A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood Thursday, October 17, 2002 Page 21 My Take on It With Kerrianne Spellman Cort Arts & Entertainment Les Miz Veteran Bids Adieu Merck to Mark Artistic Excellence Presbyterian Church Women Plan To 2nd Longest Running Show By KERRIANNE SPELLMAN CORT Broadway production, including Latin Of WF,, SPSP,, andand County Residents Annual Silver Snowflake Boutique Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times heartthrob Ricky Martin. Celebrities RAHWAY – From Sunday, Oc- Say it isn’t so. Last Debra Gibson, Shanice, Catherine WESTFIELD — The Silver Snow- ated and named individually by an arti- FANWOOD — tober 13, through Friday, November san from Prince Edward Island. week, Broadway producer Cameron Hickland, Andrea McArdle, Gary Mor- flake Boutique, the craft and interna- 8, the paintings, drawings, photo- tional gift sale to be held at The Presby- Other dolls in the series include “The Mackintosh announced that the current ris, Melba Moore, Lea Salonga and graphs and prints of 23 artists from Patti LuPone have all appeared in the terian Church in Westfield, Saturday, Old Salt,” “The Country Squire,” and longest running show on Broadway and Westfield, Scotch Plains and Union November 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. will “The Woodsman.” Unique smaller deco- the second longest running Broadway show, as well as countless Tony Award County will be spotlighted by Merck winners and other Broadway favorites. offer hand carved chests, tables, chairs, rative dolls by the same artist have also show in history, Les Miserables, would & Co., Inc. and The Arts Guild of screens, CD cabinets, Oriental rugs, bas- been crafted. All of the dolls sold out very give its final performance on March 15, Over 700 hundred actors have ap- Rahway. quickly last year; so interested buyers are peared in the four United States compa- kets, toys, musical instruments, jewelry, 2003, three days following the The event will be held at 1670 nativity sets and ornaments from interna- advised to come at the opening of the sale blockbuster’s 16th anniversary. nies, and the show has played in 141 Irving Street in Rahway, the home of for the largest selection. cities in North America. Worldwide, the tional artisans. Mackintosh’s decision to close the the Arts Guild. A reception will be Art work, needlecraft items, quilt wall A platinum-banded commemorative moneymaker seemed odd to theater buffs show has been seen by over 50 million held on October 13 from 1 to 4 p.m. hangings, wine charms, baby gifts, hand- plate, with a black and white drawing of as the show is still one of the best sellers people, with a total box-office gross of Admission is free. painted greeting cards, hostess gifts, The Presbyterian Church in Westfield on the Great White Way. However, over 1.8 billion. Westfield residents Francesca sweaters, stocking stuffers, ornaments, “Founded in 1728” on the front and a Mackintosh said in a statement that he Les Miserables, the musical, is a tale Azzara, Patricia Brentano, and Linda wreathes and other holiday decorations, church history on the back will be avail- would like the show to depart in style, of love and redemption that is beauti- Kolar, Scotch Plains photographer along with numerous other creations from able. History buffs will note that besides and, admittedly, he wouldn’t have a fully presented in a near cinematic way. Brooks Crandall and Berkeley Heights talented members of the church will be being a place of worship, the church crack at the Best Revival Tony Award Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, the photographer Nancy Ori will include available. served as the town meeting hall, the court until he closed the first production. show is entirely sung. Written by Claude their prized works in this exhibition. PEACEFUL RIVER... “Chama A large selection of baked and home and the first school. Ending nearly two decades of theater Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil This will be the third year in a row River, New Mexico” by Nancy Ori. canned specialties will be in the food Sponsored by Presbyterian Women, magic only to be eligible for a revival (who also created Miss Saigon) the show that this juried art show for Union department. all proceeds go to local and international County artists will be presented by the days and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m., A handmade quilt stand and two an- mission projects. All international items Arts Guild of Rahway in partnership Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. or 5 to 7 tique windows crafted into mirrors will enjoy Fair Trade status and are created by with the Union County Division of p.m. or by appointment. be featured Silent Auction items. New to individuals and cottage industries that Cultural and Heritage Affairs and For more information, please call the boutique this year, theme baskets benefit directly from their artistry. None funded by Merck & Co., Inc. (732) 381-7511 or visit including “New Baby,” “Entertainment,” of the items come from “sweat shop” Gallery hours are Wednesdays, Fri- www.rahwayartsguild.org. “Tea Party,” “Family Night,” “Italian,” enterprises. “Books,” “Gardening,” “Relocation” and There is no admission charge, and free “Christmas,” will be part of the Silent ample parking is available in the church Auction. parking lot at 140 Mountain Avenue. John Luerssen’s ‘Mouthing Off’ Many pieces of artwork and quilting Located at the corner of East Broad Street creations will be in this section also. The and Mountain Avenue, the Presbyterian CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 auction bidding will close at 2 p.m., with Church in Westfield is easily located. the TKE (Theta Kappa Epsilon) House flowers, Krist Novoselic who was in Nir- winners being informed prior to the close Due to construction on the church I was at the college radio station. vana, and one of my heroes, Joe Jackson. of the sale. campus, the sale will be held this year in I wrote a weekly alternative music These days, it’s like, “What’s up Krist? The “Clantas” are back by popular Westminster Hall, with entrance on column for The Quad, my college paper Happy to have that lawsuit with Courtney demand. The large decorative Santa dolls, Mountain Avenue. Police will direct traf- from ’88 to ’90, called “The Vinyl Ver- settled?” Like anything, over time, it which take their name from the clan fic. For safety and convenience, assis- dict.” But, by the time I graduated, vinyl becomes second nature. tartans of the Scottish settlers of the tance will be provided to load large items was virtually dead as a format. Whoever Leader/Times: Biggest disappoint- Canadian Maritime provinces, are cre- into shoppers’ vehicles. picked it up hopefully changed it to some- ment? thing more relevant like “Compact Dis- Luerssen: A pub crawl with Robert ™ coveries” or something. Pollard of Guided By Voices is first can- POPCORN My first big interview was Vernon celled, and then the interview dwarfed Reid of Living Colour, who inciden- into a phoner. Bummer. There’s a 44- Moonlight Mile: Too tally just reissued their classic “Vivid” year-old man who knows how to have a album through Epic Legacy. good time. I think the leg kicks are catch- Leader/Times: What is your fondest ing up with him, however, judging by his Sunny A Disposition Westfield memory? recent back injuries. Luerssen: Well, I have many. Most of Leader/Times: How long did the One Popcorn, Poor • Two Popcorns, Fair • Three Popcorns, Good • Four Popcorns, Excellent which are probably a little too racy for project take from start to finish? Moonlight Mile, proves a compelling fac- The Leader — which is a Westfield Luerssen: I had an arsenal of rock By MICHAEL S. GOLDBERGER Courtesy of Kerrianne Spellman Cort for The Westfield Leader and The Times tor ... not unlike a gruesome traffic accident. LIVIN’ LA VIDA LES MIZ...As a member of the First National Touring institution incidentally. My mom and mags in my basement that Heidi was 2 & ½ popcorns One can’t help but slow down to gape. Company’s Les Miserables Kerrianne Spellman Cort of Fanwood had the oppor- dad look back fondly when they remind itching for me to get rid of. These things Then there’s also the film’s bona fide me how I had to try everything once. went back to like 1982. I just started If you’ve seen more than a dozen movies tunity to meet Ricky Martin, who was a member of the production at the time. in your time, then you’re used to having twist — the verboten love angle. You see, But seriously, I used to sing in a band combing through them before putting Joe, portrayed by Gyllenhaal, has been in high school, called The Job (admit- your strings pulled. You Tony several years later seems like a is an epic saga that sweeps through them in storage and I realized I had so know...manipulated. It’s part of the pro- bunking at the home of his fiancée’s mother strange business move, but Mackintosh three turbulent decades of 19th century tedly a nod to The Jam, who we all much of the material at my fingertips. All cess, part of the deal. In return for your and father ever since the murder of his is a gifted, savvy, multi-millionaire, so French history. loved) and I remember we had the plug told, it didn’t take that long. Editing indulgence, your tacit acknowledgment that bride-to-be. who are we to question his motives? Mackintosh (or, Uncle Cameron, to pulled by the vice principal at the time, someone else’s words is much easier I the filmmaker knows of what he speaks, In the days leading up to the funeral, Still, it’s the end of a theater era and I those in the know) is lowering ticket as we performed an expletive-laden take find than actually writing myself. I just you are entertained. they’ve become dependent on him, both as am deeply saddened by the news. I have prices for the next several months. The on The Clash’s “Jail Guitar Doors” on gathered the juicy one and two liners. But in the case of Moonlight Mile, about the son they never had and as a remaining the stage in the large cafeteria. Kind of Then I went back with my publisher how a family deals with the murder of their link to their daughter, Diane. So he obliges. a long and personal history with Les production is immediately launching Not only to be nice, but because, emotion- Miserables, beginning back in 1989 The Au Revoir and Thank You price funny that we got away with playing the and extracted the absolute best stuff I only child, you just may not be willing to Anti-Nowhere League chestnut make that agreement with writer-director ally paralyzed by events, he has also found when I was cast in the First National scale, bringing back its original 1987 had. I kept adding to it though to keep it solace in their company. Touring Company. My association with top ticket price of $47.50 for Monday “Woman” without fanfare. current up until the very end. The process Brad Silberling. There’s something amiss. For one, there’s not nearly enough cry- Now it’s starting to get a little weird. It’s the show spans over a decade, including through Friday performances until De- If I had passed out the lyric sheet to that with most books is that it takes a while to even gone as far as Ben adding “and Son” three different companies, two different cember 20. one, we might have been looking at an in- get them through the big machine. Mine ing, not hardly enough bawling at all. Oh, sure, there are a couple of those cathartic to the sign above his commercial real estate countries, 13 roles, 15 states and roughly If you have not yet seen the show, by school suspension. There are a lot of fond comes from an independent publisher, office. “I see no reason not to continue with memories, but I prefer to live life creating The Telegraph Company, so I kept add- scenes when, at long last, finally achieving 2,800 performances. all means take advantage of this special an epiphany about their loss, the grieving our plans,” asserts Hoffman’s character. For me, the closing of the show is like offer. I have never seen or had the honor new ones. Life is not a Bryan Adams song, ing to it up until January of this year. It Meanwhile, Joe just plays along. And nor a Ryan Adams song for that matter! finally grieve. But while perhaps well in- losing a best friend. of performing in something quite so was pressed by March and streeted in tentioned, the convention is all too Holly- not only because displease simply isn’t in Over 421 actors have appeared in the spectacular. Actually, though, here’s one: My June. wood. And frankly, this is too horrible a his vocabulary. For whilst retrieving re- daughter just started kindergarten at Bands like the Strokes and the White subject for the standard treatment. cently mailed wedding invitations from the Franklin School last month — Mrs. Stripes and Jimmy Eat World, who are The sad fact is, most people who suffer a post office, he has struck up a relationship Tretiak’s class — and I took her on the hitting their commercial stride now are personal tragedy on a magnitude as large as with Bertie, mail carrier and part-time bar- Free Admission for Teens on Tap first day, and I had a flashback to when “Mouthing Off” in my book. the one Ben (Dustin Hoffman) and JoJo maid portrayed by Ellen Pompeo. And he I started kindergarten at Lincoln School Leader/Times: Any unexpected legal Floss (Susan Sarandon) experience in Mid- feels guilty ... as if he were cheating. — which is long gone — back in 1973. hurdles regarding clearances arise? night Mile hardly ever act normal again, let However, there’s even more to it. It’s In fact, I still have the wooden red alone crack wise about their torment. How- about something Diane knew and that Joe At Little Opera Co. Performance Luerssen: Not yet. Quotations are pre- is afraid to divulge. apple with the green yarn string that dominantly clearance free. Lawyers ever, if ever there was a pair of survivors, WESTFIELD — The Little Opera throughout the community. these are they. They are quirky, likable and Yet even beyond all that baggage, one Company of New Jersey will perform they gave me when I started and I put it checked it out and gave the thumbs up. gets the impression that Joe had his prob- The opera includes a range of players in Meredith’s backpack the first day to Incidentally, I’m happy when rock stars certain not to burden us unduly with their Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca on Sunday, sorrow. And we simply don’t believe them. lems in the decision-making department that a great story needs — Scarpia, an remind her that her daddy has been say ridiculous things. I’m there to mine it long before the Floss family tried to invade October 20, at 2 p.m., and on Saturday, evil chief of police who is hunting down But a little background is in order. It October 26, at 8 p.m. at Westfield High there, done that. I think it helped her. if they want to spew it. his brain. Sheesh. Talk about the accidental Angelotti, an escaped prisoner being It’s kind of funny, my oldest daugh- should be noted that Silberling was dating School. All students under the age of 18 Leader/Times: Did any artists veto bridegroom. helped and aided by the painter and ter is always scolding me for listening actress Rebecca Schaeffer in 1989 when a will be offered free admission. being in the book? homicidal maniac murdered her. Thus while Given young Gyllenhaal’s acting style, fellow revolutionary Mario Cavaradossi, to rock music, hoping to break out the Luerssen: Actually everyone I ap- which is one-third Dustin Hoffman young, “Parents can use this opportunity to who is in love with the extremely jeal- his tale may represent the autobiographical Disney “Princesses” compilation. But proached was super cool. In fact some of facts for him, for the rest of us Silberling’s one-third Harpo Marx, and one-third va- skip the movies, and take their teenager ous Floria Tosca, the best singer of her cant stare, it’s difficult discerning where to a live classical music theater experi- my little one, Hayley, loves to rock out my favorites, like Andy Partridge of XTC treatment of this terrible tragedy is much time. to Swedish punk like the Hives and the and John Flansburgh from They Might too sanitized and bereft of universal truths Joe begins and Jake ends. It should take ence instead,” said Valerie Pineda, Presi- The cast of professional opera sing- several more films to decide just how good dent of The Little Opera Company of (International) Noise Conspiracy. Be Giants looked at an early treatment to make a lasting impact. ers is led by soprano Dauri Shippey, Incidentally, one of the many rea- and gave me blurbs for the back cover. So Thus the suggestion here is that the di- an adult actor he is. By that time, if he’s still New Jersey. bass-baritone Kevin Misslich will costar around, I’ll have learned to spell Gyllenhaal The fully-staged opera will be con- sons I knew my wife was a keeper was did Pat Wilson, the drummer from Weezer. rector shouldn’t have tried to expand his as Baron Scarpia, and Mario Cavaradossi when I discovered, amid a sea of Bon personal experience into a work of fiction, without referring to my notes. In the mean- ducted by Robert Butts, sung in Italian, I love those guys. time, I’ll take it on faith that the young man will be performed by tenor William Jovi disciples at college, that she had Leader/Times: Are you currently let alone a wide-release motion picture. A and narrated in English by the ensemble Safkow. Supporting roles will be per- more intimate account, perhaps etched in a has a career ahead of him. of The Little Opera Company, which Elvis Costello and Replacements cas- working on another book? However, there’s no doubt about formed by tenor Luis Cabrera as settes in her apartment. Luerssen: Yessir! Speaking of Weezer, semi-documentary form with the filmmaker includes numerous young people from as loving narrator, might have been much Pompeo’s portrayal of the new love inter- Spoletta, and bass Alan Gorden Smulen Leader/Times: When did you first I was astounded to find that, despite their est. She and Holly Hunter, who is superb as as the Sacristan. begin writing? more appropriate, if not as potentially prof- rabid, cult-like fanbase, no one has done itable. the district attorney trying to obtain the Admission for adults is $25. Senior Luerssen: My first record review a book on the band. So I set about filling death penalty for Diane Floss’s killer, give citizens and college students will be Instead, Silberling fashions a film that was the Smith’s “Meat Is Murder” for that void. I’m wrapping up my book — has no clear identity of its own. Rather, it is the film yet two more fine performances. admitted for $20. the Hi’s Eye in the spring of 1985. an unauthorized biography — on the Which leaves the director with a prepon- For tickets and information, please a primarily derivative affair, with the patter Walter Clarkson, the journalism mighty Weezer. and mood in some parts reminiscent of derance of acting. call (908) 317-5412. teacher, would always accuse me of I actually approached the group about American Beauty (1999). Too bad this is a movie and not baseball. trying to turn the four-page weekly into being involved and everyone but Rivers Still other moments recall The Graduate If it were the national pastime, Silberling Rolling Stone. I wonder if they still use Cuomo, the band’s elusive front man, (1967), and others, Terms of Endearment could trade some of that acting talent for a that catchy slogan, “If it’s Friday, and was down with it. Pat Wilson, the other (1983). And just to complicate it all for the better script. That would at least give him a Allan Wright shot. But with its present lineup, Moonlight there’s school, there will be Hi’s Eye!” founding member was in, Brian Bell, critic, a superb cast, uttering the occasional CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 Mile just can’t go the distance. I also remember writing a Violent their longtime guitarist seemed up for it. profound declaration, exacts intermittent thor will delve into how readers can Femmes review for “Blind Leading The Authorization seemed certain. Then Riv- moments of dramatic brilliance. * * * * * restore their relationships with God. Naked,” and he chastised me over the ers, who grew up on an ashram and has a Hence, while saddled with characters Moonlight Mile, rated PG-13, is a Since 1986, Wright has been teach- name of the group, but I believe it was all pretty peculiar back story, exercised his not always supported by the script that Touchstone Pictures release directed by ing at UCHS, a 9-12 grade school feting in good fun. sway over the group and they all bowed contains them, Sarandon, Hoffman and Brad Silberling and stars Dustin Hoffman, Leader/Times: How did the idea for Jake Gyllenhaal prove they can indeed Susan Sarandon and Jake Gyllenhaal. its 40th anniversary. He was named out, deferring to Rivers. That was kind of act their way out of the proverbial paper Running time: 112 minutes. the book arise? unusual. Educator of the Year by the archdiocese Luerssen: I actually had the idea for bag. Each has at least one golden solilo- from 2000-2001, and is a member of the Anyway, I’d done a lot of research, quy to impart — you know, the scene that years, but I was out of the writing game speaking to old friends from Cuomo’s would be shown if they were nominated Archdiocesan Commission for Interre- for a while so I suppressed it. I started youth in Connecticut, former bandmates, Coming Next Week: for an Oscar. But, the three individually • Westfielder’s winning to- ligious Affairs since 1993. doing music journalism again in the late and in a couple of instances, relatives of wrapped portrayals never congeal into Jon Bramnick An orator at almost 20 parishes ’90s, sensing that there was more to life the group who were willing to give me the ensemble triumph it would take to sell mato painting spices things up over the past few years, Wright has than a 9 to 5 at the state’s largest electric the kind of information that even diehard the story. at Bertolli. • If those walls could talk! aided in parishioners’ preparation for and gas utility. fans haven’t discovered. I had gone too Yet, despite these shortcomings, there’s Rascals Will Welcome Anyway, after my creative side sprung far to ditch the project. still something that attracts our view. Cer- They may be old, but the into action, record reviews begat inter- As a result, I’m pretty sure this book has tainly, Silberling’s effort doesn’t approach county’s most historic homes Wit of Jon Bramnick views and I started talking to rock stars, best-seller potential. Think about it, since the perspicacity evinced by such movies as speak volumes during Four WEST ORANGE – The Union mostly doing phoners at first because I their comeback, Weezer has shifted a mil- Ordinary People (1980) and, more recently, Centuries in a Weekend. County Bar Association and the was a little intimidated to do the face to lion copies-plus of each record, so it’ll In The Bedroom (2001). Those two fine • Over the River and Through Essex County Bar AssociationYoung face, just getting my courage up. I was move off the shelves when it’s realized. I’m films dealt much more credibly with the heartrending subject at hand. the Woods gets reviewed by Lawyer Divisions will present an speaking Alex Chilton one night — a kind of glad now that it’s not authorized, I Sue Dougherty. evening at Rascals Comedy Club on man who has been both commercially Nevertheless, the sheer horror of the can do more honest reporting this way. I topic, even toned down to a fault as it is in Wednesday, November 20, with spe- successful with the Box Tops in the 1960s, don’t have to worry about the band sticking cial guest Jon Bramnick of Westfield. and insanely influential for his efforts their red pens into my manuscript. Mr. Bramnick has won the dis- with Big Star — and he was telling me Not surprisingly, my literary agent has tinction of being named the “Funni- the tale of having a No. 1 hit with “The a number of big houses interested. I’m 34 est Lawyer in New Jersey” for three Letter” when he was 16 years old. with a family to support, and as most Calderone School of Music years. He will take the stage at 7 p.m. The way he told it was so genuine, it got Westfield residents know I have a sizable Audience members should arrive the rusty old wheel moving again and the mortgage. So I make no bones about THE PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL around 5:30 p.m. and the main show SILENCE IS BROKEN...Duccio’s de- rock quote book idea was again hatched. selling out! Established 1975 Certified Teachers will be held at 8:30 p.m. A buffet piction of the Wedding at Cana. Their Incidentally, the song “Alex Chilton” by As far as “Mouthing Off” goes, please dinner is planned between 6 and 7 story is told in Wright’s book. The Replacements pays homage to him. buy my book Westfielders. If you cannot Private Instruction on p.m. Admission is $45 per person. Regarding the interviewing of rock mu- find it down at your favorite bookstore, Rascals is located at 425 Pleasant All Instruments, Voice and Ensembles Confirmation, and has spoken at sicians, in the beginning I’d get nervous have them order it for you. The major Valley Way in West Orange. For more interviewing little-knowns like The Sui- online retailers also carry it, some at a Kindermusik classes for ages 2 to 7 information, please call (973) 736- many retreats. cide Machines or Face To Face. In the last sizable discount! If you have a fan of rock Riverwalk Plaza 2726. “Silent Witnesses” may be pre- couple of months I’ve had the opportunity and roll on your holiday list, pick up a 34 Ridgedale Avenue • East Hanover 256 Morris Avenue • Springfield (973) 428-0405 281 Main Street(973) 467-4688• Millburn ordered at www.amazon.com. to interview Jakob Dylan from The Wall- copy for them. (973) 467 4688 CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK