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Swinging on a Star
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Jones, Hoffman, Sinclair, Breithaupt
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By Melinda Schupmann
Spanning the years between the 1920's and the fifties, lyricist Johnny Burke created over 500 hundred songs that are part of American musical history. Some were better than others, and certainly lasted longer, but it is always interesting to take a look at the growth and progression of an artist. Artistic Director and Producer Shashin Desai and Director caryn morse desai [sic] have chosen this ambitious musical to launch their 16th season and further test their wings in their new permanant venue in Long Beach. Obviously, a prolific writer like Burke has had some missteps, and, unfortunately, a few are in the show.
The show looks great. Costumes by Diana Eden and lighting by Liz Stillwell bring a sparkle to the energetic endeavors of the 7 members of the cast. Anchored most solidly by Alaina Reed Hall, best known for being Olivia on Sesame Street, she is joined by a mix of dependable regulars in musical theater and television--Susan Hoffman, Nancy Sinclair, Jennifer Shelton, Stephen Breithaupt, Daniel O'Callaghan, and Dexter Jones.
The show is divided into 4 time periods: a 1920's Chicago Speakeasy, the Bowery in 1929, a New York radio show, and a USO show in the Pacific in 1944. The themes of each setting allow for the music of that time to be featured. A long list of composers make up the collaborators of Johnny Burke--Joe Bushkin, Erroll Garner, and Jimmy Van Heusen, to name a few. The production works best when the music drives the show. It is far less effective in the contrived numbers designed to tell a story.
The cast try manfully (and womanfully) to breathe life into some of the songs, but they are clearly working. Jones does some tricky footwork, but the limitations of the stage size make for some awkward moments. Hoffman and Sinclair add a perky touch to the speakeasy numbers, however the pacing of some of the slower numbers is often painfully slow. It is evident that there is an inordinate amount of work that has gone into the preparation of the show, but it just doesn't quite jell. Numbers in which the singers try to imitate old reliables like Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour are just too far from the originals for comfort.
At the same time, for the audience wishing for the "good old days," there are plenty of those moments. "Ain't It a Shame About Mame," "Pennies from Heaven," "An Apple for the Teacher," "Personality," "Swinging on a Star," "Imagination," "Going My Way"--they're all there. So the trip down memory lane works on some levels, but overall, it just comes up short.
International City Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. (562) 436-4610. Thurs.-Sat. at 8; Sun. at 2. Closes March 11.
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