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Thursday, August 08, 2002

By Barbara Vancheri, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

NEW YORK -- Bebe Neuwirth relished the prospect of playing Diane, a chiropractor with a naughty streak, in "Tadpole," but she had one key question for the director. Just how old is the actor portraying the 15-year-old she unexpectedly takes to bed one night?

"When I found out he was not a minor, I was relieved somewhat because I don't know what that would have been like for me. ... I don't think it's right for an adult to sleep with minors."

The term "tadpoling" -- defined as an older woman teaming up romantically with a man at least a decade younger -- has entered the lexicon, mainly due to the Miramax marketing machine. But Neuwirth, 43, is very careful in delineating why this "Tadpole" relationship didn't evoke the ick factor for her.

"She doesn't seduce him, and he doesn't seduce her. So there's no really creepy thing going on there. They sort of fall into each other. Personally, I think she should have stopped it. I think she should have said, this is wrong, you're going to go home now or you can sleep on my couch and I'll wake you with some coffee in the morning."

The black-haired Neuwirth, looking summery in a silky red Chinese blouse, slacks and sandals, thinks the ends help to justify the means.

"He does grow up over the weekend. He comes out on the other end of the weekend a changed person. I think one of the really lovely, satisfying things about this movie is everybody comes out on the other end of their Thanksgiving weekend changed in a very satisfying way for the audience and the characters."

Aaron Stanford was 23 when he played 15-year-old Oscar, a sophomore who speaks fluent French, quotes Voltaire and shuns girls his own age. To hear Neuwirth and others tell it, Stanford is as remarkable as Oscar.

Calling the actor smart, nice, funny and approachable, Neuwirth adds, "The thing I am most impressed and inspired by was his humility, how he could come onto a set with absolutely no apologies made for the fact this was his first feature film. He didn't get defensive about it, he didn't get aggressive, he didn't get apologetic, he didn't comment on it in any way.

"He just kept his eyes open, his ears open. He listened, he learned, he assimilated. ... He was just completely honest and open."

Since "Tadpole," Stanford landed a small role in "Hollywood Ending," a recurring role on "Third Watch" and a part in the "X-Men" sequel.

Neuwirth, who's won two Tonys and two Emmys , said she has little in common with her screen counterpart.

"I don't even wear fur, and she wears two fur coats, at least, in this movie. I go to the chiropractor a lot, as you can imagine as a professional dancer, but no, I didn't really know who this person was. I thought it would be fun to play, and it is a very, very good script, and I wanted to work with Sigourney Weaver," who plays Diane's friend and Oscar's stepmother.

While "Tadpole" is restrained in its tadpoling portrayal -- it's rated PG-13 -- the story called for Neuwirth and her younger co-star to kiss.

"It's just weird; it is inherently weird. You have your fellow actors, and one minute you're at the craft table and talking about something and eating Oreos, and the next minute, you've had a spritz of breath spray and you're swapping the spit with them.

"It's just weird because your relationship doesn't include that. At least it hasn't for me, with the people I've worked with."

Barbara Vancheri can be reached at bvancheri@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1632