St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1957-02-08

all OF the flye night pertorman
were completely sold out.
This occasioned our feeling of
sorrow and wonder why such a
well staged, enjoyable production
should not have been presented in
Northrop Auditorium instead OF
Scott Hall auditorium.
We recognize that this might
have been contrary to policy or
perhaps not what the University
Theatre itself desired However.
we also knew that with the pau
city of good, live flesh shows Of
the musical comedy variey in the
Twin Cities, "Finian's Rainbow
expertly presented, was like a
breath of fresh cool air on a hot
August day, or like a real lake
Of fresh water in the middel of
the Sahara. And in a larger audi
torium, II would have delighted
thousands, rather than the hun
dreds II was limited by circum-
stances to be seen by.
This was our third look at
'Finian's Rainbow" We saw the
original Broadway company In
New York and later the road
show company which played the
Lyceum Theatre, we believe in
1915 or thereabouts.
Some theatre-goers may think
we are a little zany but we liked
the production on the campus
best Of the three. Maybe the plot.
the tuneful music and the chore-
ography grows on you. What
ever It was, we could have gone
back the next night and enjoyed
the show Just as much as we did
the first night.
"Finian's" was the happy joint
production of University Theatre,
the Department Of Speech and
Theatre Arts in conjunction with
the University Department Of
Music.
The cast, largely students, none
Of them as far as we know pro-
fessionals in the full sense. aided
and abetted by graduates and
others recruited from Twin City
little theatre and choruses, did an
enthusiastic job with the plot, the
music and the dancing.
Neither f. Y. Harburg nor Fred
Sadly, who wrote the book or Bur
ton Lane who penned the music TO
lyrics by Mr.. Harburg would have
found anything to be ashamed Of
in the manner in which the cast
performed.
Those who know the story will
remember that II concerns the
trials and tribulations Of Finian
Lonergan from "ould Ireland"
who. accompanied by a pretty
daughter Sharon, comes to myth
cal Rainbow Valley in Missitucky,
Us.A. looking for gold and plenty.
McLonergan brings with him
borrowed" golden pot which
mythical history says Is the luck
charm Of the leprechaun and
fairies Of ireland and by which
they can wish miracles TO occur
McLonergan, coming 10 the U.
s.A. heads for the area Of Fort
Knox where he knows U. s. gold
Is stored and decides that all he
has TO do is bury the gold pot and
he viii be able to dig up gold.
The spot he selects is the home
Of poor white and Negro share
troopers and this develops the in
terracial theme Of the play with
such happenings as a typical
southern Senator. Billboard Raw
kins CIrv Atkins attempting 70
chase the sharecroppers off the
land which Is reputed to be laden
with gold because he says it's I'M
lawful for Nigra's TO be living on
land with white folks.
Said Senator's unwfttingly be
ing turned black by a wish Of
sharon CRatherine Nelson tbs
comic results therefrom. the ap.
| pearance Of og CMyron odegaardl
the leprechaun, hunting for the poi
Of gold the smiling Irish Nc
Lonergan admits he borrowed"
the lifting songs such as the
theme, How Are Things in Gloccs
Mora" ~old Devil Moon. II