Thursday, Apri 1 1$r 1974
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Pgge Five
TI'uJrs~j0y, April 18, 1974 THE MICHIGAN DAILY P~§e Five
Cast thrilled
by
Miller 's
Paradise
19y SARA RIMER
Q,04 created the world in only
six days, and the young, exuber-
ant cast of Arthur Miller's first
musical, along with composer
Stanley Silverman and Miller as
director, are creating a master-
pie in only nine.
noe group began its final re-,
'heArsng Monday of Up From
Par'adise, the play that ran un-
successfully in New York last
seaso~n unider the title Thce Crea-
tioni of the World and Other Busi-
Silverman is turning out songs
at the rate on one per day, en-
trptitally. breathing new life
and spirit into a play that had
formerly been what actor Dennis
C*616y described as "not believ-
Cooley, whQp portrays Abel in
Mm*~rs retelling of' the Adam
and Eve story, and the other five
Victors, Seth Allen-C-ain; Bob
Binjham,~God; Kimberly Farr-
Eve; Larry Marshall-Lucifer,
and Allan Nicholls-Adam, talked
enthusistically yesterday about
Silverman, Miller and the play
they call "super, a smash."
The cast agreed emphatically
that Silverman's music, which
Nicholls describes as a combina-
tion of "Baroque, Gershwin, and
blues" is responsible for denow-
ing Miller's play with new spirit
and vibrance.
Cooley predicted that Silver-
man will be "the Aaron Copeland
of the twentieth century."
Cooley said, "All the two page
monologues are now songs. The
music opens your heart." He
added, "Arthur writing lyrics is
fantasticlike Shakespeare."
The cast talks about Miller
with admiration and love, enm-
phasizing the pure joy they and
Miller are experiencing in work-
ing together.
Allen mimicked the awed tones
of people who approach Miller
as "Oh my God-it's Arthur Mil-
ler." As Farr explained, "It's
been a trip working with Miller
because he's this famous genius
man, but he's human."
Farr admitted, however, to a
little of the awe that Allen mo;,k-
ed, saying, "I just freaked. I
trained on his. plays in college.
Suddenly I walked into Stanley's
apartment and there he was."'
The cast all possesses impres-
sive acting credentials. but Coo-
ley cites their lack of superstar-
dom as an advantage to the
play's freshness. When he de-
dlared, "Miller's not working
with stars," the other actors
laughed and protested jokingly.
He amended his statement, "He's
not working with stars-yet."
The cast, exchanging private
jokes and speaking highly of each
other's talents, seem to be what
Nicholls terms, "an ideal acting
group."
Hopefully, when Up From Par-
adise premieres next week it will
contain all the joy and exuber-
ance that the cast vibrates. After
next week Cooley may be able
to amend his statement once
more to "Miller's working with
stars now."
i
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'BLACK
COMEDY
& white liars
two ploys by PETER SHAFFER
MENDELSSOHN THEATRE
APRIL
17--201
1974
8:00 P.M.
TICKETS: $2.50, $3.00
Boxt Office opens 10 (a.m. daily
ANN ARBOR CIVIC THEATRE
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Fff .: 10 ml,
FDID YOU KNOW?
thursday
night is...
TEQUILA NIGHT!
Shot of TEQUILA-
Ta radise
promises
to
live
..ly DAVID BLOMQUIST
Ask~ any theatergo~er for a comn-
r~ent On Arthur Miller and the
respon~se is likely to be some-
thin'g similar to 'depressing.' Mil-
ler seems to be almost synony-
m~u$ in the annals of American
th*4ter with suicide, cheating,
the dar1c days of. middle-age -
in general, the rotten, dirty side
of life.
It was no surprise, then, that
a few skeptic eyebrows were
raistd when the University's Pro-
fessjopgl Theater Program an-
Aounctd that the first Arthur
Miflr musical was being read-
ied for PTP production
Arthur :Miller entering the
world of Rodgers and Hammer-
stein? Incredulous!
Well, Up From Paradise, with
bok and~ lyrics by Arthur Miller.
and m~usic 1by Stanley Silverman,
is presently in rehearsal at True-
blod Aud., preparing for a
world premiiere at Power Cen-
ter April' 23 that promises to be
tht bi$ est event in recent Ann
'Arbor theater history.
P*Wlfse will be billed during
this premiere engagement as a
"vwork~in-prokress", a catch-all
up to
phrase which roughly translates
to "there's still somre cleaning up
to do."
And, admittedly, there is. But
based on what this writer saw
at a rehearsal yesterday, after-
noon, the show even as is looks
like an exciting, dynamic eve-
ing of theater.
Paradise is a fascinating blend
of drama, oratorio, and Broad-
way musical that is light, direct,
simple ("Simplicity is some-
thing we've taught Arthur," one
of the cast members comment-
ed in an interview) - but, if the
viewer gives it a chance, just
as much "meat" as any other
Miller play.
Basically, the show is a retold,
personal version of Genesis -- a
modern dramatization of the be-
ginnings of man. Yet Paradise
is more than just a simple little
Bible fable. Miller's new angle
has expanded the tale of Adam
and Eve into an electrifying dra-
ma with deep, far-reaching sig-
nificance for all mankind.
Complementing the effect beau-
tifully is Silverman's uniquely
varied music score. The opening
number, an innocent hosanna.
bill1ing
sung by Adam, is a brilliant imi-
tation of the chor'al style of Han-
del that will awe any student of
Baroque music.
The playgoer used to the pe-
dantic rhythm of Miller's prose
will no doubt be surprised - but
probably delighted - by his re-
markably expressive lyrics that
may, in fact, rank as the best
pieces of writing in the entire
show.
Miller's direction is, of course,
still developing at this stage. His
basic blocking, however, indi-
cates a firm, yet relaxed ap-
proach that allows the cast to
move and interact freely while
keeping Paradise moving at a
good, crisp pace.
Naturally, a good deal of work{
remains to be done. The cast has
only visited Power Center once
to date; eventually rehearsals
will have to move there and sets,
costumes, and lighting will have
to be added.
But based on the rehearsals to
this point, Paradise may' be one
of the few shows that will prove
able to live up to all of its ad-
vance publicity.
SETH! ALLEN AND LARRY MARSHALL (Cain and Lucifer)
for Arthur Miller's new musical Up From Paradise,' which will be
atre Program on April 23 at the Power Center.
COFFEE HOUSE
with Israeli Food-PITAH, FELAFEL, Etc.
and Local Entertainment
SATURDAY, April 20-9:30 p.m.
oat H IL L EL-1429 Hill St.
ADMISSION 75c
Daily photo by PAULINE LUKENS
rehearse yesterday in Trueblood
presented by the Professional The-
GOOD LUCK OAN
EXAMS!
U-M STYLIST'S
at THE UNION
Dave, Harold,-
Chet, and Jay
HALF-PRICE!
Tonight -make
TE
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r(3 33WINNER3
V F
EDWARD G. ROBINSON anid BURT LANCASTER star in this fine filmo adaptotion
of Miller's first major during WWI11, a manufacturer mo ke s defective airplane
parts, and his son sees for what he really is. ON SATURDAY, we will show an-
other Miller work, THE MISFITS-starring C laor k Goble, Marilyn Monroe and
Montgomery Clift and directed by John Huston. The restless loners find one another
in a search for love and self respect.
FRI.: CRY DR. CH ICAGO
CINEMA GUILD TONIGHT AT ARCHITECTURE AUD.
7 and 9:05 Adm. $1
9
I
~~mediatrcs presents
For All Thos Who Have The Exam Week "Crazies"
WALT DISNEY S
D)UMBO)
(Next Week) Nt.Si
FRI. and SAT. Audtorium 7 sand 9:30 p.m.
Daily Photo by TOM GOTTLIEB
A rthur Millen
I
UhC-DFSTaR PRESEn1T5O.
11
s
oecdivides.
God
unites.
The
community
oftGod.
GLADYS
KNIGHT
and
The PIPS
The Persuasions
(a capella)
The Soulful Soulmates
.
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Vr
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4
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BRILLIANTLY
ORIGINAL WITH
GLEEFUL IRREVERANCE.
NEWSWEEK
I
This THURSDAY NIGHT, APRIL 18
CRISLER ARENA-8 p.m.
SATANICALLY
FUNNY.
-TI
A PICTURE OF
BLAZING
ORIGINALITY.
A.cq r c ccam
$5.50
$4.50
$3.50
'IME MAGAZINE
l's
in advance at the U of M Union' 11 -5:30 daily or at the
door from 6:00 on. Fine seats still avail.
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