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Entertainmen

3 hour climax at Play House

By R. Woodward Playing at The Cleveland Play House through November 17 is Christopher Durang's "A History of the American Film," a comedy musical that is exhausting but never boring. This production ought to appeal especially to those who like to pat themselves on the back for getting their money's worth of entertainment and like to insist that it is better to have too much of a good thing than too little.

The play deals with contemporary life in America as depicted by American movies during the past 60 years. The writer had so much vivid material to make use of that almost the entire play consists of high points. The alert playgoer gets over three hours of climax.

A number of well-known film characters are obliged by the author to exist beyond the confines of the films in which they originally appeared.

Characters played by James Cagney and Loretta Young in the early '30s end up behaving like George and Martha from "Who's

Even reaching the end of that greatest of all scenarios, civilization as we know it, does not let Jimmy and Loretta off the hook. They have to crawl out of the rubble and keep on going. The script by Christopher Durang is very funny--and even funnier if you happen to be a fiim buff. It is irreverent without being patronizing. Durang is himself an avid film watcher, and one recalls that the most effective and most entertaining blasphemies are usually devised by those people who have spent a lot of time as true believers.

The cast of the Play House's production is excellent throughout.

Heading the cast are Sharon Bicknell as Loretta and William Rhys as Jimmy.

In handling her wide-ranging part Bicknell shows a great deal of energy, resourcefulness, and discipline. She makes the most of opportunities for bravura offered by her part without ever overdoing it. She smoothly metamorphoses from Lillian Gish in "Broken Blossoms" into young

found in depicting unspeakably absurd behavior while keeping an utterly straight face.

Judith Haskell directs the show with a much-needed firm hand. A play crammed with so much material could easily get out of hand and appear to be rambling off in all directions. Haskell keeps it all cogent and moving briskly along.

Where the play heads may be too much for some more straight-laced viewers since American movies in the late seventies have about them much less of a sense of middle class decorum than live theaters like the Cleveland Play House. But seeing some of the audience become appalled is part of the fun.

There are few things more enjoyable than watching a number of people who have glibly and casually dismissed American movies down through the years being obliged to admit that there is in fact more to them than they can handle.

Jimmy (William Rhys), the James Cagney-like character in Christopher Durang's "A History of the American Film" momentarily turns into Citizen Kane and his wife Bette (Carolyn Reed) confronts the great puzzle of existence. See reveiw.

Women's Agenda

FEMINIST RESOURCE: Since 1976, the Women's Action Alliance, Inc. has published a bimonthly magazine, Women's Agenda, that has become a first-rate resource for the women's movement. It carries news of activities of women's organizations, both local and national; a calendar of women's events; reports and reviews of new books, films, studies, and pamphlets of interest or value to women and feminists; analysis of new legislation affecting women and identification of new trends in the women's movement; and information about funding and running an effective women's organization. Both the WAA as a group gay issues, and we are happy to recommend the magazine to NGTF and Women's Agenda have been exceptionally supportive on lesbian-

members and friends. A year's subscription is $10; a sample copy is $1.50. For more information or to subscribe, please write to the Women's Action Alliance, Inc., 370 Lexington Ave., New York NY 10017; or call (212) 532-8330. courtesy of NGTF Action Report, 8-9/79

Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (In this Loretta Young into Susan HayNew gay spot opens on West Side

case the children have to be imaginary because Jimmy has dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and being exposed to the radiation has rendered him impotent.)

Ma Joad, the sturdy family matriarch who ended "Grapes of Wrath" on a positive note by asserting that she and her kin could not be licked because "We're the people," finds that her son Hank has turned her in to the House Unamerican Activities Committee.

Bette, the other woman from films of the 1930s, turns into Dr. Strangelove and destroys Chicago.

Individual movies, the author suggests, are not self-contained realities but pieces in a large mosaic.

The chief false impression that people get from watching movies is that the various realities of human existence can end up neatly resolved--or at least be concluded.

"I want the 'The End' sign to come down," Loretta says, "and then I can stay frozen behind it forever and nothing else will happen to me.

"Ya can't have it, kid," Jimmy replies. And indeed she can't.

ward into Liz Taylor in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf." In an evening crammed with choice moments an unforgettable stand-out is her assuming the voice and garb of a sultry-toned night club singer chanting a song called "Euphemism for Sale."

William Rhys's assuming of the movie persona of James Gagney is irresistabe--witty and good-humored and never glib. Rhys, who resembles Cagney physically, manages to go straight to the soul of the Cagney persona. He does not merely give the surface; he manages to radiate Cagney.

Carolyn Reed plays with both gusto and precision Bette, the other woman in Jimmy's life who loves him in vain, goes through a humiliating period as the wife of Citizen Kane forced tc .ing in grand opera, and ends up as both Dr. Strangelove and the dirtymouthed demon from "The Exorcist." Reed defines clearly the author's targets and hits them with both accuracy and force.

Joe Lauck as the Henry Fondalike character who momentarily becomes like Fred Astaire and ends up like the knife-wielding son from "Psycho" once again shows how much hilarity is to be

by Carl Howard

A new and interesting nightspot has opened on Cleveland's West-side. DEAN'S LOUNGE, 11120 Clifton Boulevard, became the latest member of the gay establishment scene, September

5, 1979, when it threw its Grand Opening Party and invited all of gay Cleveland. This party saw several hundred people pressed into the bar anxious to check-out hors d'oeuvres and partying.

Owned by Dean, a Cleveland businessman, the Lounge is bie Cook and Chet Davis, managed and operated by Bob-

another Clevealnd area businessman. Greg and Chris are currently tending bar. section of town and realizing the concentration of gay homes in this area, the primary goal of Dean's management is to provide a relaxing and fun spot for customers to enjoy a drink on the way home. Also, it is hoped that customers will see the Lounge as a good place to meet friends and party or just to get better acquainted over drinks a game of Backgammon or other such activities. This might include a

Bingo Party on Sunday afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. or during Happy Hour daily from

5:00 to 7:00 P.M.

The bar itself is decorated with an abundance of plants, flowers and ferns. Candles and other indirect lighting add to the atmosphere. Additional decorating plans call for new modular seating and mirrored walls. However, at present the atmosphere is warm, relaxing and intimate.

Adjacent to the main bar, a disco dance floor, sound system and a small light show have been installed for those who care to

dance. However, this does not seem to detract from the more mellow atmosphere of the main bar-lounge.

In the short time the bar has been open, many area-gays have patronized the new place. One result of this has been to increase the quality of 'cruising' here. Another result has been the need to hurry re-decorating plans.

The Lounge is open from 5:00 P.M. until 1:00 A.M., daily. Sundays from 1:00 P.M. until 1:00 A.M.

Holly Near plays Oberlin

Holly Near will appear in conadmission fee of $2.50 for stucert on November 9 on the cam-dents, senior citizens, and the pus of Oberlin College, Ohio. Her physically-challenged. accompanist will be pianist J.J. Thomas and Susan Freundlick will be on hand to interpret for the deaf.

The concert will take place at 8:30 p.m. in Finney Chapel, located at the corner of Route 10 and Professor Street. The doors will be open at 7:45 p.m.

The general admission price is $4.50. There will be a special

A free workshop hosted by "Susan Freundlick will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at Wilder Hall, located at the corner of Route 10 and Woodland Street. The workshop, which will include a free picnic-style dinner, will be signed for the deaf.

For more information call Beth Griffin at (216) 775-6661.