CurtainUp
CurtainUp
The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features, Annotated Listings
HOME PAGE

SITE GUIDE

SEARCH


REVIEWS

REVIEW ARCHIVES

ADVERTISING AT CURTAINUP

FEATURES

NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings


LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway

NYC Restaurants

BOOKS and CDs

OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
New Jersey
Philadelphia
Elsewhere

QUOTES

TKTS

PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS

LETTERS TO EDITOR

FILM

LINKS

MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
A CurtainUp Review
Being Audrey
A chauffeur's daughter is still a chauffeur's daughter, no matter how you dress her up..—Claire as Sabrina
Cheryl Stern in Being Audrey
(Photo: Carol Rosegg)
The daughter of a wealthy English banker and a Dutch baroness, Audrey Hepburn would have had a privileged childhood had it not been for World War II. As it turned out, the liberation left her suffering from depression and malnutrition. But blood will tell, and after Hepburn decided on a career in acting, she quickly became an icon of beauty and sophistication.

In Being Audrey, Transport Group Theatre Company's new musical making its premiere at The Connelly Theatre, playwright James Hindman and composer/lyricist Ellen Weiss imagine how a woman in crisis might seek comfort in picturing herself as the glamorous actress.

Claire Stark is a New Yorker lives who lives with her wealthy husband in a Fifth Avenue apartment not far from Tiffany's. When her husband collapses and is taken to the emergency room, she retreats into a Hepburn-inspired fantasy that takes her through many of the actress's classic films: Roman Holiday, Funny Face, Love in the Afternoon, Sabrina and Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Jack Cummings III directs a cast of seasoned professionals, from Cheryl Stern, who plays the Audrey-channeling Claire to Brian Sutherland, who is Claire's morphing romantic interest, a man arbitrarily named "Fred." Even journalist, novelist and producer Dominick Dunne joins the cast as the unseen narrator.

So what is it that makes Being Audrey seem so amateurish? Perhaps it is simply that no one can be Audrey or the polished men who surrounded her. Those who try can end up looking dumpy, clumsy and inadequate.

But that's not the only hurdle Being Audrey has to leap. The play depends on an audience that not only has an almost obsessive interest in Hepburn but one that has seen and remembered her major motion pictures. All others will be left out in the cold.

The dozen songs Weiss has written for the show are adequate but not particularly memorable, although "Being Audrey" does have a bit of a bang. There's not much of a set, but there are lots of hanging curtains and props pushed on and off the stage. It all moves with a speed that borders on frenzy. Fortunately, choreographer Scott Rink keeps the actors from bumping into each other.

Watching Being Audrey reminds one of sitting in a high school auditorium watching youthful thespians trying to perform in roles beyond their abilities. They have bucketfuls of energy, but they're just not up to the job. Anyone interested in seeing the magic of the real Audrey Hepburn should stay home and rent a few of her films.

Being Audrey
Book by James Hindman
Music and lyrics by Ellen Weiss
Directed by Jack Cummings III
Musical direction, arrangements and orchestration by Larry Meyers
Musical staging and choreography by Scott Rink
Cast: Cheryl Stern (Claire), Brian Sutherland ("Fred"), Stephen Berger (Dr. Givenchy and others), Andrea Bianchi (Dr. Leraby and others), Valerie Fagan (Nurse Trina and others) Mark Ledbetter (Dr. William and others), Michael Maricondi (Pablo and others), Blair Ross (Dr. Think Pink and others), Dominick Dunne (Narrator)
Running Time: 90 minutes, no intermission
Transport Group, 220 East 4 Street, between Avenues A & B (212) 564-0333
From 3/27/09; opening 4/05/09; closing. 4/26/09
Thursday and Friday at 8pm; Saturday at 2pm and 8pm; Sunday at 3pm, and Monday at 7pm
Tickets: Tickets $38 - $45t (212) 352-3101
Reviewed by Paulanne Simmons April 2, 2009
REVIEW FEEDBACK
Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
  • I agree with the review of Being Audrey
  • I disagree with the review of Being Audrey
  • The review made me eager to see Being Audrey
Click on the address link E-mail: esommer@curtainup.com
Paste the highlighted text into the subject line (CTRL+ V):

Feel free to add detailed comments in the body of the email. . .also the names and emails of any friends to whom you'd like us to forward a copy of this review.

You can also contact us at Curtainup at Facebook or Curtainup at Twitter
Try onlineseats.com for great seats to
Wicked
Jersey Boys
The Little Mermaid
Lion King
Shrek The Musical


South Pacific  Revival
South Pacific


In the Heights
In the Heights


Playbillyearbook
Playbill 2007-08 Yearbook


Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide
Leonard Maltin's 2008 Movie Guide


broadwaynewyork.com


amazon




©Copyright 2009,

GUCCI

|

Aluminium Chronograph

|

PEAK new fashion ladies venting air spring heighten casual sport shoes P8004E

|

Tiffany & Co Hook and Eye Ring

|

mbt shoes

|

MBT Shoes

|

Tiffany&Co Daisy 925 sterling silver rings

|

Rolex

|

Louis Vuitton

|

Affliction Boots

|

Nike Shoes

|

Nike Dunk

|

MP5 Wholesale

|

Atlanta Falcons

|

Abercrombie Pants Wholesale 002

|

Louis Vuitton

|

UGG Boots Mulberry Genuine Australia classic Tall Ugg Boots

|

GUCCI Handbags

|

UGG Boots Classic Argyle Knit Chocolate 5879

|

Louis Vuitton Business Card Holder Ebony

|

MBT Men's Kisumu Tan Sandals

|

MBT Chapa

|

ugg boots

|

MBT Kisumu 2 White Men's Sandals

|

Nike Shoes

|

Louis Vuitton Monogram Denim Messenger Bag PM m95865

|

Bailey Button Uggs

|

Sexy Costume QS0169

|

Phone Wholesale

|

Bikinis Sets

|

Wholesale

|

Car DVD Player

|

LV

|

Tourbillon

|

Tiffany tiffany replica ring

|

Superleggera J12 White

|

Tiffany

|

rolex

|

Mouse Wholesale

|

Nike Air Max 2003

|

Monogram Groom

|

GUCCI

|

Wholesale

|

Nike Air Max LTD (dark blue/white) No.372340

Elyse Sommer.
Information from this site may not be reproduced in print or online without specific permission from esommer@curtainup.com