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Death.” (Repeat) Officer Eve Whitfield aids Chief Ironside in trapping a criminal abortionist.Universal has switched the title of “Willie Boy” to “Red Heat” and back to “Tell Them Willie Boy is Here.if(Repeat) Sergeant Frida and Officer Gannon searc for the mother of an infai found in a trash can.Mt. Vernon Production‘Birth of Dixie’ Lively ShowBy ELLEN McCLARRANIn terms of overall performance, “Birth of Dixie” is a lively, entertaining show —the result of obvious enthusiasm and effort on the part of the scores of people involved in the production.To be staged again this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at,8 p.m. in Mt Vernon’s Memorial Theater, “Birth of Dixie” should draw many Mansfield-ers. The musical - history depicting the life of Daniel Decatur Emmett stars a Mans-fielder — James Ruef — and incorporates many more Richland County residents in its cast.actually a bit on the lengthy side, moves along quickly.No amount of praise will explain how excellent Ruef is in the role of Emmett to those who have not seen his performance. He does an exceptional job and is the indisputable “star” of “Birth of Dixie.”can dancers), the costume are enchanting and the musi is delightful.Perhaps the most telling point in the success of “Birth of Dixie” is the attitude of the cast, mirroring true enjoyment in their undertaking. The smiles, one feels, are real. The program, which isAlthough not every member of the cast lives up to the standards he sets — Ruef, incidentally, produced and directed the program too — many more actors are good and several are outstanding.Edna Alexander, for example, is marvelous, as are W. R. Bartlet and James Scheiber. Joyce Fredenburg and Betty Gatton also turn in worthy performances.The opening scene gets the show off on the right foot: the girls are pretty (although,I personally could do without the less - than - perfect can -Music, naturally, pervade the entire program, and bot singers and orchestra men bers have perfected their pei formances.The weakest part of “Birt of Dixie,” a flaw common i musicals, is the dialogue Portions of some converse tions are apt to be either to syrupy or too formal to be be lieved, but the problem is ir deed minor, and the audienc is more than willing to sus pend temporarily more rea' istie requirements.I was impressed by th careful staging of severs scenes, especially the sho' boat segment and the civ war sketches in the secon act. On the other hand, I wa disappointed in the ballroor scene which opens Act II, thoroughly artificial e n a c meat which moves too slowl for an audience just returnin from intermission and hoj ing, I think, for more rousin fare.That some members of th cast must perform doubl roles is unfortunate. I eaugb murmurs of confusion on a] sides when both Ruef, poi t r a y i n g Emmett the max and Richard Bauer, who ear Her portrayed Emmett th boy, appeared on stage simultaneously.The advisability of havini the mimstrel performers a1 tempt a Negro dialect and ye work without blackface i questionable, and Diann Craven, who is c a r e f u 11; billed in a footnote as Mis Heart of Ohio and thin runner - up in the 1969 Mis Ohio Pageant, turns in a vast ly inferior portrayal com pared to the rest of the cast.
Newspaper Details
News Journal
Mansfield, Ohio, US
Thu, Aug 14, 1969
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Oberlin C.
OH, USA 05 Aug 2019
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