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.
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| 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.
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| 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.”
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| 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.
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| 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. 11. 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
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