ecivee ~—rst Tuesday, December 9, 1980. by JAYNE AKIZUKI Do you need some comic relief after cramming for dinals? Looking for some light holiday entertainment that won’t further strain your fazzled brain? The Van- couver Playhouse is serving the perfect fare for you. “‘The Man Who Came To Dinner’’ set in 1939, is a fluffy comedy by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, the A favorite comedy Man who came to dinner ‘Pulitzer Prize-winning play- wrighting team. Sheridan Whiteside, a writer/broadcaster/social- ite, breaks his hip on the doorstep of an _ ordinary home in Ohio, which con- fines him to the home for ‘several weeks. Being an ill- tempered, bossy old curm- udgeon, he soon takes over the house, and has the host and hostess catering to his eo The Other Press every whim. This well-written play gal- lops by at an exhaustingly fast pace, scattering hilari- ous one-liners and memor- able characters in its wake. From his very first line Leon Pownall plays Whiteside to the hilt; putting on an ex- cellent display of comic tim- _ing. There are some marvel- lous bit parts, notably Tom Woods’ performance as a Harpo Marx-type_ clown. Some of the actors, though, insisted on speaking their lines in the midst of the audiences laughter. They would benefit from observ- ing Pownall’s sense of tim- ing. The elegant yet homey set is a feast for the eyes. The costumes are simple, but they keep to the era. The same cannot be. said for Karen Barker (who plays June Stanley), who was spo- rting an outgrown frizzy hair-do that looked suspic- iously 1980-ish. This is a _ lively dizzy production of a comedy clas- sic. It might be too frivolous for some theatre goers, but it will still make you laugh. ‘‘The Man Who Came To Dinner’’ will be at the Play- house until Dec. 20. Subhumans’ message in Incorrect thoughts by AE MOSES There are many different styles of music found in Vancouver. Most are aver- age at best, but there are still a few bands that play original music, unconcerned with either the greedy pres- sure or the boringly mono- sonous product that record companies force into and out of bands. Incorrect Thoughts is the Subhumans first album. It gives timid people the op- portunity to hear Vancouv- er’s most vocal, but least heard, punk rock band with- out the beautiful decor of the Arcadian Hall or the spac- iousness of the Jamaican Cultural Centre. The Subhumans are not the greatest musicians on earth but then they don’t pretend to be. Instead the Subhumans are a band with a message. They’re idealists and they’re not trying to become famous, they just want to be heard. One of the best songs on the album, ‘‘The Scheme’’, Kate bush is one of the best by Philip Staines Kate Bush remains an almost obscure figure in the North American music scene yet her music stands many steps above that of Pat Benetar, Deborah Harry and other female artists whose music is topping the charts. Kate Bush’s music poss- esses a classical, European quality. Her music is daring, well-produced and composed with delicacy and intricacy. A very refreshing sound. Her latest album, ‘‘Never For Ever’’ expresses these qualities in an experimental form, that has proved succ- essful. Kate Bush, who has yet to reach her mid- twenties, has all the imagin- ation and intelligence to write beautiful, melodic music. Tracks from her lat- est album, such as ‘‘All We _ Ever Look For’’,‘‘The Infant Kiss’’ and ‘‘Army Dream- ers’’, are composed on a foundation of touching mel- ody, and tell a story that grasps the interest of the listener. It is a rare quality , to be able to overlook the stodgy, pretensiousness of current-day pop without get- ting caught up in an over- bearing concept. The tempo quickens with the song ‘‘Babooskha’’, and “The Wedding List!’’ These two songs deal with strange marital problems. The stori- es are told in a comical, yet dramatic fashion, that does not result in a cliche love song. Kate Bush provides a taste of the musical. out-of- the-ordinary. ‘‘Egypt’’ utili- zes a mysterious Egyptian chant, that sounds like it was performed deep in the chambers of the Great Pyr- amid. She also uses subtle sound variations that en- hance her complex arrange- ments. Of course, hte main ingre- dient of Bush’s music is her voice. One that combines graceful operatic power with childlike tenderness. If you’re looking for a music that is soothing, in- teresting and dramatic, then ‘‘Never For Ever’’ is in order. Let’s hope Kate Bush tours: her theatrical pre- sentation is incredible. is a vicious blast at the music industry and their, ‘“commercial pop, new wave pop, mindless music.’’ Oth- er top tunes include ‘‘Dead At Birth’’, ‘‘Urban Gueril- las’’ (one of the old favor- ites), ‘‘Greaser Boy’’ and probably, their best song ever, ‘‘We’re Alive’’. The production on this album is fairly cloudy, a far cry from the overly-produced ‘‘No Productivity’’ single done earlier this year by Tom Lavin of the Powder Blues’ Band, but the finish- ed product is more than listenable. While the Subhumans are the last of Vancouver’s origi- nal punk bands to get onto the club circuit they have always had a devoted follow- ing of faithful fans. If Incorrect Thoughts sells. well, even if only in Vancou- ver, then people won’t have to go to the crowded little halls where the band has been restricted to in the past. The worst thing about this band is that a lot of what they say is true and as they say in ‘‘We’re Alive’’, ‘‘You never heard us play, but you’re sure we're really bad.’’ The Subhumans are alive, but you'll’ never know how much until you hear them. Chairnon of the Presidentiol Joint Chiets of Soft Assisont Remember when comedy was King... Now he’s President. GILDA RADNER: BOB NEWHART: MADELINE KAHN “FIRST FAMILY’ The Fist Daughter The President The Fist Lady (AN INDIEPROD COMPANY PRODUCTION - BOB DISHY- HARVEY KORMAN “AUSTIN PEN PENDLETON Ambassadorto the U.N. PL eeiecpney RIP TORN- iD wali JOHN PHILIP SOUSA - RALPH BURNS av A Warner C DANIEL MELNICK - BUCK HENRY ©1980 Warner Bros. All Rights Reserved nes OD een