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THE JEWISH NEWS

'm Not Rappaport'

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The 1997 University Musical Society Winter Season

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PHOTOS BY ADGER W. COWANS

February 12 — March 9

Nat (Walter Matthau), left, and Midge (Ossie Davis), right, share a laugh on a
Central Park bench.

Rated PG-13

turb Midge's peace, an odd cou-
pling is forged that would make
Neil Simon proud. Of course, that
e journey from stage success is not to say that Midge is a vol-
to big screen bonanza is untary participant to the pairing.
fraught with potholes and To the contrary, after their early
perils. Musicals seem to encounters, where Nat beguiles
translate well, dramatic works Midge with tall tales and false
are more problematic and come- identifications, Midge would pre-
dies tend to be hit or miss.
fer a parting of the ways, al-
Playwrights Neil Simon (Cal- though he does little to avoid Nat,
ifornia Suite, Brighton Beach seeking out the same park bench
Memoirs) and David Mamet day after day.
(About Last Night, House of
And when not ambushing
Games) accepted the
Midge, Nat is busy warding
challenge, realizing
off his daughter, Clara
REVIEW
only mixed results.
(Amy Irving), who believes
Having won the 1986
her dad is better suited for
Tony Award, author/director the senior center than Central
Herb Gardner becomes the lat- Park.
est to adapt his masterwork for
As the story progresses, Midge
film, with I'm Not Rappaport.
and Nat banter and bicker, dodg-
Set in New York City, I'm Not ing muggers, drug dealers and
Rappaport is an ode to old age the looming truth that the world
and a serenade to Central Park. is ready to move on without
For anyone who has been there, them.
Central Park is a magical haven
Amusing, insightful and
— dangerous, surreal and popu- poignant, I'm Not Rappaport
lated with the most peculiar char- eludes many of the pitfalls in-
acters. Director Gardner focuses herent in transitioning from
his story on two of those charac- stage to screen, but not com-
ters: Nat Moyer (Walter pletely. Occasionally the dialogue
Matthau) and Midge Carter lapses into the broad soliloquies
(Ossie Davis).
and gesticulations that impact
Park bench dwellers each, well in live theater but seem
these two 81-year-olds have rad- wooden and forced in the movies.
ically different perspectives on
Similarly, some of the lesser
life. Nat is a left-wing Jewish rab- characters (especially Craig T.
ble rouser, full of bluster and bull, Nelson's drug dealing cowboy) ap-
who refuses to go gently into that pear like they walked in directly
good night; Midge, a semi-retired from a theater production and
apartment handyman, just feel phony and intrusive. Fortu-
wants to be left alone with his nately, the lapses are infrequent
serenity and a copy of the Sport- and are all but covered by stand-
ing News.
out performances from three old
When Nat comes along to dis- faithfuls: Matthau, Davis and
Central Park.
Richard Haiprin, when he isn't
V 1/2
practicing law, loves to watch
movies.
— Richard Haiprin

IT

