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Show Irving Berlin Honored by City Rep Theater occupations of newsboy, singing for small change along the Bowery and working as a singing waiter in a cafe. Berlin had no musical training. In fact, he didnt have much education of any kind (he had only two years of public schooling). He never learned to read music and taught himself to play the piano using just the black keys; he could only play in one key (F sharp). Nevertheless, his talent for writing music and song lyrics landed him a job as a staff composer for a music publisher when he was in his teens. Throughout his career, he employed musical secretaries to notate his melodies. He had a sharp ear for harmonies andkne w exactly what should be set down. He eventually wrote numerous Broadway musicals and songs for the films of Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and by Calvin L. Harrington Forum staff writer The City Repertory Theater of Salt Lake is currently performing a theatrical salute to the most successful songwriter in history, Irving Berlin. Berlin remains unsurpassed in creating a body of songs that expressed the basic moods and emotions of the American people. He has given America an abundance of singable music and he has provided many of the of American life with such classics as Easter Parade and White near-essentia- ls Christmas. There are only three performances left: March 17, 23 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. Berlin was awarded the Congressional gold medal by President Eisenhower in 1955 for God Bless America (which is often called Americas second national anthem). He was 101 years old when he died a few months ago. Ironically, this man whose name is synonymous with Mom, apple pie and baseball, was bom in Russia. He was when he went with his family to New York and lived in a poor neighborhood on the Lower East Side. His fathers early lad into the death forced this eight-year-ofive-years-o- others. ld ld Berlin entered the Army during World War I and was asked to write a service musical. This musical contained the famous song, Oh! How I Hate To Get Up in the Morning (a doughboy favorite). During World War II, Berlin was again called on to write a soldier show. He responded with This Is the Army. This Is the Army, Mr. Jones was soon heard on all radio stations and juke boxes in the land. This Is the Army raised over nine million dollars for the Army and Navy Relief Fund during WW II (a lot of money in those days). Itisinterestingtonotethathiseamings and royalties from God Bless America are contributed to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of this country even to this day. Utah journalist, Paul Cracroft said, When Irving Berlin died, even the flag shed a tear. City Reps production is handsome and Choreography and very professional. are by Marilyn May Montgomery. staging The set was designed by Owen Richardson. Raelynn Potts designed the costumes and they are a quite a feast for the eyes. Two grand pianos are featured on stage, backed by a rhythm section. The pianists are Rod Davis and Sherrie Rasmussen. The group of instrumentalists are enlarged occasionally for eight handed arrangements (by members of the performing ensemble). Music director is Jennifer OHaley and Joanne M. Parker is City Reps overall artistic director. Students with spouses and children will find this to be fabulous family entertainment (a rarity these days). The song and dance routines are TheatreWorks West to Present Edward Albees Play Seascape i by Calvin L. Harrington Forum staff writer - - - Edward Albees play, Seascape (a Pulitzer Prize winner) is being presented by Theatre Works West at Walker Hall on the Westminster campus. The play runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. from now to March 25. Seascape is a short, extremely witty middle-ageo play centering around a and retired couple (Charlie Nancy) picnicking on the beach. Having raised three children, they seem to have no major activities now. They cant agree on what to do with the rest of their lives. Charlie would just like to take it easy but Nancy wants them to become seaside nomads, traveling all about the world and visiting beautiful beaches. All they have is each other and time. Then suddenly, two large green sea creatures which resemble lizards raise their heads on the dunes. They each have four legs, a long tail, and scales, but they behave in most respects like humans. The sea creatures are a couple too (named Leslie and Sarah). In some exquisitely written dialogue, these two couples compare their different environments and manners. Sarah has laid about seven thousand eggs, but Nancy has had only three kids. Their suspicion of the humans is amusing. Leslie says to his wife, What did I tell you?! They dont even lay eggs! Nancy the human, shows her breasts to Sarah (Charlie objects when Leslie, the male sea creature, starts to have well-to-d- , d, a look). The brilliance of the dialogue reaches its zenith when Nancy and Charlie explain to the creatures, the human emotions of fear, hatred, apprehension, loss and love. By this time, poor Leslie and Sarah have become more and more confused. Much of the humor of Seascape arises from the fact that the sea creatures are just as rational and intelligent as Charlie and Nancy and have the same problems as most humans. Leslie is abigot (he thinks fish are Issue 18 March 13, 1990 dirty and stupid). Too, the sea creatures, like the human couple, have come out ofthe ocean because we had a sense of not belonging any more. They are foils to Charlie and Nancys problems presented at the beginning of the play. Seascape is very clever and humorous in its treatment of fundamental issues: loss of purpose of life, racial differences, child rearing, and the problems of , mutual and designer for many years). Tickets : are $2 for Westminster students, faculty, and staff with I.D. However, reservations are recommended. Admission for patrons are $7.50 and $5 for senior citizens or other area students with I.D. All reservations can be made by calling non-Westmins- 583-652- 0. numerous and flow in rapid succession: Puttin on the Ritz, Cheek to Cheek, Lets Face the Music and Dance, Blue Skies, Heat Wave, I Love a Piano, Steppin Out With My Baby, How Deep Is the Ocean?, A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody, Anything You Can Do, Top Hat White Tie and Tails, Say It With Music, Play A Simple Melody, I Got the Sun in A Couple of Swells, the Morning, Alexanders Ragtime Band, Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning, This Is the Army, Mr. Jones, Easter Parade, God Bless America and more. ' It was Berlin who gave a new direction to the American popular song, away from set formulas and toward greater freshness and originality. One of the showstoppersin this production, Theres No Business Like Show Business, became the battle hymn of the American theater. The impressive vocalists and dancing performers include Cliff Cole, James A. Dale, Alissa Harris, Holly Healy, Margo Watson, Amy Richardson, Darla Davis, Jennifer OHaley, Brook Robertson, David Je wkes, David Glaittli, and Bruce Bredeson. One of the most entrancing moments show is a female medley in which the of OHaley sings Always, Watson sings Whatll I Do?, and Harris sings Remember. The three songstresses sing their individual lyrics simultaneously, creating a stunning ensemble piece (of course this has been done before but not quite like this). The effect is spellbinding. Berlins musical output was extraordinary (he wrote over 1,500 songs). He was among the first to be elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Tickets for A Salute to Irving Berlin can be purchased at the City Repertory box office at 148 S. Main Street or by calling Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p m . Monday through Fri day an d 1 0 a.m . to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Ticket prices are $8.50 for adults, $6.50 for children 16 years 532-600- 0. and under. understanding. Since this play won a Pulitzer Prize in 1975, literary scholars, critics, and theater buffs have had a field day trying to analyze the characters. Some say the lizards stand for underprivileged minorities; some say they represent upward mobility, or the bourgeosie, the declining West, or the Establishment. Some even swear that they are victims of the superego! Maybe you can decide. The enigmatic playwright has never expounded on the issue. Perhaps he meant for each of us to give our own interpretations. Edward Albee is the renowned author ofsuch important works as The Zoo Story, The Ballad of the Sad Cafe, The Sandbox, The Death of Bessie Smith, Tiny Alice, and Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? But unlike most of Albees plays (or anyone elses), this one has a happy ending. After some hearty laughs, the audience leaves with an uplifted feeling, realizing thatlife must go on; or that life is a continual evolutionary process. The last word we hear spoken, in bright sunlight, under the bluestofblue skies, is Begin! Reminiscent of the optimistic saying, today is the first day of your life. The outstanding principals, under the capable direction of Rodger Reynolds, include Bonnie Durrance as Nancy, Rai French as Charlie, Carolyn Wood as Sarah, and Jeff Owen as Leslie. Kevin B. Miller is responsible for the brightly vivid set design. Reynolds last directorial effort before Seascape was TheatreWorks Wests superb production of Taking Steps. Reynolds has worn many hats within the Salt Lake theatre scene (as actor, director, Assistant Professor of Spanish Joy Woolf is dipped by student Bruce Lambert while they practice the Tango, an Argentinian dance Westminster students have learned in two classes. It all started when Assistant Professor of History Susan Cotier took her Latin American History class to Ed Cranes Dance Studio to learn the Tango as part ofthe unit on Argentina. Students Annie Razecca and Brett Johnson from the Latin American History class later taught the dance they learned at Ed Cranes studio to students . in Joy Woolfs Spanish 111. Forum Page . 7 |