March Events OPENERS

ENCORE, ENCORE



A loose devil-may-care attitude of the Fifties dominates the atmosphere of this unassuming neighborhood club. The jukebox is stocked with greats of the Fifties and earlier: Billie Holiday, Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, The Diamonds, Keely Smith. The furnishings, too, are straight from the Fifties, leftovers from the original Lucas dining room, when the familiar Lucas B&B Caf坢 on Oak Lawn was a larger operation. Lots of neon and glass bricks and white tile. Hence, the name: Encore. All the nostalgia, coupled with the arty crowd whose style is rooted in the past, makes for a loose and relaxing nightspot. The menu is limited, but everything is fresh and interesting: Greek delicacies such as cheese fritters combined with American standbys such as hamburgers and apple cobbler. Plus, on weekends, live entertainment by Cy Brinson and her group. Ms. Brinson, a pianist and singer, knows how to use her voice. Her repertoire is catholic – blues to spirituals to Billy Joel – but she is master enough to make whatever she’s singing her own. The Lucas family’s decision to bring back its big room was a wise one. 3524 Oak Lawn. 526-8525.



ARCHAIC ARTIFACTS



Long before the arrival of the Hindu, Buddhist and Moslem religions, the ancient Indonesians honored a rich assortment of ancestors, gods and demons, fashioning their images in stone, wood, bone, ivory and metal. Such artifacts flourished in the first millenium B.C., and, in a few isolated places, survived until recent times.

The Indonesians’ hunting charms, magic wands, totems and funerary figures have a dark, unsettling power. They were the work of sophisticated craftsmen who practiced headhunting and human sacrifice and deftly translated tribal beliefs into expressive form. Unlike the art of tribal Africa and the famous South Sea Island effigies, the art of archaic Indonesia is poorly represented in most museum collections and is seldom exhibited. “Art of the Archaic Indonesians,” 100 works on display from 20 museums and private collections to represent the varied styles of Sumatra, Enggano, Nisa, Sulawesi, Borneo, the Moluccas and the lesser Sundas, will be on display Mar 10-Apr 25 at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Fair Park. Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. 421-4188.

– Ken Barrow



FILMS FROM DOWN UNDER



They came from The Land Down Under. They told stories of secret aboriginal cults alive in modern cities, mysterious disappearances on Valentine’s Day 1900 and miscarriages of justice during the Boer War. They were the new Australian cinema, and they took the American viewing public by storm. Millions of average citizens who normally associated our planet’s smallest continent with nothing more than kangaroos and Monty Python jokes found themselves engrossed with simple, well-told stories about a young woman’s coming-of-age in the Outback.

Established Australian-film fans and those who wonder what all the excitement is about can look forward to the first week in March when the Inwood Theater presents an Australian Film Festival. Fourteen films will be shown as part of the series, including staples such as Breaker Morant and The Last Wave, as well as early films by some of Australia’s leading directors that have never before played Dallas. Also part of the program are David Bradbury’s highly acclaimed but seldom-seen documentaries, Front Line and Public Enemy #1. The series provides a balanced sampling of some of the most intelligent and enjoyable film making in recent years.

The Australian Film Festival, Mar 5-11 at the In-wood Theater, 5458 Lovers Lane. 352-6040.

– Charles Dee Mitchell

NIGHTLIFE



Adair’s. This place has got class: torn U.S., British and Texas flags pinned to a wall; two-tone harvest gold-and-beige vinyl booths: thousands of spitwads clinging for dear life to the ceiling; miscellaneous graffiti covering several walls; gobs of gimme hats tacked to the wall behind the bar; Roy Rogers’ “Happy Trails” on the jukebox. Just about everybody is welcome here; Adair’s is for good, clean hell-raising with friends you haven’t necessarily met yet. (3903 Cedar Springs. 526-9379. Tue-Sat 10am-2am, Sun 6 pm-midnight. No credit cards.)

Andrew’s. The best way to describe Andrew’s is that it’s sort of like cod-liver oil: best when taken in small doses. It’s just that everything here is so cute: the cute little drinks (some are unbelievably potent) that have cute little names, the cute little waitresses in green-and-red plaid wraparound jumpers, the cute little tables in the cute little courtyard. And in the midst of all this cuteness is an average performer (usually accompanied by a guitar) trying to sing mellow oldies-but-goodies to a cute crowd. (3301 McKinney. 521-6535. Daily 11:15 am-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 2-7. AE, DC. MC, V.)

Bagatelle. If you’re tired of your rowdy friends and would like to slip into a plush, dark booth tor a smooth drink and a little intimate conversation, this is the perfect place. What you’ll find at Bagatelle is good food and great jazz. Karen Edwards sings and plays the piano Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday nights; the Paul Guerrero Jazz Quartet performs Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. (4925 Greenville. 692-8224. Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2:30 am, Sat 6 pm-2:30 am; Sun brunch 10:30-2. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4:30-7 All credit cards.)

Balboa Caf坢. Not intending to be uncomplimentary, we find this place a bit like an old shoe: nothing we haven’t stepped into a hundred times before, but often a comfortable and form-fitting relief. It’s more cafe than bar, with good sandwiches, plentiful servings and beer-batter onion rings. The Greenville Avenue location includes a patio for balmy nights, but has only a small bar. (7075 Greenville. 369-7027. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun noon-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7 and Sun-Thur midnight-2 am. MC, V, AE.)

Bar Tejas. At first we thought Bar Tejas was perfect: the casual neighborhood feel, the enormous windows, the neon and marquee lights beaming in from the Mexican-American movie theater across the street. Then we realized that there’s something about the harshness of the acoustics and the height of the ceiling that makes this an uncomfortable place in which to be drunk: The table setup is just too Spartan. It is, however, a nice place to frequent during the day; and on Sunday evenings, there’s chamber music. (2100 Greenville. 828-2131. Daily 11:30 am-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. AE.)

Belle Starr. Not quite in the same league as Cowboy or Diamond Jim’s, Belle Starr has become a real haven for semi-urban blue-collar cowboys and cowgirls who just love to two-step and polka (this place is equipped with a huge dance floor). (7724 N Central near Southwestern. 750-4787. Tue-Sat 7 pm-2 am, Sun 4 pm-2 am. Closed Mon. All credit cards)

Billy Bob’s Texas. It was only a matter of time before someone built a c/w nightclub bigger than Gilley’s; it’s perfectly logical that it was built in Fort Worth. Billy Bob’s has 42 bar stations, six shops, two restaurants, a seating capacity of 6,000, real cow-boys riding real bulls in a stockyard arena, and some of the biggest names in country music. (2520 N Commerce, Fort Worth. (817)625-6491. Mon-Sat 10 am-2 am; Sun 4 pm-2 am. Happy hour daily 4-7:30 pm. V. MC, AE.)

Cafe Dallas. If you’re out to pick up someone and you can’t do it here, there must be something wrong. This place is literally overflowing with eager young (well, maybe not quite so young) swingles in all shapes and sizes. Anything is “in” here; as long as you act like you belong, you will. And Cafe Dallas does have one of the best sound systems in Dallas. So, if you like to dance (anything from disco to New Wave to rock) and don’t mind a few indecent proposals, Caf坢 Dallas is for you. (5500 Greenville. 987-0066. Mon-Fri 3 pm-2 am, Sat & Sun 7pm-2am. AE, MC, V.)

Cardinal Puff’s. We could really learn to love Puff’s; it’s comfortable (especially the beer garden outside), soothing (perfect if you need to unwind after a tough day) and extremely cozy (decidedly dark and intimate after the sun goes down). And Puff’s has raised its minimum age to 21, a true plus for this place. (4615 Greenville. 369-1969. Daily 4 pm-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. MC, AE, V.)

Comedy Corner. This isn’t such a bad place to catch semi-big-name comedy acts if you don’t mind a lot of smoke, a $5 cover, a two-drink minimum and a waitress who automatically assumes that your change is her tip. Rows of comedians in their own rights fill the audience while comedy acts of varying quality take the stage for short sets of stand-up humor. (8202 Park Lane. 361-7461. Sets begin Wed, Thur & Sun at 8:30 pm; Fri 8:30 & 10:30: Sat 8 & 10:30. Tue audition night 8:30. AE, MC, V.)

Cowboy. One thing Cowboy is not is a place for cowboys. It’s much more aptly suited for guys who think they’d really like to be cowboys and girls who think that men who walk like cowboys are neat. It is, however, somewhat reminiscent of a cattle drive: Every inch of floor space-whether for dancing, sitting or standing-is occupied at all times by large, obnoxious beasts who breathe heavily down each others necks and occasionally emit strange noises. (5208 Greenville. 369-6969. Mon-Fri 5 pm-2 am, Supper buffet 5-9 pm. Sat & Sun 8 pm-2 am. MC, V, AE, DC.)

Diamond Jim’s. What a great place to get picked up! It’s not as pretentious as Cowboy, it’s not as overdone as Cowboy, and it has basically the same things to offer its patrons: pseudo-Western surroundings, lots of floor space to two-step or swing dance on and oodles of available singles. We especially like the windowsills that line one wall; they’re perfect sites for people-watching, which can be quite entertaining in itself. (5601 Greenville. 691-2411. Mon-Fri 5 pm-2 am. Sat & Sun 7 pm-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 5-8 pm. MC. V, AE.)

Eight-O. It’s amazing what a little honest promotion can do for a place. When the Eight-O first opened, it was plugged as the “in” place for struggling artists, bohemians, punk rockers and any other social misfits who happened to stumble in. It was a great place for people-watching, listening to one of the best jukeboxes in Dallas and discussing the meaning of life and other such esoteric trivialities. Then an entire army of preppies decided that Eight-O was The Ultimate, and things went downhill from there. (The Quadrangle, 2800 Routh, suite 145. 741-0817. Mon-Sat 11:30 am-2 am, Sun 11:30 am-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. MC, AE, V.)

坢lan. In case you didn’t know (and are therefore extremely bourgeois) that is a little e, l-a-n. Ay-Ion, for all you native Texans. This is the spot in Dallas to drink, dance, mingle, play backgammon or just generally stand around looking beautiful, exotic, vogue and yes, rich. This is probably as close to Hollywood as Dallas will ever get-at least, we certainly hope it is. (5111 Greenville. 692-9855. Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2 am, Sat 7 pm-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. Sun brunch 11-2. All credit cards.)

Greenville Avenue Country Club. Oh, what warm and wonderful memories we associate with the GACC. When it first opened several summers ago, we loved lounging beside the backyard swimming pool on sunny Sunday afternoons, sipping beer and scanning the most recent copy of The New York Times. But GACC’s well-publicized success has caused us to love the country club life a little less; the clientele seems to have turned from low-key to luridly uptown. (3619 Greenville. 826-5650. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am. Sun noon-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. AE. MC, V.)

Greenville Bar & Grill. Closet claustrophobics take heed: This place is always packed It’s billed as Dallas’ oldest bar, and from the size of the crowds, everybody’s been here since the place opened. Although you may (eel sort of like an outsider your first time here, it’s only a matter of time before you’re old hat. But if you have a particular aversion to standing elbow to elbow in a crowded room for hours, this probably isn’t the place for you. (2821 Greenville. 823-6691. Mon-Sat 11:30 am-2 am, Sun noon-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. AE.)

The Hop. The Hop, a longtime Fort Worth institution, has pizza, spaghetti and all kinds of music, ranging from a new rock group that sounds promising (the Blue Cats) to country-folk songwriters such as B.W. Stevenson and Steve Fromholz. The atmosphere is low-key and comfortable. (2905 W Berry, Fort Worth. (817) 923-7281. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 4 pm-1 am. Happy hour Mon-Sat 2-7, all day Wed. Sun 4-7. All credit cards.)

Hot Klub. Dallas’ premier punk showplace is frequented by a mean bunch whose idea of a good time is “slam dancing. ’ a rough-and-tumble exercise based on two moves: push and shove. A trip to the bathroom is an adventure in itself. And whatever you do here, don’t touch the floors. (4350 Maple. 526-9432.)

Joe Miller’s. If your criterion for judging the worth of a bar is determined by the strength of its drinks, Joe Millers will be your choice for the best bar in Dallas. Drinking one of Joe’s vodka tonics is like getting shot with a sedative gun used to drop elephants in the wilds of Africa: Three drinks and you qualify as legally dead. Joe’s is an insider’s bar; for years it has been the favorite media hangout. (3531 McKinney. 521-2261. Mon-Fri noon-2 am. AE. MC, V.)

Knox Street Pub. A Dallas bar tradition, this is where we were taken by our hosts when we first arrived in Dallas several years ago. We liked it then and we still like it. It’s a no-pretense establishment with an old-wood and fern atmosphere and help who immediately make you feel at home. (3230 Knox. 526-9476. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. Closed Sun. No credit cards.)

Lakewood Yacht Club. Don’t be fooled by the name of this friendly neighborhood bar. (There’s no yacht-sized body of water within miles ) The drinks are consistently good and strong; and if you’re stumped for conversation with your date, you can always feign interest in the hundreds of press photos that cover the walls. (2009 Abrams. 824-1390. Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am, Sat & Sun noon-2 am. AE, MC, V.)

Longhorn Ballroom. So what if it’s crowded, smoky, the cover’s too high, the tourists are too many: This is Bob Wills’ Longhorn Ballroom, the place for kicker dancin’, beer drinkin’ and hell raisin’. You’ll fit in whether you can dance or not, and you might as well plan on coming home with bruised toenails (those rhinestone cowboys can be real oafs). No one should live in Dallas and not go to the Longhorn at least once: It’s a Texas tradition. (216 Corinth at Industrial. 428-3128. Wed & Thur 7 pm-12:30 am. Fri & Sat 7 pm-2 am. Sun 5 pm-mid-night. All credit cards.)

NFL. This is a true Irish pub, but you’ll like the NFL (Nick Farrelley’s Lounge) whether you’re a preppie. a goat roper, a longhair or |ust sort of an average Joe. It’s a friendly neighborhood spot that’s known to get a little rowdy at times-perfect for drinking a few beers, dancing to some old Irish folk songs or playing a game or two of darts or pool. (3520 Oak Lawn. 559-4890. Mon-Fri 4 pm-2 am, Sat 6 pm-2 am. Closed Sun. No credit cards)

Nick’s Uptown. Nick’s is the ideal place to cut loose and have a wild time. The club is reminiscent of a huge rec room (it used to be a grocery store) with a stage tucked away in one corner and a bar running along the opposite wall. And if you feel the need to get up and move, there’s plenty of room to dance. (3606 Greenville. 827-4802. Mon-Sun 8 pm-2 am. AE, MC. V.)

Poor David’s Pub. It’s easy to bypass this grimy little bar on your way to somewhere else; but if you’re looking for decent live music, that may be a mistake. Sure, Poor Davids is tiny, grungy and has absolutely no stage. All the better to concentrate on the music, which more often than not, is worth hearing. (2900 McKinney. 821-9891. Mon, Wed-Fri 4 pm-2 am, Sal 7 pm-2 am. Happy hour 4-8 pm weekdays. Closed Sun and Tue. Kitchen open till 1 am. No credit cards.)

Popsicle Toes. This place has just enough sleaze to be taken seriously as a jazz bar, but not so much that one must shower after leaving it. House bands include Buster Brown, a fusion unit, and Phyrework, which can do credible knock-offs of everyone from Boz Scaggs to George Benson. (5627 Dyer. 368-9706. Tue-Sun 8 pm-2 am. Closed Mon. TGIF Fri 4-7 pm. MC, V, AE.)

The Railhead. From the size of the crowds, you would think this was the only bar in Dallas to offer live entertainment without a cover charge. The place begins to fill up by 8 p.m., sometimes earlier (depending on who’s playing), and is almost always standing room only. The Railhead usually features good local talent; primarily comedians and popular music copy artists. But no cover also means expensive drinks and mediocre service. (6919 Twin Hills. 369-8700. Sun & Mon 5 pm-1 am, Tue-Sat 5 pm-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 5-7. All credit cards.)

6051 Club. This is still the place in Dallas for jazz, from the real thing to the fusion efforts of some of the younger groups. The drinks are substantial and reasonable, the atmosphere is cozy (if a bit too Formica-Fifties), and the music is generally exciting. (6051 Forest Lane. 661-3393. Thur-Sat 9 pm-2 am. MC. V.)

St. Martin’s. We’ve yet to find a more romantic bar than St. Martin’s; it’s small, dark, candle-lit and cozy. Music is frequently provided by a three- or four-piece chamber music ensemble. And even if you don’t have a main squeeze, St. Martin’s is worth a visit for the food alone. (3020 Greenville. 826-0940. Mon-Fri 11 am-3 pm; Mon-Thur 5 pm-11 pm; Fri 5 pm-1 am; Sat 11 am-I am; Sun noon-3 pm, 5-11 pm. All credit cards.)

Stoneleigh P. What can be said about the Stone-leigh P. that hasn ’t been uttered already? Suffice it to say that more advertising campaigns, radio jingles, magazine articles, films, poems and paintings have been planned in this L-shaped room than in any other public or private Dallas chamber. The P. breaks all the rules-the beer is sometimes less than teeth-cracking cold, the drinks are too small- and yet people continue to be seduced by the low-key intelligence of the place. (2926 Maple. 741-0824. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun noon-midnight. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. No credit cards.)

Strictly Ta-Bu. The Ta-Bu has an easy, no-problem intimacy that can only happen with time and the right crowd (the kind of atmosphere that new bars spend big bucks trying to buy, only to discover that they’ve wasted their money). You’ll find the best pizza in town here, although the other food entries are only occasionally noteworthy and the drinks are average. Sometimes the music (jazz) gets in the way. depending on who is playing. (4111 Lomo Alto. 522-8101. Food served Mon-Thur 11 am-2:30pm &5 pm-midnight, Fri 11 am-2:30 pm & 5 pm-1 am. Sat & Sun 6 pm-midnight. Bar open until 2 am Mon-Sat. MC, V.)

Texas Tea House. The Tea House is a friendly, rowdy, trendless c/w spot to drink beer and enjoy the harmony-lacking but good-natured Will Barnes Band. The beer is cold, the crowd is always rowdy and the bleachers (this is strictly a beer garden) aren’t too bad. unless the night is chilly. (3400 Kings Road. 526-9171. Tue-Sat 8 pm-2 am. No credit cards.)

LECTURES



Temple Emanu-EI Sisterhood’s 26th annual Significant Book series presents three literary discussions. Mar 3: Maya Angelou, a Pulitzer Prize nominee and author of “The Caged Bird Sings” and “Gather Together in My Name” discusses her recent work “The Heart of a Woman,” the chronicles of a black American mother. Mar 31: Jo Brans, assistant professor of English at SMU and contributing editor of D Magazine, will review John Updike’s “Rabbit Is Rich, ” a poetic portrayal of an American hero dealing with middle age in these inflationary times. May 5: Rabbi Jack Bemporad will discuss Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” All lectures are open to the public and begin at 10:30 am. Admission $3. 368-3613.



FILM SERIES



Australian Film Festival. This month the Inwood Theater presents a week-long series of Australian films, including films already considered classics, some older films never seen in Dallas and two award-winning documentaries. Mar 5: “The Plumber” and “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” two suspense films by Peter Weir, Australia’s answer to Alfred Hitchcock. Mar 6: “The Plumber” and “Gallipoli”- the latter is Weir’s latest film, based on one of the most shameful incidents of World War I. Mar 7: “Sunday Too Far Away” and “Breaker Morant,” two films featuring Jack Thompson, one of Australia’s best actors. Mar 8: “Front Line” and “Public Enemy No. 1,” controversial documentaries by David Brad-bury concerning the role of the American media during the Vietnam and Korean wars. Mar 9: “Roots of Australian New Wave Cinema,” early films by three of Australia’s leading directors. Mar 10: “The Last Tasmanian” and “The Last Wave”-the first is a documentary on aboriginal culture; the second, Peter Weir’s occult mystery on the same theme. Mar 11: “The Getting of Wisdom” and “My Brilliant Career,” two very popular films about young women’s coming-of-age in turn-of-the-century Australia. Inwood Theater, 5458 Lovers Lane. 352-6040.



University of Dallas. Mar 2: “Love and Death,” Woody Allen’s sendup of Ingmar Bergman, 19th-century Russian novels and whatever else crossed his mind at the time. Mar 9: “Things to Come,” Alexander Korda’s lavish 1936 production of the H.G. Wells novel: a classic sci-fi extravaganza. Mar 23: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” a hysterical mating of Roman comedy and American burlesque, performed by masters such as Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers and Buster Keaton, directed by Richard Lester. Mar 30: “On the Water-front” – New York professionals move in on Hollywood and make one of the greatest melodramas of the Fifties; Marlon Brando stars. Showings are at 7:30 pm in Lynch Auditorium, UD campus, Irving. Tickets $1. 579-5261



University of Texas at Dallas. Mar 3: “Breaker Morant,” Jack Thompson turns in a brilliant performance as a lawyer defending an Australian officer who is court-martialed for following orders during the Boer War. Mar 5: “The Last Wave,” Peter Weir’s somewhat muddled suspense story about middle-class Australians involved with an aboriginal cult. Mar 17: “Pal and Mike,” Tracy and Hepburn classic about a sports promoter and a promising young golfer. Mar 19: “1900,” Bertolucci’s four-and-a-half-hour epic about class struggle and family passions in rural Italy at the turn of the century. Mar 24: “The Tin Drum,” Volker Schlondorff’s Academy Award-winning adaptation of the Gunter Grass novel about a boy who literally refuses to grow with the 20th century. Mar 26: “The Hobbit,” animated version of the Tolkien favorite featuring the voices of Cyril Ritch-ard, Richard Boone and John Huston. Mar 31: “400 Blows,” Francois Truffaut’s great film about adolescence; one of the most popular films of all time. Showings are in Founders North Auditorium, UTD campus. Tickets $2, $1 for under 18 or over 65, 50c for UTD students. 690-2293.



THEATER



Key Exchange. Kevin Wade’s comedy, which opened less than a year ago in New York to high acclaim, is being presented here with the original director (Barnet Kellman)and a part-local, part-New York cast. It’s about the friendships and love affairs among three young people-a woman and two men -who bicycle together every weekend in Central Park. Mar 25-May 22 at the New Arts Theatre Company, 702 Ross Ave at Market. Tue-Thur at 8 pm, Fri at 8:30 pm, Sat at 7 & 9:30 pm, Sun at 2:30 & 7 pm. Tickets $14-$10. 761-9064.

Lenny. Julian Barry’s 1971 play is a good deal different from the film of the same name that he and director Bob Fosse later made. This show uses a ritualistic style and presents Lenny Bruce as more of a sacrificial symbol than as a tormented individual. It may seem dated now. Mar 11-Apr 10 at Stage West, 821 W Vickery, Fort Worth. Thur-Sat at 8:30 pm, with dinner available from 7 pm. Tickets $6.50 Sat, $6 Fri, $5 Thur (dinner is extra). (817) 332-6238.

A Life In the Theatre. David Mamet has a very fine ear for the nuances of various kinds of speech. Here he applies it to rendering the changing relationship -on stage and off-between two actors, one older and declining, the other younger and on the rise. Mar 17-Apr 25 at the Circle Theatre, 3460 Bluebon-net Circle, Fort Worth. Thur-Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 3:15 pm. Tickets $7 Fri & Sat, $6 Thur & Sun. (817) 921-3040.

The Little Prince. The Callier Theater of the Deaf, which has done some unusual and striking work this year, will perform this dramatization of the novel by Antoine de Saint Exupery. Mar 5-14 at the UTD Callier Theater, 1966 Inwood Road. Fri & Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 2:30 pm. Tickets $3. $1.50 children. 783-3041.

Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander. Preston Jones’ touching comedy-a part of his Texas Trilogy -follows a young woman in a small Texas town from high school cheerleading through two marriages to widowhood. Through Mar 6 by the Fort Worth Theatre at the William Edrington Scott Theater, 3505 W Lancaster, Fort Worth. Thur-Sat at 8:15 pm (dinner available Fri & Sat at 7 pm), Sun at 2:15 pm. Tickets $12.50 Fri & Sat with dinner, $7 Fri & Sat, $6 Thur & Sun. (817) 738-6509.

Marat/Sade. This is a complex, phantasmagorical play by Peter Weiss, first produced in 1964 and made nearly legendary by a later Peter Brook production. It’s based on fact: The Marquis de Sade, confined in his later years to an asylum, sometimes wrote plays that were performed by his fellow inmates. Weiss has imagined him producing such a play about the assassination of the revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat. The director of the show is one of Dallas’ best: Mesrop Kesdekian. Through Mar 7 at the Bob Hope Theatre, Owen Arts Center, SMU campus. Thur-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2:15 pm. Tickets $5. 692-2573.

Of Mice and Men. When performed well, John Steinbeck’s dramatization of his novel about two farmhands is a powerful play. The Theater Center hasn’t always been at its best when performing naturalistic dramas like this, but its new relations with Actors Equity may make a difference. Through Mar 13 at the Kalita Humphreys Theater, Dallas Theater Center, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd. Tue-Thur at 8 pm, Wed Mar 3 at 1:30 pm, Fri & Sat at 8:30 pm, Sat at 5 pm. Tickets $12 & $10.50 Fri & Sat; $11 & $9.50 Sat matinee; $10 & $8.50 Tue-Thur; $8 & $7 Wed matinee. 526-8857.

The Playboy of the Western World. John Millington Synge’s tragicomedy is one of the loveliest plays of the 20th century. Synge calls on rapturous language to tell the story of the transformation of Christy Mahon from a frightened young man to a figure of strength and courage, and of his acceptance and rejection by the people of a small Irish town. The director, Patrick Kelly, did marvelous work with “The Ghost Sonata” here last fall. Mar 31-Apr 8 at the Margaret Jonsson Theater, UD campus, Irving. Wed-Sat at 8:15 pm (1st week), Mon-Thur at 8:15 pm (2nd week). Tickets $2. 579-5314.

Romantic Comedy. Bernard Slade’s 1979 play is what its title says it is. The central characters are a playwright and a young fan who meet on the playwright’s wedding day; they become friends, collaborators and, of course, something more. Through Mar 7 at the Circle Theatre. 3460 Bluebonnet Circle, Fort Worth. Thur-Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 3:15 pm. Tickets $7 Fri & Sat, $6 Thur & Sun. (817) 921-3040.

Second Stage Festival. This is the part of the season in which Theater Three gets adventurous and looks to unusual sources for scripts. The idea is to present plays (generally by little-known authors) that have recently premiered elsewhere, with the intent of keeping them in circulation longer. “Eden Court,” a comedy by Murphy Guyer, set in a rural mobile home court, runs through Mar 7. “The World of Paul Crume,” with local actor Jerry Haynes portraying the noted Dallas Morning News columnist, runs Mar 9-14. “Splendid Rebels.” Ernest Joselovitz’s drama about Emma Goldman, runs Mar 16-Apr 3. Theatre Three, The Quadrangle, 2800 Routh. Tue-Thur at 8 pm, Fri & Sat at 8:30 pm. Sun at 2:30 & 7 pm. Tickets $9.95 Fri & Sat: $7.75 Wed, Thur & Sun matinee: $6.75 Tue & Sun. 748-5191.

Tartuffe. Moliere’s comedy is one of the classic attacks on hypocrisy and morals mongering. This is an excellent time to see this play, whether or not the production tries to emphasize its topical relevance. Mar 30-May 1 at the Kalita Humphreys Theater, Dallas Theater Center, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd. Mon Mar 29 (preview) at 8 pm, Tue-Thur at 8 pm, Fri & Sat at 8:30 pm, Sat at 5 pm. Tickets $18 & $16 Tue opening: $12 & $10.50 Fri & Sat; $11 & $9.50 Sat matinee; $10 & $8.50 Tue-Thur; $7 Mon preview. 526-8857.

Ten Little Indians. A handful of guests at an isolated mansion are killed off one by one in Agatha Christie’s dramatization of her novel. The New Arts Theatre has been assembling some very good casts lately; for this show, the performers include Cheryl Black, Mario Cabrero and Jillian Raye. Through Mar 20 at the New Arts Theatre Company, 702 Ross Ave at Market. Tue-Thur at 8 pm, Fri & Sat at 8:30 pm, Sun at 2:30 pm. Tickets $9.50 Fri & Sat, $7.50 Tue-Thur & Sun. 761-9064.

Two by Two. This is a musical version of the Noah legend, with book by Peter Stone (who wrote the same part of “1776”), lyrics by Martin Charnin and music by Richard Rodgers. It had a respectable run on Broadway about 10 years ago. Through Mar 14 at the Dallas Repertory Theatre, NorthPark Auditorium, NorthPark. Thur-Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Tickets $7.50, $6 students & over 65 Fri & Sat; $7, $5.50 students & over 65 Thur & Sun. 369-8966.

Vanities. Jack Heifner takes a somewhat jaundiced look at the lives of three Texas girls in this comedy. First they’re high school cheerleaders together, then they’re members of a college sorority together, and finally, having gone separate ways, they’re uneasily reunited in New York. Mar 26-Apr 17 at Theatre Arlington, 1130 W Division, Arlington. Fri & Sat at 8:15 pm. Tickets $6, $4 students & over 65. 275-7661.



MUSIC



BL Lacerta. Dallas’ improvisatory quartet plays at Tiferet (the old synagogue at Grand, Good-Latimer and Central Expressway). Mar 21 at 3 pm & Mar 22 at 8 pm. 2312 Grand Ave. Tickets $5. 823-3670.

Dallas Chamber Music Society. The Bartok Quartet plays music by Mozart, Bartok and Mendelssohn Mar 22 at 8:15 pm at Caruth Auditorium, SMU campus. Tickets $6. 526-7301, 521-3831.

Dallas Chamber Orchestra. An all-Bach concert will feature the Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, Concerto for Two Violins, Harpsichord Concerto in D Minor and the Suite in B Minor Mar 7 at 7 pm at Caruth Auditorium, SMU campus. Tickets $6. The Brahms chamber music series continues with the Violin Sonata in G Major and the Piano Quartet in G Minor Mar 28 at 7 pm at Elliot Hall, Highland Park Presbyterian Church, 3821 University Blvd. Free. 826-6974, 526-7380.

Dallas Civic Music Association. Tenor John Aler, who made a remarkable impression when he stepped in for Niccolai Gedda in the DSO’s performances of Berlioz’s “Requiem” in 1980, will appear in recital Mar 23 at 8 pm at McFarlin Auditorium, SMU campus. Tickets $20-$2.50. 526-6870.

Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. The museum’s free recital series continues Mar 6 with soprano Juanita Teal-Peters and pianist Dale Peters; Mar 13 with soprano Blodwen Henry and pianist Myra Gayner; Mar 20 with flutist Jackie Akin and pianist Elizabeth Geyer; and Mar 27 with the SMU Chamber Ensemble. All concerts are at 3 pm in the DMFA auditorium. Free. 987-9718.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra. DSO associate conductor Christian Tiemeyer takes the podium for Stravinsky’s Symphony in C, Borodin’s Symphony No. 2, and Trumpet Concertos by Haydn and Bellini (with Maurice Andre, trumpet) Mar 4 & 6 at 8:15 pm & Mar 7 at 2:30 pm. The DSO presents violinist It-zhak Perlman with pianist Samuel Sanders in recital Mar 11 at 8:15 pm. Guest conductor Hiroyuki Iwaki leads the DSO in performances of Stravinsky’s “Le Baiser de la fee” Divertimento, Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, and Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto (with pianist Daniel Rivera) Mar 18 & 20 at 8:15 pm. Music director Eduardo Mata returns to the helm (or “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Mussorgsky-Ravel, Mozart’s Second Horn Concerto (with Gregory Hustis), and Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto (with pianist Eugene Istomin) Mar 26 & 27 at 8:15 pm. All performances at Fair Park Music Hall. Tickets $14-$5. 692-0203.

Fort Worth Civic Orchestra. Flutist Ralph Guen-ther joins the orchestra under conductor Yves L’Helgoual’ch for a concert featuring music by Mozart, Bernstein. Dvorak and Tchaikovsky. Mar 20 at 8:15 pm at Landreth Auditorium, TCU campus, Fort Worth. Tickets $5. (817) 738-6509.

Fort Worth Opera. Music director Rudolf Krueger conducts wagner’s “Hying Dutchman” with Wolf-gang Probst, William Wildermann, William Lewis and Judith Telep-Ehrlich. Mar 12at 8 pm&Mar 14 at 2:30 pm at the Tarrant County Convention Centre Theatre. 1111 Houston St. Fort Worth. Tickets $25-$5. 429-1181. (817) 731-0833.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. The winner of the UTA Concerto Competition will join the Texas Little Symphony under music director John Giordano in a concert also including Tchaikovsky’s Suite No. 4 (“Mozartiana”) and Vivaldi’s Concerto in C for Two Oboes. Two Clarinets and Strings. Mar 1 at 8 pm at Irons Recital Hall, Cooper and 2nd in Arlington. Tickets $7.50. The concert will be repeated with James Dick, pianist, replacing the competition winner and playing Mozart’s Concerto No. 23 in A Major, Mar 2 at 8 pm at the Kimbell Art Museum, 1101 Will Rogers Road. Fort Worth. Tickets $10. The Fort Worth Symphony presents Weber’s Overture to “Oberon,” Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 and Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with pianist Alicia de Larrocha and conductor John Giordano. Mar 27 at 8 pm & Mar 28 at 3 pm at the Tarrant County Convention Centre Theatre. 1111 Houston St, Fort Worth. Tickets $14-$3. (817)921-2676.

Kimbell Art Museum. The museum presents two free luncheon recitals in the gallery: Preston Thomas, percussion; Noah Knepper, woodwinds; and Richard Powell, piano, Mar 10 at 12:15 pm; violists Sheila Madden and Osher Green Mar 24 at 12:15 pm. 1101 Will Rogers Road, Fort Worth. (817) 332-8451.

Meadows School of the Arts. Guest conductor Michael Moores leads the Dallas Civic Orchestra in a concert including Weber’s Overture to “Oberon,” Ray Luke’s Bassoon Concerto (with Katherine Huffman), Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto (with Brad Richards) and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Mar 1 at 8:15 pm. Tickets $3.50. Lloyd Pfautsch conducts the SMU Choir Mar 4 at 8:15 pm. Free. The SMU Concert Band presents a memorial “Salute to Sousa” on the semicentennial of his death, conducted by Howard Dunn. Mar 6 at 8:15 pm in McFar-lin Auditorium. Tickets prices to be announced. The Piano Preparatory Division presents a student recital Mar 7 at 1:30 pm. Free. 692-2530. Faculty members Gary Okeson and Charles Joseph present a duo piano concert Mar 21 at 4 pm. Tickets $2.50, $1.50 students. Pianist Harris Crohn appears in recital Mar 24 at 8:15 pm. Tickets $2.50, $1.50 students. The Connoisseur Series continues with the Western Arts Trio Mar 29 at 8:15 pm. Tickets $5. 692-2573. All events at Caruth Auditorium, SMU campus. 692-2628.

Texas Boys Choir. Pianist Jeffrey Kahane and the Texas Little Symphony String Quartet appear as guest artists with the choir on a widely varied program. Mar 4 at 8 pm at the Fine Arts Auditorium, Texas Wesleyan campus. Fort Worth. Tickets $7.50. (817) 738-5429. The choir performs Mar 14 at 7 pm at the Highland Park Presbyterian Church, 3821 University Blvd. Free, but reservations recommended. 526-5429.

Texas Christian University. The Bach III series continues with the Third Brandenburg Concerto, the Concerto in F Minor for Harpsichord and other chamber music Mar 9 at 7:30 pm at the Kimbell Art Museum, 1101 Will Rogers Road, Fort Worth. The University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by George Del Gobbo. will perform Beethoven’s Eg-mont Overture, Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations (with cellist Karen Hermann). Mendelssohn’s concert aria “Infelice” (with soprano Judy Gans) and Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite Mar 10 at 8 pm. Faculty organist William Tinker presents a lecture-recital Mar 21 at 6 pm at Holy Family Catholic Church. 6150 Pershing, Fort Worth. The Bartok String Quartet will play music by Haydn, Bartok and Dvorak Mar 24 at 8 pm. Tickets $5. The Chapel Choir performs Mar 28 at 7:30 pm at the Robert Carr Chapel on campus. Faculty pianist Donna O’Steen Edwards appears in recital Mar 30 at 8 pm. All events are in Landreth Auditorium, Fort Worth. Free unless otherwise noted. (817)921-7602.



DANCE



Dallas Ballet. The company repeats its popular proauction of Cinderella-the Crystal Slipper,” a version of the fairy tale, choreographed by Californian Carlos Carvajal to music by 20th-century Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu. The ballet has some wonderful moments (including the coach scene at the end of Act I, and an enthralling pas de deux at the end) and vibrantly colorful costumes and backdrops. The role of Cinderella alternates between Laura Flagg and Christine Dunham; the Prince, between Bryan Pitts and Michael Job. McFarlin Auditorium, SMU campus. Mar 11-13 at 8 pm & Mar 14 at 2 pm. Tickets $19.50-$4. 744-4430.

Joffrey II Dancers. As the “farm team” for the big Joffrey Company, the lively and youthful Joffrey II group has contributed both dancers and choreography to the New York-based mother company. Jof-frey II, on its most recent visit to Dallas, rose to the occasion when given interesting choreography, but otherwise ran to being either dull or cute. Performance Hall, Brookhaven College. 3939 Valley View Lane. Mar 23 at 8 pm. Tickets $9-$8. 746-5165.

Southern Methodist University. The SMU Program Council co-sponsors what will surely be another hilarious appearance by the famous drag company, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. McFarlin Auditorium, SMU campus. Mar 27 at 8 pm & Mar 28 at 2:30 pm. Tickets available at Ticketron. 265-0789.

Texas Christian University. The TCU Dance Division presents its spring concert, with a program consisting of Fernando Schaffenburg’s “Fantasia and Fugue”; Jerry Bywaters Cochran’s “Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs”; Lisa Fusillo’s “Pas Classique”; Stephanie Woods’ “Stormsteps”; and Ellen Page Garrison’s “Moves.” Landreth Auditorium, TCU campus, Fort Worth. Mar 5 & 6 at 8:15 pm & Mar 7 at 2:15 pm. Tickets $4-$2. (817) 921-7626.



ART



An American Perspective: 19th-century Art from the Collection of Jo Ann and Julian Ganz Jr. Landscapes and still lifes are especially well represented in this exhibit of works acquired by a Los Angeles couple long before the current fashion for 19th-century American art. Among the artists represented are Homer, Church and Gifford. Amon Carter Museum, 3501 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. Mar 19-May 23.Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5:30.(817)738-1933.

Claudia de Monte. Working with papier-mache and glitter, this New York artist has created a constellation of small, wall-mounted objects full of charm and wry humor. 500 Exposition Gallery, 500 Exposition. Mar 20-Apr 17. Tue-Sat 11-5. 828-1111.

The Doors of the Florentine Baptistry. One of the great masterpieces of the Renaissance as photographed by David Finn, a New York public relations executive who has produced a number of handsome books devoted to photographs of sculpture. Haggar University Center Gallery, UD campus, Irving. Through Mar 5. Daily 10-4. 579-5319.

Juergen Strunck. New prints, single and arranged in patterns, by a wizard printmaker who can pull an entire rainbow of shimmering color out of a single plate. Delahunty Gallery, 2611 Cedar Springs. Mar 6-Apr 15. Tue-Sat 11-5. 744-1346.

Philip Van Keuren. Small sculptures and large, multipanel prints featuring simple geometric forms and bright colors, all by the Dallas artist whose proposal to paint a North Dallas water tower ran afoul of neighborhood objections. Mattingly-Baker Gallery, 3000 McKinney. Mar 6-Apr 1. Tue-Fri 10-6.526-0031.

Ruckus Rodeo. Red Grooms’ legendary gallery of riders, wrestlers, clowns and queens. Grooms and his gang of helpers, the Ruckus Construction Co., descended on the Fort Worth Art Museum in 1976 to make this rowdy, wacky piece based on drawings the artist made at the Fat Stock Show and Rodeo. From the fans in the stands to the dirt underfoot, he got it right. The multifigure environmental sculpture was exhibited once, then put in storage. High time to bring it out for a second look. Fort Worth Art Museum, 1309 Montgomery. Through Apr 25. Tue 10-9, Wed-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. (817) 738-9215.

Tri Delta Charity Antiques Show. In its seventh year, the show has invited 69 of the most prominent antiques dealers in the United States. Highlighting this year’s show is a loan exhibition of rare prints by American naturalist and artist John James Audubon to be on display. Mar 11 -14 at the Dallas Convention Center Grand Ballroom. Tickets $5 at the door, $4 in advance, available at Preston Ticket Agency, or Tri Delta Charity Antiques Show. PO Box 8070, Dallas. Texas 75202. 691-9306.

William Garnett. Black and white landscapes,many of them near-abstract, taken from a light planeby a California artist who has raised aerial photography to an art form. Afterimage Gallery, Suite 151,The Quadrangle, 2800 Routh. Mar 2-May 1. Mon-Sat10-5:30.748-2521.