ent001648-032

'Seven Brides?╟╓ captures dazzle of film musicals MBife& SH xhhHSIH BRI 1111 ! ^ . J 11 ' HH ' ?√ß 11 ?√ß nATJHlSLEffis =" -=?√ß -=- Debby Boone> David-Carroll By LUAINE LEE Entertainment Editor Now this is more like it! The Los-Angeles Civic Light Opera has tried to sell some slippery stuff to its L; A. audience, what with the likes of ?╟úChicago?╟Ñ f and ?╟ ?╟ Umbrellas of Cherbourg?╟Ñand ?╟úSweeney ?√ß.Todd/?╟Ñ' ?√ß?√ß: :-?╟╓ V - . > . , But when you get gussied up or a night on the ,, town you crave a little fun t some lighthearted musical with foot-snarling dancing tpd songs you can hum. * They've done that and morefwith ?╟úSeven Brides for Seyen' Brothers,?╟Ñ now fd the Music Center Pavilion. The production*. which is bound for Broadway, breathes with that old-fashioned zest i we?╟╓ve come to expect* from musicals. H 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 by A1 Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn and breath-bating choreog; raphy by Jerry Jackson, ?╟úSeven Brides for Sevmt Brothers" almost maicnes the movie?╟╓s scope. Debby Boone (yes, that Dfbby Boone ?╟÷ PatVs 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 cuteness, especially when Peralta (as the youngest brother) mid Nancy Fpx4AHoe) pair off for some, excessively sweet nothings. Agide ft'dnv these, lapses, the production sings with joy. And fhe qld songs, by Johnny Mercer and Gene DePaul, remain the best. Most remarkable is ?╟úLove Never Goes, Away*?╟Ñ sung in eloquent counterpoint bj) Ms. Boone, Carroll and Peralta. But by. far the show stoppers of the evening are the dance numbers ?╟÷ simmering mixtures of the jig, the reel, the square dance and the dog, (with some gymnastics thrown in) they brim with energy. The Chorus work of the seven women fares better than the men?╟╓s. Although the cast is miked, there were some sound problems, opening night and the male voices .did, not blend as well ag those of the females.