OCR Text |
Show IIP FRONT With Leon : As One of 'The Great Moments' In Utnh Dramatic History Reviewer Praises 'The Promised Valley' Anyone connected with the "Promised Valley" in production produc-tion or presentation can be proud to have participated in one of the great moments of local theatre. This show is the finest spectacle of its kind to be seen in this locality. And from a production point of view, I would say that it compares favorably fa-vorably with anything in the country. If there'is a Utahn who didn't surpress a few tears or feel a thrill of heritage during this production, the Centennial committee com-mittee should force that calloused callous-ed individual to walk back to Missouri. "The Promised Valley" Val-ley" is a complete musical drama, dra-ma, staged in an ideal Utah setting, set-ting, with beautiful music, excellent ex-cellent acting and wonderful choreography. It's worth waiting wait-ing a hundred years to see. Doctors C. Lowell Lees and Lorin F. Wheelwright were the masterminds behind this show and they are to be sincerely congratulated con-gratulated for bringing such stars as Alfred Drake and Jet MacDonald to grace the song and story of Arnold Sundgaard and Crewford Gates. The choreography of Helen Tamaris was especially entertaining enter-taining during the comic numbers num-bers of "Sparking on a Sunday Night" and "You'll Get to Heaven Heav-en Yet" and especially spectacular spectac-ular during the Indian encampment encamp-ment scene. Interpretive dancing danc-ing hasn't caught on too well out 'thisaway,' and the symbolic dash of a high jumping man and red bloomered woman "fleeing into the night" was lost to most of the audience. Director Lees had the cream of local talent in his cast, headed by Lila Eccles Brimhall, Robert Hyde Wilson and the comedian, Ross Ramsey. Dr. Lees 'uses children to better advantage than any director I've seen, thus insuring a sympathetic audience which more often than not is delighted de-lighted with such tiny talent. One three-line scene that missed, mis-sed, although it was punched hard, was where Ramsey tells his nine sons that "A good Mormon Mor-mon never gets tired" perhaps the double entendre was purposely pur-posely hidden. What a completely satisfying evening it would have been had there only been backs on those bleachers! But you can't have everything. |