The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 56

C20 THE MORNING CALL, ALLENTOWN. WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 26.J981 Genetti's production of The King and wowing audiences By RUDY BEDNAR Of The Morning Call ing the dinner theater's fall season. Tuptlm, an Asian beauty and Burma's gift to the King of Siam, is played tenderly by Leslie Quinn. She combines with Ridge Johnson, who portrays her secret lover, Luntha, in a touching duet of "We Kiss in a Shadow." And Sondra Gelb, who has appeared in the last four Genetti Productions, plays Lady Thiag, one of the King's wives, with graphic realism and lends her operatic talents in still another Rodgers and Hamrnerstein.

practices it, triggering an epic response in the form of a ballet executed elegantly by Esther Hyun, a young dancer who choreographed it herself. She is joined in the scene, which was inspired by Harriet Beecher Stowe's book "Uncle Tom's Cabin," by Lenny Pinna (an angel) and Tug Wilson who portrays Simon Legree. In all, the show is one the Prather i players seem to be enjoying just as much their audiences and it will play nightly through Sept.5 with matinees today and next Wednesday. Reservations can be made by calling the box office at 717-455-3691. his every command as he boldly rants and raves ending every discussion with his favorite phrase "et cetra, et cetra.

To the King everything is a puzzlement even though he admits "I am forced to laugh, I am so funny" to which Anna responds "no wonder you are the wonder of Siam." Even though she is loved by the children and she enjoys astounding them about things like snow and "water you can walk on when it freezes," her scruples and temper-ment make life uneasy at the palace particularly in the face of the country's unyielding barbarism. The King denounces slavery but his 13 children in the ways of the modern world. Ms. Murphy, who schooled with Robert Trehy at Penn State and is an experienced actress, with her most memorable portrayal in Playwright Horizon's New York production of "She Loves Me," bubbles with charm Her enchanting voice provides the most enjoyable listening moments in the play as she sings such sentimental favorites as "Hello Young Lovers," "Whistling a Happy Tune" and "Getting to Know You." But, there are several other fine voices among the supporting cast that bow, too, moving the play so superbly especially with a cast of over 30, 1 including 13 youngsters, which presented staging problems. The sets are bright and imaginative.

The gist of the story, of course, is T- the battle between the undaunted King, who while he still wants to cling to the traditions of his land, is just as eager to embrace the ways of the world around him but not at the expense of yielding to advice from a woman. 4 The King cautions Anna that his head always must be above her when i they speak and that she has to obey Wonderful." Director Brad Blake deserves 3 add to the pleasant production open Lookout Yul Brynner, Bob Casey's in town. Actually, they're not what you call look alikes but their portrayal of the same role in Rodgers and Hammerstein's heralded musical "The King and is amazingly similar. Casey is wowing audiences at the Genetti Dinner Theater in Hazleton -with the same dynamic force that Brynner thrilled theatergoers for so many years on Broadway. The part of the King calls for a highly explosive and dominant figure with emphatic expressions and a powerful voice.

Casey indeed commands all of these in his brilliant per-. formance which has to rank among the best ever seen on the Genetti stage. Certainly, the Bloomsburg State College grad is no stranger to Hazleton audiences, having sparkled in several other musicals including "Shenandoah" last summer. But, his leading lady is someone new delightfully new. Suzanne Murphy plays Anna Leonowens, the vivacious yet defiant English school teacher summoned to Siam by the King to tutor FYI ml a -mm a i ii -I npHMpi mmmm mmm r- ff I i a pfi fh vi 2 waSEp Fftl I III $mlu 11 I s3 If Silijlllii! Annual photo contest set at Richland Mall The fourth annual "The Creative Eye" photo contest, sponsored by Larmon Photo, Richland.Mall and Richland Mall Merchants Association, Quakertown, will be Oct.

7-11. Amateur photographers may submit five prints to the photo Shop until Oct. 6. Categories are people; scenics, flowers and still life, animals and miscellaneous. Prints may not be framed but must be mounted and may not be smaller than 8-by-10 inches on mounts that do not exceed ll-by-14 inches.

The entrant's name, address and telephone number, entry category and photo title must be listed on the back of photos. Registration information is available at Larmon Photo. Prizes will be awarded. Allentown accepting preschool registrations The Allentown YMCA is accepting registrations for September preschool and kindergarten classes. The "Gym Gnats" is a program for nonmember boys, 3-4 years old, to learn movement, tumbling, basic sport skills and coordination.

Classes will begin Sept. 14 or Sept. 16, 10:45 a.m.-l :50 p.m. or p.m. The eight-week class is limited to 25 boys.

The "5's" is a swim and gym program for kindergarten-age boys in which fun is emphasized, not competition. The "5's" will meet Thursdays, starting Sept. 17. Morning classes, including gym and pool periods, will be a.m. afternoon classes will be p.m.

Enrollment is limited. Call the YMCA at 432-6821 for registration and information. Quarter midget racing slated for Trexler Mall Members of the Lehigh Valley Quarter Midget Racing Club will compete at 11 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Trexler Mall, Trex-lertown. Members, ages 5-16 will race in cars one-quarter the size of conventional midget autos.

The event, strictly for fun, is free for spectators. It will be cancelled in the event of rain. The Carvel ice cream shop at the mall also will hold an ice cream eating contest, with registration beginning at 3 p.m., in front of the store. Entrants will be judged on how fast they can eat a plate of ice cream without using hands. Age groups will be 5-8, 9-12 and 13-17.

CPR training planned Two levels of training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation for the public are scheduled at Grand View Hospital in September. One is a heart saver-level course Sept. 10 and the other a basic life support level course Sept. 15, 16 and 17. Both sessions will be in the Grand View Prof essional Building.

Sierra club plans outings The public is invited to participate in two backpacking hikes and a canoe trip being sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Sierra Club in September. A 30-mile-long "strenuous" hiking trek through the Presidential Range in New Hamshire is scheduled for Sept. 4-7. Interested persons should contact Jim Becker at 767-4277. A 15-mile-long "moderate to strenuous" trek on the Donut Hole and Susquehanna trails in North Central Pennsylvania also is planned for Sept.

4-7. Interested persons should contact Paul McHale at 691-0673 or 691-3450. A canoe trip will be held in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario the week of Sept, 11-20 or 17-26. Total cost is $150, and the trip is limited to six people. For more information, call A 4it DofTirlalr at MS-ASM.