite Laurence Olivier's Sir Toby Belch) in a The Heritage and Industry departments said Monday there would be a "full and open consultation with all interested parties" on satellite-TV policy. "I think what this does is say we've got to look a little farther into the future given the new technologies that are coming out," said Susan Baldwin, director general of broadcasting policy at the Heritage Department The announcement came just two weeks after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission effectively has been able to track down through persistent detective work. Hoffman's collection shows a woman (often blond) with a friendly, fresh-faced look. Lawrence was generally portrayed as a clean-living girl next door or Cinderella-type character rather than as a vamp or sex symbol.

(Sensible Nepean surely must be able to take some of the credit for that.) Local girl who made good Hoffman has been in touch with Lawrence and some of her relatives in the past few years, letting them know there are folks who still remember with pride a movie career by a local girl who made good. Lawrence is obviously intrigued and touched by the interest shown in her by the museum and has accepted an invitation to come for a visit, probably Sept. 29 or 30, along with some of her family. Predictably, Hoffman is ecstatic. The city of Nepean is also interested and plans to get involved in the visit An itinerary, fit for a true heroine, is still being discussed.

"There have been many leading ladies in Stratford over the years, but I would venture there isn 't a single actress who would disagree that Jessica took the Stratford crown. ft ROBIN PHILLIPS Former Stratford Festival director she didnt understand the dialogue when she was taken to see Shakespearean plays as a child, but "got a feeling for the language, which was all too rare when one is subjected to the dull approach taken in school. "For me, Shakespeare was a living thing, but the vitality came from the stage, not the page." Even after her illness was diagnosed four years ago, Tandy didn't slow down. She was Emmy-nominated this year for her performance in To Dance With the White Dog. Tandy did not win, but Cronyn won an Emmy for his role in the Hallmark Hall of Fame production.

With files from Canadian Press reviewed. Joel Bell, chairman of Power DirecTv, welcomed the process. "We're entirely in favor of a competitive approach." "This is the kind of hearing that should, have taken place through a licensing process, and the commission sought to avoid that" said Ian Morrison, spokesman for Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. The Canadian Conference of the Arts and the Satellite Communications Association of Canada also welcomed the review. mm Tom Ewell, the comedy actor who stood next to Marilyn Monroe when a blast of air blew her skirt up in The Seven Year Itch, has died in Los Angeles at age 85.

Ewell had played the role 730 times on Broadway, winning a Tony as best dramatic actor. Citizen staff and news services Radio The Arts Tonight Concert: CBC Stereo (103.3 FM) at 7:30 p.m. Pianist Jane Coop performs with the Colorado String Quartet. Blues Guitar Rlff-Off: Catch the second of four niehts of the first annual contest to determine the hottest hiues guitarist in Ottawa. Music starts around 9 p.m.

at the Rainbow Bistro, 76 Murray St. EEEEEnnElLl For information on the following topics, call Touchline 7Mw ana punch in the four-digit code. 2000: Top 10 Videos 2005: Video Reviews 2010: Top 10 Movies 2060: Top 10 Jazz Albums 2065: Top 10 Country Singles Cronyn, born in London, Ont, brought her to the attention of playwright Tennessee Williams, who cast her as Blanche in the premiere production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Tandy didnt make her debut at Ontario's Stratford Festival until she was 67, but dove right in with a total of six roles in four plays. "It's hard to say it in the past tense she was a great lady," former festival director Robin Phillips said Monday in a telephone interview from Edmonton.

"There have been many leading ladies in Stratford over the years, but I would venture there isnt a single actress who would disagree that Jessica took the Stratford crown." Tandy went to Stratford's Shakespearean festival with her husband for the 1976 season. He was at her side when she died in their Connecticut home after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer. Cronyn also had six roles in four plays that season, prompting the couple to describe their appearances as the most ambitious joint acting assignment to that time in their marriage. Tandy returned to Stratford in 1980 to perform with Richard Monette in Fostfire and with William Hutt in Long Day's Journey into Night. "We were privileged to have her on our Festival stages," Monette, now director of the festival, said in a statement "She raised our aspirations as she raised our standards." In a 1976 interview, Tandy said censing hearings.

Lobby group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting complained the consortium wouldn't offer most viewers real choice because the service is designed to complement not compete directly with, cable-TV systems. And some said the strictly pro-Canadian terms of the CRTC decision make it almost impossible for Power DirecTv, a satellite-TV venture, to easily qualify to offer service in Canada The government said Monday the commission ruling reflected federal policy, which needs to be Groups welcome federal government review of satellite-TV policy By Jim Bronskill The Canadian Press A federal review of the rules governing direct-to-home satellite-TV service wont delay a Canadian consortium's plans to beam channels to tiny dishes beginning next year, say industry and government officials. "I think we'll go full steam ahead in the context of the existing policy," said Susan Cornell on behalf of Canadian Satellite Communications a member of the DTH Canada consortium..