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Dreams dissolve into dust in 'Merrily' musical
While the reverse chronology might sound confusing, it's fascinating to watch how the story unfolds and a delight to piece together the puzzle as each scene reveals more of the characters' lives. The complex show is worth the effort for those who pay attention and stick with it to the end. We begin at what should be the best day of Franklin Shepard's (Brent Ramirez) life, but it turns into his worst nightmare. At Frank's Bel Air estate, Hollywood phonies are congratulating him on the movie he just produced. But where's Charley Kringas (Ray Hebel), Frank's longtime musical writing partner and best friend? He's conspicuously absent. Frank's other best friend, theater critic Mary Flynn (double cast with Brooke Fiss and Nichole Blackburn) gets drunk, berates Frank for selling out his talent and ends their friendship. Frank is upset with his mistress, Meg (Stacey Treible and Katy Hansen), and his wife, Gussie (Blair Strong), declares that their marriage is over. As Frank cradles his head, he moans, "Why?" The rest of the play attempts to answer that question. Through the years, we see the choices that turned the three best buddies into enemies. Charley and Frank began their careers as idealistic young adults eager to use their songwriting talent to change the world. But reality sets in, and Frank, anxious to start making money, agrees to write more commercial music for a shallow comedy produced by Joe Josephson (Dave Sanford). When the show becomes a hit, Frank abandons Charley and forgoes his songwriting for fame. Frank falls for the wiles of Joe's wife, Gussie, who chases whatever man can take her to the next level of success. As a result Frank's wife, Beth (Sarah Markus), drags him through a messy divorce. The high price of fame is not a new theme, but here it's presented with style and social satire. The jet-setters Frank and Charley meet at a party in New York is called "The Blob"- the actors move together in a huddled mass, clutching their champagne glasses and uttering inanities. They're rude enough to chatter as Frank and Charley sing for them. "The Blob" at the Bel Air party is just as crass. Gussie likewise behaves like a caricature of a spoiled diva when she's in public- but she's a snake when alone with Frank. The book is by George Furth and the music by Stephen Sondheim, the hugely successful songwriter who seems to bite the theatrical hand that feeds him. The audience won't leave humming the tunes, but the music serves the story well. Highlights include "Old Friends," "It's a Hit," Beth's poignant "Not a Day Goes By," the novelty song "Bobby and Jackie and Jack" and the show's title tune, reprised during scene transitions. Hebel gives a knockout performance of "Franklin Shepard, Inc.," a patter song where he vents his feelings toward his writing partner. On a minor note, Blackburn needs more rage in her opening scene. The three-piece orchestra (Dave Watkins, Matthew Howard, John Snow) is just right for the small space. At times the singers need to project more for the audience to hear. The show is performed in the round in the small black box theater. Director John Loprieno skillfully blocks the show so the actors are constantly moving and the audience can see the actors' faces. Slides projected onto two screens effectively indicate the year and location of the scenes. The audience won't miss the lack of elaborate scenery. "Merrily" may seem heavyhanded for summertime fare, but it wittily illustrates "For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses himself?" (Luke 9:25). Due to strong language and adult themes, the show is not recommended for children. Performances continue through Sunday, Aug. 3 at the Performing Arts Center, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark. Tickets are $9 to $16. For showtimes and tickets, call (805) 378-1485 or visit www.moorparkcollege.edu/ theatre. |
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