Andre Gregory

A short, somewhat nebbishy writer in an overcoat trudges through the cold gray streets of Manhattan, en route to a restaurant meal with Andre Gregory. This is the opening of Gregory and Wallace Shawn's 1981 cult-classic film, "My Dinner With Andre," directed by Louis Malle. Nearly 25 years later, the scene reprises itself -- only this time it's me, on my way to play the Wally Shawn role with the titular Andre, longtime icon of American experimental theater.

"Turn on the lights, turn on the lights." So goes the first of countless motifs woven through the stream of cosmic consciousness that Andre Gregory offers in "After Dinner" at REDCAT. This shamanic ritual in workshop guise by Wallace Shawn's legendary dinner partner keeps the houselights on from beginning to end, even though Gregory's internal fire could combat a statewide power outage.

"Turn on the lights, turn on the lights." So goes the first of countless motifs woven through the stream of cosmic consciousness that Andre Gregory offers in "After Dinner" at REDCAT. This shamanic ritual in workshop guise by Wallace Shawn's legendary dinner partner keeps the houselights on from beginning to end, even though Gregory's internal fire could combat a statewide power outage.

A short, somewhat nebbishy writer in an overcoat trudges through the cold gray streets of Manhattan, en route to a restaurant meal with Andre Gregory. This is the opening of Gregory and Wallace Shawn's 1981 cult-classic film, "My Dinner With Andre," directed by Louis Malle. Nearly 25 years later, the scene reprises itself -- only this time it's me, on my way to play the Wally Shawn role with the titular Andre, longtime icon of American experimental theater.

The pace of its development having speeded up a lot lately, the Pacific Theatre Ensemble can be counted on for one thing: not to repeat itself, not these days. It has expanded, acquiring a new space adjacent to the old one on Venice Boulevard in Venice.

Seven of the eight actors who will appear in Neil Simon's new farce, "Rumors," scheduled to open at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre on Sept. 22, were announced Thursday. The characters include four couples, all of them attending the 10th anniversary celebration for a fifth, unseen couple. Real-life marrieds Ron Leibman and Jessica Walter will play opposite each other, as will Andre Gregory and Joyce Van Patten, and Christine Baranski and Mark Nelson.

In the feature on stage director Andre Gregory ["Repast Is Prologue," March 20], Gregory made reference to a 1967 production of "Tartuffe," staged while he was at the helm of the Inner City Cultural Center. He said, "It managed to offend just about everybody.... The kids loved it." Guess what? I was one of the kids who saw that production. It was the first play I'd ever seen. The opportunity arose as a result of a social experiment in which Franklin High School, and other L.A. city high schools, participated.

Marlee Matlin, the hearing-impaired actress who won a best-actress Oscar for "Children of a Lesser God" (1987), has taken a "small part"--only two weeks work--in "The Linguini Incident." And producer Arnold Orgolini still seems bowled over that he's landed Matlin--and other name talent--for his "under $4-million" picture. When "Linguini" begins filming shortly in downtown L.A., Matlin will join star Rosanna Arquette and co-stars David Bowie, Kelly Lynch, Andre Gregory and Shelley Winters.

Richard Shepard's lively and amusing "The Linguini Incident" (at selected theaters) is that rarity, a contemporary screwball comedy that actually works. It brings to mind "A Fish Called Wanda" both in its off-the-wall humor and in its equally distinctive cast. Indeed, it plays as if feature debuting director Richard Shepard and his co-writer, Tamar Brott, had created each role especially for the actor who plays it.

There's no denying the oddness of the name--the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Nor is there any question about leader and chief composer Simon Jeffes' fascinating range of credentials. He has collaborated with everyone from Sid Vicious and the Sex Pistols to Twyla Tharp and Andre Gregory. So the group's arrival Saturday night at the Japan America Theater as part of the UK/LA '88 Festival seemed to promise an eclectic listening experience.

The pace of its development having speeded up a lot lately, the Pacific Theatre Ensemble can be counted on for one thing: not to repeat itself, not these days. It has expanded, acquiring a new space adjacent to the old one on Venice Boulevard in Venice.

Peering through his gold-rimmed spectacles, "The Mosquito Coast's" Allie Fox seems to burst the boundaries of a movie screen, spewing his apocalyptic vision of America in gridlock to anyone who'll listen, and a lot who hadn't planned to. (The film opens today at the Westwood Plaza.

Go on and talk about: "(500) Days of Summer." To celebrate the first day of summer (and promote its upcoming picturesque, downtown L.A.-set romantic comedy starring indie darlings Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel), Fox Searchlight has teamed up with street vendors across the city to hand out freebies to the first 500 people who arrive at the Sprinklesmobile, Cool Haus ice cream, Kogi's taco truck, Pink's hot dogs and more.