THE PLAYGOER

In Boston, "Louisiana Purchase," for the first time on its long road tour, has to compete with the previous showing of the picture of the same name and cast. Recognizing the odds against a legitimate show trying to buck a movie version, Victor Moore, in a curtain speech, expresses the gratitude of the company for the many theatre goers who "prefer round actors to flat ones."

The book, the songs, and sets are still fresh and vigorous, even though the show opened in New York more than two years ago. You may be familiar with Irving Berlin's slick music, but it still rings bells. And the indomitable team of William Gaxton and Victor Moore, assisted by Vera Zorina and Irene Bordoni, troupe with spontaneous humour through the riotous plot. Maybe they did make a movie of it with Bob Hope (and if your think he's a good, watch Gaxton slip on a girdle), but "Louisiana Purchase" is basically and essentially one of the top examples of that classic form, the American Musical Comedy.

Sad, serious, and rotund Mr. Moore, innocency personified, it is Senator Oliver P Loganberry, "The Watchdog of the Senate," detailed to New Orleans to investigate the machinations of the Louisiana Purchasing Company. Boss Man William Gaxton is anxious to prevent the Senator from making his investigation and attempts to sabotage shy, misogynist Oliver by filling him with "Mississippi River Water," planting Vera Zorina on his lap, and then snapshooting the scene. Baffled by Loganberry's purity, Gaxton tries again, plants Irene Bordoni in Oliver's bed, but the Senator tops his enemies again by marrying the buxom Madame Bordelaise. Louisiana triumphs in the end, though; the investigation is called off, and Loganberry remains a frustrated Republican Presidential candidate, "with a slight chance in '44."

Leave your maiden aunt on Beacon Street and hustle over the Shubert Theatre while there's still time to see Victor Moore, of the curious anatomy, combat the hard, cruel world.