ent001648-013

?║i AR-NtW$, i nuHoUAt, May fc, WO gfrH !|ij|j A iillli li ^Rjiprag|f Debbv Boot^David-Jamm Carro% captures By LUAINE LEE ?╟╓ Entertainment Editor Now this is more like itl The Los* Angeles Civic , Light Opeira ha* tried to sell some slippery stuff to its L A. audience, what with the likes of f?╟ Chicago and ?╟úUmbrellas of Cherbourg?╟Ñand ?╟úSweeney Todd*?╟╓ > wgP - ' ' ?╟≤* > .*,4 : .. But when you get gussied up or a mght on the (own you a littl?? fun soma lighthearieu musical with foot-snarling dancing and songs you ran hum. ' , , ?╟? They?╟╓ve done that and morefwith '?╟ Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,?╟Ñ now at the Music Center Pavilion. The production* which is bound for Broadway, breathes ;J?╜ith that old-fashioned ses|; \ we?╟╓ve come to expect'from musicals. > * Of course, it?╟╓s not really new. The show is an expanded version of the hit 1954 movie musical of the same name! With four new songs byAl Kasha and Joel Hlrschhorn and breath-bating choreog.-raphy by Jerry Jackson, ?╟úSeven Brides for Sewei BrQthersT' aimoisFin5fehfes the movie?╟╓s scope. Dehby Boone (yes, that Dfsbby Boone Pet's daughter) delights as the sweet victim of the unfeeling Adam (David-James Carroll) who marries her so he can acquire a cheap hired girl to clean up after his six oafish brothers. With a clear and sure voice (of limited range) Ms. Boone?╟╓s Milly is touching and tender, almost introverted. In contrast to her reticence are the six brothers, most Of whom are allowed to overact outrageously. Clearly at fault here is director Lawrence Kasha who permits Craig Peralta?╟╓s slapstick to weaken the inherent humor of the play. And occasionally Kasha stumbles over his own PHY BEWEW cuteness, especially when Peralta (as the youngest brother) and Nancy Fox (Alice) pair off for soma, excessively sweet nothings. Aside from those lapses, the production sings with joy. And the old songs, by Johnny Mercer and Gene DePaul, remain the best. Most remarkable is ?╟úLove Never Goes Away/?╟╓fung in eloquent counterpoint by Ms. Boone, Carroll and Peralta. ft??t by far the show stoppers of the evening are the dance numbers -^ simmering mixtures of the jig, the reel, the snuarodance and the clog, (with some gymnastics thrown in) they brim witnenerv gy. The Chorus work of the seven womenfares better than the men?╟╓s. Although the cast i6 miked, there were isome sound problems, opening, bight and-the male voices .did, not blend as well at those of the females. r