Getting giddy on Greenies, for top performers of 1995

In the spirit of the repentant Scrooge, I'm feeling light as a

feather and merry as a schoolboy. No, not because the ice and snow knocked a day off my teaching schedule this week.

I'm giddy because, as The Sun's duly appointed kibitzer in these parts, I get to acknowledge those performances that went above and beyond the call in 1995. Once again it is time to bestow those revered, much sought-after awards for which so many are called and so few chosen. Yes, friends, it is the annual Greenie Awards. And heeeeere they are!

* Musical of the Year: The Talent Machine and its "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

"But they're only kids," I hear you cry.

"Bah! Rubbish!" I retort.

Bobbi Smith's production was stunningly mounted, magnificently danced and sung with more show-biz pizazz than anything else offered around here this year by anybody, regardless of age. The level of sheer professionalism still boggles my mind. I was amazed. I still am amazed. No second place this year. Nothing else came close.

* Best Dramatic Play: A. P. Gurney's "The Old Boy" may have its share of treacly moments, but, as brought to life by actors Tim King, Craig Mummey and the rest of the Colonial Players cast, this sad and funny play about love, honesty, sexuality and friendship was the highlight of the dramatic season.

Come to think of it, let's hand out a separate Greenie to Micky Handwerger for his sensitive direction.

* Best Actor: Justin Brill in Talent Machine's "Joseph." He's what, 17? The kid dances like a pro; has a nice, clear tenor voice that's a joy to hear; can tell a joke; and does great physical shtick. Along with co-star Karen Zucco, who sang the narrator's part, young Brill in the title role proved categorically that the talent gods do indeed play tricks on the old by passing the skills for which they would kill on to the young. The kid was tremendous.

* Best Actress: For the second year in a row, the Greenie goes to CeCe Newbrough, the hysterical Miss Hannigan who in August dominated the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre's "Annie."

The role is a license to steal, and Ms. Newbrough, with her tremendous elan and the most rubbery female face in town, is the year's best larcenist.

* Most Welcome Resurrection: Drab, colorless productions had become the rule at the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre in recent seasons, so it is with great joy that I pronounce the trend reversed.

This year, we got a fizzy and dizzy visit from the Little Sisters of Hoboken in a spirited version of "Nunsense," plus a creditable "Annie," directed by Peter Kaiser and dominated by the aforementioned CeCe Newbrough. What a pleasure to leave the City Dock this summer and not feel the need to dial up the paramedics to come resuscitate an entire cast. Keep it up in '96, folks!

* Most Welcome Newcomer: The Chesapeake Music Hall. Gone are the days when the Annapolis Dinner Theatre offered not only soups, but owners du jour. Now, well run and stable under its new proprietors, Sherry Kay and Doug Yetter, the CMH gives the Annapolis area the first-class dinner theater it deserves.

Long life to ye! May our most gifted performers always have such a fine facility in which to act, sing and make a few bucks. Hear, hear!

* Best New Bargain Restaurant and Schmooze: An all-you-can-eat breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, French toast and excellent spicy potatoes for $2.99? $2.99?

It can be had in Annapolis at the new Garrison's Gourmet on Admiral Drive just behind the Bestgate WaWa. Nice music, good conversation and Annapolis' best chicken salad are part of the fun.

And did I mention the breakfast is only $2.99?

* Best New Recording Star: The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra's Gisele Ben-Dor went "on the record" this year as two of her compact discs were released commercially.

On the Centaur label, there is a marvelous Bartok anthology that will please any fan of Hungary's greatest 20th-century composer.

Just out on Koch International is a classy, colorful program devoted to the music of Alberto Ginastera, the Argentine master whose works deserve far wider attention than they get. Ms. Ben-Dor conducts the London Symphony and the Israel Chamber Orchestra for Koch as she continues her ascent through the world's ritziest orchestras.

* Most Triumphant Return: In October, Leon Fleisher, the Annapolis Symphony's conductor emeritus, returned to Maryland Hall for the first time in more than a decade and made nifty things happen. The great pianist gave a sizzling account of Ravel's intense but jazzy "Concerto for Left Hand," which left no doubt why Mr. Fleisher was universally acclaimed as the premier American pianist of his generation.

* The Area's Most Entertaining Murder: Remember how Ray Tilghman's body was discovered floating in the same mysterious Magothy cove where the corpse of a beautiful Pasadena actress washed up 25 years ago?

You don't? Well, obviously you haven't read "Death in Still Waters." It is Barbara Lee's first novel, a whodunit that chronicles advertising executive-turned-super sleuth Eve Elliot's attempt to unravel two decades of murder and mayhem on the Magothy. Mountain Road, Ritchie Highway, downtown Annapolis and the river itself are just a few of the backdrops for her story.

How lovely to read a local tale of greed, passion and rapacious criminality that doesn't have the word "pension" in it.

Cheered by that thought, I offer heartfelt greetings of the season to our winners and to our dear readers.