irsday. November 11.1976 The Duquesne Duke he Ritz: a round-up if top-scale zaniness By GIN A DISANTO Rita Moreno gets top billing in What do you call a gay bathhouse the show and she deserves it. She or men only? Why, The Rita of plays Google Gomez, the Spanish ourse. That is the movie's name bombshell who claims she can md contrary to the title, it's sing. She can't Moreno is hilarious iny thing but The Rita is not a first in the role and her vivadousneas is lass joint, but who cares as long never too much for the audience. is you get a blast while viewing the Google is well known for her Latin how. temper and this is displayed — Terrence McNally has written a among other things — in full view ritty screenplay with bawdy of everyone. Googie screams, slaps dialogue that keeps the establish- and spits her way through the ment in a continuous frenzy. No script with no dull moments to me knows whether they're spare. joming, going or both The plot Jack Weston is tailor made for nay be incredible, but it's the role of Gaetano Proclo. Proclo, >elievable and easy on the brain, the cause of all the madcap mess, h fact, everyonetfn the bathhouse hides out at The Ritz to escape his seasy. brother-in-law. Proclo, im- Chaser." The latter tries what it loves to see, a kill-crazy on stage, and a big splash in the l . Richard Lester, who directed prudently thinks that a sleazy everything — from provocative amoral comedian. Stiller achieves pool. They do the Andrews Sisters tuch movies as Three Masketeers, bathhouse is the last place anyone poses to nutty bars — to lure the height of ridiculousness (while in drag while lip-syncing a song. jses the same fast-paced style in will look. Little does Proclo know Weston into his bedroom. The foaming at the mouth) as he tries The entire audience was stamping rhe Rita. Lester has a knack for (although he soon finds out) that he chaser never lets up, not even to rub out his sister's husband. Hi feet and collapsing in their browing the right actor into the is surrounded by homosexuals. when Googie yanks him where nice Stiller in boxer shorts is something chairs- and this was in the movie. )©ricct role, nc tntuu cscfi comic Weston is in a constant stage of girls shouldn't. else, but Fruit of the Loom nay The Rita contains a zany script fcioment for what it's worth, and daze and shock, leaving the Jerry Stiller is' maniacal as have their own opinion on that and even tamer stars. It may not ynakes sure that a lot of audience in a state of laughter. My Carmine Vespuchi, Proclo's score. be high in moral values, but it tops ■exaggeration goes a long, long favorite scene is the confrontation brother-in-law. Anne Meara's The piece-de-resistance is way. the scale hi humor. The film is between Weston and the "Chubby better half shows the audience amateur night at The Rita, guaranteed to charge your funny where Weston and two of the bone, and it will definitely leave a Prairie performs with perfection bathhouse regulars make a big hit smile on your face. By JOHN FIORENTI NO it was highlighted by the singing of about endless lovers. Firefall put on a show that was Rick Roberts. After doing a Merle Haggard Independent Eye focuses Itough to beat and yet Pure Prairie They said they were from song, they did the beautiful "Sun .eague beat it. Or did they? Boulder, Colo., but Firefall has Shone Lightly." Next was "Lucille Deciding who gave a better been around. The leader of the Crawfield," highlighted by a pedal on theatrical versatility ■performance on Wednesday, Nov. group, Rick Roberts (acoustic steel solo, a guitar solo and a duet By ROSEMARY MARTTNELU The sketches of Song Stories 3 at the Syria Mosque had to be one guitar and lead vocals) came from between the two. There is truth to the old adage were of a wide variety. It is vir- of the most pleasant debates of the the Flying Burrito Brothers. It was here that I noticed Pure that "good things come in small tually impossible to recapture last few months. Both groups gave Michael Clarke (drums) used to Prairie League took few solos, and packages." every scene, but several perfor- the audience their money's worth play with the Byrds. Mark Andes when they did they were short in Such is the case of the mances' stand out as dynamic and left them begging for more. (bass and vocals) was originally m length. They are content to play Independent Eye Theatre Com- moments that deserve special Firef all opened the evening with Spirit and then Jo Jo Gunne. Jock together as a cohesive unit con- pany — a "small package" of only recognition. rousing rendition of Stephen Bartley (lead guitarist ex- cerned more with their overall two performers who perform A delightful sketch entitled tills' "It Doesn't Matter." Four of tra ordinnaire and vocals), Larry sound than their solos. This, among "good things" with versatility and "Sprouts: Primeval Sources of next five songs were selections Burnett (lead vocals, rhythmn and other things, contributes greatly to enthusiasm. This was evident in Love as Seen From the Psychology m their upcoming second acoustic guitars), and David Muse their success. their presentation of Song Stories, of Horticulture'' proved to be the m, which, judging from these (keyboards, saxes, flutes and The crowd's biggest reaction a collection of original sketches favorite of everyone. Kneeling on , should be a strong one. vocals) all have enough talent to came when the group played their that was held hi the Duquesne two chairs with their arms folded The thing that was most im- stick around for a long time. big hit,"Amie." They did a spirited Room last week. The show was like the petals of a closed flower, •ive here was a new song (I Hopefully, they'll all be playing job of this one, with everybody sponsored by the Theater Com- the Bishops portrayed male and 't hear the name of it) which under the same name of Firefall. except the bassist playing acoustic mittee of the Union Program female plants who "discover'' the eatured a guitar solo and a sax Pure Prairie League put instruments. Board (UPB). beauty of each other. lo, followed by a first-rate duet together a pretty package of Created and performed by Linda The plants react to the presence een the two. Also, "Do What music. They began with some The same was true for the and Conrad Bishop, the husband- of each other. As each day passes, ou Want" Jock Bartley ripped slower-paced songs from earlier bluegrassy "Pickin With the wife team who founded the Inde- the Bishops, like the plants, con- a couple of lively guitar solos. albums, worked their way up with Devil," during which John David pendent Eye, Song Stories com- tinue to open and close their petals Halfway through their set, an some energetic tunes and con- Call shone on banjo. After doing bined comedy, songs and modern and leaves, in much the same way lectric piano solo by David Muse cluded with new material that "Kentucky Moonshine,'' they fables in order to convey people hi they imagine a plant would. They rked the first time all night that rocked right out selected two songs from their new situations of absurdity and sur- constantly speak words of love to e keyboards were noticeable, They played one song from each album, "All the Lonesome prise. one another and they try to ost of the evening Muse seemed of their first two albums, four from Cowboys" and "Tornado War- Much of Song Stories would fit "stretch their branches across the be playing without having the their popular Two Lane Highway ning." Both songs were performed the description of "dark comedy," imaginary fence" so they may eyboards amplified. That and the album, three from BMBtin' Out and well and got the audience kicking. — material with veins of humor have physical contact. casional feedback problems five from their brand new Dance Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the running through it but underlined It is only when they finally touch ere the only faults with their set. album, which is probably their best Day" came next and they ended with a much deeper, more serious that they realize they were only From then on, their show took album yet up with their tour de force, 'Two meaning that relates to some loving and caring for the physical They did a delicate version of They bad the same problem as Lane Highway." The audience was actual experiences or philosophies appearance, unaware of the true eir hit single, "You Are the Firefall in that the keyboards hungry for more after that and about life. inner self of the other. oman," using a flute as well as were, for the most part, inaudible. they got it No scenery or elaborate props The second example from the ve-part harmonies. The same At least in FirefaH's case, David They did "Living Each Day" and were used for the production, Bishops repertoiie was entitled as true of "Love Isn't All" and Muse also played saxes and flutes "Dance," and both were very well although the Bishops would occa- "Dessie." Unlike the other sket- Cinderella." that were beard. I couldn't un- received by the audience.