“BEGIN AGAIN”: READY FOR A TRIP BACK TO THE BIG APPLE.

The Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park is currently mounting the world premiere musical, “Begin Again” based on the Exclusive Media Film written and directed by John Carney with new music and lyrics by Pat Monahan and the Band Train. Book is by Jenna Clark Embrey and Molly Beach Murphy.

Filmmaker Carney has reimaged the live musical for more modern audiences just as he had done in “Once” (previously staged by Lamb's Players Theatre), once a film and currently a successful stage musical. 

Patrick Heusinger and Emma Busse

Having never seen either movie, my remarks can only be limited to the plays’ versions, and from what I saw, “Begin Again” is one big Broadway success after it leaves San Diego. Ironic as it may be, the setting takes place in The Big Apple with Derek McLane’s stunning sets including the New York Skyline with towering buildings and specific locations in and around the city with the Brooklyn Bridge, a Carousel, (horses up and down)  Washington Square, some basketball courts,  buildings with graffiti and all with help from projectionist David Bengali, illusion design by Skylar Fox showing floating record discs, paper cups and bottles  floating through the air, and Amanda Zieve’s lighting design is filtered through soft hues dissolving daylight into twilight. 

Cast

Gretta (Emma Busse) is a gifted songwriter in love with musician Max (Keven William Paul). Emma writes a love song for Max for his birthday. He in turn sings it for a record company, and voila! his career takes off leaving her hanging on the vine. yes she agreed, but would she want to begin again with that decision? You bet your sweet bippy. 

Emma Busse and Patrick Heusinger

As it happens, she meets and hooks up with record producer, Dan (Patrick Heusinger) whose career and longtime marriage with his wife, Miriam (Adrienne Walker) and teen aged daughter, Violet (Charlotte MacLeod) go  caput. After some push me pull you back and forth, and without a studio  to cut a record, the two decide to take a crew around new York, sounds and all, and produce an album. 

Adrienne Walker and Patrick Heusinger

Both have challenges to overcome: Dan wants to reconnect with his wife and daughter, (“Made to Break”) perhaps stop drinking and Gretta (Busse has an effectively strong voice and great stage presence) but must regain confidence and belief that her music makes a difference in people’s lives while she and Max go it on their own to get back into the music industry together. 

Patrick Heusinger and Adrienne Walker 

Together Busse and Heusinger make beautiful music (“Fake Flowers” and “Carousel”) but just when all is rolling along Max comes back into Emma’s life… but not for long. I must say Max (Kevin Williams Paul) has a beautiful voice, but is a taker and will leave Emma in the cold as soon as he can. “I Used To Know You”. 

Kevin William Paul

All the songs( there are about 25 in all) are performed live on stage by one of the most gifted ensemble of musicians seen by yours truly lately. One of my favorites, and I couldn’t help wanting to see more was Erica Swindell on the violin. How I envy her!

Emma Busse and Kevin William Paul

Other standouts include Casey Whyland  as Stevie, Gretta’s best friend who saves her from jumping off the bridge more than once. Nik Walker plays Saul, Dan’s producer and partner. So much movement with a large ensemble gives this production just the right verve to knock it out of the park in New York. 

Linda Cho designed the costumes, Alberto “Albee” Alvarado, the wigs, hair and makeup, orchestrations by Brian Usifer, lively choreography by David Neumann, sound design by John Shivers and expertly directed by Lorin Latarro, Matt Deitchman (Music Director) and Bonnie Panson (Production Stage Manager)

Emma Busse and Cast

Gretta in her own inimitable way has an uncompromising streak  running through her and if it’s not done her way, in the purest sense she will ‘Begin Again’,  her way. 

Catch this one before it hits N.Y. where the tickets will skyrocket.

 Enjoy.

See you at the theatre

 

“GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR”, A MUST SEE AT NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE

 North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach is kicking off its 45th season with a splendid production of the West Coast Premiere of Pulitzer Prize winning, Doug Wrights “Good Night, Oscar”. Oscar is Oscar Levant. 

With direction by Tom Frey and, as the man himself, by David Corlew, Levant was first and foremost one of the most gifted composers, pianists , best -selling authors, and television and radio talk show host. He was a household name in the 1940’s and ‘50’s. 

Megan Carmitchel and David Corlew

On the other side of the disc, he was a drug addict , suffered from sever depression, stage fright, hypochondria, debilitating neurosis, was a chain smoker, had twitches  and most likely was, if diagnosed today, bipolar. 

“Goodnight Oscar” relates to  a composite of Levant’s life and his famous interviews, both backstage and on stage, with Jack Paar ( Brian Mackey), on the west coast airing of ‘The Jack Paar Show’, which was new to audiences on west coast time. The time is 1948.

Brian Mackey and David Corlew

Head of the network at the time, Bob Sarnoff (Jason Maddy) was none too happy with Paar’s guest and wanted to scrap the whole interview, but Paar was insistent  and promised no controversial topics would be brought up. Little did either know that Levant’s wife June (Megan Carmitchel) had just had him committed to the hospital for shock treatments! 

For a little over 90 minutes David Corlew’s Levant was heartbreaking, breathtaking, hilarious and unpredictable. According to Oscar, “There is a fine line between genius and insanity and I have erased that line.” Paar: “And what do you do for exercise?” Levant: “I stumble, and then I fall into a coma.”

David Corlew

David Corlew, a gifted pianist in his own right, had to relearn how Levant played Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ for this show. He is nothing less than brilliant. And… what a treat at show’s end. 

Corlew, IS the star in his own show. 

Megan Carmitchel (“Rise and Fall Of Little Voice”…winner Craig Noel Award, “Streetcar Named Desire” and “Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?”) is once again outstanding as Oscar’s oft understanding, oft angry and oft sympathetic wife, June . Jay DeYonker plays George Gershwin  perfectly as the shadow figure egging Oscar along, Jason Maddy is the very angry Bob Sarnoff, and with every right to be,  Brian Mackey is a fidgeting Jack Paar to a tee. Isaiah Frazilus is fine as Oscar’s hospital orderly when June gets him a 4 hour pass from the hospital to appear on the show and Wyatt VanHazel is  a bit irritating as Paar’s gofer.

Megan Carmitchel and David Corlew

Credit Michael Wogulis for the simple set design, Matthew Novotny as lighting designer, Elisa Benzoni for costumes, Peter Herman for wigs, Tristan King for sound (“Blame It On Youth”, Embraceable You”, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”, I Got Rhythm” and Summertime?), Christopher Williams for props and Shannon Humiston as Stage Manager. 

Levant’s 1945 recording of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” was one of Columbia Records’ top-selling albums, and he was America’s highest-paid classical concert star, outdrawing the likes of Arthur Rubinstein and Vladimir Horowitz.”

For an evening of entertainment, nostalgia, heartbreak, and renewal, “Goodnight, Oscar” is your  best bet. 

Enjoy.

See you at the theatre.

When:  Runs through Oct. 18th. 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays; plus 2 p.m. Saturday and Oct. 2.

Where: North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach

Tickets: $63.50-$85.50

Photo: Aaron Rumley

Phone: 858-481-1055

Online: northcoastrep.org

“THEATRE PEOPLE OR THE ANGEL NEXT DOOR”

 “The Angel Next Door” currently playing at Scripps Ranch Theatre is a zany, 1940s-set screwball comedy written by Paul Slade Smith and adapted from Ferenc Molnár’s “Play at the Castle”. It is directed by Christopher Williams, no stranger to Smith, he also directed “Scapin” at North Coast Rep. recently. 

Danny Campbell, Kenny Bordieri, Melissa Fernandes and Sandy Campbell

The plot follows a pair of Broadway playwrights, Arthur and Charlotte Sanders  (Danny Campbell and Melissa Fernandes) who are trying  to "rewrite" a real-life romantic misunderstanding to save their young protégé's novel and their next Broadway hit. All of this is happening in an ‘opulent mansion’ in Newport, R.I.

Williams has gathered a strong and well -seasoned cast who show incredibly strong comedic timing. In particular, characters like Olga (Sandy Campbell who all but steals the show) as the grim, apathetic housekeeper who openly despises "theater people”, and Victor Pratt (John DeCarlo, who had me PMP with his depiction of Victor in Heaven),  as he dim-witted, narcissistic Broadway baritone. Both frequently steal the spotlight with their brilliant physical comedy and straight laced facial gestures.

Melissa Fernandes and Taylor Henderson

Others in the cast include: (Oliver) Kenny Bordieri as the ‘I don’t have a clue’ novelist and (Margot) Taylor Henderson, the cheating par amour. 

Melissa Fernandes and Sandy Campbell

The play features a classic "four-door" (Dixon Fish) set layout designed to break the fourth wall and accelerate the madcap pacing of a traditional farce. Michelle Miles is credited for the lighting, Omar Ramos sound, Duane McGregor, Props Design, Set Dressing, Painting and Heather K. Nunn with a variety of costume changes. (No one is credited for wigs)

Melissa Fernandes, Kenny Bordieri, Danny Campbell 

My only complaint is that the first act went on too long setting up the craziness for Act II. All in all, though, there is nothing more insane than the world we live in now, so enjoy a little fantasy.

Enjoy.

See you at the theatre. 

Runs through Sept. 20. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays.

Where: Scripps Ranch Theatre at the Legler Benbough Theatre, 9783 Avenue of Nations, Alliant International University, San Diego

Tickets: $27-$52

Photo: Ken Jacques

Phone: 858-578-7728

Online: scrippsranchtheatre.org