August 18, 1999

Peter Marks reviews Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival production of Titus Andronicus; photos (M)

Legal experts say that while former Police Officer Justin A Volpe, who pleaded guilty to torturing Abner Louima, contends that another officer, Charles Schwarz, was wrongly convicted of aiding in assault, say that Schwarz would have very difficult time trying to have his conviction overturned, regardless of his guilt or innocence; Volpe has told Federal officials that second officer who was in bathroom was Thomas Wiese, not Schwarz; Wiese has been found not guilty of related charges to Louima case; photo (M)

AT&T Corp's planned $58 billion acquisition of Mediaone Group poses test for US cable policy; AT&T executives say acquisition is needed to establish cable network so vast and powerful that it will provide high-speed Internet service, cable TV and telephone service that can compete with regional Bell companies; three consumer groups--Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America and Media Access Project--say cost of opening local markets is not worth price and urge Government to kill deal because it would permit AT&T to dominate both cable television industry and market for high-speed Internet service; in papers filed with Federal Communications Commission and Justice Department, groups assert that proposed acquisition would violate raft of antitrust and telecommunications rules intended to limit concentration of ownership in cable and other industries (M)

Andrei Serban will direct new production of Hamlet as part of 1999-2000 season of Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival; other highlights of season noted; photo; Goodman Theater in Chicago will stage production of Eugene O'Neill's A Moon for the Misbegotten, starring Cherry Jones and directed by Daniel Sullivan; groundbreaking ceremonies for Bard College's new, $41 million performing arts center designed by Frank O Gehry will be held after final concert of Bard Music Festival on Annandale-on-Hudson campus on August 22; construction will begin in October, with completion scheduled for late 2001; photo; Buddha Records will issue single compact disc, 20th-Century Time Capsule, that will contain highlights of 20th century (M)

R W Apple Jr article on San Francisco's Tadich Grill, favorite of visitors and locals, including Mayor Willie Brown, that is celebrating its 150th anniversary; photos (M)