Evening star., 1949-07-24
Miss Liberty No Miracle,
But Merely q Musical
BerIin-Sherwood Opus Gives Gotham
Its Hottest Summer Conflict
By Jay Cormody
Dromo Editor Of The Stor
NEW YORK.

YORK.
Miss Liberty" at the Imperial Theater West Foryhfh
week of making history in the drama capital OF
America. happy history but an undenaby hot one
Robert Hart musical Three such gifted makers
entertainment presumed to function only in the realm
of to out nothing less than
perhaps something pretty close to new national
anthem ~
despite theme and the talents dedicated to exang
nothing of the sort 1t eventually add up
successful piece of entertainment pleasing evening not
fiscal ibuteto the affection respect
which the Messrs Berlin Sherwood and Hart are held
Than Expected.
Right every stunned with the discovery OF
calculate precisely what is The three coob
the position of three rich uncles Irving Bob and
Moss of leaving each heir up
with mere $685. apiece 100000 Unces
their posthumous relations by leaving behind such
evidence of human fallbiity.
As for its non value Liberty might we'll be
summed in the middle of the second act by this reporters
companion latter former and highly respected drama
happily another branch OF Journalism leaned over
at that point to remark:
all right for to that am having better time
than expected"
customers bought Miss Liberty seats before It's opening
night significant percentage of whom Cancelled out when
the Broadway critics split down the middle on the
Whatever exactly that is expected of musical called
Liberty denying the authors have found higher
inspiration other far less magical political symbols
sherwoods effort in the musical field is more
of standard musical comedy book than OF
Gettysburg Address Why this should create SO much amaze
amazed disappointment completely obscure but some
how it does
The same failing is evident provided by Berlin
might reasonably pleasant it were not expected to be
direction, falls uncomfortaby between the
which his two associates neglected to perform
Liberty just musical about the Statue OF
Liberty small detail of the history of the man.
holds her torch high Bedoe Island in New
1t relates that back there in 1885 Joseph
Pulitzer publisher York World and James Gordon
Bennett publisher of the dragged the innocent
Liberty circulation Pulitzer made her his girl oy
Getting his subscribers to donate money pedestal
nett scheme to bring the Parlsnne mod
for thus giving America an eyeu OF
the real girl Pulitzer stuck with the statue
Characters Aren't Noble
ompcatons enough to keep running for two
acts are provided miscae and the
wrong girl is brought his papers circulation
involved in these antics obviously are not the
fishers busty girl who works on the
relief Miss Liberty newspaper photographer and the
morally aunt Sculptor Barthold supposed model
That they behave in strictly fashion is
sponsbe the odous comparison of Miss Liberty with the
earlier up in Central Park - -. =; -~
Composer Berlin merely plausible for the
necessary interruptions that make Miss Liberty musical The
best come out of his mellow moods. ,
Pond. the lament OF smal-tow boy
much smaller than New York among the better OF
these Another Lets Take Old Fashioned Walk which
of the critics suoersve idea and tno
You"
The best single in the show tune only Tor Amer
leans which relates produces for sale to tourists
and sung rbad old of the heroine Runnerup
witty meditation on marriage and careers Tor
women the curious quality that their flavor
more 1s49 than the 1885 they are supposed to be-
Dancing S Spirited
The cmactc music of Miss Liberty" which rest of
preface Berns muslcazation OF Emma Lazarus
inscription the Statue of Liberty is not without It's sug
gesion Lazarus writing an inscription not mus
cal comedy lyric
In the dance department Liberty presided by
Jerome Robbins divided judgment the part of the
choreoerapher goes comedy flavor and the
dancers are the spirit of the basic work they give
It its most spirited moments
In the casting Liberty the producers have perhaps
wisely concluded Berlin Sherwood and Hart were
enough to carry could They have found
some gifted performers nevertheless Mary McCary the
Police Gazette girl funny Allyn McLerie the win
ming bemused Eddie Albert the butter Drained
photographer Dnge and Philip Bourneuf as the rival
publishers engaging of the lot venerable Ethel Critics
as the hoydensh old aunt of Miss Liberty.
like other element OF the production they
eave Miss Liberty" merely musical, not miracle
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