Word: breslow
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Director Maurice Breslow has chosen to make the old actor rather self-assertive, a tired braggard, who occasionally recognizes what a fool he is. To portray Svetlovidov this way, Ross would need a greater range to his voice than he has. When he recites lines from Hamlet or Lear, Ross must convince the audience that the Svetlovidov he is playing really was great once--as the benefit he has just received suggests--and in this he fails...
Since Ross is unable to do this, I think Breslow should have made Svetlovidov a more reflective, quietly bitter man. Breslow's interpretation may be wrong in any case, since Ross seemed to be rushing through his lines...
Director Maurice Breslow capitalized upon the situation humor of a story in which an attractive village shopgirl determines to marry a fussy widower. She meets him on an ocean voyage around the world which she is taking on the money she has won in a newspaper contest; he is taking the trip in order to write the "Marco Polo Series of Chatty Guide Books...
Except for the lead, the Poets' actors did well by Houghton. Lucy Stone is a magnificent comedienne. While she's no Giulietta Masina, she was the only member of the cast (this may reflect on director Maurice Breslow) who fully appreciated the slapstick possibilities of the play. Jerry Vermilye's competence as Peter was unfailing, and Raye Bush as Mrs. Mallow, the old lady who repays Peter's charity, handled a fairly banal character interestingly. But William Hillier's portrayal of Bill detracted greatly from the whole production. It would be impossible to say he didn't develop his part...