ARTS
The Michigan Daily Wednesday, October 26, 1988
Don waltzes through Dance

BY JOHN SHEA
So this is what the '80s have
come to. In a decade that began with
the birth of the Rubik's Cube and
will end with the death of the benefit
rock concert, Don "Mr. Heartbeat"
Johnson does not take his shirt off
in Sweet Hearts Dance until almost
an entire hour has passed.
The wait could not have been
worth it for his Friday night
disciples who best know him as
Detective Sonny Crockett from
...in becoming a staple of
the culture the past five
years, (Johnson) has car-
ried the unwelcomed cross
of a sex symbol. Johnson
really can act - his work
in Vice is consistently
good - and his going
against type in Dance by
playing country boy Wiley
Boon seems to be a
conscious effort to prove
it.
television's Miami Vice.
Johnson, in making his first
feature film since graduating to
Hollywood's "A" list three years
ago, has chosen a Norman Rock-
well-esque vehicle void of babes,
bullets and drug busts. What's more,
the unveiling of the torso comes not
in a moment of passion in a
darkened bedroom but in a moment
of quiet contemplation in the
washed-out sunlight of the Car-
ibbean. He looks old, his muscles
flabby, his excess of baby fat hints
of endless repetitions of twelve-
ounce curls. He looks ... well, he
looks bad.
What a bold move for this Kansas
City native and liberal arts drama
student who, in becoming a staple of

Dance, however, is that Johnson's
performance is bordered by three of
the most exciting actors in film
today: Sarandon, Jeff Bridges and
Elizabeth Perkins. All three are
coming off major personal triumphs
(Sarandon in Bull Durham; Bridges
in Something Wild; Perkins in
...About Last Night) and their very
casting alone would seem to ensure
plenty of sparks. Their very presence
would seem to dominate and
overshadow Johnson.
Yet screenwriter Ernest
Thompson (On Golden Pond) and
director Robert Greenwald under-
utilizes all three actors. Sarandon,
who might be the sexiest woman
over 40 today (and God can she act),
is given little screen time and makes
a minimal impact. Bridges and
Perkins, meanwhile, never progress
from being anything more than
vague sketches, their only real
purpose being to contrast their
growing love with the downfall of
Johnson and Saradon's. While John-
son clearly is the star of the picture,
audiences will undoubtly yearn for
more of the appetizers and less of the
main course.
Despite the big names, Sweet
Hearts Dance is a small film, both
in scope and depth. The tone is
pleasant, and its tempo moves like
an agreeably slow waltz. If Green-
wald had spent more time fleshing
t out his characters and less time
showing off the scenic Vermont
landscape, he would have had a good
picture. As it stands, it's only nice.
If nothing else, Johnson proves he
will not drop from the face of the
earth after Vice gets canned at the
end of the season, with or without
Barbara Streisand.
So chin up on this one, Mr.
Heartbeat. The '90s hold promise for
you after all. Keep taking risks like
this and you may even get to keep
your shirt.
SWEET HEARTS DANCE is
showing at Briarwood and Showcase
Cinemas.

The Royal Ballet of Flanders performs "Old Antwerp." The
ballet company from Belgium will perform its combination
of classical and contemporary dance tonight.
Denvers _mixes
old, new dance
Ballet's Belgian Balanchine
BY PAMELA WARSHAY
T HE Royal Ballet of Flanders, an internationally known ballet
company, will present their recent, more contemporary repertoire
updated by their new artistic director, Robert Denvers.
Denvers became Artistic Director of this Flemish company in
January of 1987. His dance background involves a great knowledge
and understanding of Balanchine's contemporary ballets and technique.
This has greatly enhanced the company's repertoire.
The company was under the direction of the famous Russian
dancer/choreographer, Valery Panov, from 1984 until his position was
taken over by Denvers. Panov's style and training, a reflection of the
Kirov and Bolshoi ballets, gave this company its distinguishing
classical style.
This Flemish ballet company has reached an equilibrium between
their repertoire of the classics and their new exposure to the modern
ballets of Balanchine.This company's diversity is bound to please an
audience of varied tastes.
The company's strong Balanchine influence will be displayed in
their performance of two of his works: Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux and
Allegro Brillante. Also works by Viollete Verde,-Jiri Kylian, Lynne
Taylor-Corbett and Robert Muczynski will be presented.
TIHE ROYAL BALLET OF FLANDERS will perform at 8 p.m.
tonight and tomorrow at the Power Center. Tickets range from $14 to
$20. They are available at the University Musical Society ticket office
in Burton Memorial Tower or can be ordered by Visa or Mastercard by
calling 764-2538 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Musical Society
will also give a Pre-concert Presentation, "Afterimages: Writing
About the Dance," featuring dance critic Susan Nisbett of the Ann
Arbor News, at 7 p.m. in the Rackham Amphitheater.

Jeff Daniels listens in amazement as he learns that Don
Johnson waits an hour before taking off his shirt in his
film, Sweet Hearts Dance.

the culture the past five years, has
carried the unwelcomed cross of a
sex symbol. Johnson really can act
- his work in Vice is consistently
good - and his going against type
in Dance by playing country boy
Wiley Boon seems to be a conscious
effort to prove it.
The good news for Johnson and
his agent is, his performance is
charmingly low-key and convincing
as an insecure 40 year-old who stares
a mid-life crisis in the face and

blinks. Wiley's long-time marriage
to high school sweetheart Sandra
(Susan Sarandon) no longer satisfies
him and the thought of continuing
to raise three kids frightens him. The
small Vermont town he has been
living in his entire life suddenly
seems too confining and Wiley
leaves his wife and kids to "find
himself." Johnson's natural moody
and introspective manner fits the role
fine.
The major problem hindering

Auditions and Opportunities
--- Lighting Technicians
RC Players is looking for lighting technicians and/or designers
for their production of Tart ufe.
A cash stipend will be provided appropriate to the time
commitment.
Call 665-2846 for more information.
Auditions and Opportunities runs each Wednesday in the Daily
Arts section, and is seeking contributions. If you have information
about any auditions or similar events and wish to publicize them,
please contact Cherie Curry at 763-0379.
Eli Lilly and Company
(A Research Based Pharmaceutical Manufacturer)
Will be on Campus
Thursday, October 27,1988
at the Sterns Building
Conducting Interviews for
Systems Analysts -
CS, CE or EE degrees desired
or a strong computer background.

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