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ent000817-027
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    iganhc uresque and gigantic ction numbers ?╟÷ three em ?╟÷ surround lovely ird Anna Maria Alber- in "Wonderful World," iew revue that opened Thursday night at the nRojuge. A celebrity- id "liudience applauded ut let or hindrance, ler the direction of in- re Donn Arden, who 4i his time between the n Paris and the Moulin i in Hollywood, with lie excursions to Las i, 100 singers, dancers instrumentalists swarm the big stage, along the platforms that now ex- Dut into the auditorium, ilong the runways. IICANA?╟÷ "Americana" they pre- a Wild West show, with }ys and cowgirls in cos s worked out (just for un of it) in a rose and color scheme; with ered Indians and with ous white horses, g Ben Beat," with the us London clock in the pound, is a night scene imson and black, show- off long-limbed Sandra the year's most cherish- import from Germany, fricana" has Voodoo rit elephants, a sacrificial It's all full of excite ; and fantasy and brassy c, and it adds up to the of the fine revues that k Sennes has presented lis theater-restaurant in ive years of tenure. ALBERGHETTI?╟÷ for Miss Alberghetti, t star through October jhe stirred the opening t audience to a recep- that rocked the walls, ranged in her singing i coloratura to hotcha, i opera to ballad, e trip-hammer speed of words in Rossini's "Tar- 11a" was astonishing, the erness of her "Ninna, aa" lullaby was touch- She danced a "varsity :" and a couple of other y numbers with two tal- d boy partners, showed ouper's mastry of show ness and looked so beau- * that she would have tri- >hed if she had done ting at all. nplicifation of her voice v/as rather overwhelming,) but pardonable: it is no easy> matter for a singer to compete with a thousand steaks. Opening night being Frank Sennes* birthday, there was an aftermath of celebration in which Sennes called to the stage Jimmie Durante, Milton Berle, Jerry Lewis and Sammy Davis. They all took turns making introductions, with Davis setting up a terrific roar byi announcing that he had "the honor to introduce Governor Faubus." All these commedi- ans are to be at the Moulin Rouge in the course of the new season. ?╟÷ PATTERSON GREENE. Revue Acclaimed JHi J. REDELINGS The walls ^^r#sti|l echoing today with the thundering apflawe for Donn Arden's spectacular new extravaganza, "Wonderful World," which opened last night to a jam-packed house at Frank Sennes' Moulin Rouge^ Wan^ffmiB a one-word description of this dazzling and elegant show, and more than wonderful aptly describes the singing audi?╟÷?╟÷ 3 dancing of beautiful Anna Maria Alberghetti, featured performer through Oct. 22 in the production. Anna won herself quite a I hand. She appeared in a stunning pink evening gown and | sang operatic selections, an Italian lullaby, and other songs, then took part in a Varsity Drag dance number, a Gershwin "Girl Orazy" musical sketch and capped it all with operatic arias from "Madame Butterfly," wearing a lovely Oriental gown that drew gasps of admiration from the audience. For a surprise, Anna intro- jduced her mother, and asked 'her to demonstrate her ability j as a concert pianist. Her mother obliged?╟÷and played a fast boogie-woogie that brought down the house! Hardly was the show over, and the thunder of applause fading, when Milton Berle came on stage and brought up Frank Sennes for congratulations, as well as Donn Arden, who modestly gave the credit to the members of the company. A "Happy Birthday" salute was accorded Sennes, and then on stage came Jerry Lewis, Julius LaRosa, Jimmy Durante, and Sammy Davis jr. While Lewis clowned all over the stage, to the delight of the crowd, the others got in their "licks" before the microphone. Other celebrities introduced, at their tables, ^were Debbie Reynolds, Erin O'Brien, Charles Coburn, Marie Wilson, Fess Parker, Lou ell a Parsons and Jimmy McHugh. The new show is Arden's most magnificent achievement to date. The first act is titled "Americana" and opens with a Wild West show that has more movement and action than a three-ring/ circus. This is a stunning production number which has everything, even a white horse on stage. Act II involves The Happy Jesters, a clever male trio which offers a wide variety of harmonizing, then comes a |sumptuous two-act production number, "Big Ben Beat,"which offers in Scene !, "Time for the Blues," a very British musical-dancing sketch, with the guys and gals parading about in lavish attire, and Act II, "Two O'Clock A.M.," featuring the Red Cloak, as played by Sandra Dale, who also is featured in other sections of the revue. Following Anna's appearance, comes the show's production masterpiece, "Africana," in four spectacular scenes. Everything from pigeons to a trio of elephants is involved, including a witch doctor, fire dancers, tribal rites, native girls and fierce warriors. A sacrificial ceremony in which a beautiful white maiden | ostensibly disappears in flames climaxes this act. The stunning and imaginative costumes, props and sets, the original music and lyrics, the choreography, choral direction and musical arrangements all blend beautifully to provide a fast-moving, colorful revue augmented by the advantage of revolving stages and the new "side stages" on an upper level. Where performers give the au- idience "something extra" for their patronage. Dick Stabile's superb orchestra contributes importantly to the show's success, also offering dance music, as does the very popular Max Fidler Quartet. "Wonderful World" cost $250,000 to produce; every lar shows; the result is JfTe most magnificent musica in the Far West.