Victor Borge Due For Surgery, Then Another Spokane Date

The postponement of Victor Borge’s Opera House show, scheduled for today, was partly due to his wife’s medical condition - but also due to his own.

Borge, 89, will undergo a minor surgical procedure this month, and should be back up to to speed soon. The Spokane Opera House show has already been rescheduled for Jan. 30.

Promoter Mike Petite said doctors will move Borge’s pacemaker, which is causing a slight infection. His wife’s condition is more serious - she has a heart aneurysm and will be having an operation at the same time as Borge.

As for Borge’s overall health, Petite says it is amazingly robust for a man who will celebrate his 90th birthday on Jan. 3. Just a few days ago, Borge performed a “doubleheader” - two full performances, one in the afternoon and one in the evening.

“How sick can he be?” asked Petite.

Tickets to today’s show will be good for the Jan. 30 show. Contact G&B Select-a-Seat if you would prefer a refund.

Tim Behrens is recovering

We’re breathing a sigh of relief for Tim Behrens, the Spokane actor who does the one-man Pat McManus stage shows.

Behrens contracted Legionnaire’s disease while on the road, and was in the intensive care unit of a Denver-area hospital for more than a week. On Monday, he was released from intensive care after his condition began to improve dramatically. He may be released from the hospital this week.

According to Dawn Ehrenstrasser, who is handling publicity for his current touring show, “Pat McManus, Endlessly Grousing,” Behrens began to feel ill while returning from Texas by car with his wife on Oct. 24.

His wife checked him in to the Columbia Medical Center in Aurora, Colo. He had pneumonia-like symptoms and took a turn for the worse four days after he entered. He was on life-support for a number of days.

It wasn’t until later that doctors finally diagnosed Legionnaire’s disease, a sometimes fatal bacterial disease that can be spread by the heating and air-conditioning systems of large buildings.

“He was in so many hotels, he could have gotten it anywhere,” said Ehrenstrasser.

Meanwhile, all of the “Endlessly Grousing” shows through November have been canceled, a total of 27. His performances at The Met on Dec. 11-13 are still on schedule.

Here’s hoping he’ll be back to full strength soon.

The all-new Magic Lantern

We can now spill the details on the new Magic Lantern cinema, the one moving to the historic W.P. Fuller Building at 111 E. Desmet, just off Ruby Street near Gonzaga University.

Owners Kathryn Graham and Larry Blair are installing four screens in the building, with a total of 471 seats. It should be open around Christmas, if everything goes according to plan.

The building permits were issued last week.

The developer, Jim Delegans of Spokane, said the building will eventually house a restaurant, bookstore, art gallery and up to 12 residential condominiums, which he described as “New York loft-style.” The Magic Lantern owners will actually be purchasing their part of the building as a commercial condominium unit.

Graham and Blair lost their lease at the old Magic Lantern location downtown in August. Graham said the new location will be an improvement - it has one more screen, 171 more seats, free parking and is handicapped accessible.

Meanwhile, the other Magic Lantern Cinema is already up and running at the old location, 123 S. Wall. Movies of the second-run and art-house variety are being shown, but the official gala opening is on hold until the liquor license comes through. It will be a combination pub and cinema, owned by the McQ’s people.

Both parties are still holding discussions over who has legal rights to the name. It has not come to a lawsuit - yet.

The blues awards

The Inland Empire Blues Society issued its annual awards last week. Here are some highlights:

Best Blues Band: Too Slim and the Taildraggers.

Best Blues Guitarist: Tim Langford (Too Slim and the Taildraggers).

Best Blues Bassist: Dee Browning (Nothing Personal).

Best Blues Drummer: (tie) John Cage (Too Slim and the Taildraggers), Chris “Crash” Klettke (Nothin’ Personal).

Best Blues Keyboardist: Dave Winslow (Mumbo Jumbo).

Best Blues Harmonica Player: Dan Frazu (Nothin’ Personal).

Best Male Blues Vocalist: Dan Frazu (Nothin’ Personal).

Best Female Blues Vocalist: Jan Bounds.

Children’s Chorus issues CD

On a vastly different musical note, the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus will release its second CD on Friday, “The Children’s Gift of Grace.”

It features the 180-voice choir and various guest artists singing holiday selections. A portion of the proceeds will go toward the choir’s 1998 European tour.

Look for the CD in local stores, or call the chorus office at 624-7992.

Three-day Christian fest

Now this will be a contrast from Lollapalooza. The Gorge has booked “Creation ‘98 at the Gorge,” a Christian music and teaching festival, July 23-25.

DC Talk, Steven Curtis Chapman, Newsboys, Rebecca St. James, God’s Property and the Supertones have already been booked. More acts and complete ticket information will be announced later.

Ballet, courtesy of George Winston

Pianist George Winston sold so many tickets at The Met last week, the promoters were able to take the profits and book another act into The Met.

Debut Performing Arts will present the Western Ballet Theatre’s “Romeo & Juliet” on Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m.

The Western Ballet Theatre was created when Eugene Ballet and Ballet Idaho joined forces. This production will be a test of the market to see if Spokane might become a third base for this regional troupe.

Tickets are now on sale through G&B outlets, Street Music and the Empire Dance Shop.

Cabaret star

Don’t forget to catch Paula West at Dempsey’s Brass Rail Cabaret Tuesday through Friday, 8 p.m. nightly.

West is truly a national cabaret phenomenon, having performed to rave reviews at the Oak Room of the Alonquin Hotel in New York. She won the Manhattan Association of Cabaret & Clubs 1997 Award for Outstanding Female Vocalist Debut.

Columnist Liz Smith described her as “smoky, swingin’ and sophisticated.”

Her show, backed by pianist Ken Muir and bassist Al Obidinsky, is titled “Temptation.”

Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Call 747-5362 for reservations.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: Spotlight is weekly column of news and commentary on the arts and media. To leave a message on Jim Kershner’s voice-mail, call 459-5493. Or send e-mail to jimk@spokesman.com, or regular mail to Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.