The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-08-30
BROTHER RAT CI VERSION
 HITS PACIFIC

 version. has come to the South Seas with all the humor of the Broadway and Hollywood versions and some new songs by an Army back to the States and the Hit corporal which may find their way Parade.
 Patrons of the production, which include admirals. generals, apren- tice seamen and yardbirds are handed a note of warning with their programs that "any resem- blance between this production and the one of the same name written by ohn Monks Jr. and Fred Finkelhof, produced on Broadway by George Abbot, and filmed by Warner Brothers is nothing short of mircle."
 Show Is a Credit
 In truth, there are parts of the show which Monk. Abbott, ct al might not recognize - especially when Virginia belles speak with New Zealand accents, as they do i nthis production, since only New Zealanders were available for most of the feminine roles-but what the GI producers have done to the show should be entered on the credit side
 Freshest of the GI innovations are the songs written by Corp. Rob- ert-Gordon Cook, who is co-pro- ducer of the show and plays the role of Billy andolph. Cook, who first gained prominence in South Seas dramatic circles by writing the music for South Sea Scandals, first CT stage production of this headquarters, has dashed of 10 new numbers.
 Songs Draw Cheers
 Among these are two sung by Leta Bonynge in the role of Mrs Brooks-"Don't Kick It Around and "Once Over Lightly"-which were greeted enthusiastically by aarmed force first-nighters. Miss Bonynge, a ed Cross worker and the only American girl in the show graduated from Wellesley played in Henry Duffy's Little Theater in Hollywood, with the Hollywood Theater Alliance and the Pasadena Community Playhouse.
 Among the other songs were "Havin' a Baby" sung by Corp William Fortier (USA) of Muske- gon, Mich, in the role of Bing Ed wards, created on Brodaway by Ed die Albert-and Marry the Gen. erals Daughter" sung by Fortier, Field Musician 1c Gordon Pfeeger, USING, and Corp. George Donlevy, USING.
 Fortier, a chaplains assistant in the Army, played in community theatricals, floorshows and night clubs in civilian life. Pfeeger, whose parents live in Clinton, N. r., was in J. c. Nugent's "Baldy'' in New York and played in White Plains, N. Y, Brooklyn, Hokoben, Jersey City and elsewhere in the East.
 Donlevy, who halls from Arkon, O., played in a Little Theater pro- duction of "Abe Lincoln in Illinois community theatricals and on the radio. ....
 Cook who is responsible for much of the success of the play, has had Broadway and Hollywood ex- perience attended the Curry School in Boston and had several seasons in stock in New England. He was a director and actor at Cape Cod Summer theater in 1942 before his induction into the Army.
 Girl Co., Director
 Co-director of the show with Cook was Miss Helen Schoeni of New York city. She attended the University of California and is a graduate of the Maria Ouspenskaya School of Acting in New York and Yale Drama School. Miss Schoeni directed little theaters for eight years at Waterbury Conn.,; Lynch burug Va; Sarasota Fla. and else where and played summer stock at Plymouth Mass; Northampton, Mass; Marshfield. Mass, and other New England cities for several years. She also was regional direc- tor of the Federal Theater Project in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The trials and tribulations of 8 director in the South Seas are many and different from those of one in the States. The lack of girls for feminine roles is a serious one, but was met by casting four New zea- flanders working in this area-Anne Duncan, Paddy Scotsman, Betty Lnyds and June Pardy-who gave excellent portrayals of Virgdinia girls-with a hint of their own &C., cents.
 Rehearsal Too Noisy
 Rehearsal halls are difficult to find and when they are located, Melanesian natives are likely to be on hand. One night, when the na- tives became too noisy, they were excluded from rehearsal. A few minutes later a brick sailed through a window. Cook relented and the natives were re-admitted, but there after remained quiet.
 Others in the show were Privates William and Wilbur Maron, USM, seen on Brodaway in Best Foot Forward" and Second Lieut.. Dan