A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES Thursday, June 25, 2009 Page 19 POPCORN™ The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3: Identical WF Twins Talk Don’t Count Out the Remake About Leading ‘Double Life’ By MARYLOU MORANO wished they had a twin…they saw how One Popcorn, Poor • Two Popcorns, Fair • Three Popcorns, Good • Four Popcorns, Excellent Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times we always had a built–in best friend and By MICHAEL S. GOLDBERGER same goes for His Girl Friday (1940), WESTFIELD – Former Westfield how fun it seemed to be a twin,” added 3 popcorns the Cary Grant-Rosalind Russell ad- residents and identical twin sisters Ms. Lombardo. There is no definite consensus aptation of Ben Hecht and Charles Jacqueline Davidson Kopito and Amy Once, when they were sophomores among lexicographers as to whether MacArthur’s The Front Page (1931). Davidson Lombardo have collaborated at Westfield High School, the twins or not snazzily, the adverb for snazzy, A good place to start might be a on a book about the special bond unique used their identical appearances to their belongs in our language. Pity. For it discourse on the dispensation we give to identical twins. advantage. would best describe the manner in John Travolta whenever he plays a Entitled “Tales of the Twins: Life Ms. Kopito had a free period at ex- which action maven Tony Scott re- villain. As Ryder, the sinister black- Stories of Identical Twin Sisters,” the actly the same time her sister, who had prises The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. mailer who hijacks the title subway book is a collection of humorous true- a full-blown cold, was scheduled to Most contemporary audiences will in The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, we life tales that center on the experience take a biology exam. agree. That is, all but the loyal oppo- forgive him his ham. It’s worth it to of being and having an identical twin. Ms. Kopito took the exam for Ms. sition – defenders of the faith, as let the madman wax menacingly, ra- Although currently there is no re- Lombardo, and the teacher never real- dedicated to the original 1974 ver- tionalizing his fatalistic lunacy. He is lease date for the ized she had graded sion, starring Walter Matthau and nonetheless dangerous. book, one story, a test taken by the Robert Shaw, as Robin Hood was to But in this case, Travolta has his “College Separa- “wrong” twin. King Richard. co-star to thank for the buoy. Doubt- tion,” has been pub- It was a similar While I would certainly rail against lessly pleasing all the theories of good MEET THE NEW BOSS…Members of the Westfield Community Players (WCP), lished in “Chicken tale of mistaken a recreation of Citizen Kane (1941), acting as N.Y.C. rail control dispatcher along with officers and committee chairs, were present at WCP’s annual meeting, Soup for the Soul – identity that started with 1, 2, 3, I have empathy for its Walter Garber, Denzel Washington held on June 14, at which outgoing president Letty Hudak was presented a plaque Twins and More: A the twins writing adherents but no fealty. Truth be told, lends “creds” to the crazy dance his of appreciation for her service to WCP. At this meeting, the incoming president, Collection of 101 their tales. the second talkie version of A Christ- extortionist sparring partner lavishes. JoAnne Lemenille, was elected by the board. Pictured, left to right, are Joyce Nowlin, secretary; Linda Giudita, casting chair; Jessica Foerst, playbill director; Stories Celebrating At one point, mas Carol (Scrooge, 1951) is better They are a team – the dramatic equiva- Naomi Yablonsky, activities director; Gail Smith, facilities director; Letty Hudak, Double Trouble they shared the than Hollywood’s 1938 offering. The lent of straight man and his over-the- outgoing president; Barbara Ruban, VP productions, and Bill McMeekan, and Multiple Bless- same hair salon but top antithesis. ings.” never made ap- treasurer; Lucille Bills, audience services director. Seated is JoAnne Lemenille, Jacqueline Davidson Kopito and Amy Davidson Lombardo Kids on Keys Students Only this is no laughing matter. incoming WCP President. Written by Ms. pointments for Poor Walter. It had to happen when he Lombardo, “Col- themselves or their Perform in Concert was at the switch, literally. As if the lege Separation” relates the story of the sons at the same time. WESTFIELD – Last month, stu- temporarily demoted MTA bigwig The Minus 5 to Appear twins’ parting to attend different col- One day, they showed up together dents from Susannah Marks’ piano (he’s under investigation for bribery) leges. with their combined progeny – two program, Kids on Keys, at the didn’t have enough troubles. Making This separation marked the first time sons each – in tow. Westfield-based New Jersey Work- it worse, in his demented way, Ryder Sept. 12 at Clark’s Musicfest the sisters had spent significant time “All the people in the salon were shop for the Arts (NJWA) performed finds a comrade in the plainspoken CLARK — The Minus 5, a rock label. away from one another. freaking...it was very funny,” said Ms. a grand-piano recital held at Steinway pawn at the other end of the line and collective featuring members of Also confirmed for Saturday, Sep- “I knew the separation would be Kopito. Music Gallery in Paramus, marking won’t relinquish him. R.E.M. and The Posies, will perform tember 12 are Fastball, The Alarm, good for us, and I liked being on my “After this incident, Jackie and I the end of the semester. Meanwhile, rushing to operation at Union County MusicFest 2009 on and Cy Curnin of The Fixx. Con- own. However, I still called Jackie three started talking about all our funny twin The students were varied in their central, ostensibly to take command, Saturday, September 12, at Oak firmed for Sunday, September 13, to four times a day,” said Ms. Lombardo. stories. We thought it would be great to musical tastes, playing pieces in a is NYPD hostage negotiating expert Ridge Park in Clark. are The 1910 Fruitgum Company, “After being separated from Amy write a cute book…especially since variety of genres from classical to Lieutenant Camonetti, expertly The Minus 5, a rock group founded Glenn Tillbrook and the Fluffers, [during my] freshman year in college, now there are so many twins around,” jazz, Beethoven to Star Wars. etched by John Turturro. Of course, in 1993 by underground pop icon Gin Blossoms, Tonic, and They being reunited made me realize how said Ms. Lombardo. Many of the advanced students also Ryder will have none of it. He wants Scott McCaughey, was created as Might Be Giants, who will play two much I missed having my twin by my While growing up in Westfield, the received awards and are already ap- $10 million in one hour or he starts pop/rock collective with the intent sets, the first of which will concen- side,” said Ms. Kopito. twins played soccer and softball in gram- plying their musical skills to the com- killing hostages, one for every minute of using different lineups with each trate on their Grammy Award-win- The twins have always garnered spe- mar school. They went to Hebrew munity, either through participation past deadline. He’s already shown new record. The Minus 5 is rooted in ning children’s music. cial attention, even as far back as their School and had their Bat Mitzvahs at in school orchestras, or extra-curricu- he’s not kidding. the talents of McCaughey and Peter Along with the free music, Union kindergarten days at Tamaques School. Temple Emanu-El. lar ventures such as NJPAC, the All The tension takes hold. The mayor, Buck, a legendary guitarist and co- County MusicFest 2009 includes The “When Amy and I were growing up, Ms. Kopito attended Syracuse Uni- City Band and the local Bluenote portrayed with skilled acerbic note founder of R.E.M., which was in- Kids Kingdom Traveling Jubilee being a twin was rare and special. People versity and Seton Hall, where she re- Jazz Band. by James Gandolfini, has ordered the ducted into the Rock and Roll Hall with a full slate of children’s activi- were interested in us and always wanted ceived a master’s degree in Corporate Anyone interested in enrolling in money from the Federal Reserve. Both of Fame in 2007. McCaughey him- ties including moonwalks, crafts, and to know our differences and how we and Pubic Communications. She cur- the Kids on Keys program for the fall he and the cash are on their way. But self has worked with R.E.M. both on kid-friendly performers. A laser tag were similar...not just in our appear- rently resides in Short Hills. session may call (908) 789-9696 or while Ryder won’t allow Camonetti stage and in the studio since 1994. course will be part of the fun along ances but our personalities,” said Ms. Ms. Lombardo attended the Univer- visit the office at 150-152 East Broad entrance to the inner sanctum he has The Minus 5 over the years has with the Hell on Wheels riders show- Kopito. sity of Hartford and received her Street in Westfield. Additional infor- creepily established with Walter, it included Ken Stringfellow and John ing off their stunts with free perfor- “Whether it was people in town, master’s degree in counseling from Pace mation on all NJWA programs is avail- can’t deter the cop from coaching on Auer of the Posies, Jeff Tweedy, John mances.