University of Virginia Library

Plenty Of Chances

The emphasis in Betty Comden
and Adolph Green's libretto is less
on the young bitch and more on
the older one, giving Lauren Bacall
plenty of chances to display her
considerable talents in her musical-comedy
debut. The book itself
is long on plot, character, and
action, but a trifle short on humor
and gripping drama. Likewise, the
score, by Charles Strouse and Lee
Adams, is good enough, but not
exceptional.

Director-choreographer Ron
Field has given "Applause" an unmistakably
professional gloss and
has evoked some first-rate performances
from Penny Fuller as the
young Lady Macbeth, Len Cariou
as Miss Bacall's director-lover, Bonnie
Franklin (appearing only in the
show's two brilliant production
numbers, but totally winning the
audience), and, of course, most of
all, Miss Bacall herself. In short,
"Applause" may not greatly excite
you, but it should leave you fairly
well satisfied.