European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 28, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse London theater it pc Init who originated the tale of Ossi c in Broadway s a chorus line nuts sly a in the London production of coh Porter s Mcke Cumie Back in in another american musical by mat7 Wolf associated press the Paris Elf the 1 h Loi i High kicking its Way across Tiu London Sinne As a new production of Cole Porter s big the Irli d Flirl lists Britain s love affair with the american . You can t get better music Porter and you certainly can t get belief lyrics than Porter producer Lovelt Bick Ifird said. The show s songs induce Casl he added in an incr View the musical s name was one of its Virtues cart on refer to the spirited and Rowdy dance women performed in pad nightspots involving High kick and fairly exposures of Bey undergarments. The musical lakes place Al the Montmartre nightclub be Bill do Paradis presided Over by the musical s heroine Mac. Pis tache the production budgeted at jus under $1.7 million opened this week in the strand theater. It s one of a wave of american musicals recently in the West end fallowing kiss me kale Annie get your gun South Puci Arcand Brigadoon. Donna Mckechnie who originated the role of Cassie in Broadway s a chorus Tine stars As the Leggy Pisl Arhe who is pursued by the same judge who wants to close be bal do Paradis for presenting immoral entertainment. Milo o Shea and Bernard Alane head the supporting cast Lanie Dee plays Claudine. The role that launched Owen Verdon to stardom when can can made its Broadway Bow in 1953. David Taylor directs with choreography by Kenn Oldfield. The show was been in London in 1954 and was revived on Broadway to mixed reviews in 1981. A Road company version starring Chita Rivera and the famed Rockeller from radio City music Hall is now Louring the United slates. However Pickford said his version is less a revival than a Complete revision. For All in Lens and purposes this is a new show he Sard. He hired lyricist Lukin More of to Raj la Douce and so Honjio Fame to rewrite the Book by the Lale Abe Burrows the original Dirc Clor. We be strength Enid the romantic element a sent d the comedy he . Euro trying to a comment nuut hypocrisy moral hypocrisy sexual hypocrisy business hypocrisy is As applicable today As it was in Ltd Mckechnie called the show a bittersweet love Story with a ending ," she was Pipprt cached by Bickford to do wiil ii she was on tour in Boston last Yin with the Bob Fosse musical Sowpel Charity. The 47-y Detroit barn performer said she Hail few qualm about inheriting a role often by genuine frenchwoman. Shirley Madame had the part in the 1960 movie which also starred Maurice Chevalier Lulick Prowse Frank Sinatra and Louis Lou Dan. We Don t use the French accent we Don t do Alia allo " she said. It s american bul i say tilings with the lilt of a Trench Mckechnie made her Broadway debut in 1%1 As a dancer in Burrows popular Haw in succeed in business without vally trying. She swirl she is pleased almost three decades later in be working on one of i shows. It s another full Circle she said i adored Abe. He a tin first director that really encouraged a i Marks her fourth appearance on the Wesl and Slage following runs in Prtini so promises and company and a Short engagement in 1977 in a Chat line. The he Ater business is London and new York and we re doing a lot of shows together she said. London s like a second Home to the role appeals to Mckechnie who has been associated Atmos exclusively with a cons line the Longe a running Broadway show Ever. She originated the part of the anguished Hoofer Cassie and was briefly married tit the show s dirt Clor choreographer Michael Bennett who died last year of aids. This is a very important part for me she said it opens a whole other genre of roles the kind i used to think of As a Young dancer on Broadway when i d look up Al the big stars hoping to grow into those roles if i can 22 str Lief Siguine
