DATE: Friday, August 8, 1997                TAG: 9708070192

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E3   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   67 lines

PREVIEW

The Who

Remember when Peter Townshend wrote about hoping he dies before he gets old? Glad that didn't happen. If it had, The Who might not have become one of the greatest bands ever. Which means they wouldn't have reunited for their current tour and we wouldn't get to see them Saturday night. Word is they're doing ``Quadrophenia'' and a whole bunch of hits.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheater. Tickets: $20 to $45 plus parking and service charges; order at 671-8100.

- Craig Shapiro

Reba/Brooks & Dunn

Concerts don't usually come with any guarantees, but Thursday night's pairing country queen Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn, the CMA's reigning Entertainers of the Year, sure does: There won't be a bad seat in the house because they're playing in the round. Figure in the showy production and the energy and hit lists they bring to the stage, and it's a win-win deal.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Hampton Coliseum. Tickets: $40 plus service charge; order at 671-8100.

- Craig Shapiro

Hampton Cup

MORE THAN 100 inboard and hydroplane watercraft will churn up the water at Mill Creek in Hampton this weekend. It's the 71st Annual Hampton Cup Regatta, the granddaddy of powerboat races, with an emphasis on ``powerboat'' - some of them reach speeds of more than 140 mph. The racing runs from noon to 6 today through Sunday. On land, there'll be entertainment, concessions and kids' activities. Spectators get in free. More info at (757) 727-1102.

- Roy Bahls OPENING TONIGHT

CONSPIRACY THEORY - Julia Roberts, as a New York lawyer, and Mel Gibson, as a wacked-out New York cab driver, are on the run when someone wants to shut him up. Patrick Stewart (of Star Trek's next generation) is suspect number one. It's a romantic thriller directed by Gibson's ``Lethal Weapon'' helmer Richard Donner. R

THE PILLOW BOOK - Peter Greenaway, a director who specializes in either confusing or infuriating his audiences, has a novel idea with this yarn about a woman who loves to have men write on her body. Vivian Wu of ``The Joy Luck Club'' has the role. Ewan McGregor (of ``Trainspotting'' and soon to be in the ``Star Wars'' prequels) persuades her to do some writing on her own. R

FREE WILLY 3 - Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, he's baaaaack, and he needs rescuing - again. How many times can Willy be rescued? And will he look like more than a rubber toy this time? PG OPENING MONDAY

LOVE AND OTHER CATASTROPHES - Mixed up college co-eds looking for a date more than a diploma are the subjects of this Australian comedy directed by Emma-Kate Croghan. There are three women and two guys in the cast which leaves, well, a catastrophe. These are the kind of folks who have to pay library fines before they go out on dates. The search for love amidst the paper chase with put-the-shrimp-on-the-barbie accents. R OPENED WEDNESDAY

HOW TO BE A PLAYER - Music-oriented flick that actually encourages you to be a listener. The Def Jam soundtrack features the single ``Big Bad Mama'' by Foxy Brown and Dru Hill. R. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photos]

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