McDonald's of filmland comes The Michigan Daily - Friday, May 18, 1984 - Page 9 SP°R subscribe z now! N jrcall 764-0558 up with By Larry Dean P OOR STEPHEN King! In his ambition to become the Mc- Donald's of modern literature, he's had to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune by being the most- filmed author of the last year. With the recently-released Children of the Corn, culled from his short-story collection Night Shift, the grand total celluloid adaptations of King efforts for the last year tallies up at five, and the deluge is only beginning. Of that flood, the second-most recent is Firestarter, King's 1980 opus about a little girl with pyrokinetic powers. Featuring an all-star cast that includes David Keith, George C. Scott, Martin Sheen, Moses Gunn, Art Carney, Louise Fletcher, and Drew Barrymore as the hot-tot star-and produced by Hollywood huckster Dino DeLauren- tils-Firestarter stands as one of the best adaptations of King's work to date. Like the other two exceptional films of King's novels, Cujo and The Dead Zone, Firestarter is not so much a horror as a suspense story. Given that filmdom's tries at King's more supernatural tales have been near-to-total washouts (Christine, Salem's Lot, The Shining), it stands to reason that the simplicity of the former efforts might account for this. So far, only Carrie, the first and best shot at translating an out-and-out horrific premise onto the silver screen, has made any ripples across the serious readership of King's novels, who are the best critics of those attempts. Plot-wise, Firestarter mimmicks both Carrie and The Fury. In Firestar- ter, Carrie, and The Fury, there is telekinesis, pyrokinesis, and elements of horror; the other connection would be government intervention, which is missing from Carrie. 'beef Andy and Vicky McGee (Keith and TV temptress Heather Locklear) meet in college, where they have volunteered themselves as guinea pigs in testing a new drug known as Lot Six. What they don't know-but later realize-is that Lot Six is the product of a government agency called The Shop, purportedly created to in- crease psychic ability in its users. But Lot Six has some adverse side-effects, as in the case of the male experimentee who plucks his eyes out while under its influence. Years pass, Andy and-Vicky marry, and between them, they foster a child, Charlene (Barrymore), or Charlie for short, who has been born with the un- canny ability to kindle fires with her mind. Quick to recognize the dangers of this talent, her parents teach Charlie how to temper her pyrokinetic strength, hoping that someday she can live like a normal human being. However, The Shop wants the McGees' child for its own malevolent ends. They kill Vicky and only 'through exercising her powers that Lot Six bequeathed to him does Andy rescue Charlie. They begin fleeing across the country to save her from unscrupulous evil. This is the point at which Firestarter opens, with previous information swif- tly parlayed through a series of flash- backs. Neither King nor his movie- making counterparts hesitate in putting the audience smack-dab in the heart of the action; through this technique, it is apparent that Firestarter in an ac- tion/suspense film foremost, and "monster" movie second. While the actors are given little to work with, a few shine out. Martin Sheen, fresh from his maniacally- happy portrayal of psycho politician Greg Stilison in David Cronenberg's Dead Zone, returns as another Uncle See KING, Page 10 Bars and Clubs The Ark - All the weekend long it's the semi-annual pub sing featuring The Friends of Fiddlers Green, Owen McBride and Guinness Stout on tap. The Blind Pig - The Scott Morgan Band does it up both Friday and Te list Saturday nights with Style 200 and Mike Katon taking turns as the opening.acts. Joe's Star Lounge - The Blue Front Persuaders look to be completely convincing Friday and Saturday nights. Rick's American Cafe - Friday night is The Influence and Saturday features those karmic musical chair players, Changing Bodies. Theater The Prodigals - This musical look at the foibles and quirks of a middle class working family from the '70s is the latest offering from the Perfor- mance Network. Written by local playwright Jay Steilstra, the produc- tion features a host of local talent. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday evenings and Saturday af- ternoon at 2 p.m. Junkie: Portraits of Women and Transition - Common Ground's study into the nature and types of ad- diction is directed by Elise Bryant. The show is well put together and should not be missed. Showtimes are 8 p.m. both Friday and Saturday nights at the Trueblood Theater in the Frieze Building. Concerts Joseph Garlington - Sponsored by the Michigan Christian Association, this Mobile, Alabama minister sings original religious songs. 8 p.m. Friday at the Power Center. Admission is $2. For more information call 994-3286. Carolyn Bybee and Robert Calkins - Respectively, this trumpeter and tubist present solo and ensemble works. Friday at 8 p.m. in the First Unitarian Church (1917 Washtenaw). Admission is $2. For more infor- mation call 971-9158.