Goldfish, Tommy and Dorothy Fields Salon
The Magic Theatre opens its 2009-2010 season with John Kolvenbach's appealing problematic comedy-drama Goldfish which will be running with the playwright's Mrs. Whitney through November 8th. Both of these plays had their world premiered earlier this year at South Coast Repertory and received positive reviews from the critics. Goldfish is a creative variation on a recognizable plot about a working class college boy wooing a spoiled rich coed. However, in this domestic tale we have dysfunctional parents. Uptight science student Albert (Andrew Pastides) meets wacky Lucy (Anna Bullard) at a rich man's school which has a strict social cast system. Albert's father Leo (Rod Gnapp) is an irresponsible person with a large gambling problem. Their relationship is very edgy and there is concealed hostility on the part of the son. While at the liberal arts school, Albert learns that the father has lost his tuition money betting on the horses. Now Albert's future is now at risk. Lucy's mother Margaret (Patricia Hodges) is a very rich, hard-drinking divorcee who lounges in a bathrobe about their mansion drinking like a fish. She has her own problems with ex-husband Tom (not seen in this play). Margaret is like a lioness guarding her cub when it comes to dating just the right persons. In fact, she is a little jealous of this daughter's beauty. ("Look at you. I'm flabbergasted by how beautiful I used to be"). She believes Albert, who comes from a poor neighborhood, is an unfit boyfriend for her daughter. John Kolvenbach has a keen ear for witty yet believable dialogue and his confrontations between the parents and children are first rate. He also has the parents behaving like children and the children presuming parental everyday jobs. These characters are like goldfish that need the right balance of being looked after and objectivity. They need attention and tough love to properly survive. Andrew Pastides (The Glass Menagerie at Two Rivers) gives a remarkable performance as Albert. He has a wonderful way of naturalistic acting that really is not acting. He is a painfully conscientious young man going to a rich man's school. His gambling father is played brilliantly by Ron Gnapp (many A.C.T. productions including Curse of the Starving Class). He is wonderful as the grumpy father who does not know how to handle money. Patricia Hodges (Broadway Man for all Seasons, Dancing at Lughnasa) almost steals every scene as the soused matriarch Margaret. She plays the role as an intelligent drunk, even if it means she is self destructing. Anna Bullard gives a convincing performance as Lucy. She is skilled enough to make believable, young love with its fascinations, set backs and puppy-dog energy. It is a wonderful, believable portrayal of the character. Loretta Greco's direction evokes the passage of time with a natural straightforwardness and makes the most of the well-appointed set by Michael Locher. Goldfish ran through November 8 at the Magic Theatre, Building D, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. For tickets call 415-441-8822 or go on line to www.magictheatre.org.
Ray of Light presented an excellent production of Pete Townsend's The Who's Tommy at the Victoria Theatre through November 7th. It has been almost 10 years since I saw the timeless musical at the St. James Theatre with Michael Cerveris playing Tommy and Cheryl Freeman playing the Acid Queen. Alice Ripley was in the ensemble. The current production is as good as a Broadway touring company. The Who's Tommy was first presented as a concept album in 1969; it still seems timely and does not in the least feel dated. This is a total theater experience and the cast of 30 energetic young performers that are perfect for their roles. Even the new sound system at the Victoria is great and it does not overpower the audience, thanks to Angelo Benedetto. The score by Pete Townsend has some remarkable songs like "Acid Queen," "See Me, Feel Me" and "Pinball Wizard." The rock opera centers on 5-year-old Tommy (Deucalion Martin) who witnesses his parents (Cameron Weston and Emily Wade Adams) killing the wife's lover in self-defense. This traumatizes the young lad, leaving him deaf, mute and blind. His folks try everything in hopes of a cure but to no reward. Tommy's relatives include a sadistic Kevin (Manuel Caneri) and alcoholic Uncle Ernie (Paul Plain) who torture and exploit him. Later when Tommy (Zachary Franczak) grows up he becomes the world pinball champion and a messianic leader. It is here that Tommy finds his voice, ecstatically singing the "I'm Free." Zachary Franczak proves to be revelation as the adult Tommy - the show is worth seeing for his performance alone. He is a vivacious actor with expressive features and a sensual, pulsating voice. When he sings "I'm a Sensation" he is a sensation. Cameron Weston and Emily Wade Adams are outstanding as Tommy's parent. Both sing forcefully "Twenty One" and "Go to the Mirror Boy." Eighth-grader David Kahawaii and kindergartener Deucalion Martin are wonderfully pokerfaced as the near catatonic young Tommys. Paul Plain is unnervingly first class as the pervert Uncle Ernie. He does a rousing arrangement in true Cockney style of "Tommy's Holiday Camp." Manuel Caneri is terrific as the feral Cousin Kevin, especially when singing "Cousin Kevin." Leanne Borghesi rocks the house as the Acid Queen. She pulls out all stops when singing the song. Ellyn Marie Marsh's choreography is electrifying. It sometimes resembles Twyla Tharp's work. The tornado-driven dancers and rock musicians are dazzling and full of energy. Sets by Angelo Benedetto are minimal, just a chain link fence. The large ensemble of 30 play various roles such as doctors, soldiers, clergy and prostitutes. Each is well suited to his or her part. Shane Ray's direction is sharp and full of life. He has wisely put the six musicians under the direction of Ben Prince up over the set which lets the audience hear the lyrics to the fast pace songs. The Who's Tommy played through November 7th at the Victoria Theatre , 2961 16th Street , San Francisco . For information and tickets please call 800-838-3006 or on line at www.tommysf.com.
The 42nd Street Moon Company has started a Special Salon Series in which the company honors famous Broadway lyricists. These will be on the order of laid-back revues, such as those been seen in London's West End for many years. Using just a piano, a comfortable sofa and some chairs, members of the company entertain the audience with a series of songs by the spotlighted lyricist. A famous emcee will give background stories these writers. On October 13 the company honored one of America 's great librettist and lyricists, Dorothy Fields. This daughter of famous vaudeville comedian Ben Fields wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films. She worked with such composers as Jerome Kern, Cy Coleman, Jimmy McHugh and Arthur Schwartz. She wrote the book to three Cole Porter musicals and the book for Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun. Dorothy Fields had a touching simplicity of expression in her songs. The Dorothy Fields Salon had Tony-winner Cady Huffman as narrator and emcee, relating interesting facts and stories of Dorothy Fields' life between the songs that were marvelously performed by Klea Blackhurst, Alexandra Kaprielian, Darlene Popovic and Bill Fahrner. Dave Dobrusky gave a great back up on the piano for the talented singers. The performance featured both well known and lesser known songs. Opening the two-hour with intermission show was Alexandra Kaprielian singing the jazzy 1928 "Collegiana" with music by Jimmy McHugh. Throughout the night there were solos, duets and quartets to amuse the audience. The gifted singers sang 38 song snippets of the eclectic lyricist. Klea Blackhurst belted out such songs as "A Lady Needs a Change," "In a Great Big Way" and "This Is It" Merman-style and the ever-popular "If My Friends Could See Me Right Now" from Sweet Charity. She sang a lovely arrangement of "The Way You Look Tonight." Darlene Popovic regaled the audience with "Don't Blame Me" and "Alone Too Long." Alexandra Kaprielian did a charming reading of" I'm In the Mood for Love" and "Remind Me." Bill Fahrner was terrific singing "A Fine Romance," "Close as Pages in a Book" and the tongue-twisting "Erbie Fitch's Dilemma" from Redhead. The quartet gave honors to this famous writer of songs in a medley from A Tree Goes In Brooklyn and a great zinging arrangement by the girls of "Big Spender" with Bill joining in as one of the "girls." Cady Huffman contributed to the festivities singing the harmonically energizing "On the Sunny Side of the Street." 42nd Street Moon Company will continue this tradition by presenting an Ira Gershwin Salon on Thursday January 28th at the Alcazar Theatre, 601 Geary Street, San Francisco. For tickets to this and the salon series call 415-255-8207 or visit www.42ndstmoon.org.
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