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After Dark By JOHN ALEXANDER reap; 250 WEST 57th STREET SUITE 1308 NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019 '212) 765-6373 Morton Assumes Role In 1 Do! I Do!' By JOHN ALEXANDER j Though the show was written After a four-day delay caused'with them in mind, there was something lacking inside of them that made the roles by illness, Kin^ Morton assumed the lead role in the Barn Dinner Theatre's current production "I Do! I Do!" Sunday night?╟÷mucn to ^he delight of a nearly full house ana to our near amazement. We had expected this to be one of the better productions of the Barn, largely because of the magic that can be done by an Harvey Schmidt-Tom Jones creation and because, as we remembered the musical edition of "The Fourposter" from its'eyes in a -; so much almost mechanical. Kins Morton and Lee Schneider may not have either the experience or the credits which tag along with the Preston-Martin team, but they do have enthusiasm and sufficient talent to bring off a production that is touching, and we think at least as well done, overall. Morton, especially, uses his most talented fashion with Michael on his wedding night when his embarrassment makes him human, with Agnes when she rolls out a five-foot list of complaints she has about her husband, with all the little things that go into building a happy life together. And in the scene where a middle-aged Michael and Agnes sit down together to comb their hair and adjust their make-up, and get up grey-haired and old, ready to pull down the shades in the house that is suddenly too big for them and ieave it to a younger couple, there is a tenderness that you can reach We understand it is a first production of this for dinner theatre. Schmidt and Jonee should be pleased. We were. They intended to take you on a two-hour trip through a happy marriage of half-a-century's strength. King Morton and Lee Schneider are ideal escorts for the trip. We enjoyed it. pre-Broadway engagement at;so mucn so that lines are the Shubert in 1966, there is: almost unnecessary He isat almost no way to foul it up. jonce a happy husband, a wouTd- We had not expected it to be I oe-rogue except ior a loving on a par with the KoBert!witc, a proud ana exasperaTcd freston-Mary Martin version.| tamer, and maKcs a touching We went awa^ c6hVinced Tfiatjtransition into old age i-*~~m ,?╓¬ ,c Miss Schneider, wh< ho deserves immense credit for super-talent in helping carrv the first four days when Chris Raymond indeed it is ^^^^^^^^^^ As we remember the Shubert performance, which was the last stop before i - . Broadway and during which: subbed for Morton and carried there was still some revision the script, becomes a perfect going on with the songs, both Agnes?╟÷wife, lover, mother. Preston and Miss Martin scompanion. seemed a little bored with ?╓¬*??' Not that there aren't a few roles of Michael and Agnes. ,m.in9,r Haws bu{ rather, that _ The force of the acting is so good that the flaws don't matter. We hearrj a couple of lines dropned, there was one iawkward time with some props But still you fully sympathize 'I Do! I Do!' Held Over At Barn Dinner Theatre 'T Dot I Do!" the musical comedy that hat been called a I happy paean to the institution of marriage, will be held over at the Barn Dinner Tneatre for coming perforancei from March partying one New Year's Eve but to blow whistles, wear paper hats and drink toasts just by themselves at home, and they sing a teddly song together, ''Where Are the Snows of Yesteryear?"