“Follies” Hits ‘The Joan’ Full Force.

 Is it a coincidence that over 40 years have passed since the Stephen Sondheim/James Goldman “Follies” opened the inaugural season in what used to be Cygnet Theatre, this past weekend?

Starlight Musical Theatre opened its 45th season with Sondheim’s award winning “Follies” in the summer of 1990 at the San Diego Civic Center starring Don and Bonnie Ward. 

Patti Goodwin

It has not been staged here in San Diego since then when Cygnet’s artistic Director Sean Murray felt he had not the right venue (i.e. a large enough stage) to meet the needs of all the Follies Cast and Zigfield like Follies girls. (A Pretty Girl Is Like a Memory)

Karole Foreman

“Follies” is short on script but long on underlying meanings. It’s about mixed memories, lost opportunities, rivalries,  misunderstandings, unhappy marriages and past animosities. All these  feelings weave through  the former Weisman girls, Phyllis and Sally (Karole Foreman and Sandy Campbell). It doesn’t help that their husbands Ben and Buddy (David S. Humphrey and  Russell Garrett) show up for the reunion as well. (“Too Many Mornings” Ben and Sally)

 

Set (Ralph Funicello/Andrew Hull) in a soon to be run down theatre of happier days, a reunion of ageing showgirls is about to take place. They show up one by one, looking, remembering, sighing and greeting the next set of past performers.

Dance number

Here is where the story veers off and the narrative is not about the music. As they come together, past and present memories weave through and tangled feelings abound, and the ghosts of their pasts are played out right before our eyes  Oft times it’s difficult to follow since it first appeared that there were two stories two sets of couples (young and older) and my mind was a bit boggled. 

The concept of “Follies” is unusual. When done well, as it was on the opening night at The Joan, it works most of the time. It works magnificently when the entire cast outdoes itself and especially under the direction of Murray. 

Leigh Scarritt

With a stellar cast and a few good recognizable tunes, you can’t go wrong: Sandy Campbell, who never disappoints, is exceptional  and always at her very best voice (“Losing My Mind” “In Buddy's Eyes”), Karol Foreman  (“Could I Leave You?”) is vibrant, octogenarian Patti Goodwin came out of retirement to belt out (“Broadway Baby”), one of my favorites, Melinda Gilb ("Who's That Woman") brought the house down with her funny antics, and  stunning Anise Ritchie and elegant looking Dagmar Krause Fields  (ensemble) all fit in nicely. Lest we forget,  sassy, sexy Leigh Scarritt never fails to disappoint (her  bittersweet “I’m Still Here” is so her character), another of my favorites. 

Ralph Johnson, Leigh Scarritt, Kiai Buglr, Anise Ritchie and 
Melinda Gilb.

The also ran men in the show, are good but compared to the women, with the exception of Ralph Johnson, David S Humphrey take second fiddle. Humphrey is a rich tenor and it was great seeing him back on stage, (remember him from “Forever Plaid”?) Eddie Yaroch and Amanda Naughton make a fine couple as Emily and Theodore Whitman.

Sandy Campbell, David Humphrey, 

Katie Banville Choreographed, Elisa Benzoni designed the costumes, Peter Hermann (my man) did the wigs and makeup,  Matt Lescault Woods, sound, Amanda Zieve, lighting. 

Patrick Marion leads a seven piece orchestra with Kyle Bayquen on Bass, Devon Henderson, Trumpet, Kaeylin Henderson,Trombone, Nathan Hubbard, Drums/Percussion, Amy Kalai, Reeds and Patrick Marion Conductor and keyboard. 

Abby Depuy and Dagmar Krause Fields 

Coincidence or not, 35 years might be a lifetime for some, but for The Follies’ Girls it seems  like a blip in time.

Good luck for future performances at the new Joan and thanks to both Joan and Irwin Jacobs for having the foresight to dream.

Enjoy. 

See you at the theatre.

When:  Runs through Oct. 19th. 7 p.m. 

Wednesdays through Fridays, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays

Where: Cygnet Theatre at The Joan, 2880 Roosevelt Road, Arts District Liberty Station, San Diego

Tickets: $44 and up

Photo: Karli Cadel Photography

Phone: 619-337-1525

Online: cygnettheatre.com

La Jolly Playhouse Gets To The Heart of “The Heart” In 90 Minutes, Or 24 Hours or 5,400 pumps of a Heart At Rest.

 It may be a coincidence, that one of my grandsons is a facilitator for patients about to receive some body part transplant or another.  Although he has nothing to do with the actual transplant, he talks to the family about the decisions they may or may not have to make. 

Another coincidence is that he works at UCSD, the setting of our play, “The Heart”, based on a 2013 the medical fiction “Reparer les Vivants” written by Maylis de Kerangal, with book and additional lyrics by Kait Kerrigan and musical lyrics by Anne and Ian Eisendrath.

Jason Tam and Zachary Noah Piser

The play chronicles the accidental death of a 19 year old surfer, Simon Lamar (a shining star Zachary Noah Piser), who after a morning of surfing at one of our local beaches, was on his way home with two of his buddies when the van they were driving  crashed into a tree. Both boys were wearing seat belts, but not Simon who was sitting in the middle. By the time they got Simon to the hospital emergency room, he is  pronounced brain dead, but his heart is still beating. 

Scene from The Heart (Wren Rivera center)

Life and death decisions will have to be made in the time it will take for the parents, Marianne and Sean (soberingly played by *Kenita Miller and Jason Tam) to decide whether or not to ‘harvest’ his organs; if there is a compatible, and healthy recipient. Thomas (Lincoln Clauss “Quicksand”) is the coordinator, who tries to make them understand what’s at play. 

There are no less than 9 characters playing multiple roles introduced, in part at times that when all is said and done, form complete characters. Heidi Blickenstaff ( A star in her own right and beautifully in control) is both head nurse in the OR and Clair (“Nobody Gets Out Alive”) the recipient of Simon’s heart, defines the gray line between life and death. The dichotomy of it all: being dead and alive at the same time. It’s mind-boggling, one yours truly never thought about before. 

All this happens under the expert direction of Artistic Director Christopher Ashley and precise Choreography under Mandy Moore. It felt to me that the action of the play was rolling along at a faster than fast pace while the characters seemed to be moving in slow motion.

Scene from The Heart

Every step is choreographed precisely, detailed, down to a science on Robert Brill’s neon lit and flashy stage. 

Gareth Owens sound design is surrealistic when Simon’s parents want him to hear the sound of the sea when his heart is removed.

Scene from The Heart

Video Designer Lucy Mackinnon’s graphics show medical records and an organ bank database. There are three screens set up on the long stage of the Potiker Theatre so everyone in the audience has the ability to see. 

The Eisendraths' 16 song score with musical conductor Wendy Bobbitt Cavett, who keeps to a beat, the times of a beating heart. 

The La Jolla Playhouse and staff deserve a big BRAVO for bringing this innovative piece to the fore. 

Tissues recommended. 

See you at the theatre.

When:  Runs through Oct.5th. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 7 p.m. Sundays

Photo:  (Rich Soublet II)

Where: La Jolla Playhouse’s Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, UC San Diego, La Jolla

Tickets: $30-$119

Phone: 858-550-1010

Online: lajollaplayhouse.org