THE TENT: LIFE IN THE ROUND

(Priceless Warwick memories)

The Warwick Musical Theatre, aka The Tent, was an important part of the Fowlers’ lives from 1965 until its closing in 1999. I covered “The Tent” for the Warwick Beacon and the Cranston Herald from 1977 until its final concert. I cried when Vince Gill sang his final song, well after midnight on that warm summer evening. Like most Rhode Islanders, Joyce and I have fond memories and a barrel full of stories about the best entertainment Rhode Island ever had to offer. Thanks to Larry Bonoff and Brian Jones for making this wonderful documentary that recalls the highlights of the Warwick Musical Theatre, from the first shovel-full of dirt removed from the cow pasture on Route 2 to the night the revolving stage stopped spinning. While the movie is a nostalgic look back at the building and its evolution from a tent to a more permanent structure, plus a look at many of the “stars who came out at night,” it is primarily about people: the people who ran it, the people who worked there, the people who sat in the uncomfortable canvas chairs in the sweltering heat, and the people who performed. Larry Bonoff pays a loving tribute to his parents, Buster and Barbara, who were more than theatre managers and booking agents. They were friends to Rhode Islanders and to the entertainers that visited Warwick, played golf with Buster, and dined with family and friends at the much-missed Golden Lantern. Bonoff and Jones have uncovered vintage television and video footage of performances, from Jack Benny to Johnny Carson, to a plethora of singers, comedians, actors and musicians who were truly “up close and personal.” We see Liberace holding out his ring to be kissed by a lady in the audience. We’ll always remember his remark, “Go ahead. Take a good look. You paid for it.” The funniest sequence shows Howie Mandel at one of his many Warwick performances, chasing a moth around the stage. It lands in a precarious spot on his body. Then he spots a huge bug on the leg of a young lady sitting in the front row. What happens next is worth the price of admission. Mandel, a close friend of the Bonoffs (as were most of the performers), did promos for the movie, taped a special opening night welcome, and played an important part in the movie. If you go online to www.bonoff.net, you can follow the history of the Warwick Musical Theatre, with photos and program covers from every year. But if you want to feel the excitement, caring and love for the entertainers and patrons that Barbara and Buster displayed, you must see the movie. Bonoff, in addition to showing many highlights, takes the time and effort to pay tribute to the employees, many of whom admitted that they would have worked for nothing. The movie is interspersed with “talking heads” reminiscing about their favorite stars, funniest moments, meeting and falling in love at The Tent and experiences behind the scenes. There are great interviews by Wynonna, Vince Gill, Huey Lewis and dozens of others. It is interesting to see footage of their performances and then see them as they are today. Carrot Top has grown up. Engelbert has grown old (the audience gasped when they saw him being interviewed). Wynonna has grown. And Howie Mandel has lost his out-of-control head of hair. There is so much more that can be said about this wonderful movie. Even if you weren’t one of the thousands fortunate enough to have the “tent” experience, go see the movie and get a feel for why people still wish it were still here. One of the main reasons was the Bonoff family. Larry and Brian (who started as an usher at the theatre) have captured the spirit of Barbara and Buster, who must be looking down on them with their sincere humility, saying “Great job!” “The Tent: Life in the Round” will be shown at the Warwick Showcase for a week, opening this Friday. Hopefully, there will be more showings scheduled in the future. Note: This is the first “biased” review I have ever written. I had my 15 seconds of fame near the end of the movie, where I am interviewed for my comments on reviewing Vince Gill’s closing night performance. The film is not rated, but it is OK for all ages. Bring the children and show them what the good old days of quality entertainment was like.

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

(Original, outrageous, unique war movie)

Wow, where do we begin? How about at the beginning? Chapter One: This amazing movie opens with an intense scene between a smooth-talking Nazi SS Officer, Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) and a French dairy farmer, who just might be hiding Jews. The scene goes on for over 15 minutes, building in intensity and setting the stage for the next two and a half hours. Chapter 2: We are introduced to Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), a Tennessee redneck in charge of eight Jewish soldiers who are charged with bringing him 100 Nazi scalps. The action turns very violent, as we watch what they do to a German squad. Hugo is the guy with the baseball bat, and Aldo has a way with carving swastikas on foreheads. Director Quentin Tarantino spares no mercy for his characters and the audience, as he graphically shows the merciless GI’s getting revenge on the brutal Nazis. This movie is not for the squeamish. In Chapter 3 the story shifts to Shoshana (Melanie Laurent), a young woman who seeks her own revenge from the evil Landa from an incident that takes you back to Chapter 1. Shoshana now owns a cinema in Paris, where the Nazis choose to show their latest propaganda film. The top German brass, and maybe Hitler himself, will be in the audience. Both the Inglourious Basterds and Shoshana develop clever plans to destroy the theatre and the heart of the Nazi officers, therefore bringing an immediate end to the war. While the movie is a bit preposterous at times, complete with some great tongue-in-cheek humor and outlandish characters, the producers suggest that many attempts were made to kill Hitler, and it is quite possible that this was one of them. Chapter 4 has an incredible scene in a bar, with Aldo and crew pretending to be Nazi officers, only to be discovered by an obnoxious but clever German officer. Like Chapter 1, the scene builds in intensity until the final violent outcome. While the movie has a number of ultra violent moments, it is the cat and mouse games, complete with clever dialogue, that are the most frightening. There are numerous subplots, but they all come together smoothly, as Tarantino takes his time in showing the connections. Pitt is great as Aldo, but Christoph Waltz steals the show as a man you will love to hate and can’t wait to see him get what he deserves. The ending is very clever (the entire movie is clever) and in spite of its length you will never be bored. This is not a movie for everyone, especially younger children. Much has been made of Tarantino rewriting history, and he surely does that, but in doing so he gives us one of the most fascinating and exciting movies of this or any year. Rated a big R, with violence and profanity.