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by Scott Fosdickthat.ChicagoHerald theater criticstrange, becauseactresses), but she’ll be playing a charlot of sweet characters before.acter 10 years younger than herself.Here is an actress who seems toComingDiane’s roommate comments, “Ithave everything going for her.tractions’’ opened last OctoberlookShe’s pretty. She’s talented. Andsmallestyear-oldchoice roles just seem to fall into herBody Politic’s three theatersBarbaralap. So do choice men. But she uses the Lincoln Avenue.year-oldmen, abuses her friends and seems to44supposedlookhave no time for anything that won’tbeen six months.younger than that.further her career. Her name is Diane.extended“In ‘Album,’ my character goesBarbara also has a lot going for her. thought, Oh great! And then we were from 14 to 18.HShe’s pretty. She’s talented. And her extended again. We started gettingDISSIMILARITY betweencareer is on the rise.goodBarbara is that BarbaraBut the similarities stop there. Bar-LIKE “ALL I WANT99 41Doschoolbara is selfish and manipulative onlyLeather ShoesBarbaraseveral nights a week. When she’s paid Up?” and “Bagtime,” all shows that didn’t even try out for plays when sheto be. Thursdays through Sundays, to have had long runs in Chicago, “Com- was at Fremd. But she was a memberbe exacting Attractions” was written locallycompanyTHAT’Sand is full of local references, from chesis.hit comedy “Coming Attractions” at condo complexes like Sandburg VillageShe went to the University of UtahBodywhere Diane’s lover lives, to the namesdriftedDiane, if you haven’t guessed al- of local plays like “Warp” and “Sexual ater. By her junior year, she had drift-ready, is only a fictional character. Perversity in Chicago” printed on T-edBarbarashirts and posters.studied drama for a semester at Rich-absolutely real. Unlike Diane, the char-Diane is one of four young womengraduatingacter she plays in “Coming Attrac- who were friends at Northwestern and Utah, she came back to Chicago andtions,” Barbara has a real history, are now, some four years later, shar-occuwent to a real high school (Fremd in ing a cockroach-infested apartment in pation: waitressing.Palatine, class of ’74) and has a real New Town and trying to make it inAfter nearly a year of waiting ta-life outside of the two funny/sad hours competitive careers. Two are ac-classesit takes for the play to run its course.tresses, one is a set and lighting design- tions, she was cast as the youngest un-Even so, there are those similarities, er and the fourth is an artist.common woman in “Uncommon Wom-firsiThey have an answering service that en and Others” at the Court Studio the-on a night when she’s doing her Diane helps them keep track of auditions and ater. Since then, she says she’s neverroutine, you can’t help having certain appointments. The trouble is, when Di- been without work.expectationsane checks with the answering service.“It’s been incredible. That doesn’t“I know she’s like the villain of the she has a tendency to forget all mes- happen a lot in this business.show.” Barbara says. “Sometimes I sages that don’t pertain to her.While she works she continues to au-feel a lot of hate vibes from the audi-dition, which means she continues toence.DIANE IS the villain of the play. But ^ rejected. It’s the best way sheSometimes people react coldly topointsher if they meet her face to face aftermotivations.knows to keep from becoming like Diane.the show.“I know people like Diane, at leastTHERE IS NO sure-fire cure forBUT IT DOESN’T take long for somewhat like her. People are very di- jealousy, though. But according to Bar-them to realize that it is only the nice rected in this business. You have to bara, that isn’t really a problem.things that Barbara and Diane have in give 100 percent.4*“I love it when my friends are work-common. Such as looks. As Toni, anoth-Howard will be leaving the role later ing,” she says. “The jealousy only hurtser actress in the play, says of Diane, this month to move up Lincoln Avenue you.“She has the best set of lips on north to the profit-making Apollo Theater,“Just because they got the partClark Street.where the current hit is “Album,” a doesn’t mean you would.So when the play is over, Barbara comedy about growing up in the 60s.“I think the main competition iskeeps the lips and sheds the obnoxious She will replace Jennifer Grey (daugh- yourself, doing the best you can.personality.ter of Joel) as Trish.Barbara s first performance at the“I’m not really like that,” she insists.Here’s another similarity with Di- Apollo will be April 28. She will say“And anvone who knows me knows ane: Not onlv is she working (a joyous farewell to Diane April 18.PALATINE'S BARBARA HOWARD, second from top, plays a self-centered actress in the Body Politic hit “Coming Attractions,” by Shelly Goldstein and Jerry Haislmaier. Goldstein, left foreground, alsoplays an actress in the show. Sandy Snyder, top, plays an artist and Sara Berg a set designer in the story about four friends from college who share an apartment and follow competitive careers.
Newspaper Details
Arlington Heights Daily Herald Suburban Chicago
Arlington Heights, Illinois, US
Mon, Apr 13, 1981
Page 17
Full Page
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AL, USA 20 Apr 2020
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