The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1961-07-20
Review of The Play
Born Yesterday

mixed up with junk dealer, and
the two OF them get mixed up
with a Washington Senator then
you can expect the worst, and the
worst really happens. Born Yes
terday" by Carson Kanin, is per-
haps the best known of the sum
mer's offerings at the Garrett
County Playhouse. 1t is one of the
funniest shows we have seen at
the Playhouse in many day.
There is little doubt as to the sue
cess of the offering to the local
area. Time after time the players
had to hold their dialogue because
the audiences reaction was 50
tremendous and the laughter 50
loud one could not bear the lines.
Already all attendance records are
being shattered and no wonder.
Born Yesterday" is unuoubted-
~ the vehicle for Mary Ann Craig,
who plays the role of the dumb
blonde eX-chorus girl Billie Dawn.
She reaches the top Of the starring
ladder in this weeks production.
She is a coincidence of the first
order and she plays the part as
though it were written especially
for her. In Just three short weeks
she has risen rapidly and we can
see great things in store for her
Harry Brock, the INSCRIPTIONS
junk dealer, played by Neil
Flanagan, thinks he has done
Billie Dawn a big favor by rescu-
ing her from the chorus line. He
keeps her for nine years until
Paul VERBAL enters the scene and
begins to open new doors to a
better life. VERBAL is played by
a newcomer Bob Lalich, and in
one play has already established
himself with the local audience as
one with great talents. He proves
that virtue triumphs in the end.
AS far as the audience is con-
cerned Brock sinks into oblivion,
at least for the time being. Neil
Flanagan comes through as usual
to play the villain and does it with
great finesse. He admits through
out that he is a shady character
but as long as ne is making big
money he will let nothing stand
in his way to success. He even
involves Senator in his shenani-
gans and finally drags him down
in the gutter with him Bob Baca
has been cast in the role of Sena-
for Norval Hedges, while Mrs
Hedges is played by Marie Mel
son. This is the largest cast to
date and Gene Yell, the producer
of the Playhouse, has drawn on
local talent to fill out the roles
Seen for the first time are Phil
Jones. Tom Thomson, Daryl and
Jonathan Salk. and Jennifer Yell
Tom Calkins continues in his rOle
as director. and this week he plays
the part of the assistant manager
of the apartment in which Brock
and his girl friend are ensconcd.
James Evering, playing the role
of Ed Devery. the adviser to
Brock. did not quite project him
self to the audience and had he
done so would have shown him.
self to be a much stronger char
acter. His background in the
theater Includes study with the
Bergof studios in New York, and
summer stock at the Del Val
Theater in Missouri, and the Gil
more Theater, in Duluth, Mime
sofa.
We might add here that Bob
Lalich has wide background hav-
ing been a graduate of the Ameri-
can Theatre Wing of New York
City. He has worked in such
theaters as the Glitch Gardens
Theater. Denver, and at the Cape
Playhouse, Massachusetts,.
Alan Marshall is seen again this
week, this time as the nephew
of Harry Brock He is most
agreeable young man and does an
extra fine job in his role. Nancy
Gottburg's part this week, although
minor added much to the total
production.
W Shelby Walthall.