The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 35

a 35 THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 14, 1968 At the Shubert At World SHUBERT' TONIGHT 8:30 George Honors Wilson Lyricist, DAVID MERRICK prMntt HARRY ESTELLE GUARDINO PARSONS BRIAN BEDFORD THE SEVEN DESCENTS OF MYRTLE A NEW PLAY BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS Directed ky JOSE OUIUTERO "FASCINATING, ABSORBING, ENGROSSING, EXCITING" Cohan as Librettist By HENRY T. MURDOCK Of The Inquirer Staff We were among a lot of fellow sentimentalists and persons with elephant memories at the Shubert Wednesday night where "George paid its rousing tribute to George M. Cohan and his boundless contributions to the Ameri can theater as actor, composer, librettist and lyricist. These attributes, along with an Understanding OI a player egotism, stubborness and sense of humor which never attempted to be introspective, are realized in a performance by Joel Grey which uncannily caught the tonan spun aiUIIg witu uie Cohan strut and cane routine.

NIGHT FOR DANCING And to quote a later lyricist, "It was a great night for dancing." "George really moves. From the time the Four Cohans start their shaky vaudeville career with bright-eyed Georgie as the precocious juvenile until an only slightly chastened star realizes that there are other stage contributors, the show taps its way to what we suspect will be a happy career under the direction and choreography of Joe Layton. Naturally, it has built-in guarantees. First of all, its score is composed completely of Cohan songs and when the orchestra struck up "Give My Regards to Broadway," "Mary," "Over There," "You're a Grand Old Flag," "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and Actor The Cast "GEORGE a new musical comedy with music and lyrics by George M. Cohan, book by Michael Stewart and John and Fran Pascal, lyric and "vi lhAni lr.T Sjthaei and Loren E.

Price, directed and choreographed by Joe Layton. set tings by Tom John, costumes by Freddy Wittop. lighting by Martin Aron- stein. Presented, prior to Broadway, at the Shubert Wednesday night. Heading the cast are Joel Grey, Betty Ann Grove, Jerry Dodge, Jill O'Hara.

Bernadette Peters, Jamie Don- roll, Harvey Evans and Gene Castle. ther of the clan, Betty Ann Grove as the mother, and Bernadette Peters as the sister. DRAMATIC CLIMAX It tells of Cohan's marriages which were always imperiled because he always had a new show to open. Jamie Donnelly and Jill O' Hara are the charming and sometimes understanding women in his life. Librettists Michael Stewart and John and Fran Pascal have given as much room as time will allow to telling their biography.

Most of the actors have multiple roles and do them all well. Gene Castle presents some uncanny hoofing and also plays a stage manager who brings Cohan up on the facts of life. Jacqueline Alloway gives a humorous impersonation of young wins laughs as the target in a sharpshooting vaudeville act and Harvey Evans is effective as Sam. H. Harris, Cohan partner.

normout satisfaction to to havo guided him Andres Segovia OSCAR GHIGLIA Buifarisl Settlement Music School, 416 Queen St. MARCH 8:00 P.M. $2.50 Phila. Classic Guitar Society Presentation and "Harrigan," the audiencelFav TemDleton. Susan Batson 2 English Wits Are Featured In 'Bedazzled' Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, a restless pair of English wits who brought "Beyond the Fringe" to stage fame, do practically everything but carry the water bucket in "Bedaz zled," a free most free version of the Faustian legend, playing at the World and Bryn Mawr Theaters.

This irreverent movie which illustrates some sins gracefully has Cook in the role of a mod Mephisto and Moore as a short-order counterman in a London hamburger stand who has an uncontrollable and inarticulate yearning for the establishment's waitress. Cook, in addition to playing the role through all sorts of absurdities, wrote the original story and he and Moore adapted it for the screen. Stanley Donen has directed the film in a spirit of fantasy. The fan tasy is all the more effective because its conjuring walks into the realm of music hall deceit. LACK OF LOVE The stunts are many and varied and they are all amusing.

If the film does hover around the edges of sacrilege in its expression, it must be remembered that the work is basically moral. The Devil is beaten around the stump and God laughs loudly in His Heaven. In the role of Stanley Moon, Moore is mooning about the waitress and about to hang himself for lack of love when George Spigott (Cook) shows up with unctuous sympathy. He also has peaked eyebrows and a cloak with a red lining. Anyone but a nitwit like the cook (don't let these Cooks and cooks confuse you) would have been suspicious.

In exchange for the duly documented surrender of soul, George promises Stanley that he will grant seven wishes all leading to the conquest of the waitress, played very well in all her manifestations by Eleanor Bron. DESIRES LUXURY Stanley is inarticulate; sud denly he becomes a compendi um of wisdom on all sorts of unimportant themes. He desires luxury, for the sake of his beloved, and he gets it. Tired of the luxurious life, he yearns for simplicity. He gets it.

But all the time, the deceitful George intrudes and leads poor Stanley into all sorts of predicaments. Even when he is about to succeed as one of those long-haired singers who make the girls shriek, a rival singer closely resembling George appears on the stage. Stanley suspects that he has made a bad bargain as he watches George perform little bits of deviltry just to keep his hand in such as tearing out the last pages of Agatha Christie mysteries, scratching classi cal phonograph records, sending parcels of mashed bananas to various clients, causing park ing meters to turn to "violation" at the flick of a wrist, cutting in on telephone connections to snitch on an erring husband. George is a card, Stanley is a dope and Cook and Moore make them fascinating figures in an! ingenuously constructed adventure in the bizarre. HENRY T.

MURDOCH Bohemc9 at the AUDREY HEPBURN Tony guest "Happiness" is capitalized at $150,000. Its 23 angels are active in the entertainment field, most of them on the West Coast. Signed for principa' roles are Pat Harrington, Joyce Bu-lifant, Louise Sorel and John McGiver. David Alexander will direct. Renewed efforts to get English actor Joe Melia to appear on Broadway in "Joe Egg" have failed.

Melia starred in the Peter Nichols play in London. It is understood that he refuses to come to this country because he is opposed to the U. S. policy in Vietnam. When Albert Finney leaves "Joe Egg" April 14, he probably will be replaced by Donal Donnelly, who was introduced to American audiences in "Philadelphia, Here I come'." Andre Previn is telling callers that "Coco," on which he is collaborating with Alan Jay Lerner, will premiere Dec.

4. The musical, based on the life of Gabriel (Coco) Chanel, 250 S. BROAD ST. PHONE: PE 5-4768 Mats. Today Sat 2 P.M.

JOEL GREY ttml MWUCTKM wariEt amo couogjupmeo JOE LAYTON OPEN TODAY Philadelphia's Biggest SPRING FLOWER SHOW All on one floor in the NEW CIVIC CENTER next to Convention Hall. 10 A.M. to 10 P.M. (Last Day, Sunday, March 17-Noon to 7 P.M.) LIVE-ON STAGE. ADULTS ONLY! ONLY THEATRE IN TA ct yfr PHILA.

WITH UVE I ii ill 4 '1 onin AMI) RF AIITIFI1L I nr. BE vv 1 1 vr yr THE BtWIlLHtU 'PLUS NEW MOVIE MODELS WEEKLY ICome Ai Loll At 9:30 PM Sea Compel hol MA MA WILL EkUON PAPA WILL ENoOl BABY WILL TOO I U13 WALNUT SntzT 3 2fcsS fcU ms -rmu -fJ 3.99 value the Red Tags Ill PorJl I -Or I Drcmss mo ate 5 )( )4 Reg. SI will have Katharine Hepburn in the title role. Miss Hepburn recently finished the film version of "The Lion in Winter" and currently is working in the movie adaptation of "The Madwoman of Chaillot." It is unlikely that "I Do! I Do!" will be released to slimmer theaters this season. Business continues to be healthy on Broadway, where Carol Lawrence and Gordon MacRae are costarring, and Mary Martin and Robert Preston embark April 8 on the 15-month national tour.

David Merrick has given St. John Terrell the rights to do "Hello, Dolly!" this summer at Lambertville Music Circus. It will open in mid-June and will play at the tent for at least six weeks. Either Betty Grable or Dorothy Lamour is expected to star in the Lambertville production. The role of the father, played by John Cecil Holm, has been written out of "HYMAN KAPLAN" and a new ballet is going into the second act Margaret Phillips plays Eleanor of Aqui-taine to Walter Slezak's Henry II in "The Lion in Winter," which to the Locust May 13 The Chamber Symphony appears in concert with Benny Goodman Sunday evening at New York's Philharmonic Hall and Anshel Brusilow is trying to persuade the clarinetist to join the ensemble in a Philadelphia program next season Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau returns here in the fall as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

"The Grand Music-Hall of Israel" will conclude its nine-week Broadway engagement March 31 and Lee Guber and Shelly Gross are negotiating bookings for their production in Los Angeles and San Francisco. They also wil1 present the entertainment in the Music Fairs this summer. Cushion innersole SAILCLOTH SNEAKERS 1.59 value Colorful cotton sailcloth uppers! Misses sizes 5 to 10, girls sizes 12 to 4 -and children's sizes 5 to' 12. Elastic leg style NYLON TRICOT BRIEFS olf prs. It eg.

59 pr. Terrific low price! Full cut nylon tricot briefs in white and soft pastels. Fashion colors! Sizes 5-10. Reg. G9V pr.

WIS Barbara L. "DECAUSE next Tuesday has been set as the cut-off date for Tony Award nominations, "The Education of HYMAN KAPLAN," "George and "The Seven Descents of Myrtle" will not be eligible for consideration this season. The close-out comes earlier than originally announced so that plans can be firmed for the Tony telecast April 21. It will originate from Broadway's Shubert Theater and will be aired by NBC from 10 to 11:30 that evening. Alexander H.

Cohen repeats as the show's producer. Entertainers already scheduled include Robert Goulet and David Wayne doing a scene from "The Happy Time," Pearl Bailey Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme and Angela Lansbury In addition, Carol Channing, Maurice Chevalier, Art Carney and Audrey Hepburn will make special guest appearances. We're told that the usual "envelope" way of announcing the winners will be done away with this year and that the presentations will be made in "a new and spirited manner for which Broadway is known." "Happiness Is Just a Little Thing Called a a new comedy by Arthur Alsberg and Robert Fisher, will try out at the Locust from April 22 through May 4. The first announcement listed it for April 29 but the date was changed to avoid a conflict with the opening of "The Killing of Sister George," which arrives that night at the Walnut. The writers have collaborated on several TV shows over the 5Tears, among them "Bachelor Father," and Fisher is known here as the coauthor of "The Impossible Years." Alsberg and Fisher also are the play's sponsors, presenting it under the banner, Anamark Productions.

Wm. Powell's Son Slashed to Death HOLLYWOOD, March 13 (AP). Wrilliam D. Powell, 43, a television writer and only child of actor William Powell, was found slashed to death Wednesday in his apartment, police said. Officers said they found the body, a paring knife nearby and a four-page note saying in part, "Things are not good here.

1-ara going where things are better." The father, now 75, lives in Palm Springs. Ericlcson Estate Tops $500,000 NEW YORK, March 13 (AP). Frank Erickson, a bookmaker's bookmaker who reportedly had $30 million in the bank during the depression, left an estate estimated at $500,000 to $1 million, it was disclosed Wednesday when his will was filed in Surrogate Court. Academy Music. The pity was that the warm voice and inteUi.

gent smging revealed aspects of the role not often heard. His interpretation of the part was less imaginative and he tended to be static on stage. Tucker sang a cultivated Ru-dolpho, his voice command but not as free in the taxing soft line of Act Three as it once was, but generally well pro duced and used. His singing was accurate, with the tradi tional flavor of the part, even to a couple of sobs. His singing of Act One was his best; he responded to the writing in Act Three with some harsh high notes and a tendency to shout.

"Che gelida manina" in Act One was a notably phrased aria. Nicola Moscona and Orlando Hernandez, the other Bohemians, were sold in the roles without matching the others, and Joan Sena made Musetta trollop who sang sharp. Lawrence Davidson's portray al of Benoit and Alcindoro, usually an asset to this production, fell flat Tuesday because the production had so little stage cohesion. Act one was every man for himself and the later acts seemed more integrated only because the singers were getting the feel of the stage. Halasz had frequent difficulty getting the orchestra to move with him or inducing the chorus to match the orchestra tempo Riccardo Moresco's direction was negligible except that it did away with the toy seller in Act Two.

Had Tuesday been the dress rehearsal, the performance might have been memorable. MARCLAROSE KYW-TV MATS. TODAY SAT. 2 P.M. 9th Walnut Sti.

WA 3-1515 WALNUT TONIGHT 8:30 MTAHBRU2J William Goldman ERLAHGER SEATS NOW lO 3-6833 21st Mkt LAST 3 DAYS Eve. 8:30 Mat Sat 2 P.M. EIltiSYLVAIIIA Z.LB.I D.i 'from triumphant C. "JVeu; York 'engagement! Phila. Premiere of Butler's Balanchine's "Allegro Brilliant" and "Scotch Dollar's "The Duel." Ton.

March 14 158:30 P. March 162 P. M. ACADEMY OF MUSIC FiSHEks MARKS APR. 2 TO APR.

6 APR. 18 TO MAY 4'" ML APR. 25 TO MAY 5 'Robinson sMAY 11 TO MAY 1 swum MAY 21 ALUMBOS 824 CATHARIK5 ST. im.u.Wt -M 1 IWMUMMH ML 1 1. 1 HI Kalumbos S24 CATHARINE $1 lJ NOW TO MAR.

16 mAR. 18 TO MAR. 23 MAR. 26 TO MAR. 39f I rr PlWlUS tei mj 9 tVta Ira .1 1.

Vs. 1 'A wiaW ft fx -z cm 4 hpp H0ME Soft absorbent cotton Our otrn famous quality started the applause before the entertainers had a chance to open their mouths or twitch their feet. In treating so many years of theater history, the story is of the episodic "blackout" type which Cohan used himself in his musicals and revues. It touches on the family solidarity of the Four Cohans with Jerry Dodge scoring particularly as the fa-l msmm WiTH THIS COUPON 2 SUe iitv; DAVJII HAIR GOLOBIHG (by Alberto Culcer) 0DB10VPRICE 07 Coupon good March 14th thru March 20th misimmmsm WITH THIS COUPON USe value RDDBERHAID TUBIITABlt (lO'S diameter) OUR 1017 PRICE Coupon good March 14th thru March size drawer ORGANIZERS each New! Organizers interlock or 49 i WITH THIS COUPON CCC Size AQUA NIT HAIR SPRAY (13 oz. size) OUniOVi FRIGE Coupon good March 14th thru March 20th mm pa Young Met Baritone Makes Phila.

Debut By DANIEL WEBSTER Of The Inquirer Staff The Philadelphia Grand Opera Co. brought together some excellent voices for its production Tuesday of "La Color match a package of three kitchen towels or five dish cloths! Choose woven checks or stripes in blue, gold or red. Sheer beauties! Filmy clear Icnits and sheerlace mesh dress nylons! Now at a savings! Suntone, rose-tone, taupetone. S'A-11. ui.iu..

i Mki liib At Uji Boheme" at the Academy of company did not go the rest of the way and present the singers a wen-renearsea production. That it moved as well as it did is a comment' on the professionalism of the singers in the principal roles and conductor Laszlo Halasz. Gaps opened within the dramatic framework and the orchestral performance, yet they bridged them and pulled together a perfor mance that had singing virtues if not dramatic ones. Three American singers in principal roles Phyllis Cur-tin, Richard Tucker and Ron Bottcher applied intelligent musicianship to roles grown heavy with excesses. WORK IN ENSEMBLE Miss Curtin, particularly, sang Mimi witn a reiresmng return to the notes on the print ed page and a moving regard for the beauty of the vocal line there.

Mimi is not a role one associates with this soprano, but her singing of it is exemplary, and her voice had a soft luster that made even the top of her register sound open and unforced. Her singing in ensemble in the third act was thoughtfully done, her part emerging from the shadows and never seeking the center of the ensemble except where appropriate. TRADITIONAL FLAVOR Bottcher, the young Metropolitan Opera baritone, was making his debut with the company as Marcello. It is a rare Marcello who wins the applause after the Cafe Momus scene, yet Bottcher managed it Tuesday. His "Whopper'- Thick rayon cut pile has skid-resistant Tex-A-Grip back.

Fringed ends. Here in avocado, bronze gold, spice brown, red, royal. department-Look for mm Prices cuf fo thrilling new laws in every VOI ID MORIEY'C VODTH MOP AT YF enrol LWco. an Monsi.