DATE: Thursday, March 6, 1997               TAG: 9703060365

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

TYPE: Theater Preview 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:   62 lines

ENCORE THEATRE DIVES INTO DRAMA WITH THE ``NIGHT OF JANUARY 16TH''

What? Another courtroom drama? They are television staples, and folks can't seem to get enough.

The Encore Theatre Company decided to get in on the act, and it was an excellent decision.

A full house on opening night applauded its approval of ``Night of January 16th,'' the Ayn Rand stood-the-test-of-time comedy drama dating back to 1935.

Most of the performers are members of what is becoming a stock company - very reliable people who can sing, dance, act and rub their heads at the same time.

There were some newcomers - members of the audience, called upon to become members of the jury to decide the fate of Karen Andre.

Did she, or did she not, shove her lover, Bjorn Faulkner, from a New York building, to his death?

No. That was the opening night verdict, coming about after three minutes of deep deliberation.

Their decision did not sit well with the judge, who chided them for their verdict.

Judge Heath was played with a constantly stern look by Celeste Gray - the kind of look that makes you wish you were in someone else's court.

This courtroom setting was quite convincing, as were most of the performers.

Tops on the list, as usual, was Ma and Pa Cherry - Mary and Tom - portraying witnesses with a sense of humor. He was mobster Larry Regan, sounding like Brando in ``The Godfather,'' with the wonderful mannerisms of James Cagney.

You kept wondering when he was going to say, ``You, you dirty rat. . .''

She was a hoot as Faulkner's housekeeper, Magda Svenson, speaking with a lovely Svenska accent.

``Night of January 16th'' witnesses come and go, have their say, leave their mark, purportedly telling the jurors all they know. They are questioned and/or harangued by the prosecution and defense attorneys.

The former was played, quite low key, by Mike O'Dell - too low key the first night, which might explain losing the case.

Christie Beacham is the attention-getter as the cocky, self-assured defense attorney. Her job, of course, is to convince the jury that Karen Andre, while no angel, is no murderer.

Rose Donahue is very good as the accused, expressing her innocence, vehemently protesting some of the nasty things said about her. She was particularly impressive during her moments on the stand.

There were several other impressive moments: Ray Jones Jr. is marvelous as John Hutchins, who seems to enjoy the witness spotlight; Kim Mathes is quite good as the grieving widow; there was applause for Deborah Parker as Roberta Van Rensselaer, a Brooklyn floozy type. Remember Marie Wilson?

Remember Perry Mason. He needed a guilty party before the last commercial. It is fascinating and fun thanks to a crisp script and the Encore Players performers. ILLUSTRATION: THEATER PREVIEW

WHAT: ``Night of January 16th,'' presented by The Encore Theatre

Company.

WHEN: 8 p.m. March 6-8.

WHERE: Main Street Stage, Pasquotank Arts Council Building,

Elizabeth City.

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