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A CurtainUp Connecticut Review
City of Angels
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“I’ve read a synopsis of every book you’ve written.” —Buddy Fidler to Stine.
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Burke Moses (top) and D.B. Bonds
in City of Angels
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Darko Tresnjak has met the demanding challenge of directing an interesting and entertaining version of the show on Goodspeed’s small stage. David P. Gordon uses white plantation blinds as a backdrop, which rise and fall to both reveal and hide the large cast, costumed by Tracy Christensen.
On the Hollywood side of the set, there is the dark grubby office of private eye Stone, a defrocked cop played by dark-haired handsome Burke Moses. A big man with a big voice, Moses has performed on Broadway, and at Goodspeed several years ago did a terrific turn as the lead in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Stone is aided by Oolie, his loyal secretary, a very good Sierra Rein, taking over for Nancy Anderson at the performance I attended. Stone gets himself in deep trouble by accepting wealthy socialite Alaura Kingsley’s case of her “bad” missing step-daughter, Mallory, a sexy Kathleen Rooney. Kingsley, whose much-older husband is in an iron lung, is strutted by Liz Pearce; swathed in white and fur she is the epitome of the wanton wife, who is not telling the truth.
On the movie side, brightly lit by John Lastier with Shawn Boyle’s cheerful palm tree projections that create the California vibe, is Stine as the seemingly likeable D.B. Bonds. He’s married to brown-haired Gabby, the perfect Laurie Wells who in a red wig also portrays the chanteuse Bobbi, Stone’s first love. Stine loves his wife, but cheats on her with Donna, assistant to Buddy Fidler, the producer of his film, City of Angels. Jay Russell fully embodies , this sleazy producer, who keeps chopping up Stine’s writing as summed up in his song, “The Buddy System.” Danny Bolero is fabulous as Munoz, a Latino cop, in the number, “All You Have to Do Is Wait.”
“You’re Nothing Without Me,” a duet of Stine and Stone, is the show's best song and the most amusing scene is when Stine’s typing changes the behavior of the characters — every tap of the keys rewinding and fast-forwarding the action. With the help of choreographer Jennifer Paulson Lee, the cast moves brilliantly to the words being changed.
City of Angels is enoyable enough so that if time permitted, I’d revisit it while it's at the Godspeed.
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City of Angels Book/ Larry Gelbart Music/Cy Coleman Lyric/David Zippel Director: Darko Tresnjak Vocal arrangements by Cy Coleman and Yaron Gershovsy Cast: Burke Moses (Stone), Spencer Rowe (Studio Cop), Robert J. Townsend (Orderlies), Sierra Rein, substituting for Nancy Anderson, (Oolie & Donna), Liz Pearce (Alaura Kingsley /Carla Haywood), Jerry Gallagher (Big Six, a big thug), Spencer Rowe (Sonny, a small thug/ Yamato, the coroner), Jeffrey David Sears (Jimmy Powers), Mick Bleyer (Commissioner Gaines), Adam West Hemming, Vanessa Parvin, Becca Pesce (Hairdresser/ Margie, a madam) (Angel City Four), Danny Bolero (Munoz / Pancho), Josh Powell (Officer Pasco/ Del Dacosta/Gene/ Butler), Laurie Wells (Bobbi/ Gabby), Jay Russell (Buddy Fidler/Irwin S. Irving), Allen E. Read ( Peter Kingsley/Gerald Pierce), Christina Morrell (Margaret, a maid & Carla’s stand-in), Gregor Paslawsky (Luther/ Werner), Michael Keyloun (Dr. Mandril/Gilbert/Party Guest/Buddy’s Nephew) Kathleen Rooney (Mallory/Avril), Robert J. Townsend ( Mahoney, a reporter/ sound engineer), Jerry Gallagher (Studio Cop). Choreography: Jennifer Paulson Lee Setw: David P. Gordon Costumes: Tracy Christensen Lights: John Lasiter Sound: Jay Hilton Projections: Shawn Boyle Hair & Wigs: David H. Laawrence Fight Director: Ron Piretti Orchestrations: Dan Delange Music Direction: Michael O’Flaherty Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes Goodspeed Opera House East Haddam, Ct. 06423-0281 860-873-8668 From 9/23/11 to 11/27/11 Tickets: $28-$72 Reviewed by Rosalind Friedman October 22nd press matinee |
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Musical Numbers
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Act One
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Act Two
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