BY JIM KNIPPENBERG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Merciful heavens, and aren't they all abuzz at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Film Commission?
Bear with us now, 'cause details are up in the air. But Psst! was eavesdropping and heard . . .
There's a plenty good chance that Brenda Vaccaro, here for Full Gallop at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, and Sally Struthers, here for Annie at the Aronoff, will show up late-ish Saturdayat the commission's annual Halloween party. Like Elliott Gould and Mariette Hartley did when they were here in Deathtrap in '96.
The two are, after all, best friends, having starred on Broadway in a gender-bending version of Odd Couple in the mid-80s.
Film Commission boss Lori Holladay won't comment, but Van Ackerman, manager of the Broadway Series, will: "We're trying to make it happen."
Vaccaro agrees: "Absolutely. If they really do invite us and we can work it out, we'll be there."
The party is Saturday at Old St. George in Corryville ($125 for cocktails, dinner and dance; $35 for the dance only; call 784-1744).
OFF TO LUNCH:
In other Vaccaro news, she and husband Guy Hector are having a love affair with Cincinnati.
"Honestly, I know about Southern comfort and Southern love, but gracious, Cincinnati is beyond the call of duty," she said earlier this week, before heading out on a sight-seeing tour.
"Louisville today," Guy said, "for antiques and lunch." Meaning that was one day they didn't lunch at Nicholson's.
"We've been here a little over a week, and already we have a routine," Vaccaro said. "Every morning we dash to Hathaway's for breakfast. We're just crazy about the place. I have my egg whites and toast, Guy has two eggs over easy. We feel like it's our kitchen."
Lunch every day has been Nicholson's, except for the Maisonette trip during which they fell in love with maitre d' Richard Brown. Dinner is the same, too. After the show, it's Orchid's for chicken soup and vegetables, or Carol's on Main for turkey burgers.
Other activities through Nov. 1 (closing night) include antique shopping in Lebanon and Waynesville. "I'm from France, and this is my first Midwest trip," Guy said. "I love driving trips."
HAVE A HOWL: In other artsy news, don't those Tony n' Tina's Wedding people know how to have fun? Not to mention sell a song, tell a joke and knock back a cocktail.
Here since mid-August (they stay through Nov. 8), cast members have spent time swing dancing (Swing Lounge at the Main Street Brewery, the Syndicate in Newport), doing late-night dinners (Carol's) and Main Street rounds (Neon's, Jefferson Hall), all with a sense of outrageous fun.
Latest foray was at Howl at the Moon Saloon in Covington Monday when six cast members and band did a benefit for the Tourism Council of Greater Cincinnati.
Other cast members were there to support them, as were 200 local tourism types. What they heard was Stephanie Zibrowsky, pregnant maid of honor in the show, wail about boy troubles; Joe Dallo, Tina's stoned ex, wail about girl troubles; Cassandra Marsh, Eileen Rodgers, Gina Zavalis and Cindi Kostello belt tunes by Stephen Sondheim, Cy Coleman and Cole Porter.
Oh yeah, they also had a great time shocking folks at the bar. "Dear, your shoes don't work. Get ankle straps so you can look as cheap as us," one of them told a surprised guest. "Omigawd, is it true what they say about men with big thumbs?" another barked at a guest so surprised he spilled his cocktail.
Psst! appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Have an item to report? Call Jim Knippenberg at 768-8513; fax: 768-8330.
KNIPPENBERG ARCHIVE