A distinguished audience gave an enthusiastic reception last night to the premiere performance in Israel of Negro author James Baldwin’s "The Amen Corner."
The play, the first contribution by a United States company to the current Israel Festival, featured a performance by Claudia McNeil, a Negro actress who was raised as a foster child by Jewish parents on New York’s East Side. She received applause both for her performance and for a curtain speech, sprinkled with Yiddish expressions. "I could only wish my Jewish foster parents could be here but I believe they are here in spirit," she said.
The audience included United States Ambassador Walworth Barbour and Mr. Baldwin, who took a curtain call and introduced Miss McNeil.
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