Our shrimp flew 1,972
miles to join you
for lunch.

Tommy Pickles; his
evil cousin, Angelica;
his best friend,
Chuckie Finster; and
twin neighbors, Phil
and Lil DeVille, as
they struggle through
a rainy afternoon.
To ease their bore-
dom, Tommy makes
a device called the
Peoplator that his
cousin absconds with
and uses to make a
pet dinosaur come to
life.
Rounding out the
performance and
transforming it into
a musical will be a
cool soundtrack that
includes selections
from The Who and
Paul Simon and
every imaginable
style of music from
samba to reggae,
rock to folk.
Professional
dancers, wearing
huge foam heads, will
Clockwise from top: Director and choreographer Danny
dance among special
Herman
with Chuckie Finster; set and puppet designer
effects including a 28-
G.
W
Mercier
with Phil and Lil DeVille; Angelica Pickles,
foot-tall smoke-
ex-Devo
fi-ontman
and lyricisticomposer Mark Mothers-
breathing dinosaur.
baugh
with
Tommy
Pickles; and co-authors/co-lyricists Ali
"The creative team
Marie
Matheson
and
Jim Cooksey.
makes the show,"
Hochwald said. "It is
unreal story, but people get over that,"
such a unique hybrid of talent. Every-
Hochwald said.
body brought a unique viewpoint. But
The show is also a part of the net-
then trying to do a live show about an
work's new focus on its most popular
animated show about babies, every-
series. The show became successful in
thing is unique."
the mid-1990s when it went on the
The live show, sponsored by M&M
network's daily rotation, but no new
Minis and LOreal Kids, is part of
episodes were released after 1994.
Nickelodeon's latest venture to move
A Passover special (the character
their shows out of the television realm
Tommy's mother, Dee-Dee, is Jewish)
and into more interactive venues. In
was released in 1995 with a Chanukah
the past six years, some of the net-
special last year. New regular season
work's other hits, including "Double
episodes began appearing last year,
Dare" and "Guts," have successfully
and a Thanksgiving movie is expected
made the same transition.
this fall.
The difference with "Rugrats," of
"What is fascinating to me is that
course, is in blending the existing
"Rugrats" is so diverse. It cuts across
animated series about irreverent, dia- all racial and religious lines but not
per-clad 1-year-old pals with the live
because it is so self-aware that it is
stage experience. The other series are making a statement about those
more like game shows, lending
things," Hochwald said. "It isn't. It is
themselves easily to the road-show
just about 1-year-olds, and that is the
format.
way they are." ❑
"The challenge is in taking a very
unreal story line," he said, referring to
Tickets, ranging from $12.50 to $25
the plot and the characters, "and mak-
each, are available at the Fox Theatre
ing it real so that people follow along
box office, all TicketMaster outlets
and become involved.
or by calling (248) 433-1515.
"It is a very unreal format, a very

Plihe next
few miles
are up
to you.

Ever notice how a lunch

spot can seem too far away until one day you try it and really like it?

Then let us bait an introductory hook.
We'll knock a buck off your lunch bill for each mile you drive getting here (up to five). Meaning,

we're betting a fin for each person at your table that the experience will bring you back.

Take our shrimp. Because you want them plump and sweet, we haul them in from as far away as
Cancun and Caracas. And because we're Joe Muer's, we do them a dozen imaginative ways,

including the best way of all.

Joe Muer's Grill is available
for Private Parties

Which is any way you want.

Sometimes, you just gotta go that extra mile.

Sundays Only • 40 to 140 People

It's how you distance yourself from ordinary lunch.

Greatfir gnztluations, receptions, showers,
business meetings, Bar/Bat mitzvahs, etc. . .

30855 Southfield Road, Southfield, MI 48076, (248) 644-5330

• Excellent (White 5ish and Steaks

Orchard Lake Rd. • 932-3133

Anch Buffet • 'Banquet !Room LAvailable
Ailohda
' g-7:hursday (11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)

SHANGRI-LA

FEATURING

Authentic HONG KONG Style Cooking

Wonderful traditional favorites...
superb variety of dining specialties

Tim Sum lunch specials 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• _five fish, lobster and crab in our tanks, cooked to order
• (Banquet 3acilities • 'Business ,Cunches

HOURS:

Monday thru Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 aun.

6407 Orchard Lake Road • In The Orchard Mall

(248) 626-8585

Call The Sales Department (248) 354-7123 Ext. 209

Advertise in our
new Entertainment
Section!

DETROIT
JEWISH NEWS

N

4/24
1998

105