DATE: Saturday, March 1, 1997               TAG: 9703010338

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

TYPE: Theater Review 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:   58 lines

``TWO TRAINS'' HAS HIGH POINTS ON STAGE; SOME LOW ONES, TOO THE PLAY AT ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY IS A LENGTHY TALKFEST.

The University Players, Elizabeth City State University, presents ``Two Trains Running,'' at 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

This play is not the University Players' finest hour - make that almost three hours.

The lengthy talkfest has many moments of interest, too many moments of going onandonandon. Lag - that's a good word. Too often, on opening night, some of the performers seemed unsure of when it was their turn to say something; too often, lines were stepped on.

It's a shame, because playwright August Wilson concentrates more on characterization than plot and he has the ability to create fascinating people.

``Two Trains Running'' has some fascinating people. Unfortunately, some of them stayed on the printed page.

Anthony M. Moore, as Holloway, was lost most of the time - sitting at a table, rubbing his palms together, trying to remember his lines.

One performer with that problem can throw almost everyone else off kilter. In this case, the two trains often ran off the track.

Ronel Brewer and Felicia Nicole Best - the only female in the cast - fared slightly better. Their problem is they seemed to be stuck with only one facial expression.

Still, ``Two Trains Running'' is worth seeing. The reason is Lamar Frasier in the lead role of Memphis. He is a master performer to begin with, and should be awarded extra points for keeping going in the face of stage adversity.

Frasier is completely into his role - a powerful, forceful actor who does not portray Memphis - he IS Memphis.

He owns a diner, in Pittsburgh, across the street from West's Funeral Home. The city wants the property, but will not pay him what it's worth.

Memphis retains his sense of humor, but does get to a breaking point. He grabs your attention whether he is joking, or ranting. He is an equal opportunity ranter - railing against the white establishment, as well as the activities of some blacks.

The Memphis philosophy seems to be ``work and ye shall receive.''

He, and some of the other characters, use the word ``n-word'' often. It almost seems like it is in there for shock value, yet it does fit considering the times and the characters.

One of those outstanding characters is Jerome Brothers as Hambone, a mentally slow man who does not say much more than ``I want my ham - I want my ham.''

The actor shows how one can take a small part and turn it into a major attention-getter.

The always reliable Brothers, wearing an ill-fitting jacket, is interesting, and fun.

``Two Trains Running'' requires audience patience. One reward is the dialogue, even if it does get lost at times.

The biggest reward is Lamar Frasier's wonderfully solid performance. It is worth seeing.

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