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The Canadian Jewish N^ws, Thursday, December 21, 1989-Page 51
Arts
J^eUghts kids atrd parents
Dippy the Dinosaur and his family. Top (from left) Mum (Kathryn Akin), Dad (David Kirby), Daniel (Antoni Cimoliho). Middle (from left) Marfa (Stephaine Young), Noah (Randy McCormack). Bottom (from left) Emma (Natalie Sebastian) and Jacob (TharrenbsDasekasi from Jacob Two-TwQ and the Dinosaur, at the Young People's Theatre.
■■■By - . :■, BEN ROSE
TORONTO -
If Jacob Two-Two and the Dinosaur was any better, it would be illegal.
All the elements combine to make this sequel to Jacob Two-Two and the Hooded Fang deserve the title of Jacob Two-Two Two.
tTiis adaptation of the Mordecai Richler novel, running at the Young People's Theatre until Dec. 31, is fiin for children and adults too. The lyrics are a \yitty review of things comical in Canadian life.
It's difficult to outshine a 65 million-year-old
dinosaur and an eight-year-old who repeats everything twice because his family is so noisy they don't hear it , the first time. But Barbara Budd,^s Aunt Ida, nearly pulls if off.
The former CBC news announcer as the meddling aunt has just the right touch to comment on the ridiculous events going on around her.^he is a health food nut of course — she makes the children drink carrot juice."I could write a book," she says. "I just wouldn't know howld say it in words." Later, describing Dippy thie Dinosaur's appetite, she says, "I'm not talking din-
ner, I'm talking snacks.'' Dippy has a penchant for 50 pizzas as an appetizer..
The choreography by Anne Wooten is as outstanding as the crisp direc-tjqn byTe^^^^ Moss and the music and iyrics for which Philip Balsam, Dennis Lee and Jim Betts are responsible. If there was anything ever done on a Toronto stage with more elan arid split-second precision dian the dance of Prime Minister Perry Pleaser (Neil Foster) and his six Yes-Men and Yes-Wpmen than I haven't seen it. The Yes-People have two faces each, done so cleveriy that you don't know which side is talking.
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Richler is deadly when he lakes aim at a Canadian stereotype and Professor Wacko Kilowatt (Richard Binsley) will set science back at least 25 years. Tharanos Kasekas, thank goodness, is a low-voltage Jacob Two-Two, compared with his high-volume brothers and sisters.
Dippy, the 8-foot, 125 pound mammoth, not only waddles, dances^ sings and talks, he cracks jokes. It takes twg.actors inside him with TV monitors to keep Dippy from falling into the audience. The little girl next to me was sitting bolt upright, fascinated by his every move.
The theatre is at 165 Front St. E., near Church St. (363-5131). It runs weekends with matinee and evening performances until Dec. 24 and thep daily in the holiday period.
to return to Moscow
.a
JERUSALEM (JTA) -
Israel and the Soviet Union are setting the stage for a major exchange of theatrical talent.
i Israel's faniQus acting troupe, Habimah, which had its origins in Moscow' more thian 70 years ago, returns there next month for what promises to be a long run.
Israelis, meanwhile, can look forward to a; visit by Moscow's renowned Ta-, ganka Theater, which will perform at least three plays here starting next June. The troupe will be accompanied., by the Soviet Union's new-' ly appointed minister of culture. Nikolai Gubienko. but not in his officiarcapacity;
Israel TV plans USSR broadcast
Gubienko. an actor, will be performing with the compainy. theatre adminis--trator Alexander Yefimo-: Vitch told a news conference at Beit Sokolov on Sunday.
Gubienko directed the Taganka from 1983 to L985. He was named minister of culture by President Mikhail Gorbachev only two months ago. ' Yefimovitch predicted full houses for Habimah and said its tour will probably run at least six months.
Though tickets have not goneon sale yet, orders are pouring in for perfor-mances through.next July at. the Tagank-a office in Moscow, which is handling^ ^ the Habitnah tour. Yefimo- ^ vitch said.
Israel Television will record its.opening in special broadcasts from Moscow in January.
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