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Archive for 27. June 2010
NOT SO S’WONDERFUL
27. June 2010 by admin.
NOT SO S’WONDERFUL
F. J. Hartland
CLO Cabaret is currently offering a Gershwin revue entitled S’Wonderful.
Using the tunes of the Gershwins to create “a new Gershwin musical” (as S’Wonderful is billed) is nothing new. The musical Crazy for You was a highly successful Broadway hit utilizing the same idea.
Unfortunately, S’Wonderful lacks the charm and the entertainment value of Crazy for You.S’Wonderful takes place in a variety of locales in a variety of decades (New York in the 1920’s, New Orleans in the 1950’s, etc.).
Sometimes the songs fit well into each vignette; sometimes, they are painfully shoe-horned in.
The final sequence was particularly lackluster and just seemed like a sorry excuse to find a way to work in any songs that couldn’t be wedged in elsewhere. It has no build and certainly brings the show to a dull-as-dishwater climax.
The hard-working cast (Courtney Bassett, Michael Campayno, Trevor McQueen Eaton, Jessica George and Montaja Simmons) is not to blame for this fiasco. They give 110% for nearly two hours of singing, dancing, changing costumes and moving set pieces.
With a better script, I am certain this cast has the talent to make it work. Unlike the “book” material, these performers are worthy of the great songs they have been given.
The very handsome Campayno is particularly funny as an egotistical movie actor; Bassett does a charming Carol Burnett-esque star-turn in Act Two. In fact, Bassett has a great deal of presence on stage.
One can not help but notice her.Musical director Deana Muro is at the grand piano. As she did in Forbidden Broadway, she is more than just the accompanist. Muro is fascinating to watch, and when the production was over, I think I would’ve preferred just hearing (and watching) her perform the Gershwin hits.
Lewis Folden’s set is simple, yet effective, and he uses interesting projections to create various atmospheres. It blends well with the lighting by Andrew David Ostrowski. Vince Perce’s choreography is pedestrian.
Perhaps it would have behooved Ray Roderick (who conceived and directed S’Wonderful) to place it in a totally modern setting (a bar, an airport terminal, etc.) to show the timelessness of Gershwin’s music. Being stuck in a time-warp does nothing to showcase the beauty of these tunes.
George and Ira deserve better.
S’Wonderful continues through September.
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