Prime Time

By RICHARD CORLISS

MY BODY, MY CHILD

ABC April 12, 9-11 p.m. E.S. T.

If you were preparing a TV movie about a working-class mother of three who with her Catholic conscience whether to have an abortion, what would you choose? Right: Vanessa Redgrave. And if you were English-speaking drama's greatest actress -- if you played Mary Queen of Scots and Isa Duncan and Jean Brodie and Fania Fenelon -- and you were offered the part a Nashville housewife, what would you do? Right: you'd take it.

In her strongest roles, Redgrave dispalys a daft, heroic sanctity. Here she is to wear the sensible shoes of a Jo Woodward type. She won't fit; her talent is too big. So, at the start of this two-hour drama, Redgrave and the viewer strain and squint to miniaturize her legend into the everyday character of Leenie Cabrezi. It is an act of self-denial: she must lower the pilot light of her unique intensity and convince through an effort of will and craft.

She achieves this feat because Author Louisa Burns-Bisogno and Director Marvin J. Chomsky eventually give Leenie the chance to do something. She can denounce the doctors who misdiagnosed her pregnancy, or argue with a sister, or even question the motives of her loving husband (Joseph Campanella, strong, caring and comfortable in the role). Then those translucent eyes can light with pain and determination. The mouth can fix in its querulous schoolgirl smile. The rage can break -- and Redgrave come alive. It may not be Jean Brodie, but it is surely prime-- By Richard Corliss

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