The Guide 01-06-2012 by The Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company

THE GUIDE

A GUIDE TO THE GUIDE

SPECIALS WINTER Something Special Going On Every Day In January

Five Folks

OPEN BOWLING AT STANTON LANES Monday - Thursday QUARTER MANIA $5.00 Cover Charge 25Â˘ Bowling

Sunday 4 FOR $24 8 Games, 4 Sodas, 4 Shoes Noon - 6 p.m.

Friday & Saturday ROCK -N- BOWL 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. $10.95 per person

Good Ole Sundays 99Â˘ GAMES OF BOWLING 8 p.m. - Midnight

Saturday FAMILY ROCK -N- BOWL Noon - 5 p.m. $6.95 per person

470 Stanton St. Wilkes-Barre

AS 2012 BEGINS, WE ASKED:

â&#x20AC;&#x153;What would you like to learn this year?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to find some new, wonderful soup recipes.â&#x20AC;?

824-4661

Phil Rudy, 60something, Mountain Top

www.yourbowlingplace.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to learn a new computer program, to stay up to date.â&#x20AC;? Christine Verdgeline, 51, Forty Fort

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have some goals, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m afraid if I say them, they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come true.â&#x20AC;? Charles Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell, 57, Kingston

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have a lot of skills. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m hoping for a job.â&#x20AC;? David Kossow, 19, Washington

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been thinking of getting a CDL (commercial driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license) so I can get a new job.â&#x20AC;? Gerald Schmidt, 41, Wilkes-Barre

ÂŠDisney

GETTING INTO THE GUIDE

Opening Night Tickets $13.50!*

Wed.

Thu.

Fri.

Sat.

Sun.

Mon.

JAN. 11

JAN. 12

JAN. 13

JAN. 15

JAN. 16

7:00 PM*

7:00 PM

JAN. 14 11:00 AM 3:00 PM 7:00 PM

1:00 PM 5:00 PM

1:00 PM

*Excludes Rinkside and VIP seats. No double discounts. Additional fees may apply.

Buy tickets at , Retail Locations, Mohegan Sun Arena Box OfďŹ ce or call

All prices include $0.50 township tax. Additional fees may apply.

731839 73 3

188449

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Regular Ticket Prices:

All submissions must be received two weeks in advance of the pertinent event. E-mailed announcements via guide@timesleader.com are preferred, but announcements also can be faxed to 570-8295537 or mailed to 15 North Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. The Guide provides advance coverage and/or notice for events open to the public. Events open only to a specific group of people or after-thefact announcements and photos are published in community news. All announcements must

include a contact phone number and make note of any admission or ticket prices or note that an event is free. We cannot guarantee publication otherwise. We welcome listings photographs. First preference is given to e-mailed high-res JPGs (300 dpi or above) submitted in compressed format to guide@timesleader.com. Color prints also can be submitted by U.S. mail, but we are unable to return them. Please identify all subjects in photographs.

FEATURES STAFF

Mary Therese Biebel - 829-7283 mbiebel@timesleader.com Sara Pokorny - 829-7127 spokorny@timesleader.com LISTINGS Marian Melnyk guide@timesleader.com Fax: Attention: The Guide 829-5537 Advertise: To place a display ad - 829-7101

‘SCOUNDRELS’

THE GUIDE

a tawdry tale By MARY THERESE BIEBEL mbiebel@timesleader.com

o you’ve met “an injured soldier” who needs $50,000 to aid his recovery. If you’re a wealthy woman in a swanky Mediterranean resort, would you give him the money?

AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER

Rich Kramer directs his cast during a rehearsal for Gaslight Theatre’s production of ‘Death of a Salesman.’ ON THE COVER: In a tense moment, Linda Loman, played by Carol Warholak Sweeney, and her son Happy, played by Matt Hinton, hold back Biff Loman, played by Billy Joe Herbert, from his dad, Willy, played by John Sherrick.

Meet one classic dysfunctional family By MARY THERESE BIEBEL mbiebel@timesleader.com

What: ‘Death of a Salesman’ Who: Performed by Gaslight Theatre Co. Where: Mellow Theater, Lackawanna College, 501 Vine St., Scranton When: 7:30 tonight and Saturday night; 2 p.m. Sunday Tickets: $10, $8 More info: 570-824-8266

the play is a failure on the part of the whole family beginning with Willy and (his wife) Linda, to really treat issues and situations as they are.” Deception of all sorts seems to be the family legacy: Willy lies to Linda about making sales. Their grown sons exaggerate job titles and business possibilities. Linda refuses to confront Willy about evidence he’s considering suicide, pretending everything is all right. Would Willy’s life have been better if he’d followed his older, more successful brother, Ben, to Alaska? Or does Ben, who wanders into Willy’s thoughts now and again as a

visitor who made a fortune in diamonds, even exist? “We decided everything that Ben did is all in Willy’s imagination,” said Lee Thomas of Jackson Township, who plays the adventurous Ben. “He’s dealing with fantasies and early signs of dementia,” said Carol Warholak Sweeney of Dallas, who plays Linda as a loving wife, patient with a husband who rarely lets her finish a sentence. “She was living in a time when she had to be supportive,” said Sweeney, explaining Linda tried to be nurturing, but likely never thought of venturing out to get a job herself and add to the household’s meager income. Billy Joe Herbert of Hughestown and Matt Hinton of Wilkes-Barre, who portray Biff and Happy, spent much of a recent rehearsal in motion, playing ball and exercising the way the Loman brothers did in See SALESMAN, Page 7

What: ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ Who: Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts Where: J.J. Ferrara Center, 212 W. Broad St., Hazleton When: 7 p.m. Jan. 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28; 3 p.m. Jan. 15 and 23. Buffet dinner is served 90 minutes before showtime. Reservations: 570-454-5451

the Englishman, he gets a few lessons in the polite and charming way to be a con artist. Then the two scoundrels discover the town isn’t big enough to sustain both of them. They make a bet. The one who succeeds in bilking their target out of $50,000 will be able to stay; the other has to leave. Naturally, Marone said, they look for any opportunity to sabotage each other. The play boasts plenty of music by David Yazbeck, who also composed the score for “The Full Monty.” “I think all the tunes are catchy. I find myself singing them at home,” Marone said, admitting they’re really not all that famous. After all, did you ever hear “Chimp in a Suit” or “Roughhousin’ mit Schaffhausen?” Broadway Theatre League of Northeastern Pennsylvania at the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Ave., Scranton. 8 p.m. Jan. 20; 2 and 8 p.m. Jan. 21; and 1 and 6 p.m. Jan. 22. 342-7784.

Stage FUTURE Ultimate Girls’ Night Out, with the original Chippendales male strip show. Genetti Hotel, 77 E. Market St., Wilkes-Barre. Jan. 13 with doors at 8 p.m. and show at 9 p.m. $30 advance, $40 at the door. 820-8505. Shrek: The Musical. The beloved ogre meets a feisty princess. Presented by the

Live from the Met, a high-def transmission of “The Enchanted Island,” with characters from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Tempest.” Movies 14, 24 E. Northampton St., Wilkes-Barre. 12:55 p.m. Jan. 21. 825-4444.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Auditions for “The Full Monty,” a February production of the Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes St., Swoyersville. 6 p.m. Tuesday. All roles open. 283-2195.

PAGE 3

hen Biff “borrowed” a football from school, his dad, Willy, said the coach would praise his initiative. When the youth and his brother, Happy, stole lumber from a construction site, Willy bragged, “I’ve got a couple of fearless characters here.” And though Bernard, the neighbor’s son, urged Biff to study for his math test, Willy thought it would be better if Bernard just gave him the answers. Welcome to “Death of a Salesman,” an Arthur Miller classic likely to make audience members cringe at every bit of unfortunate advice Willy Loman gives his sons. “ ‘Cringe’ is the perfect word,” said Rich Kramer, who is directing the Gaslight Theatre Co. in the show at the Mellow Theater in Scranton. “Willy’s tragic flaw is that he didn’t want to face the truth,” Kramer said. “What we see in

IF YOU GO

Or would you be more likely to give it directly to the “famous doctor” who can help your new friend? If you’re Christine in the musical “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” set to open next weekend with the Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts at the J.J. Ferrara Center in Hazleton, you shouldn’t hand the money to either of these fellows. They’re both swindlers, and they’re just trying to con you. “One is a very refined English gentleman, and the other is a gentleman from America who, for lack of a better term, is a bumbling, vulgar idiot,” director Mike Marone said. When Freddie, the American, blackmails Lawrence,

IF YOU GO

Cheers!

By SARA POKORNY spokorny@timesleader.com

PAGE 4

It’s not quite a winter warmer but also not entirely a Belgian ale. Though the exact style of the beer can’t be nailed down, one thing is certain about St. Benedict’s Winter Ale: It’s delicious. The beer, brewed by Stevens Point Brewery in Wisconsin, is all over the map. As far as taste is concerned, St. Benedict’s has a little bit of everything. The most apparent malts have a caramel taste, and a subtle hint of fruit makes its way into the mix. A touch of spice runs over the tongue briefly before disappearing. Most English winter warmers contain no spices, and those that do are considered to follow the “wassail” tradition of blending robust ales with mixed spices, a process that took place before hops became the chief spice in beer. Despite all the flavors that go into the brew, the overall feel doesn’t overwhelm. This characteristic is true to the beer’s name, which comes from St. Benedict of Nursia, who lived in the late fifth and early sixth centuries. He is most noted for writing the Rule of St. Benedict, which teaches humility. Despite the seemingly incoherent nature of the ingredients, the beer’s medium body and mild carbonation pull everything together to make for a sippable and refreshing drink. ••• ST. BENEDICT’S WINTER ALE Brewed by: Stevens Point Brewery, Wisconsin Style: Winter warmer Alcohol by volume: 6.2 percent Sold at: Goldstein’s Deli, 200 Pierce St., Kingston Price: $2.75 per bottle; $12.99 per 6pack

Restaurant Review

Pick your pleasure at Fire and Ice

They had us at the bread. Hearth-baked bread specifically, the rustic, chewy, crusty-yet-soft style tucked away under a linen napkin so as not to let any of the heat escape. That’s the fire part of Fire And Ice on Toby Creek. But the bread is hardly the only glorious thing to come out of a reportedly giant hearth oven at which we’d love to get a peek. If the other teaser-starters were crafted there, then, yes, this is an oven we’d truly love to get to know better. An Italian crepe manicotti ($8) stuffed with free-range chicken, artichokes, ovendried tomatoes and ricotta cheeses was more of a pull. This was simply superb, pliant in the best possible way against a fork and elevated to almost divine status by a generous but not overpowering Asiago cream sauce. This was a shared app that easily could have been a lovely smallplate meal. Same goes for the appetizer portion of one of four available risottos we sampled for $7.50. Even above pumpkin and butternut squash, roasted eggplant and shrimp Gorgonzola risottos, something called Piedmont Risotto simply called our names and now owns our memories. Arborio rice finished with Hillside Farms cream amicably shared a blanket of two cheeses – a pointed, peppy Asiago and a milder, smoother Provolone – and shreds of prosciutto provided the crowning touch. The dish offered a nice snap of salt, but the creaminess took focus off potential sodium content. We’d go back and order this as a main plate for $15.95 without hesitation, and that’s saying something. Rice as a main course doesn’t always sail our vessel. About those main courses: a seafood special mostly hit the mark, while a baked lobster crab cake went up and over it. And a sandwich version of a steak actually impressed more than a

DON CAREY/THE TIMES LEADER

A frozen-plate salad or a hearth-baked delight? Or both? Pick your pleasure at Fire and Ice restaurant in Trucksville.

pricier steak itself, but that was perhaps owing to a taster with a preference for medium-well erring on the side of medium who found his $32 8-ounce filet mignon lacking any pink at all and therefore a bit dry. His complaint? “Medium,” “medium-rare” or “medium well” should be universal but seemingly aren’t. Another diner who prefers rare erring on the side of blue found a similar steak much more to his liking. A guest who went for a budget “pub plate” choice of a grilled prime-rib sandwich for $9.50, however, was not only impressed but happy to take her delicious second half home for another go-round. This sandwich, on hearth bread, draws much of its flavor from horseradish sauce, caramelized onions and cheddar and Cooper cheeses. Fresh-cut fries were a beautiful bonus. A $29 sea bass stacked with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, earthy, honest mushrooms and two cheeses was a mesmerizing combo, with only a minor complaint that the fish itself was somewhat bland – the reason for the lovely layers of accompaniments? – and that two or three red

IF YOU GO What: Fire and Ice on Toby Creek Where: 1 1 1 South Main St., Trucksville Call: 570-696-3580 Credit cards? Yes Handicapped accessible? Four steps in front On the Web: www.fireandiceontobycreek.com

beets added as garnish were a bit leaky for one who does not love the basic beet flavor. Otherwise the dish was a stunner. Similar props to the $22 lobster crab cake, accented by sweet shallot chutney and garlic aioli and served with aromatic jasmine rice and vegetables. This dish was plenty pleasing to a guest already enamored of her salad course. For her “iced plate salad” – hence the Ice part of the establishment’s name – she chose the Orange Cognac: field greens heaped with cranberries, candied walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese and drizzled amply with (you got it) orange-cognac dressing. Maybe the best salad she’s ever had, she said, though she also has plenty of love to pass out to previously sampled artichoke-baconSee RESTAURANT, Page 7

720316

THE GUIDE

FUTURE

Model Railroad Open House at the Anthracite Model Railroad Club, 1057 Hanover Court, Hazle Township. With detailed scenes of Jim Thorpe, Eckley Miners Village, the Jeddo Breaker, the city of Hazleton and other local communities. Noon to 7 p.m. Saturday; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday; 1 to 7 p.m. Jan. 14; 1 to 5 p.m. Jan. 15. 459-1804 or amrclub.org. New England Contra Dance, with music by the Wyoming Valley House Band (banjoist Chris Martin,

Malanka, the annual Ukrainian New Year dinner dance with a Ukrainian buffet, cash bar, midnight toast and dancing to the Ukrainian orchestra Fata Morgana.. St. Vladimir Parish Center, 428 N. 7th Ave., Scranton. Jan. 13 with doors at 5:45 p.m. and event 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. $40. Reservations: 822-5354. Pre-Souper Bowl Party, a soup cookoff , homemade food, bake sale, raffles, Chinese auction and vendors. St. Mary Church, Dorrance. 1 to 5 p.m. Jan. 21. $3. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Soup registration: 709-2745. Free Dinner and a Movie, a pasta

Winter Party, the fourth annual event sponsored by the Ruffed Grouse Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania. With buffet dinner and raffles. Farmers Inn, 1597 Hillside Road, Shavertown. 6 p.m. Jan. 21. $22, $18 children. Reservations: 983-9918. Home Expo, the 100-booth showcase of builders, remodelers, suppliers and financial services plus children’s crafts, wine tasting and raffles. Sponsored by the Building Industry Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania at the 109th Field Artillery Armory, 280 Market St., Kingston. 4 to 7 p.m. March 2; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 3; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 4. 287-3331.

Best Bet If you were disappointed about the cancellation of the Bloomsburg Fair in September, you can get your fix of livestock, horse and tractor pulls, rodeos, cooking demonstrations and agricultural exhibits at the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show: From Farm Gate to Dinner Plate, the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the country with 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and the popular food court offering Pennsylvania products such as the show’s famous baked potatoes. The Farm Show Complex is at North Cameron and Maclay streets in Harrisburg, and the show runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 14. Admission is free, but parking is $10. Information and complete schedule at farmshow.state.pa.us or call 717787-5275.

Get The Beneﬁts You Deserve!

Social Security Disability

Claimants represented by attorneys are more successful in obtaining beneﬁts. Call me for a FREE CONSULTATION. I can help. Member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives

Janet A. Conser Attorney At Law

1575 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort

283 -1200

Over 25 Years Experience

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Experience Fine It Italian Cuisine li C ii • Extensive Wine List • Full Dessert Menu Lunch Mon.-Fri. Open For Lun Mon.-Sat. • Dinner Mon

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PAGE 5

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729854

Free Yoga Classes. Balance Yoga and Wellness, 900 Rutter Ave., Forty Fort. Today and Saturday. For schedule, call 714-2777 or visit balanceyogastudio.net.

dinner and screening of “Soul Surfer” for members of the surrounding communities. Forty Fort United Methodist Church, 26 Yeager Ave., Forty Fort. Jan. 21 with dinner at 5 p.m. and movie at 6:15 p.m. Free but tickets required. 287-3840.

713523

THIS WEEK: JAN. 6 TO 12 , 2012

fiddler Lucy Warrington and guitarist Rob Lewis). Church of Christ Uniting, 776 Market St., Kingston. 7 p.m. Saturday. No partner or experience necessary. $9. 333-4007.

729855

Events

THE GUIDE

Notes on Music

Remembering his roots By SARA POKORNY spokorny@timesleader.com

At 56, Bill Hartmann still treasures a song he wrote in elementary school, so much so that it’s earned a spot on his first album, “Now and Then.” “I Remember” is one of nine originals on the album, whose songs were all written while the Mountain Top native was in Northeastern Pennsylvania or had the area in mind. Hartmann has lived in Florida since 1991, but he never forgot his roots, which go way back. At 9, he began lessons on a Fender electric guitar. In 1973 he bought his first 12-string guitar, now his instrument of choice. Hartmann, who looks to evoke emotions with his music, is inspired by Harry Chapin, a folkrock singer-songwriter known for his storytelling song style. “It seems that I’ll put together a whole song trying to reach that person that may be experiencing the same thing, almost as a way to say, ‘Listen, don’t worry about it. It may get better, it may not, but either way you’ll deal with it and move on.’ ” Two songs on Hartmann’s new album are attributed to friends Joe Agerkis and Bill Higgs, both of whom still live in Mountain Top. Agerkis was a fellow student at St. Jude School in the 1960s, and Higgs graduated from Crestwood High School with Hartmann in 1974. He keeps in touch with both. He won’t say which song belongs to whom but will only discuss the subject matter. “So Easy” is “about someone who always wanted to take the easy way out,” Hartmann said. “It was always ‘I know there’s a right way to do this, but I’m going to do

Pete’s Place

Lebanese

Cuisine

START YOUR NEW YEAR OFF WITH HEALTHY DELICIOUS FOOD

35 E. South St. • Wilkes-Barre (570) 820-7172 • Open Mon.-Fri. 10 am - 6 pm

PAGE 6

ALL JUNK CARS & TRUCKS WANTED

Highest Prices Paid In Cash. Free Pickup. Call Anytime.

VITO & GINO 288-8995 •

Forty Fort

IF YOU GO

SUBMITTED PHOTO

South Floridian Bill Hartmann’s debut album ‘Now and Then’ is a musical retelling of his experiences growing up in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

it in the easiest way possible.’ ” “Truth Hurts” hits upon social anxieties that befall teenagers. “It was about a friend I went to school with who wanted to be with the ‘cliquey’ people,” Hartmann said. “They’d let him in when they needed something, but when they didn’t they’d push him back out. It was me trying to say to this person, ‘Hey I’m willing to help you out here if you’d just listen, but it’s hard when you don’t like me or really anyone else when you’re with this certain group of people.’” Hartmann said he never imagined he’d make a CD. “It just so happened that I talked to a guy at an open mic who owned a small studio. I’m so glad I had the chance.” “Now and Then” can be purchased online at www.billhartmannmusic.com. ••• Local alternative-rock band

What: Cathedra EP “State of Being” release with special guests One Red X and 3 to Breathe When: 10 tonight Where: The Stone Elephant, 415 Lackawanna Ave., Olyphant ••• What: Cathedra acoustic show with Speak Hands for Me, Ashes for Trees and the Wraith When: 9 p.m. tomorrow Where: Diane’s Deli, 206 S. Main St., Pittston ••• What: Toolshed Jack When: 7 p.m. Thursday Where: Breakers at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Route 315, Plains Township

Cathedra will be out in full force this weekend in support of its debut EP, “State of Being,” released today. A party will take place at10 p.m. at The Stone Elephant in Olyphant. The duo will be joined by 3 to Breathe and One Red X. Cathedra will then take part in an acoustically driven show at 9 p.m. tomorrow at Diane’s Deli in Pittston. Speak Hands for Me, Ashes for Trees and The Wraith also will perform. ••• When it’s almost but not quite the weekend and the party-minded are looking for something to carry them to Friday, a night out with Toolshed Jack – 7 p.m. Thursday at Breakers at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs – might be in order. Toolshed Jack is an up-tempo cover band that performs classic rock, ’80s and ’90s hits and every genre from hair metal to alternative to rap.

Don’t just watch a movie, experience it! All Stadium Seating and Dolby Surround Sound ALL FEATURES NOW PRESENTED IN DIGITAL FORMAT

• FIRST MATINEE SHOW ALL SEATS $5.25

EXPERIENCE D/BOX MOTION ENHANCED SEATING ON SELECT FEATURES

*The Devil Inside - R - 95 min. (1:15), (3:30), 7:10, 9:30 ***The Darkest Hour - PG13- 100 min. (1:30), (3:40), 7:45, 10:00 War Horse - PG13 - 155 min. (12:50), (3:55), 7:10, 10:05 We Bought a Zoo - PG - 135 min (12:50), (3:40), 7:10, 9:55 ***The Adventures of Tintin in 3-D PG- 115 min. (1:10), (3:30), 7:20, 9:45 **The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo R - 170 min. (12:30), (1:00), (3:50), (4:20), 7:30, 9:10 Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - PG13 - 130 min (12:40), (1:20), (3:40), (4:15), 7:10, 8:00, 10:05 Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked - G - 95 min (12:30), (1:00), (2:40), (3:10), (4:50), (5:20), 7:15, 9:20 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - PG13 - 140 min (12:40), (1:00), (3:30), (3:50), 7:00, 8:00, 9:50 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows in D-Box - PG13 - 140 min (12:40), (3:30), 7:00, 9:50 New Year’s Eve - PG13 - 130 min. (12:30), (3:10), 7:15, 9:55 The Sitter - R - 95 min. 7:40, 9:45 All Showtimes Include Pre-Feature Content

(Parenthesis Denotes Bargain Matinees)

Avoid the lines: Advance tickets available from Fandango.com Rating Policy Parents and/or Guardians (Age 21 and older) must accompany all children under 17 to an R Rated feature *No passes accepted to these features. **No restricted discount tickets or passes accepted to these features. ***3D features are the regular admission price plus a surcharge of $2.50 D-Box Motion Seats are the admission price plus an $8.00 surcharge First Matinee $5.25 for all features (plus surcharge for 3D features).

825.4444 • rctheatres.com

• 3 Hrs. Free Parking At Participating Park & Locks with Theatre Validation •Free Parking at Midtown Lot Leaving After 8pm and All Day Saturday & Sunday.

WAR HORSE WAR HORSE (XD) (PG-13) 12:55PM, 4:15PM, 7:35PM, 10:45PM ADVENTURES OF TINTIN (3D) (PG) 4:20PM, 7:00PM, 9:35PM ADVENTURES OF TINTIN (DIGITAL) (PG) 1:30PM ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (DIGITAL) (G) 12:15PM, 1:05PM, 2:30PM, 3:20PM, 4:50PM, 5:35PM, 7:05PM, 7:50PM, 9:20PM DARKEST HOUR, THE (DIGITAL) (PG-13) 12:00PM (DOES NOT PLAY ON SATURDAY, 1/7), 2:20PM, 4:35PM, 7:45PM, 10:00PM DESCENDANTS, THE (DIGITAL) (R) 1:45PM, 4:40PM, 7:20PM, 10:30PM DEVIL INSIDE, THE (DIGITAL) (R) 12:05PM, 1:10PM, 2:15PM, 3:20PM, 4:25PM, 5:30PM, 6:35PM, 7:40PM, 8:45PM, 9:50PM, 10:50PM GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, THE (2011) (DIGITAL) (R) 11:50AM, 3:15PM, 5:05PM, 6:50PM, 8:35PM, 10:20PM MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE GHOST PROTOCOL (DIGITAL) (PG-13) 12:40PM, 2:10PM, 3:40PM, 5:10PM, 6:05PM, 6:40PM, 8:10PM, 9:05PM, 9:40PM MUPPETS, THE (DIGITAL) (PG) 11:55AM, 2:30PM MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (DIGITAL) (R) 1:50PM, 4:30PM, 7:30PM, 10:05PM NEW YEAR’S EVE (DIGITAL) (PG-13) 12:20PM, 9:10PM SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (DIGITAL) (PG-13) 1:15PM, 2:05PM, 4:15PM, 5:15PM, 7:15PM, 8:15PM, 10:15PM SITTER, THE (DIGITAL) (R) 10:05PM TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (DIGITAL) (R) 12:10PM, 3:50PM, 7:25PM, 10:25PM WAR HORSE (DIGITAL) (PG-13) 2:35PM, 5:55PM, 9:15PM WE BOUGHT A ZOO (DIGITAL) (PG) 1:00PM, 3:05PM, 4:10PM, 6:10PM, 7:10PM, 10:10PM

YOUNG ADULT (DIGITAL) (R) 12:30PM, 3:00PM

NO PASSES

You must be 17 with ID or accompanied by a parent to attend R rated features. Children under 6 may not attend R rated features after 6pm

the Dietrich Theater Tioga St., Tunkhannock WEEK OF 1/6/12 – 1/12/12

WE BOUGHT A ZOO (PG) Fri. 7:00, 9:35 Sat. 12:30, 3:45, 7:00, 9:35 Sun. 12:30, 3:45, 7:00 Mon., Tues., Thurs. 7:00 Wed. 12:30, 7:00

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (R)

Fri. 6:45, 9:50 Sat. 12:00, 3:30, 6:45, 9:50 Sun. 12:00, 3:30, 6:45 Mon., Tues., Thurs. 6:45 Wed. 12:00, 6:45

CHIPWRECKED: ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS (G) Fri. 7:10, 9:10 Sat. 12:20, 2:30, 4:45, 7:10, 9:10 Sun. 12:20, 2:30, 4:45, 7:10 Mon., Tues., Thurs. 7:10 Wed. 12:20, 7:10

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG-13) Fri. 7:15, 9:45 Sat. 12:15, 3:15, 7:15, 9:45 Sun. 12:15, 3:15, 7:15 Mon., Tues., Thurs. 7:15 Wed. 12:15, 7:15

836.1022 www.dietrichtheater.com

Concerts

Airy Casino Resort, Mount Pocono. 8 p.m. Saturday. $10. 877-682-4791.

band. F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre. 7 p.m. Sunday. $34, $24. 826-1100.

THIS WEEK: JAN. 6 TO 12 , 2012

Artist-in-Residence Recital, a classical-music concert by violinist John Michael Vaida accompanied by pianist Wen-chi Liu. Great Hall of Wyoming Seminary, 228 Wyoming Ave., Kingston. 2 p.m. Sunday. Free. 270-2192.

The Scranton Brass Orchestra, with guest trumpet soloists Chris Jaudes and Joseph Boga. HoulihanMcLean Center, University of Scranton. 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Free. 941-7624.

Christmas with a Twist, a Christian oncert, sponsored by Making a Difference Ministries. Mohegan Sun Arena, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. Saturday with concert at 6 p.m. and Penguins game at 7 p.m. $21, $19, $16 includes concert, game and giveaways. Reservations: 970-3607. Tony Roi: The Elvis Experience, a tribute to the King on what would have been his 77th birthday. Mount

Jazz Concert, big-band and concert-band music by the Wyoming Seminary Lower School and Upper School Jazz Bands. Buckingham Performing Arts Center, Sprague Avenue, Kingston. 7 p.m. Tuesday. Free. 270-2192.

An Evening with Erica Kiesewetter and Steve Ryan, intimate chamber music by the violinist and pianist from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. Westmoreland Club, 59 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. $26.50. 341-1568.

THE GUIDE

Endless Mountains Shape-Note Singers, a cappella four-part harmony. Singers and listeners welcome. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Route 6, Tunkhannock. 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. 333-4007. ABBA: Arrival. The Swedish tribute

Best Bet

The Sultans of String will travel from Canada on Monday to visit WVIA Studios in Pittston for a live radio Homegrown Music Concert. Enjoy a global tapestry courtesy of a six-string violinist, dueling guitar wizards, bass masters and Cuban percussionists. The music starts at 8 p.m. in the Sordoni High-Definition Theater. Tickets are free, but reserve early at 655-2808 or online at wvia.org.

SALESMAN Continued from page 3

their youth. “They look like the older version to the audience, but to Willy they look as they did when they were young,” Herbert said, explaining all the activity. “I don’t have to go to the gym,” said Hinton, who as Happy lies on his back and pedals his feet in the air. “That’s what rehearsal is for.” With “Death of a Salesman,” rehearsal is also for working on the

RESTAURANT Continued from page 4

this is the kind of place you’ll want to check it out. The pretty pot encourages you to linger, though maybe not for too long. Fire & Ice hours, it’s worth noting, are curiously short, with dinner ending at 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and even earlier other days, so you might want to stay aware of that. Not that you’ll be pushed out the door, mind. You might even find your friendly server chatting up a storm, even as the rest of the restaurant fades to black. If that bothers you, well, you’ll just have to arrive earlier next time, won’t you?

JAN. 11, 2012 - JAN. 16, 2012 1-800-745-3000

CONTEST TICKET WINNERS Jacob Hull - Duryea

Tyler Kowalski - Glen Lyon

Jessica Cervenak - Tunkhannock Winner may pick tickets up at:

Ringling.com

McKenzie Obitz - Wilkes-Barre

Blase Twardowski - Pittston The Times Leader 15 N. Main Street, Wilkes-Barre Between 8:30am and 5:00pm Identification is required.

THE TIMES LEADER

watch us on

PAGE 7

roasted tomato and stepped-up Caesar salads. Desserts, too, are notable, coming as they do in $3 justenough portions. Crème brulee and a Death By Chocolate parfait were less sinful than usual by diminution but all the more appreciated for that reason. A pot of French-press coffee for $4.95 was a perfect partner. If you haven’t had French press – it’s a bit of an effort –

nuances of the characters’ emotions, from hope to grief, from regret to despair. “It’s a long play; very emotional,” said John Sherrick of Nanticoke, who plays Willy Loman. “You have to ride a see-saw in there.” The play is set in the late1940s, but the director expects audiences will watch Willy and Linda discussing their household budget and see a correlation to today’s difficult economic times. “It remains my hope that this play not be treated as any kind of exercise in nostalgia,” Kramer said. “The story is important because of the here and now.”

THE GUIDE

Still Showing

THE ADVENTURES OF TIN TIN – Tintin, the intrepid reporter who looks like a boy but is actually a man, is a beloved world icon but not well-known in the states. Until now. PG for mock violence. 107 minutes. ★★★ ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED — It’s diminutive friends overboard on a vacation cruise. G. 87 minutes. ★ 1/2 THE DARKEST HOUR – In Moscow, five young people lead the charge against an alien race. PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some language. 89 minutes. ★★ THE DESCENDANTS – George Clooney is a lawyer coping with a family crisis and daunting inheritance. 115 minutes. R for profanity, drugs, adult themes. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO — David Fincher orchestrates a stark but enthralling adaptation of the first novel in Stieg Larsson’s trilogy. R for brutal violence, rape, torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity and language. 158 minutes. ★★★ 1/2 MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE — GHOST PROTOCOL — This is the best of the “Impossible” movies and, luckily for Tom Cruise, one of his finest action flicks. PG-13 for intense action and violence. 132 minutes. ★★★ THE MUPPETS — A welcome return for the Henson creations. PG for mild rude humor. 110 minutes, including an amusing preceding “Toy Story” short. ★★★ MY WEEK WITH MARILYN — Michelle Williams gives a thoroughly committed performance as Marilyn Monroe. But the script doesn’t offer much substance or subtlety. R for language. 101 minutes. ★★ NEW YEAR’S EVE — Garry Marshall again directs a script that weaves together a dozen or so plotlines crisscrossing a holiday prone to sentimentality. PG-13 for language, sexual references. 117 minutes. ★ 1/2 SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS — Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law bicker, banter, bob and weave with diminishing returns. PG-13 for intense violance, action and drug material. 129 minutes. ★ 1/2 THE SITTER — Jonah Hill, world’s worst babysitter. Enough said. R for crude/ sexual humor, pervasive language, drug material and violence. 81 minutes. ★ 1/2 WAR HORSE — Steven Spielberg’s sweeping, historical epic. PG-13 for intense war violence. 146 minutes. ★★ WE BOUGHT A ZOO — A family buys a zoo. It’s as high-concept as you can get but equally straightforward and surprisingly charming. PG for language and theme. 123 minutes. ★★ 1/2 YOUNG ADULT — Charlize Theron, anti-hero, returns to her Minnesota small town to pry her high-school sweetheart away from his wife and newborn daughter. R for language and sexual content. 94 minutes. ★★★

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ALSO OPENING

What: “The Devil Inside” (not screened for critics) Genre: Horror/Thriller Plot summary: In Italy, a woman becomes involved in unauthorized exorcisms during her mission to discover what happened to her mother, who allegedly murdered three people during her own exorcism. Starring: Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman and Evan Helmuth Directed by: William Brent Bell Running time: 87 minutes Rated: R for nudity, intense violence and gore. Source: Internet Movie Database

By KENNETH TURAN Los Angeles Times

he question at the heart of “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” is simple: Is a Soviet secret agent at the highest echelons of British intelligence? Getting to the answer, however, couldn’t be more deliciously, thrillingly complex.

Starring a surprising Gary Oldman and masterfully directed by Tomas Alfredson, “Tinker Tailor” comes by that complexity honestly, courtesy of the subtle, allusive 1974 John le Carre novel set in a merciless espionage world. This is a film to which very close attention must be paid, but the rewards are considerable. Swedish director Alfredson has come up with a film rich in incident, atmosphere and personality, a film that leaves us hanging on by the barest skin of our teeth as we try to figure out who is doing what to whom and why. The spy trade doesn’t get more exciting. Alfredson has accomplished all this in the face of considerable obstacles. Not only is Le Carre’s book anything but straightforward, it’s already been made into a six-hour British miniseries starring an impeccable Alec Guinness as inscrutable protagonist George Smiley. The screenwriters were equal to the first part of the challenge, art-

IF YOU GO What: “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” ★★★★ Starring: Gary Oldman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds Directed by: Tomas Alfredson Running time: 128 minutes Rated: R, for violence, some sexuality/nudity and language

fully compressing the story while understanding that in this world the spoken and unspoken are equally important. Blessed with a superb ensemble cast, Alfredson displays an uncanny feeling for atmosphere and mood, for letting the pitiless, almost Scandinavian gloom of this tawdry, amoral universe seep into its physical objects. Oldman, not an obvious choice, is superb. Though Smiley has, in Le Carre’s words, an espionage past “so complex that even he himself could not remember all the enemies he might have made,” he is lackluster in appearance, “one of London’s meek who do not inherit the earth.” Oldman threw himself into the Smiley role, becoming a man who by all appearances is tired, colorless and defeated, the drab epitome of unthreatening drone. But in his methodical way, Smiley is a master at his game, someone you underestimate at your peril. It’s not Smiley we meet first in 1973 London but his superior,

Control (John Hurt at his best), who opens his door in the dead of night to top operative Jim Prideaux (Mark Strong). “You weren’t followed?” are the first anxious words he says, and the game is at once afoot. Control sends Prideaux to Hungary to meet with a general considering defecting who claims to know the name of a double agent the Soviets have placed at the top level of British intelligence, called the Circus by insiders. Like everything else in “Tinker Tailor,” that trip does not go as planned, and Control and Smiley, his No. 2, are forced out of the Circus and into early retirement. With its infighting and turf wars, the Circus was hardly Eden, but it is the only world Smiley’s known. Then, unexpectedly, senior government official Oliver Lacon (Simon McBurney) calls Smiley back into the game. Lacon confirms what Control suspected: The mole exists. But who is he, and how does he operate? Aided by the younger Peter Guillam (Benedict Cumberbatch), Smiley must decide which of the main suspects identified by Control is the Soviet mole. Whoever it is, Smiley knows the implacable hand of Karla, Moscow’s pre-eminent spy master, is likely behind it all. Complex as this may sound, it is only the merest outline of perhaps the great spy tale of our time. “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” is an enormously impressive piece of work.

Kids

THIS WEEK: JAN. 6 TO 12 , 2012

Open House. Gymboree, 1159 Route 315, Wilkes-Barre. Monday through Friday (Jan. 13). Reservations: 208-2908. Story Time, for 18 months to 3 years. Pittston Memorial Library, 47 Broad St. 10 a.m. Tuesdays and 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Feb. 14. 654-9565. Preschool Story Time, for ages 3 to pre-kindergarten. Pittston Memorial Library, 47 Broad St. 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Feb. 14. 654-9565. Treasure Trove, a “Disney on Ice” production commemorating a medley of animated Disney films. Mohegan Sun Arena, Wilkes-Barre Township. 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday (Jan. 13); 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 14; 1 and 5 p.m. Jan. 15; 1 p.m. Jan. 16. $55 (rinkside), $36, $24, $15. 800-745-3000.

FUTURE Junior Bird Club: Eagle Watching, along the Delaware River. Bring a lunch. Meet at Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 14. $5 for new members. Registration: 403-2006. Are You My Mother? A baby bird searches for its mother. Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Ave.. 11 a.m. Jan. 14. Preceded by a “Wiggles and Giggles” workshop at 10 a.m. $8, $4 workshop. 344-1111.

Exhibits

Book Signing, with Timothy Morris, author of the Christian book “A Glorious Declaration: What the Mountains Are Saying and Why It Matters.” Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Arena Hub Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township. 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. 829-4210.

Visual Truths, photography by Sally Wiener Grotta and Niko J. Kallianiotis. Opens tonight with a reception 6 to 9. Through Jan. 28 at Artists for Art Gallery, 514 Lackawanna Ave. Scranton. Noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. 969-1040. Art in an Instant, a traveling Polaroid exhibit covering portraits, still life, landscape, conceptual and abstract images. Opens tonight with a reception 5 to 9. Through Jan. 27 at New Visions Studio & Gallery, 201 Vine St., Scranton. Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. 8783970.

CLOSING SOON The Language of Nature, colorful works by the Verve Vertu Art Studio. Through Saturday at Marquis Art and Frame, 122 S. Main St., WilkesBarre. 208-5305. Faculty and Alumni Art Exhibit. Through Saturday at the Schulman Gallery, Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke. 740-0727. Holiday Members Show. Through Sunday at Artspace Gallery, 221 Center St., Bloomsburg. 784-0737. Beauty of Nature, photographs by George Clark. Through Jan. 30 at the Wyoming County Courthouse Gallery, 1 Courthouse Square, Tunkhannock. 836-3200. The Polish in Luzerne County. Through Jan. 31 at the Luzerne County Historical Society Museum, 69 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. $4. 822-1727. Mad About Hats, vintage headwear. Through Jan. 31 at the Luzerne County Historical Society

writer/director John Wells attempts to chart the downward spiral of the American Dream. Ambitious indeed, but Wells succeeds beautifully, finding drama in the men’s search for self-esteem via new jobs. Affleck is particularly effective as Bobby, a salesman shocked to discover he doesn’t need a Porsche or a pricey country-club membership to be happy. ••• LEAVING (2009, IFC, UNRATED, $25): A housewife and stay-athome mom (Kristin Scott Thomas) leaves her well-ordered life behind to take up with a sexy Spanish builder (Sergi Lopez) in Catherine Corsini’s French-language romance. The ending feels a smidge abrupt, but this gorgeously photographed melodrama will hold you in thrall. It’s a wild ride through the dark side of erotic attraction. Amy Longsdorf also profiles celebrities for the Sunday Etc. section of The Times Leader.

‘Bumble Bee on Flower’ by Crystal Wightman.

Swoyersville artist Crystal Wightman’s first solo gallery showing opens Monday at King’s College, with scenic landscapes that detail ‘The Small Side of Life,’ achieved by macro photography. The artist hopes visitors may see the everyday beauty they fail to notice. The show is at the Widmann Gallery in the SheehyFarmer Campus Center in WilkesBarre through Feb. 23. An Artist Talk is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 20. Regular gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Museum, 69 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. $4. 822-1727. Winter Traditions of Poland and Polish America. Through Jan. 31 at the Luzerne County Historical Society Museum, 69 S. Franklin St., WilkesBarre. $4. 822-1727. Excavation, photographs by Gary Cawood. Through Jan. 31 at CameraWork Gallery, 515 Center St., Scranton. 344-3313.

New on DVD REVIEWS OF RECENT OR UPCOMING DVD RELEASES: ••• “APOLLO 18” (PG-13, 2011, ANCHOR BAY): Like the tagline says, there’s a reason we stopped going to the moon after Apollo 17, and it had nothing to do with the national budget. As it turns out, there was a top-secret 18th Apollo mission. ••• “FINAL DESTINATION 5” (R, 2011, WARNER BROS.): It’s hard not to smirk when a detective asks Sam (Nicholas D’Agosto) how his premonition of an extremely deadly bridge collapse provided him a chance to pull his friends off the bridge and save their lives mere moments before it collapsed for real.

All Sam had to do was show him any of the preceding “Final Destination” movies. ••• ALSO ON DVD IN JANUARY: ••• 3: “Contagion” (Warner) 3: “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” (Sony) 3: “The Guard” (Sony) 3: “I Don’t Know How She Does It” (Anchor Bay) 3: “I’m Glad My Mother is Alive” (Strand) 3: “Mildred Pierce” (HBO) 3: “Puncture” (Millennium) 10: “Higher Ground” (Sony) 10: “Killer Elite” (Universal) 10: “Moneyball” (Sony) 10: “There Be Dragons” (Fox) 10: “What’s Your Number?” (Fox)

— McClatchy-Tribune Newspapers

Maslow Faculty Reading Series, poetry, fiction, non-fiction and films, nightly from 7 to 9. Kicks off Sunday at Barnes & Noble, 7 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, with seven authors. Continues at the Henry Student Center, 84 E. South St., Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, on Monday with films and talkback sessions, Tuesday with poetry and fiction readings, Wednesday with readings by six playwrights and Thursday with works by faculty and alumni. Free. 408-4779. Book Signing, with Mollie Marti, author of the new release about Judge Max Rosenn “Walking with Justice: Uncommon Lessons from One of Life’s Greatest Mentors.” Barnes & Noble, South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre. 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday. 208-4700.

Outdoors THIS WEEK: JAN. 6 TO 12 , 2012 Winter Trails Day: Snowshoeing for Beginners. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Registration: 403-2006. Cross-Country Skiing, beginner lessons with skis and boots provided. Hike if no snow. Pocono Environment Education Center, Brisco Mountain and Emory roads, Dingmans Ferry. 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays and 1 to 3 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 25. $20, $10 children. Register your shoe size at 828-2319. Snowshoeing Hike, two miles through the trails at Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. Bring snowshoes or reserve them when registering. 403-2006. Animal Tracking, searching for signs left by local wildlife. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Brisco Mountain and Emory roads, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. $5. 270-2192. Promised Land Hike, seven easy miles at the state park. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 315 and Oak Street, Dupont. 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 814-2803. Sunday for Singles. Meet new people while exploring nature. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Brisco Mountain and Emory roads, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. Free. 270-2192. Winter Walks for Adults, exploring the trails of Kettle Creek for animal signs and other discoveries. Monroe County Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Jan. 25. $5. Registration: 629-3061.

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••• LEBANON, PA (2011, MONARCH, PG-13, $25): Pleasantly low-key and bittersweet, Ben Hickernell’s second feature follows a Philadelphia advertising exec (Josh Hopkins) as he travels to rural Pennsylvania to take care of his late father’s estate and winds up enjoying the peace and quiet of small-town life. Not that his new routine is without drama. He befriends a pregnant teenager (Rachel Kitson) and falls in love with a married woman (Samantha Mathis.) An out-of-left-field treat filmed entirely in the Keystone State. ••• THE COMPANY MEN (2010, ANCHOR BAY, R, $30): With this riveting look at three victims of corporate downsizing (Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones),

THIS WEEK: JAN. 6 TO 12 , 2012

T H I S W E E K : JA N . 6 TO 12

Movie Amy hat better way to celebrate the arrival of 2012 than by checking out movies about fresh beginnings?

Reads

Best Bet

THE GUIDE

CELEBRITY Q&A BY R.D. HELDENFELS

JUMBLE

UNIVERSAL SUDOKU

BY MICHAEL ARGIRION & JEFF KNUREK

Searching for old movie titles, videos Q. I have been looking for a Christmastype movie. I believe “The Red Shoes” is the title. It stars Rob Lowe and a little boy trying to buy a pair of red shoes for his dying mother. Is there a DVD or VHS that you know of? A. The name of the movie is “The Christmas Shoes,” the same name as the song which inspired the film. It has been released on DVD. Q. Is Laurence Fox on the “Inspector Lewis” mysteries related to Edward Fox, who played in “Masterpiece” plays such as “Shaka Zulu”? A. Laurence Fox, who plays Detective Sgt. Hathaway in the series of programs airing under the “Masterpiece Mystery” banner, is the son of actor James Fox, the nephew of Edward Fox and the cousin of Emilia Fox (Merlin), a daughter of Edward. Laurence is also married to the actress Billie Piper (“Secret Diary of a Call Girl,” “Doctor Who”).

PREVIOUS DAY’S SOLUTION

CRYPTOQUOTE

Q. In 1984, there was a CBS Christmasthemed musical hour starring Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, called “Kenny and Dolly: A Christmas to Remember.” Was it ever released on home video? A. As far as I can tell, the special, tied to the Rogers-Parton audio recording “Once Upon a Christmas,” is not available on an authorized video. Do you have a question or comment for the mailbag? Write to me at rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com or by regular mail to the Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44309.

HOROSCOPE BY HOLIDAY MATHIS

PAGE 10

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ll deliver

lighthearted fun. It will be good for relationships of all kinds, including professional. Your quick wit will be a magnet for new friends. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll feel unburdened by responsibilities. Feeling this way makes it true to some extent. Your schedule will be clear of worry. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Could it be that the energy you give to your goals have greater power than the actual steps you take to make them happen?

ON THE WEB For more Sudoku go to www.timesleader.com

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll be

spending time with a complimentary individual. This person will confirm your attractiveness, not that you need such an ego boost. Your own opinion of yourself is what really matters. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). There will be people on either side of an issue trying to get you to side with them or take action on their behalf. How do you know whether you’re doing the right thing? It feels right. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The only way to see the big picture is to go to the top of the proverbial mountain. You can do this in your mind, or you can do it physically by heading to the highest point in your immediate geography.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Accepting

reality is the first step to co-creating it. Your will is strong, but the universal will is stronger. You’ll defer to it as you realize that any other move would be pointless. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You may be prone to silly mistakes. Try to slow down and think things through. Luckily, your reflexes are so quick that even if you blunder, you can probably recover without mishap. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). If you don’t get what you want right away, it may be the best thing for you and everyone else. Sometimes what doesn’t happen may keep something really catastrophic from happening.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your sense

of fun is going strong. You have responsibilities, but you don’t let them define who you are. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The world desperately will require your patience. So few people really are patient these days, and so many rely on patience from others. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). New resources will inspire you to put an effort into raising your attractiveness quotient on both the inside and the outside. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 6). You have the perfect combination of passion and practicality, and you’ll apply yourself. Cancer and Leo people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 38, 14, 30 and 15.

Girl who thinks she’s abused gets scolded by fellow teens Dear Readers: Yesterday I printed letters from adults in response to a letter from “Emotionally Abused in California” (Nov. 2), the 15-year-old who felt her mother was treating her unfairly. Today we’ll hear from teenage readers: Dear Abby: I’m a 14-year-old girl. My mom showed me the letter from “Emotionally Abused” and I almost died! Her

DEAR ABBY ADVICE mom sounds just like mine. I am not allowed to wear clothing that shows too much skin or get into a car with a teenage boy. I have to do my own laundry, clean my room, cook dinner and hem my own jeans. Every night our entire family sits down for dinner. My parents always know my plans when I’m out with my friends. I’m not the perfect daughter,

but I’m glad I’m being raised with integrity, responsibility and a whole lot of chores. — Cooperating Teen in New Jersey Dear Abby: From one teen to another: You’re not being treated like a criminal. Your mom is doing you a huge favor. She’s preparing you for the real world by making you pay for your own things. And about your friends, she just wants to know who they are. She’s a single mom, and

GOREN BRIDGE

she’s trying to protect you. You need to be easier on her and try to see things through her eyes. Not everything she does is an attack on you — in fact, it’s the opposite. — Fellow California Teen Dear Abby: I’m also a 15-yearold Catholic girl. “Emotionally Abused” should be grateful she can attend church because it means we have religious freedom in our country. She is going to private school, which means her mother loves her

THE GUIDE

enough to put her daughter’s needs ahead of her own. She needs to rethink who is being unreasonable. — Teen in Florida Dear Readers: To read a longer version of this column, go to DearAbby.com. To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays, send a business-sized, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby’s “Keepers,” P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)

CROSSWORD

WITH OMAR SHARIF & TANNAH HIRSCH

HOW TO CONTACT: PAGE 11

Dear Abby: PO Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 Celebrity Questions: TV Week, The Dallas Morning News, Communications Center, PO Box 655237, Dallas, TX 75265

THE GUIDE

30% O F F W i n ter S h oes, C l oth i n g & A ccessori es

H O U R S : M o n. - S a t. 10:00 a m - 5:00 pm 63 4 M a rke t S tre e t • Kings to n, PA 18 704 • (570) 28 7-2777

AUDITIONS AMERICAN STARS OF TOMORROW (Musical Production for Young People Ages 7 to 20) TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 AT 6pm

THE FULL MONTY (Musical) TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 AT 7:30pm

THE MUSIC BOX DINNER PLAYHOUSE

PAGE 12

196 HUGHES ST, SWOYERSVILLE, PA 18704