THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 4, 1994 TAG: 9411020140
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 3B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARLENE FORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Got a thought about pollution? What about the Marines as the government's No. 1 instrument of diplomacy in Haiti? Or how about love and romance - even social disease?
Are any of those delicate and not-so-delicate issues anything to sing and dance about?
Tom Lehrer, the writer of ``Tomfoolery,'' thinks so, and The Actors' Theatre agrees.
The fledgling stage organization opens its second season tonight at the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts with the wise-cracking revue by Lehrer and adapted for the stage by Cameron Mackintosh and Robin Rae.
According to the company's associate producer and director, Joe Sasso, ``Lehrer is a master of satire, and the revue just takes a slam at everybody - the military, pollution, sex, religion. It's a parody of American life.''
The revue was originally written in the 1950s and '60s and performed as a one-man show by Lehrer. (Lehrer was a Harvard mathematician.) In 1980 it was adapted for the London stage to include several performers and subsequently ran on Broadway.
``There are Tom Lehrer cult followers, but none of the other theaters have done it recently,'' Sasso said. ``We're doing it because we understand Lehrer, and this is just the type of light, entertaining comedy we feel our audiences will enjoy.''
The Actors' Theatre has updated some dialogue like changing introductions to a tune about the Bay of Pigs to one about the Haitian invasion. But in general, the popular sounding music is the same and topics of use and abuse, according to Sasso, never change.
The actors are Pam Good, Bruce Hanson, Keith Flippen, Denise Crisp, Paul Ricioppo and Lee Clodfelter. Greg Silva is the musical director.
``Tomfoolery'' opens at 8 p.m. today and continues evening performances on Nov. 5, 11, 12, 17 and 18. Sundays matinees are set for 2 p.m. Nov. 6, 13 and 20. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and military and $5 for students.
A combination benefit and performance is the Actors' Theater gala fund-raiser at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Festivities include a silent auction, hors d'oeuvres, entertainment and dancing to the Hotel Paradise Roof Garden Orchestra. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and military. MEMO: For reservations to either show or the fund-raiser, call 557-0397.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Denise Crisp and Pamela Good star in the wise-cracking revue
``Tomfoolery'' at The Actors Theatre at Virginia Beach Center for
the Arts.
by CNB