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 a r a i I I 'BLACK COMEDY & white liars two ploys by PETER SHAFFER MENDELSSOHN THEATRE APRIL 17--201 1974 8:00 P.M. TICKETS: $2.50, $3.00 Boxt Office opens 10 (a.m. daily ANN ARBOR CIVIC THEATRE }t..}_+y.:{":i;r' ,'{:%v ;{{aq:"::.".;;:,r ^.;";{iif}}} } ±;r,"YA:"iF4ui. ... }g}}}:i+ d. v '" '' n ":3S:4w:..:": i}r 'r' :Tktiti4:":L"d{.$}:. 1 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 i 11WIAYIIIIIiplI'Mliii I J 341 S. main St. Ann Arbor 769-5960 Join the Daily Sports Staff I Join The Daily Ad Staff Phone 764-0558 1'.34 731214' SOUTH M UNIVERSITY DIAL 668-6416 r3 2nd HIT WEEK! WED., SAT., & SUN. AT ALLIED ARTISTS prese~nts 3. 1 PM.-3:30-6:10-8:45 STEVE DUSTIN THUR. AT 7:45 IICqUIENBHFF~lAn ONLY in a FRANKLIN J. SCHAFFNER film FR IAT 6:30 PRPIL LOnP &9 P.M. PANAVISION' TECHNICLO - .3 60 E. Liberty7 33 .3.~3.3.3.3.3'3~."77.. . 37, 3. .3., ~ ~4DIAL3.3.. 73~3 / ~ ..373..33~.3.... .4.2f665-6290 .~ -ENDS3 THURSDAY!3-/,.3/.3 SHOWS AT 1, 3,.5, 7. 93P.M 3 JON VIG4 i FRIDAY -STARTSAFHTDA--f/Mie "SUARLN~ AD EXPREASS" SHOWSAT1,3 5 7,9RM. .3,4 33sd by BUENA ISTA DISTRIBUTION C INC. 1#74 Ws3t D4373 37,3utt377a 3.3 4.. 33 .777~ 773 .3~33733/ , 7 A .3 ~ ,* .42313774SOUTH/ 7333 3.33/3 3.373STA3TE 33 3 37337333 3/~33$~/33733.7f33.3/ ..3.3.37'~ 7 ..33./3 ..Dial3 3, 3 73§7.:7:3:.33'Z3./.377~..:.:....:7z. .....3...34 A366,~ . 2 -6264 5th NIT WEEK!:: .7.3:. 3.7/.3/ 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 . ,, \ Vr S t l i ,, 4 '. ; i 9 Li 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. m im i 0 . .3