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P H %u20ac%u2122 M IXSword Play Cuts Up Audience At Carroll Park ShowBY LUCY RECTORSwords and daggers, men and maidens,murder, lust, revenge and a happyending...all this on a Saturday afternoon inCarroll Park.Brooklyn Playworks, a new performinggroup from Park Slope sent their swordsflying, July 19, as they presented %u201cThePhantom Sword,%u201d a highly entertaining,swashbuckling play right out of the 16thCentury.The play, part of BACA%u2019s SummerCelebration, was staged in the middle ofCarroll Park, bringing brilliant costumesand energetic actors to an appreciativecrowd who cackled and howled as thecharacters led them on a rollicking andclassic tale of murder, revenge and, asalways, good triumphing over evil. In theopening scene, the audience meets DonMiguel, whose cries that his brother Lorenzo was a %u201cmurderer, killer and thief,%u201d making it clear that the play would be highlycharged. He also let the audience in on thetone of the play, with medival iambic pentameter dialogue, dramatic monologues,and deep-seeded family rivalry.All this proved to be true along with quickpaced action from a cast that dashed fromside to side across the park, lashing andyelling or at times stealing away in lustfulsecrecy. Indeed, the elements of the playbrought a welcomed reprieve for the audience on a hazy summer afternoon. Asthey fanned themselves in the heat, the 700or so gathered tuned out the occassionalghetto blasters and dribbling basketballs,and became part of the medieval surroundings. There were ample opportunities forthe crowd to cheer and boo as the heroesand villians swashbuckled their way to thefinal act.And, in the end, as the hero of %u201cThePhantom Sword%u201d takes his lady loves handin marriage, it seemed as though all of Carroll Park %u2014 children, and ghetto blastersand basketball dribblers alike %u2014 were partof the celebration.The idea of bringing theatre to the parksis a highly effective way of providing %u201caffordable, new works by American artists tosenior citizens and young people,%u201d saysDon Lorenzo (Dalton Leong), m aster of villainy takes out a m om ent from his dastardlydeeds to pose with his equally villainous wife, Delores (Susan Appel). The tw o arefeatured in %u201cThe Phantom Sw ord.%u201d (Hill Photo)David Ravel, who with %u201cPhantom Sword%u2019s%u201ddirector Phyiis Ward Fox, founded the company last year.Since that time, Brooklyn Playworks hasalready presented a number of programsthroughout the Brooklyn area along withregular performances at their residencysite on Fourth Avenue at 20th Street. Aspart of its statement of purpose, the company claims it is %u201cfully committed tobecoming an integral member of theBrooklyn community.%u201dAlthough more interested in presentingserious performances in the winter months,In the end, as the hero takeshis lady love's hand inmarriage, it seemed asthough all of Carroll Parkwere part of the party.Brooklyn Playworks founder Ravel, isthrilled with the opportunity to present a%u201cjust for fun,%u201d program for the summer,full of %u201cfluff, action and romance,%u201d he says.After last Saturday%u2019s performance of %u201cThePhantom Sword,%u201d it is easy to agree withRavel that this new performing group is bringing Brooklyn parks a fresh source ofentertainment...just what the familyordered for a Saturday afternoon in thepark.BROOKLYN PLAYWORKS: %u201cThe Phantom Sword%u201d will be performed at Prospect Park in the hollow between the Picnic and Tennis Houses (at 5th St.) on July26 and 27, at 4pm. A performance atMarine Park has been set for July 30 at7:30pm. In-residence performances areJuly 23-25 at the theater at 674 FourthAvenue. All performances are free. Forinfo or reservations (required for inresidence performances) call 499-2293.iIEAST RIVERr iv e rc a f e%u2019 ONE MAINFulton LandingBROOKLYN\\ >CARPACCIO %u2022 SASHIMI %u2022 TAPAS %u2022 BRAE BPage 10, THE PH O EN IX, July 24,1986