The Detroit tribune., 1962-10-06
II Theatre
Detroit

new season with Bertolt Brecht's
Threepsnny Opera. II is exactly
what the Detroit theatre-goers
need. Threepenny doesn't violate
any laws of the present day minds,
i.e., il doesn't cause any extra
thinking. There's lot OF wor
thy tnlngs happening to cover Tor
the lack Of depth in this produc-
ton: singing-both in the grand
opera and pop tradition. movie
slides on screen suggesting
Brccht's epic approach, humorous
characters scattered pell-mell, and
above all. three Off-Broadway re-
vlvals of Brechts work.
Threepenny is the story OF a
notorious gangster known as Capt.
Macnealn, aIIas Mack the kni,e,
alias The Shark; and ms adven-
turous life Of crime, women. And
that is all. However, Brecnt did
give ms version of the poor peo-
pie OF London, though only John
gregory and Henry Martin sound
ed as If they knew the setting OF
the play-opera, and none OF the
characters IN this production
seemed very down and out.
In one sense, Threepenny Opera
is three sociological studies put
TO Kurt WeIlls music. Inc first
being that Of the poor people Of
Lonaon. This study failed In tins
production. Brecnts idea never
really emerged-not that an au-
tnor idea should always be hlgn-
llgnted; but surely, wnen Brecnt
says, beggar, he means it; when
he says file dc Jole, he means
it.
The second study-briefly: Mack
the Knife, The Shark study
OF the kind Of person who really
can profit from the system as
oepicted that time Well dressed
F.. sharp dressed In colors
oil a shark, a taker, a l0veaDle-
and-tough murderer. In this pro-
auction the Snark was sung mag
nlflccntiy by koDert kounsvllie
but acted on very low key. 1he
portrayal is questionable. Nothing
IN the portrayal suggests why
anyone, cspeciaiiy a woman OF .he
uemi monue, would care one way
or another about Macncatn being
hanged. But TINS Is only an act
my evaluatlon. Mr.. townsville was
outstanding In rendltlons OF the
Brecht- We'll compositions.
AS for the third study on Jenny
Smltn, the iIlle dc J0ie, played
ven ny LUCIA Mlngeia, one can
not be sure of her place IN TINS
three cent opera. Ana neither Is
Miss Mingela sure of Jenny at
the present time. Seeking revenge
III ncr rendition of Pirate Jenny,
she DellayS the vililan, Macneatil.
Dut tncn she sings of hope for
better future In Solomon Song
NOT only tor Macneatn but Tor
humanity (b0th songs were beau
,..s..y nalIul>u W 4uIsS MinSela).
nat, tnen, Is Jenny? Certainly
sne Is more tnan MISS Mlngela
showed. Maybe MISS Mlnsela Is
too refined 10 really play Jenny;
or perhaps she should do a study
oil Brecnt-Weill 5 Manag0ny and
the seven Deauly SINS, or Mare
blitzstein The Cradel Will k0ck.
Inere S SO much that can DC aud
eu 10 the depth OF the character
Jenny Smith.
Roma hIudell was very good as
Polly Peacnum, the most recent
wife OF Capt. Machcath. Her
NOlSc Was DIdutllul W tilt Cal,
and her acting was direct and 10
the point.
Marie Powers h o W ID once
again she will be one of the greats
of the American Stage with her
portrayal of Miss Pcachum. Van
guard will remain in excellent
shape if Marie Powers remains.
Rev. Malcolm Boyd, Cliff Fra
zier, and Woodie King will appear
at the Will-O-Way Theater start
ing NV. 2 in Three Plays by
Boyd"