last of Lovers' still fun By Genie Campbell Of The State Journal Comedies by Neil Simon wash in on crashing waves of laughter. Only, too often the fun loses its initial potency. Simon writes for the times and he gets stale very quickly when the times leave his material behind. Yet, no matter the vintage, a Neil Simon on its mark is guaranteed to Wisconsin State Journal liven up the place as "The Last of the Red Hot Lovers" is currently doing at Wilson St. East Dinner Playhouse. Friday, Auguit 17, 1979, Section 6, Page 7 The three-act play is about Barney Cashman, a conservative, married The three acts arje broken up into Elaine knows too much. separate vignettes as our awkward, Number two is Bobbl Michele, an Theater review bumbling hero tries to score. If he's unemployed nightclub singer who not sure what he's doing, neither are lives ,wlth a Nazi vocal coach and in- the women he brings home to cessantly relates tales that makes man who decides after 23 years of mother's. Barney's hair — what he has left of it marriage to break loose just once. At The taxing male lead is well played — stand on end. Carol Rathe is cute 47 he's beginning to feel the monotony by Michael Oberfield, a Wilson St. and zany in the role. But she is a little of middle age creeping in. regular who builds the role of the too liberal for our hero, even for just "Not only has life not been very klutzy would-be lover into an explosion one afternoon. kind to me, it's gone out of its way to of hilarity. Oberfield is subtle, even Barney's self-assurance picks up in ignore me," laments Barney to the too dour at first. Yet, the character the third act as he decides to fish in his ; Maynard Ferguson will host drum corps competition on TV Saturday. first of three women he tries to sedu- actor oozes into his role like a juicy own backyard, inviting one of his ce. peach. His liming is excellent. wife's friends back to share his one in- Only Barney's techniques have discretion. about as much flair as the apartment And Oberfield gets good support Barney is perfectly cool but Jea- in which he chooses to rendezvous. It from the cast. The three women he at- nette Fisher, played by Sarah Day, is Ferguson's a hero to corps belongs to his aging mother. tempts to seduce are all very different uptight and mistrustful. Once again but equally strong in stage personali- Barney has his hands full. By Tom Jory 1 p.m. Sunday. This is the fifth year of with the times. He's recorded music ties. "The Last of. the Red Hot Lovers" Associated Press the drum corps championships on from "Rocky," "Star Wars" and "Star Orpheum show As Barney says to himself as he is 10 years old, and, while the subject PBS. Previous programs were pro- Trek," and a year ago, he did the shakes his head, "Boy, I can sure pick matter of the play is not nearly as : NEW YORK — Jazz trumpeter shocking as it might have been a dec- duced by WGBH in Boston.) theme for ABC's "Battlestar Galac- British rock singer Robert Palmer them." Maynard Ferguson at the 8th Annual "Let's clear up the ego thing right tica." ade ago, the characters are, as appeal- will perform at the Orpheum Theatre, Mary O'Brady is Elaine Navazlo, ing as ever. Human relationships, par- Drum Corp International Champion- away," says Ferguson, meaning ex- on Sept. 18. Tickets will go on sale be- ships? Not as incongruous a coupling actly what he says. "I'm sort of a hero Barney's first choice he picks up in his ticularly mismatched ones, are al- Lending a hand ginning today. fish restaurant after writing the ad- ways a safe bet for comedy. And a as might appear at first glance. trumpet player to a lot of kids into His Madison appearance is part of ; "I'm very much into what's hap- music, and I think that image makes it dress of his mother's apartment on the production that manages to highlight A good portion of his time is spent a national tour to promote his fifth back of her check. the differences, as this one does, be- pening in the schools," says the curly quite a natural thing for me to do this with young musicians, a likely situa- album, "Secrets." His biggest hit is haired Ferguson. "I'm very interested show. 1 The extremely nervous and shy comes a side-splitter. Director Seth it upleveling the quality of music edu- tion when you consider the man's atti- the single, "Every Kinda People. " Barney doesn't know the first thing Reines can add another hit onto his list cation. "I'm not a great fan of the contest tude toward his art: "music is for giv- Showtime for Palmer and a guest about seduction. Unfortunately, of glowing successes for Wilson St. • "I watched the drum and bugle part," he says, "I believe contests ing people pleasure, and that's it." artist yet to be announced, is 8 p.m.. corps last year, and was fascinated by should be left to the National and It's not unusual to find Ferguson in Tickets, $7 and $8, are available at the how much of my music was being American leagues and rrjy friends like a high school or college auditorium, box office and through Ticketron out- played there. A lot of these kids are Reggie Jackson. Contests should be accompanied by members of his band. lets at Sears East and West Towdfe. (jny fans, they buy my records, and I left out of the arts as much as possi- "We started doing these things Mail orders should be sent to the (fr- wanted to do the commentary on the ble. called clinics — that's a terrible word; pheum Theatre, 216 State St., Madi- show this year, in an informative "But as far as helping the kids, I'm it sounds like someone is ill — where son, 53703. Include a self-addressed, way." totally committed to that." I'd take my band into schools, speak stamped envelope along with 50 cents EAT AT THE Indeed, Maynard Ferguson will be Drum corps competition opened for a half-hour and answers questions, for handling. Tuesday, at Birmingham's Legion and maybe play a little. ' host for the 1979 championships, to be Field, with 85-90 drum and bugle corps broadcast Saturday night from Bir- * mingham, Ala. More than 200 stations from 26 states and three Canadian "I studied music myself in Mont- provinces participating. More than 10,- real, and was fascinated because of *» in the Public Broadcasting Service how badly it was taught. I learned » EMBERS & network will air all or part of the live 000 musicians between the ages of 12 and 21 took part. some at the French Conservatory in » presentation, which begins at 7:30 Ferguson, born near Montreal in Montreal, but mostly by street exper- p.m. on Channel 21. 1928, has had his own jazz band since ience, and despite what you might * the age of 15. He was lured to this think, I loved every minute of it. *» Produced by WHA "Music is a thing of fun and joy," '!> WE'LL PAY .country by Charlie Barnet in 1949, and by 1950, he was Stan Kenton's high- Ferguson says, "and you hear so <* (The five-hour show will be produc- note trumpet'man. much about sacifice and dedication, * ed, for the first time, by Madison's He's hardly slowed his pace since, that just won't do it for me." SIDEWALK * WHA-TV, for use by other PBS sta- Ferguson doesn't condemn today's then. He was in New York this day, in SALE DAYS * THE GAS* tions and the Madison Scouts drum fact, to promote his latest records, the music teachers. He's just out to give »* and bugle corps will be among the top theme from "Rocky II," and take part them a hand. His advice totyoung peo- STYLE CLEARANCE dozen corps featured in-the competi- in the Newport Jazz Festival. ple: "Do your own thing. D'on't end up » tion. The program will be repeated at Ferguson has, to be sure, kept up a second-rate Maynard." * GENUINE SWEDEN » 'Enjoy dining at the Embers . and Iho Embers will allow you the equi- . * BASTAD valenl ol one gallon of gasoline (worth a value ot S1 00> on any item from * the dinner section ol our monu. lor you and each ol those who accom- * * pany you Olter good 24 hours a day. 7 days a weok, with this coupon, CLOGS * * until expiration date indicnlod below. Oiler may nol be used with any CLASP, CLAW, » other special oiler or coupon or lako-oul order; or items from our TV toda * NAVY OR * children's monu , OPEN 24 HOURS 5:55 3:00 BROWN MOC STITCH STYLES $00 4—Children's Show 3,6, 8, 23—Love Of NOW AT * 12—Farm Report * CHANNEL LOCATIONS Life (Popular women'i shoei) * 4—Wheel of Fortune * » Expiration Date August 26,1979 6:00 Ch. 3-WISC-Madlion Ch. 10-WMVS-Mllwauktt Ch. H-WXOW-la Crcm 10— Dick Cavett *» 6—CBS News Ch. 4-WTMJ-Mllwaukn Ch. 12-WISN-M!lwatikii Ch.7l~WHA-Mbdl»n 15—Mike Douglas * Madison 15,8,13—PTL Club Ch.