The Berkshire Eagle from Pittsfield, Massachusetts • 18

The BikMlire Eagle ENTERTAINMENT Saturday, September 5, 1987 Page BIQ Rock Review A stunning Whitney Houston at SPAC the song is one of her big hits and the finale of her" main set, the effect was the same. The overflow crowd had something to get out of their seats and dance around about. Houston's 1-hour performance offered a mixture of such up-tempo dance times as well as love ballads, and even a gospel song, "I Believe," added for a nice personal touch. "I'm. going to go back," Houston said, "to what gave me this joy for By Carol Sliwa SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y; Does Whitney Houston perform from the heart, or is she just putting on an awfully good act in concert? With the MTV cameras rolling Wednesday at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, it was hard to tell how much of her performance was genuine.

But that's a moot point, because her stunning vocals overshadowed any minor complaints that could be lodged against her. Before her spotlight number, with MTV about to film "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" for next Friday's video awards show, Houston left the stage to primp for three minutes. Obviously, she was very aware of the film crews. And, in turn, both her energy level and that of her seven-piece band immediately went up a couple of notches. Was it live or was it Memorex? A tough one to call.

And it didn't matter Whether all her extra smiles and stage movement were because of MTV or because singing. It's simply called gospel music. I'm sure you're all familiar with it. My mom recorded this song years ago. For some reason, I remember it so well.

I can still hear her voice singing in my head, that extraordinary voice." That "extraordinary" voice lives on with Cissy Houston's 23-year-old daughter. When Whitney sings, she sings as if she means it. Showcases for her voice included a slow, relaxing version of Isley Brothers' "For the Love of You" (with Whitney showing off her exceptional range), "Saving All My Love For You" and "Didn't We Almost Have It All," an impressive display of both power and restraint. Theater Review -ft V) ft I V. It 'Pippin 9 at the Theater Barn PIPPIN.

A musical In two acts. Book by Roger 0. Hirson. Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Directed and choreographed by Matthew Karris; musical direction by Mi-chael La vine; lighting by Matthew Schultz; set design by Matthew Karris.

Through Sept. 13. Theater Barn, Routes 20 and 22, New Lebanon, N.Y. Leading Player Marcus Maurice Pippin Joe Elefante Charles Bob White Lewis John Petrock Fastrada Malerie Jane Rose Berthe Barbara Perry Catherine Kate Lyons Newlon Theo Nate Smith Pippin as a child Timmy Smith The Players: Erica Ackerman, Joanne Comerford, Peter Mitchell, Jon Reed, Eileen Tepper, Squier Williams performance is a labor of fun rather than just simple labor. Joe Elefante is a bit too heavyset for the role of Pippin and his singing voice often strains to reach the upper registers of his songs.

The rest of his performance is adequate competent but without any real color. Kate Lyons Newlon, whose singing voice was somewhat anemic at Thurday's opening night performance, takes an uncertain approach to the role of the widow, Catherine. Her Catherine is somewhat aloof, arrogant, not at all giving or loving. Marcus Maurice makes for an amiable and sinuous Leading Player and the rest of the cast is acceptable in varying degrees. Directorchoreographer Matthew Karris' staging and choreography especially the choreography is tentative arid restrained.

Acting as his own set designer, he has given himself an especially unattractive, tacky and perplexing setting that goes a long way toward robbing this "Pippin" of its illusion of theatricality and magic. Houston, whose current LP "Whitney" entered the Billboard charts at No. 1 (the first album by a -female artist to do so), has been lauded as exceptional talent since her multiplatinum debut album "Whitney Houston" came out two years ago. But oft-heard criticisms were that her stage presence didn't quite match the vinyl efforts. At-SPAC, clad in no-frills jeans and leather jacket, Houston appeared at ease.

Her choreographed dance moves may not have been bold Madonna-like, but they weren't timid. She may not have been brimming with confidence as she paced the stage, but her slight hint of innocence came across warmly. If there was a negative aspect, it she was standoffish whenever she left the stage for a few moments without warning, but she made up for that by graciously and carefully accepting enough flowers to fUJ a small floral shop. In general, everything from her -performance to the subdued lights with interesting vertical and horizontal patterns was -tastefully done. Somehow, even the color-coordinated outfits of band and three backing vocalists didn't look tacky.

And even when the band tried a Las Vegas-type ending, continuing to play as Houston left the stage after the encore "Greatest Love of All," the overkill was bearable. Carol Sliwa Whitney Houston at SPAC BPT schedules open auditions By Jeffrey Borak NEW LEBANON, N.Y. About the best that can be said for the Theater Barn's production of the musical, "Pippin," is that it is workmanlike. Thisis an ambitious undertaking; a musical that calls for more dash and vitality than is generally present in this cautious, occasionally lumbering production whose energies seem content to remain well within the constraints of the compact Theater Barn stage. For those who are unfamiliar with this bouncy, flashy, highly theatrical show, "Pippin" focuses on a restless young man's quest for fulfillment.

As the son of Charlemagne, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, Pippin is not content to "simply be the well-educated heir to the throne. He tries to find fulfillment in war, in politics, in orgiastic delights, in a relationship with a widow and her young son. Life is what we make of it, he learns at the end as he finally settles into a happy, if somewhat untheatrical, -existence. I The message is not new and it takes a production like this one without any rich theatrical magic of its own to expose the considerable weaknesses of Roger 0. Hirson's book.

What carries "Pippin" is its cast and Stephen Schwartz' wonderful score and frequently clever lyrics. music, as it turns out, winds up the real star of this production. If nothing else, under Michael Lavine's reliable musical direction, this "Pippin" is, for the most part, sung very well, especially in its choral parts: The cast, on the other hand, is something of a mixed bag. If anyone carries this production, it is Bob White-who is absolutely superb as Charlemagne. Short of Eric Berry, who created this role on Broadway, I cannot imagine anyone, better.

Indeed, White seems to be the only one on stage for whom the games. Performers also will be asked to present a prepared monologue or scene andor to participate in improvisations. Those auditioning should wear loose, comfortable clothing and should also bring a photo and resume. Performers are asked to attend both sessions if possible. Berkshire Public Theatre is a non-Equity regional theater company that performs drama, musicals, comedy, opera, original works and children's theater year-round in a 285-seat theater in downtown 'PITTSFIELD Berkshire Public Theatre is holding open auditions for its permanent repertory company and its 1987-88 fallwinter season Wednesday and Thursday evening at 7 at the 30 Union St.

theater. The season will run from late September through the end of May. Those auditioning will be asked to participate in a workshop session with members of the permanent BPT company. The workshops, which will be run by BPT artistic director Frank Bessell, will include physical and vocal warm-up techniques, exercises and theater Spencertown Academy schedules fall folk festival series Movie Schedules -The same could be said about the opening act, Kenny a 31-year-old saxophonist best known for his instrumental hit "Songbird." Constantly opting to display his virtuosity at the expense of sublety, Kenny Gorelick nevertheless was entertaining. And he certainly won the crowd over after venturing into the outer reaches of the audience all the way through the shed to the lawn wailing away on his saxophone.

Houston left to an even more uproarious standing ovation, despite a mere one-song encore, minimal by rock concert standards. But hers was an audience mixed with the middle-aged, the youthful MTV generation and kids, and her act was easily sufficient to satisfy. SPENCERTOWN, N.Y. The Spencertown Academy is sponsoring an eight-program fall Folk Concert Series beginning Oct. 10 with Dave Sear and ending Nov.

28 with BUI Staines. Among the performers scheduled to appear in the series are David Amram and Friends, Nov. 21, and Tom Paxton, Nov. 14. Also scheduled are Robin and Linda Williams, Oct.

17; Schooner Fare, Oct. 24; Christine Lavin and David Roth, Oct. 31; and Fred Small, Nov. 7. All concerts, with the exception of Schooner Fare and Tom Paxton, are scheduled to hegin at 8:30: Paxton Quartet to give final summer concert FALLS VILLAGE, Conn.

The Manhattan String Quartet wraps up its summer 'residency at Music Mountain with a concert Sunday af- ternoon at 4. and Schooner Fare will give two concerts each one at 7, the other at 9. Subscription and individual tickets are available. Ticket information is available through the Spencertown Academy on Route 203, halfway between the Taconic State Parkway and Aus-terlitz. Exhibit to open at Welles Gallery LENOX An exhibition of acrylic collages and paintings by Marie Hecht opens today in the Welles Gallery at the Lenox Library, where it will remain on view through Sept.

29. An opening day reception is scheduled for 3 to 5. Hecht is a native New Yorker now dividing her time between New York and Stockbridge. Regular exhibit hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 to 5. 9:15, mat.

Sun. and Mon. at 2 (due to holiday.) Crandell (Chatham, N.Y.) The Living Daylights (PG) through 7 and 9:15. Images (Williamstown) Jean de Florette (PG) through 7 and 9:15. Mahaiwe (Great Barrington) The Living Daylights (PG).

through 7 and 9:30. Hoosac Drive-in (Adams) RoboCop (R), Platoon (R) through comp show 7:40. Coury's Drive-In (North Adams) Can't Buy Me Love (PG-13), Outrageous Fortune (R) through comp. show 7:40. Little Cinema The Whistle Blower (PG) through Sept.

13, nightly 8:15, Sat. 7 and 9, mat. Tues. at 2 (due to holiday). Showplace The Untouchables (R) through 7 and 9, mat.

Sun at 2. Palace Spaceballs (PG) Sat. 7 and Mon. 7:30 only. Cinema Center The Fourth Protocol (R); No Way Out (R); Big Easy (R); Born In East L.A.

(R); Dirty Dancing (PG-13); Summer School (PG-13); Can't Buy Me Love (PG-13); Stake Out (R); The Living Daylights (PG); La Bamba (PG-13); RoboCop (R); Snow White (G); Roxanne (PG). Check ad for times. North Adams Cinema Stake Out (R); Dirty Dancing Living Daylights (PG); No Way Out (R) daily 7, Meet me at the SHAKESPEARE COMPANY How Shall We Beguile the Lazy Time If Not With Some Delight?" William Shakespeare "A Midsummer Night's Dream" UNION STATION Blacksmith exhibit to open EAST CHATHAM, N.Y. An exhibition- focusing on the tradition of blacksmithing opens today in the gallery at Robert and Mary Lou Sutter Antiques, 59 Frisbee where it will be on view through Oct. 13.

The show will feature the work of William Senseney, artist-blacksmith and craft coordinator at Hancock Shaker Village. Exhibit ''hours are weekends, 9:30 to 5, and weekdays by appointment. Senseney is a practicing blacksmith. He has been a blacksmith instructor and an organizer of blacksmithing exhibits for 16 years," He recently was commissioned to produce a Shaker skimmer of iron and brass by the Whitney Museum of American Art. He has organized programs and served as a host for last year's New England Blacksmith Association Conference.

The Williamstown resident has done commissioned work for Good Housekeeping Magazine, the. Norman Rockwell Museum, Ar-rowhead, the Brookfield (Conn.) Craft Center, and the Diables Pol-aski Collection in Warsaw, Poland. It may be our friendly to romantic atmosphere It may be our light to hearty menu" I But no matter what T0 YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS PLACE! Union Station "When in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream" says 'What fools these mortals he must4e referring to anyone who fails to see the Shakespeare Company production that runs through August 29 at The Mount." Bob Goepfert The Knickerbocker News "Shakespeare Company's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' must be seen to be believed and even then you'll doubt your senses. I can think of no more delightfulyJay--tB--- "1 a summer's "A beguiling, magical 'Midsummer Dijeam'. It's Shakespeare's 'sweet comedy' at its sweetest go catch a falling mist the magic real or mystical is heartening these nights at Shakespeare (Sompany." Jjfevn Kelly The Boston Globe "Shakespeare Company's Outdoor stage at The Mount, surrounded by towering evergreens and secret shadows that appear with the onset of night, is clearly made for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' 34 Depot Pittsfield 499-4193 Laaca Dtnaer 5-10, evenitiBihaB- lments of 'A Jeffrey Borak- The Ben Anne Saunders The Lakeville Journal TIeMount: Enchanting version of Dream' beguiles" David Tyler pljh North Adams Transcript 7 "It's hard to imagine a setting for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' more evocative than Shakespeare Company's expansive venue on the grounds of Edith Wharton's estate in 1 i JOIN US FOR DINNER Pleasant atmosphere, fine food and excellent service affordable elegance in the Berk-shires.

Enjoy our house specialties. i Sole Florentine 10.95 Steak Dijonnaise 9.95 Chicken Cordon Bleu 9.50 DINNER SERVED 5 PM Reservations Appreciated 443-6228 mi'- 1015 South St. Pittsfield Lenox" Skirj Ascheim The Boston Phoenix SHAKESPEARE COMPANY CELEBRATES THE 10TH SEASON FESTIVAL A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM MEASURE FOR MEASURE IV TWO BY WHARTON in cooperation? with Edith Wharton Restoration, Inc. through September 6 The Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts 01240 Box Office: (413). 637-3353 .1.