Page 24 Thursday, March 16, 2000 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION Arts & Entertainment
Take the Stage Saint Patrick WITH KERRIANNE SPELLMAN CORT Pen and Ink
By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN Heartfelt Acting, Superb Since Halle Berry’s Careless Hit And Run, Luck of the Irish Doesn’t Seem to Reign They don’t teach you this in driving school, but whenever you Choreography Comprise hit someone with your car, it isn’t a smart idea to flee the scene. In fact, it’s illegal. It’s also common sense to stick around, ARTISTS OF THE WEEK WHS Big Production take responsibility and care for the per- son you’ve injured. Someone should fill actress Halle Berry in on these fine U2 Favorite Irish By KERRIANNE SPELLMAN CORT the role of Josh Baskin. Josh is a points. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times normal 12-year-old boy who is Last week, the woman she “allegedly” Beaming with Irish pride, four WESTFIELD -- Several years ago native Dubliners, drummer Larry tired of being treated like a child harmed in a hit and run accident in West Proverbs when the theater community in and makes a wish to become big. Mullen, bassist Adam Clayton, gui- Hollywood, Hatal Raythaha, did just tarist The Edge, and vocalist Bono, New York City learned that a mu- He is astonished the next morning which formed as U2 in 1978, have sical version of the 20th Century when he wakes up in a grown that. She announced that she is suing the made Ireland a proud nation and Níl aon tintéan mar do Golden Globe recipient for hitting her focal point in modern rock and thintéan féin: There’s no 1996 Pontiac Sunbird with her Chevy roll music. place like home. Blazer. While it took firefighters to pry “Pride (In the Name of Love)” Halle Berry from The Unforgettable Fire, “With Scileann fíon fírinne: Raythatha from her automobile, Berry or Without You,” “I Still Haven’t Wine lets out the truth. escaped with only 22 tiny stitches to her forehead. Found What I’m Looking For,” and While Raythatha has charged that Berry was under the influence “Where the Streets Have No Name,” Fillean meal ar an meallaire: Evil returns to the of a controlled substance at the time of the crash, the actress who all from The Joshua Tree bolstered Continued on Page 22 U2 to the top of the charts in the evil doer. 1980s. Rattle and Hum, released Ní hé lá na gaoithe lá na in 1988, carbon copied that suc- scolb: A windy day is not the cess. day to be fixing your thatch. Hard Work Pays Off When the 1990s arrived, U2’s Achtung Baby hit the record Nuair atá un cat amuigh shelves with a skyrocketing slam, bíonn na luch ag damhsa: producing a record number of top When the cat is away, the As Performing Arts songs. (Many of which defined the mice will play. 1990s along with Pearl Jam’s suc- cess on college radio stations). Sla/inte chugat: Good Center Comes to McKinley Although U2’s Zooropa album health to you. release and “Zoo TV” tour failed to Fearthain don lao agus produce the anticipated acclaim, By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN stressed Ms. Pomerantz, “it needs U2 has to its credit performances grian don tsearrach; uisce Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times don gé agus déirc don to be a performing arts center.” with legends Keith Richards of WESTFIELD – It may be small, Principal Hansen, who served The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, bhacach: Rain to the calf and but McKinley Elementary’s school Johnny Cash, BB King, and Old sun to the foal; water to the spirit and ardor for the arts is Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra. goose and alms to the beggar strong and indisputably with- Ever-faithful to the rolling green man. out boundaries. The tiniest of and verdant hills of Ireland and its six elementary schools in people, the band members remain Gura slán an scéalai: May the bearer of the news be safe. Westfield, McKinley debuted in Dublin where they first met and MPAC (McKinley Performing became acquainted. Arts Center) after parents, fac- ulty, administrators, students Kick Up Your Heels at Dance and Principal Chic Hansen launched an outstanding
Kerrianne Spellman Cort for The Westfield Leader and The Times fundraising campaign. Dedicated to Saint Pattys Day Wireless microphones, Members of the Big ensemble’s dance team hand-held microphones, a sound mixer, amplifier and UNION – The Joseph Nugent the Evergreens will be featured. Fox blockbuster, Big, was in the man’s body. Association, an Irish-American or- Admission is $25, includ- wall-mounted speakers are just works for a Broadway production, Who could possibly forget the some of the new additions to ganization in Union County, will ing food, beer, wine, soda, most skeptics had their reserva- hilarity that ensues when Josh is hold their annual St. Patrick’s McKinley’s gymnasium, which coffee, tea and cake. tions. How on earth were they hired by the MacMillan Toy Com- has been transformed into an Day dance on Friday, March For more information and going to make a live rendition of pany in New York, arrives at a arts center and marked as such 17, from 8 p.m. to midnight at reservations, please call that wonderful film? company party in a ridiculous tux- with a new white sign with the Union Elks on Chestnut Maureen Dowling at (908) The motion picture, written by edo, and proceeds to spit beluga blue lettering. Street at Five Points in Union. 464- 9074 or Kevin Dowling at Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg, caviar out of his mouth as if it was Lynne Pomerantz, a Music by Frankie Curran a n d (732) 594-1763. and directed by Penny Marshall, dog food? The film was impec- McKinley School parent and starred the brilliant Tom Hanks in cable. Chairwoman of the MPAC The staged version with book A student’s notecard creation which Committee, told The Westfield helped raise funds for the MPAC. by John Weidman, and music and Leader and The Times of Scotch lyrics by David Shire and Richard Plains-Fanwood that after at- as the school district’s Fine Arts Maltby, did not do as well. The tending the Winter Concert in 1998 Maltby-Shire team had success with Supervisor before his post at during which the soloists could McKinley in 1997, joined con- such earlier hits as “Baby,” “Closer not be heard or seen effectively, Than Ever,” and “Starting Here, cerned parents and pupils in mak- she knew something had to be ing the dream of a performing arts Starting Now,” but the Broadway done. production of Big was not well center a reality. “I couldn’t believe how terrible Superintendent of Schools Dr. received. the lighting and sound were,” Ms. The re-worked National Tour William J. Foley and Westfield Pomerantz shared. “Chic Hansen, Board of Education (BOE) Presi- that followed did much better, and Principal, and Cathy Cook, a fifth this is the version that the Westfield dent Darielle Walsh also came on High School (WHS) Drama and board with gusto, according to Music Department presented. Ms. Pomerantz. I was so impressed with this “A performing arts center at production that it’s hard to imag- McKinley School could be shared ine a professional cast in a Na- by other elementary schools,” Ms. tional Tour being any more enter- Walsh envisioned. “We could hold taining. The 46-member cast was small recitals or other performances perfect in every way, with heartfelt at this space. Just as elementary grade teacher, had written a beau- acting and Broadway caliber danc- schools use Edison (Intermediate ing. tiful song called ‘The Gifts We School) for bigger endeavors, The choreography, by WHS Share.’ I couldn’t hear the words schools could use McKinley for and I couldn’t see the soloists.” alumnus Avon Chandler, was re- recitals or other events requiring a markable. It was not only excep- Ms. Pomerantz, who spear- more intimate setting.” tional choreography, but it was headed the fundraising efforts, The BOE President determined, added, “Yes, it’s a gym at an el- professionally executed. A lot of “The entire Westfield community these students have a promising ementary school. It is used as a would benefit.” future in musical theater if they lunch cafeteria, a voting location, Rallying together for the MPAC ART FOR A CAUSE…Limited edition prints by Mountainside artists Harry A. and Wende Devlin were a spot for Boy Scout and Girl Scout should choose to follow that route. dream, a committee was formu- donated last season to benefit the Girls’ Lacrosse Team of Westfield High School. The team is meetings, an after school day care lated and the group decided to primarily funded by the team members’ families. Pictured, left to right, are three parents of team Both Josh Lerner and J. D. Hyman in the roles of young and big Josh, facility, and a weekend basketball consult Stu Snowden, a McKinley members: Owner of Juxtapose Gallery in Westfield Jerry Gildea, Fundraising Committee Represen- court. It is a rainy day playground respectively, turn in earnest, de- parent and owner of Stuart’s Au- tative Pattie McGovern, and Kathie Priestley. Ms. Gildea donated her services and Ms. Priestly was and an art gallery for student dio in Westfield for advice on one of the lucky winners at last year’s end of the season banquet. The team will sell raffle tickets in lightful performances. Both of these fine, young actors deliver projects. It is a place for PTO sound and lighting equipment. the future for two handmade quilts by Sue Salmond to benefit this year’s team. meetings and social events.” exceptional, sincere work that was “The project was so clearly de- “But, when the kids perform,” Please send all a pleasure to watch. Continued on Page 23 Arts & Entertainment In the role of Billy, Josh’s ado- Press Releases to : lescent friend, who is in the diffi- cult position of being the only Michelle H. LePoidevin at person who knows what has re- [email protected] Continued on Page 22 The Main Ingredient AbbotAbbot TileTile Traditional Irish Soda Bread Elegance,Elegance, QualityQuality,, SerServicevice The Finest 8 c. white flour (unbleached) 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda Chocolate Shamrocks – Gold Coins & More Collection of 3 to 4 c. buttermilk, at room temp. 1 c. currants 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. butter or oil Handmade 2 tsp. baking powder
Tiles Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Preheat oven to 345-degrees. Stir in buttermilk, one cup at at time. Create fairly soft dough that will hold its shape. Turn dough out onto floured board or countertop. Knead until smooth and soft, about 6 minutes. Knead in currants. Tear dough in half. Form each half into a ball. Using a knife, slash a cross on top. Place the balls, cross up, well apart on greased baking sheet. Put sheet, bread side up, in oven. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Loaves should be light brown. 732-968-0018 • Colonial Square Mall • US 22 E • Greenbrook CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK