Home Writers Directory Carol Davis June 2, 2007 |
______________________________________________
Arts
in Review
by
Carol Davis
____________________________________________
Babies, Babies, Babies
SOLANA BEACH, Calif.—Baby
is a musical about…well… babies; how to get them; what to do
while waiting for them; what to do if it doesn’t work, and how to behave when
the news is
positive. And, if you are in that could be gestation mode, that’s great. Yours
truly just clicked on
“How to handle those Hot Flashes ….New Menopause Survival Tools” headlining my
AOL News
Feature. That’s where I am!
Don’t be misled. I’ve done the baby thing five times, three of mine and two
grandsons, and in
retrospect, there were parts about it that were funny. It wasn’t then and it
probably isn’t now if
you are in the middle of it so I guess that’s why two guys, Richard Maltby, Jr.
who wrote the
lyrics and David Shire who wrote the music along with Sybille Pearson (the only
one who really
knows) who penned the book, wanted to give those unsuspecting, prospective
parents who
weren’t as worldly, a ‘heads up’ or ‘heads out’ or whatever.
Baby
opened on Broadway in 1983 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. It ran for 241
performances
and was nominated for seven Tony Awards. Unfortunately it was up against some
pretty tough
competition: La Cage aux Folles; Sunday in the Park With George, and
The Tap Dance Kid.
And…….the winner was…La Cage which walked away with six Tony’s. But for a
revival in
2004 where Pearson revised and updated Baby, we might not be seeing it
today.
Director Paula Kalustian, who heads up the MFA Musical Theatre program at San
Diego State
University, and who along with Jill Masaros co- produced (Miracle Theatre
Productions years)
shows at The Theatre in Old Town for 14 years, until this year has directed
Baby no less than
four times. She obviously has an affinity for it. So now, it is in its current
state at The North Coast
Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach where Artistic Director David Ellenstein gave
her the nod to
do what she loves doing best.
If there is a plot, well, there really isn’t. It’s more of a time line following
three couples through
the beginnings, the middles and the ends of approaching parenthood. In one case;
a false start.
One might call this little ditty a musical play. Every situation has a matching
song. There isn’t a
lot to write home about or hum on the way home, but it’s not unpleasant, either.
It’s easy, pleasing to the eye and somewhat of a no brainer. With minimalist
sets (Marty Burnett
was still able to be creative with his primary colored wooden shapes and
building blocks which
were easily moved around and of course the bed in the center of the
stage.), and Ali Bretches,
the company who either supplied the clothes, designed them, (I doubt) or
suggested them, the
show has a casual look. Jeans, tennies and workout suits with a few conventional
skirts, blouses
and trousers are the style of the day. The cast, with few costume changes
needed, is nimble and
gifted.
The music performed by Danny King on percussion and Andy Ingersoll on piano and
musical
direction might have sounded better had I not been sitting right in front of one
of the speakers
which were literally less than two feet from my space and ears. That’s the luck
of the draw.
The best part, the redeeming part of the show and production (and we saved it
for last) is the
versatile and talented cast of eight; three couples whose lives are in the
balance because of either
unplanned pregnancies or unwanted ones, or nuttin’ happen’ here, and a fourth
couple who is
everyone else or the ensemble.
Nick
and Rebecca Spears, the couple whose false start
set them on the path to planned conjugal experiments,
carried the comedy workload, and they do it well. Both
were students under Kalustian at SDSU and both are
talented singers and actors. Rebecca’s funny little
twitches and turned up smile seem to be her trademark.
They were relaxed and looked like they were having
fun. As a real life couple, one can imagine this is a
dream come true. Steve Gunderson and Susan Jordan
are the more mature couple with grown children who
are about ready to settle for the ‘empty nest’ when lo
Nick and Rebecca
Spears
and behold, on an anniversary vacation…. Now they struggle about whether to
carry the baby
and start all over again. Gunderson, who is an all time San Diego favorite
having stacked more
stage time to his credits than the total of all the others, is perfect for the
part of the more mature,
more serious and more determined Alan. Jordan, as Arlene, is just right as his
counterpart. Her
voice is soothing and her acting smooth and convincing.
Ashley Linton (Lizzy) and Jason Maddy (Danny) are the college students whose
lives will be
forever changed by her pregnancy. Both of these young folks are a welcome treat
to San Diego
audiences. Maddy was last seen in The Welk’s Fiddler as Perchick.
Charming, spirited and gifted,
both, theirs was the most interesting relationship to watch. The fact that they
each have a fine set
of vocal chords, endless energy and good looks helps. Paul Morgavo and Lindsay
Gearhart prove
to be talented in their own right as the ensemble.
Baby is the 6th production of the theatre’s 25th season. According to Artistic
director David
Ellenstein, the theatre is in‘great shape’. We wish them well on their future
plans for expansion.
POSTSCRIPT:
David Shire met Richard Maltby, Jr. while both were attending Yale. They wrote
two musicals
Cyrano and Grand Tour which were both produced by the Yale
Dramat. He also co founded a
jazz group at school, The Shire-Fogg Quintet and was a Phi Beta Kappa honors
student, with a
double major in English and Music.
At graduate school at Brandeis University he was the first Eddie Fisher Fellow.
Shire is married to
Didi Conn (Edith Bernstein) whose brother Richard Bernstein was the featured
tenor recently
seen and heard in the San Diego Opera’s production of The Marriage of Figaro
.
Baby
will play through June 24. For more information on Baby, the theatre can
be reached by
calling (858) 481-1055 or logging on to
www.northcoastrep.org
See you at the theatre.