Sophisticate for Sale

By T.E. Kalem

UNSUNG COLE

Conceived and Directed by

NORMAN L. BERMAN

The stage resurrection of Cole Porter has apparently begun. Some songs of his that have been heard rarely in public, or not at all, are being presented in concert form by an attractive company of three women and two men at off-Broadway's Circle Repertory Company.

A sophisticate's sophisticate, Porter was perhaps the closest U.S. equivalent to Noel Coward, yet not quite his equal. Though Porter was a wily wizard of rhyme, he lacked some of the inventive fun of Coward's lines. Despite Porter's infatuation with what he called the "rich-rich," he is less intercontinental than Coward. His true territorial imperative was Broadway. The propellent force in his songs is to reach and grab a New York audience. In this production, the women clearly outshine the men. Each has a distinct personality in manner and voice. Maureen Moore has a cheerleader's strut, a wickedly independent pelvis and a blazing trumpet's delivery. She also does the show's most affecting number, If Ever Married I'm, dropped from the matchless score of Kiss Me, Kate. Mary Louise has a sultry approach, the allure of sharing cocktails at twilight, and she is a kind of smoky torch song. Anita Morris is stunningly lovely, with some of the impish mischief of Gertrude Lawrence and a delicate edge of satire in her voice that Porter would have relished. There are 32 numbers in all, and a good half well repay the hearer.

T.E. Kalem

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