El Grande de Coca Cola by
fon House, john Neville An-
drews, Alan Shearman, Diz
White and Sally Willis. The
Comedy Company at the Deep
Cove Shaw Theatre to Feb. 13.
Reservations: 929 9456.

HERE HAVE been
many unforgettable
MCs.

George Burns, smooth anc
unflappable, diszuised shop-soiled
material with cigar smoke and
perfect timing.

Joe! Grey defined the lecring in-

“nuendo in Cabaret.

And television continues to pro-
vide work for the Sikes of Ed
McMahon’s retund enthusiasm
and Pat Sajak’s polished emp-
tiness. . '

Make room on the list for Senor
Don Pepe Hernandez, el compere
extraordinario.

You know you are in the
presence of a hustler, if not a star,
from the moment the spot hits his
suit and is reflected blindingly
back into the eyes of the audience
by a sheen that has not been seen
since they stopped those *
Brylcream adverts.

Perched underneath a rug that
resembles electrified roadkill, Don
Pepe works the room like a
benzedrened bantamcock facing a
date with the hatchet.

And in a sense that’s true.

Senor Hernandez’ cojones are
on.the-tine.

He has boasted in the local press
that he is bringing a group of
famous international cabaret stars
to Trujillo, Honduras, and borrow-
ed enough money fram his uncle
to rent a nightclub for one month.

The fact that his uncle is the
manager of the local Coca Cola
bottling plant explains:a couple of
hammily over-produced commer-
cial breaks and the title of our
play.

The cabaret auctience, however,
is watching the Parada de Estrellas
(Parade of Stars) as impersonated
and performed by Don Pepe
himself and his daughier, step-
daughter, nephew and cousim.

. The international pianist plays a
scale, the international master of
illusion causes the ball to vanish
by puiting it in his pocket and the
international song contesto is won
by two sisters who sing only
“Aye, Aye, Aye.”

You get el pictorio. :

And all of this Spanish schlock is
relentlessly hyped by Don Pepe
without a word of English.

Of course, there’s probably not
much Spanish either but the
high-speed doggerel that Don
Pepe spouts is hilariously funny
and makes just enough sense.

The highlight was probably a
rendering of Shakespearean out-
takes that included Hamletto
discovering Yorrick’s skull with a
cry of “Aye, Aye, Caramba”’ and
Richard Il hunchbacking his way
through “Muy Espana por un
burro.”

The only scene that was serious-
ly flawed was a dramatic rendering
of the fife and times of Toulouse
Lautrec.

The extended nature of the
scene required more than the’
show's usual sight and language
Bags and without a commitment to
the inherent style of melodrama it
just bogged down.

R's a shame that the production
makes no attempt to grapple with
the relationships in this extended

Come visit us at our
new location

East Mali {next to Woodward's) | ‘

NORTH PARK MEN’S HAIR
922-9612

“a
NEWS photo Pau! McGrath

THE COMEDY Company’s E/ Grande de Coca Cola at the Deep
Cove Shaw Theatre is a never-ending parade of color and sur-

prise.

family and how they might be
strained by the increasing
pressures of the cabaret show they
are faking.

There are individual moments of
temper and tantrum but no sense
of the conflict in a continuing story
of successes and failures.

However, The Comedy Com-
pany seemed to pull it off
regardless before an appreciative
audience on opening night. ,

Ray Soden as Don Pepe binds
the show together with energy and
oily charm getting able support
from an occasionally short Paul
Kloegman.

Gina Christodoulou and Leigh
Richards, as the daughters whose
dazzling smiles rarely fail in mo-
ments of stress; never drop out of
the moment but David Turner has
to loosen up away from the
keyboard.

1 wish | knew the Spanish for

} am unable to credit from the
nrogram whoever was responsible
for the terrific tonsorial aberrations
that varied from an almost two
dimensional bionde number
frozen in the wind to Don Pepe’s
Shakespearean locks, reminiscent
of a bilious pineapple.

_. Bravo!

The costumes, (oo, were a
delight. A never-ending parade of
color and surprise.

Perhaps more thought could .
have been given to the color in the
lighting, however. A cheesier,
tackier look must be possible.

It's a show that works best with
an interactive audience, so grab
dos amigos, dos equis and
vamoose out to Deep Cove's great
new theatre.

£1 Grande de Coca Cola is short
‘(like Paul Kloegman) at barely
more than an hour, but es muy
bueno.

- Martin Millerchip

THE BANLY SORT

| know that | am not the perfect mother. But
I've always ensured that my son (lan who will be 2
ears ofd on March 10} has been well-turned out.
In fact wearing nice hats has become a sort of
trade mark for him.

His favourite hat is much more functional than
anything I've ever purchased tor him — his father's
Tilley hat. Since | give into his every whim, he
wears it quite a bit. And why not, | ask you? He ,
looks pretty darn cute (in a manly sori of way) in it.

Here's proof,

Thllew

} Tilley Endurables

North Vancouver

11194 Marine near Pemberton
987-6424

Open 10 - 5:30

Thanks, Mrs. Stodart.

=e)

Stern Inc., Barbora and John Tiley, independent ietoilers, |

Lesley Stadart
Don Mills, Ontario

Alex Tilley

les

Vancouver
1537 Broadway near Granville}
732-4287

Wednesday, February 3, 1993 ~ North Shore News - 44
 llrialai heres ieee ben neem |

; 2 tor 1

DINNER SPECIAL

a (Clip this ad for up to $14.95 value)

BRIDGE HOUSE

RESTAURANT

3650 Capilano Road
| North Vancouver

a Valid until Feb. 28
excluding Valentine's Day

For reservarions call

987-3388

SE) RRS) SY a

fi
i
i
Bes

caturing works from
Bach © Locke @ Ariosti 9 Hoffmeister * Quentin ¢ Haydn

Performed by :
The Pro Nova Ensemble with guest artists
Nancy Enns (viola and violin), Paul Luchkow (violin),
Margarita Noye (soprano) and Laurel Parsons (harpsichord) .'

Thursday, February 4, 7:30 p.m.

Ferry Building, West Vancouver

; and
Sunday, February 7, 2:30 p.m.
Mt. Seymour United Church, 1200 Parkgate, North Vancouver
(Turn north off the Mt. Seymour Parkway

just west of the Mount Seymour turnoff) FREE ADMISSION

LIONS CLUB
WE SERVE
NORTH VANCOUVER

IF YOU WANT TO FEEL GOOD join one of

the local Lions Clubs. Anyone over the age of 19 can
Get invoived in their community ’
Help those who are less fortunate
Meet great people
Have a good time

FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CALL:
987-3276 or 986-4951
NORTH SHORE LIONS CLUB
. Ambleside - Tiddlycove 5. Lonsdale Quay
. Capilano ’ 6. Lynn Valley
. Mt. Seymour 7. Howe Sound
N.Van Host 8. Moodyville