The UPEI SUN, November 5, 1981, page 6 7

The most impressive feature of QEIIJOUT is its atmosphere. Brian De Palma's Hitchcockian touch is everywhere - the subtleties, the timing, the parallels, the paradoxes. The camera work is simply stunning. Though his main character (John Travolta is a sound producer for a second— rate movie company), DePalma cleverly instructs the audience to keep eyes and ears wide open.

A director of several horror-suspense films (CARRIE, THE FURY, DRESSED TO KILL) DePalma

'also dons the writers

cap for BLOW OUT and proves himself a capable screenwriter. The plot centers around Travolta, who upon witnessing the less—than-accidental death of a major political figure, finds himself

at odds with those who would supress the truth. Travolta's sidekick is Nancy Allen playing Sally, a COnfused innocent who is unwittingly involved in the conspiracy.

Not surprisingly, DePalma paints his characters well, and this is particulary true in the case of Sally.‘ Out of a potentially cheap sterotype, he and Allen create a compelling figure that proves to be the strongest and most

consistent character in - the picture.

Travolta iS‘SOHEWhat refreshing in BLOW OUT and he turns in a solid

'performance. (This man deserves better from that section of society that still scorns him for his previous works — he is a talented actor).

Despite its fine script, fine acting, _ and brilliant directing, BLOW OUT fails in its bid to be a great movie. The climax does not live up to the promise of the action that comes before.

The first two-thirds of the picture have a freshness and vitality that is lost when the plot turns into what is essentially a repeat of a thousand other horror suspense flicks. While the atmosphere is ‘ ’ maintained, the fihn loses its punch as the audience is asked to accept unreasonable lapses in Logic; DePalma thus fails to meet his own standards.

Yet, the more I think about this movie, the more things I find that I like and that is usually an sign of good art. Hewever, viewing BLOW OUT is like waking up Christmas morning and finding no presents under the tree.

Canada~ Opera Piccolafi

Canada Opera Piccola, a touring company of 14 from vancouver, will performxthe operas, La Canterina by Joseph ” Haydn and Signor Deluso by Thomas Pasatieri, on the Main Stage of Confederation Centre, wednesday, November 18, at 8:00 p.m.

Starring in this season's Opera Piccola

presentations are such opera performers as Leslie Allison, Erik OlaNd, Richard Margison, Richard Citti, Laetitia Snethen and Ingrid Attrot. .

Both operas slated for Charlottetown will be sung in English, with music and libretto in English by Thomas Pasatieri.

1the.army until he was ‘"dishonourably discharged.)

Brothers "In Arms;

. ,7 Continued From P.1

On this cue, Syd' White ( David Moses)

venters with pipe in

mouth and rifle in hand. He noisily plunks his rifle on a chair, lights a lamp, throws wood in the stove then slumps contentedly onto another chair - totally unconcerned that'there are two total strangers standing in his living -rocm. The major continues his raving demands fOr a ride to the train station.’ Dorethea continues-to- be a "romantic little fool" and SYd‘proceeds to drive the Major to hysterics and the audience to laughter.

So far so good, though I kept wishing Mr Altrus Brown would stand still and speak slowly.

The majority of the play is Spent in dialogue between the,

Major and Syd. (Syd, by the way, was once in a

Syd can't understand whyi those "head lads" (the officers) performed such

useless and time consuming ,

exercises. * The_major can't understand how Syd ever got in the army in the ' first place or how the.

-'head lads' put up with

himL And darling Dorethea can't understand; why her husband doesn't love the cabin's "simple rustic charmW or Syds "sturdy independence." Understand? _ Anyway, time is passing, the major has fallen through the floor boards, there is still no forseeable way of getting back to the city

. mounting — will Dorethea i,

-an hour and 1/2 and the

4,Charlie, "You've been.

‘ best part of an hour.”

_ Theatre.in Novemberé ,fii.v

and the Major's $25,000 is hanging on the line. The suspense is

have to leave this wonder- ful place of her dreams? ' ;w111 the Major.get- the money and medical attention? . r

' Will Syd drive the Major crazy first? V And will the guy with the car ever show up? '

Our marooned

couple has been waiting

train leaves soon! But ’wait! Who should walk in but - YES! Stupid, though amiable Charlie Hendersoannathan Orlowskfl " Dear old Charlie proceeds to ignore the ‘ couple and recount the : exciting details of his deer kill. The major is‘

frantic e-encore un foisj "Don't you realize", he says, “I only have five ' minutes to reach Kaladar ,and you must driVe me in!" _ ‘ _ ‘ "Why don't you get Syd to take you in"says

talking to him for the

> And there you have it. Why didn't Syd.take

out‘his beets. '”03* .

Pam'sxDorethéa;was sweet and cute. ‘

And finally, David's and Jonathan‘s frontiersman were easYgoing and fairly osmooth. * '

All in all an enjoyable performance and we look forward to more of the Lunchtime.

fr