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Regional Reviews: San Francisco Party of 2: The Mating Musical, Becoming Britney and Dracula
Party of 2: The Mating Musical is currently playing at the intimate Shelton Theatre, 533 Sutter Street. Two charismatic singers and actors, Jennifer Ekman and Scott Gessford, make this young couple a pleasure to watch. Morris Bobrow wrote the music and lyrics of this charming chamber musical (he also wrote Shopping! The Musical which is now in its 5th year at the cozy Sheldon Theatre Friday and Saturday nights). Party of 2 is full of tuneful songs with clever lyrics about a couple who meet at a party. There are love songs, patter songs and even a tango called "Before You," attractively choreographed by Jayne Zaban. The couple discovers they are attracted to each other, sex is good and so they move in together. However, there are trials and tribulations when they are living together. It's not a bed of roses. Each song advances the storyline, such as Charlie (Scott Gessford), a writer of commercials, opening the show with "I Like Me" and sings that he likes "romance from a distance." That soon changes when he meets Rebecca (Jennifer Ekman) at a party. It looks like love at first sight. However, she sings "Been There" since she has just come from a failed relationship with a guy name Dave (not seen in this production). Charlie is hot to trot and he sings a snappy rendition of "We're On." Finally, Charlie and Rebecca happily sing the upbeat "Chapter Two" a consummation of sex. The couple moves into an apartment expecting that life will be a bed of roses, but there are thorns among the roses. Charlie has to compete with Rebecca's cat and dog for the girl's affection. He sings "Number Three" with lines likes "cat and dog, then me" and "at least I'm number one with two legs." He also has to contend with Rebecca always talking about her last lover, Dave, and Charlie soulfully sings "Dave." Act two shows the strain of living together since Charlie still has a wandering eye. Even the sex is not as good and he takes to watching porno movies to get into the mood. I won't tell how it ends but it is a realistic ending. Scott Gessford gives a beguiling and charismatic performance as Charlie. He has a full-flavored voice singing the tuneful songs with bright lyrics by Morris Bobrow. Jennifer Ekman with a bell clear voice gives a brilliant performance as Rebecca. They have great chemistry together. It's a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon, with these two appealing people. Party of 2: The Mating Musical plays on Sunday afternoons through January 2 and Sunday evenings from January 7, at The Shelton Theatre, 533 Sutter Street, San Francisco. For tickets and information call 800-838-3006 or visit www.brownpapertickets.co or the show's website www.partyof2themusical.com.
Center Repertory Company recently presented a brightly energetic satire about Britney Spears, aptly called Becoming Britney. This is the brainchild of Molly Bell and Daya Curley that played at The New York International Fringe Festival in August 2009. This is their first production since that event in The Big Apple. I have to agree with NYTheatre.com that the show "oozes sass." Becoming Britney is a high-octane musical full of upbeat songs performed by six high-octane dancers and singers, a one-hour and twenty-minute musical without intermission. It's part satire and part affectionate tribute to the tabloid celebrity. Becoming Britney, subtitled "A Snarky Musical Adventure," takes place in a celebrity rehab center where Paris (Brittany Ogle), Lindsay (Tielle Baker) and K-Fed (Keith Pinto) are a group of oddballs recovering from all sorts of things, such as eating disorders, ego problems and just being erratic. Amanda Folena is the moderator of the group. This is all in the mind of Britney. The supporting cast take on various characters in Britney's life. Keith Pinto was dazzling playing Britney's love interests Justin and Kevin. His song and dance duets were terrific—he knows how to belt out a song. Tielle Baker was captivating as the neighbor lady and showed an exciting voice in her numbers. Brittany Ogle rocked as Britney's smart-alecky younger sister who also wants to shine in the music world. Amanda Folena gave an absorbing performance as Britney's pushy mother and the narrator of the musical. Adam Berry delivered a charming Mr. Hobojangles to Molly Bell's Shirley Temple type child in one musical segment. Molly Bell gave a dynamic performance as Britney. She switched from child to women through the fast-paced direction of Daya Curley. She sometimes lip-synced Britney's well known songs but was breathtaking when she used her own vocal cords and danced up a storm in many of the scenes. Becoming Britney has some great numbers, especially one about New York City that is reminiscent of "N.Y.C." from Annie. There is even a dream ballet that reminded me of Oklahoma! and Carousel. Mandy Bell and Lisa Navarro's choreography was power driven, running from hip-hop to disco and I even saw a little Busby Berkeley in the dance numbers. Projections by Daya Curley enhanced the action of this fast-paced, all singing and dancing musical. Music was provided by musical director Greg Zema. He was a great asset to the musical. Becoming Britney ran through November 21 at the Knights 3 small theatre in the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek.
I grew up liking this interesting character and was scared to death at age six watching Bela Lugosi in the Tod Browning movie version of Dracula. I saw the 1977 Broadway production of the play in 1977 with Frank Langella as well as the London production starring Terence Stamp. The last time I saw the non-musical version was with Jeremy Brett in the title role. Several years ago I saw Dracula, the Musical. Yep, I am a Dracula fan. Director Michael Butler's production was very chic and nicely overly melodramatic, thanks to the great portrayal of the vampire by opera sensation and Broadway veteran Eugene Brancoveanu. He played Dracula as the urbane and theatrical but acceptable character you would see in London society of the time. You would never guess that he loved "to drink your blood." Dracula was surrounded by women who looked like they could have been in Macbeth, which added to the creepiness of the melodrama. Robert Sicular was excellent as Professor Van Helsing, with crosses and wolfsbane in his suitcase. He really took the character seriously, and I loved his melodramatic acting. Thomas Gorrebeeck made a handsome Jonathan Harker with his Victorian style of acting, while Michael Wiles as Dr. Seward and Sam Leichter as Butterworth gave good performances. Michael Barrett Austin was outstanding as mental patient Renfield. He not only acted the part of a lunatic, but looked the part with a strange cage over this face. He certainly had a way with flies. Madeline H.D. Brown and Kendra Lee Oberhauser with perfect English accents were enchanting as the objects of Dracula's bloodlust. They easily and marvelously morphed from naive to enchantress. Kim A. Tolman designed a wonderful creepy set that looked like a German Expressionist film of the 1920s. Lighting by Kurt Landisman and Cliff Caruthers' sound enhanced the production. Costumes by Victoria Livingston-Hall and wigs by Judy Disbrow were superbly Victorian. Dracula ran through November 20th at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Coming up next is Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol running from December 9 through December 19th. For tickets call 925-943-7469 or on line at www.cernterrep.org.
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