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~Tkjuuu> > rOcUj , (< 0^+S er&Qz. Story's old; the dancing's not By ED KAUFMAN Evening Outlook Drama Critic LOS ANGELES ?╟÷ As the first musical of its 45th annual season, the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera (now under the direction of the American Corporation of the Arts) started things off at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion with ?╟úSeven Brides for Seven Brothers,?╟Ñ billed as ?╟úa new Broadway-bound musical?╟Ñ You might also call it a pastoral musical, lush and lovely ?╟÷ certainly G-rated. With some of the best dancing seen anywhere. And a far cry from its many sources: the classic MGM, Vincente Minnelli/Stanley Donen of 1954; by way of Stephen Vincent Benet?╟╓s ?╟úThe Sobbin?╟╓ Women?╟Ñ; by way of Plutarch?╟╓s ?╟úThe Rape of the Sabine Women.?╟Ñ Writers Lawrence Kasha and David Landay have underplayed the realism of earlier sources, and given us, instead, a full-blown fantasy world (set in the Oregon territory in the 1850s) that?╟╓s full of idyllic love and good will. Whereas Minnelli/Donen gave us a fantasy musical that embraced some real social issues (personal freedom against conformity) and wills (backwoodsman Adam Pontipee and his spunky new bride Milly), the Kasha/Landay version evades issues, and stresses the power of love to tame even the most savage of backwoodsmen: Adam and his six brothers. ?╟úSeven Brides?╟Ñ brings back memories of ?╟úOklahoma,?╟Ñ without the score by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Originally, for the film version, Johnny Mercer and Infill |?║1 jgP SIR Hill , <-> ?╟ú m?. it M| a i A * f m m JiiM ] % m wm m woman: ?╟úA Woman Ought to Know Her Place.?╟Ñ Yet love conquers all ?╟÷ with a little bit of chicanery by the seven brides. And equality. .:______. Debby Boone and uaviu-Jaiues' Carroll are capable and good to look at as Milly and Adam. Both have a nice and sweet charm about them; you?╟╓d expect to find them living in a cabin in northern Oregon ?╟÷ even today. Likable folk. And both sing well and convincingly, especially the robust Carroll. Graig Peralta is a first-rate Gideon, the last born (Adam to Gideon) of the Pontipees; while Nancy Fox is the comic Alice. So much for story line. Where ?╟úSeven Brides?╟Ñ really makes its mark is with its dance routines. Jerry Jackson?╟╓s choreography is brilliant. The ?╟úSocial" .Dance?╟Ñ ?╟÷ where the brothers vkT lor their ladies against the town" ?√ß hnys ?╟÷ is wonderful, as is the- ?╟úWedding Dances?╟Ñ, finale. 8 Debby Boone Gene DePaul wrote the score, and some of their music (?╟úBless Your Beautiful Hide,?╟Ñ ?╟úGoing Courting,?╟╓?╟╓ ?╟úWonderful, Wonderful Day,?╟Ñ and ?╟úSobbin?╟╓ Women?╟Ñ) is still around. Also, there are added songs by A1 Kasha and Joel Hirschhom, including a lullaby to Milly?╟╓s infant daughter, ?╟úGlad You Were Born.?╟Ñ There?╟╓s even a male ego song about the 1850?╟╓s role of the ?╟úSeven Brides?╟╓?╟Ñ might seem old-fashioned. but its choreography (everything from a hoedown to a -bit of ballet in ?╟ ?╟ Spring Dance?╟Ñ) is rousing and full of energy. All the brothers and their brides (and the bovs from town, for that matter! are spectacular. Director Lawrence Kasha keeps it all flowing at the right pace. Just when ?╟úSeven Brides?╟Ñ starts to sound out of the past, there?╟╓s the dancing! Offered at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the downtown Music Center Monday through Saturday at 8:30; Sunday at 7 (May 9 and 14 only); with Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2. No performance May 10. Call 460-4411 for reservations. B-2?╟÷Thurs,, May 6, 1982 EVENING OUTLOOK