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A CurtainUp Review
The Road to Qatar!
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I have only one question, Michael? What the hell are we doing? — Jeffrey What every red blooded Gay American only dreams about. We're writing a musical. — Michael |
James Beaman & Keith Gerchak
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If truth is presumably stranger than fiction, then let it be known that this musical may be one of the strangest collaborations in American-Qatar musical theatre history. It is based on, or at least suggested by, the experiences of composer David Krane and lyricist and book writer Stephen Cole while they were sequestered in a swanky hotel in "Oil-Land" to concoct, compose and complete a ninety minute musical in six weeks. For whatever reason, they are represented on stage by doppelgangers known hereafter as Michael (James Beaman) and Jeffrey (Keith Gerchak.)
While it would be easy to dismiss this unconscionably inept showcase as simply the Ishtar of musicals, I think it only fair to say that the five-member cast performed the material to the best of their ability, which is not to imply I am paying the actors a compliment. Beaman, who states in his program bio that he "is thrilled to make his York debut" should be concerned that the thrill may be his alone. Gerchak, whose bio explains that he is "the great-grandson of Russian Jewish vaudevillians, " and that he "started performing in 2nd grade, " should have no qualms about bragging that his original performing style and technique have, in fact, remained intact.
It wouldn't be fair to ignore the wretched score that consists of fourteen forgettable songs, all of which have notes that go up and down, fast and slow with discomforting predictability, as the five musicians, under the musical direction of David Caldwell, kept reminding us.
The supporting cast — Bill Nolte, Sarah Stiles, and Bruce Warren— have the unenviable task of playing various Middle Eastern types in the most embarrassing, insulting and condescending manner imaginable. I could spend time and space filling up a couple of paragraphs with the inane dialogue that we were obliged to hear, but let's cut to the chase with this one exchange: Jeffrey: "You're Michael, aren't you? "Michael: "You must be Jeffrey. Wow! It's like looking in a short Jewish mirror. " Jeffrey: "I know. How did they know to put us together? Did they have a height requirement?"
It is a shame that director Phillip George (best known for his direction of Forbidden Broadway) and his conspiratorial choreographer Bob Richard are destined to be forever identified with what is surely to be the nadir of the Off Broadway season. But even with its surplus of amateurish shtick and deplorably unfunny antics, The Road to Qatar does have one thing going for it: Ms Stiles, a petite and frisky/funny trouper with a big voice who puts over the show's only amusing song in which her character goes on a personality-transforming shopping spree "Nazirah's in London."
The designers Michael Bottari & Ronald Case contributed some seriously tacky interior settings that presumably suggest without much flair or imagination such otherwise exotic locales as Dubai, Bratislava, London and, of course, Qatar. But they also designed a really adorable camel that knows enough to drop an incriminating load during the finale.
Speaking of Ishtar, the memorably horrible 1987 film in which Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty play a pair of untalented entertainers on the run who end up causing a revolution in Morocco, let it be noted that there was that look of revolt on the faces of audience members at the York Theatre on the night I attended. Before the show began an announcement was made that there would be a delay because a patron was stuck in the elevator. Apparently help did not come in time for her to see the show. When help finally came, the management reportedly gave her a cookie and a pass to come back. Which one of Mohammed's angels was perched on her shoulder?
To be fair, the York Theatre Company has a long and respected history of nurturing and producing new musicals. We can rest assured that whatever comes next is a step in the right direction.
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The Road to Qatar! Book and lyrics by Stephen Cole; music by David Krane— Direction by Phillip George Choreography by Bob Richard Cast: James Beaman (Michael), Keith Gerchak (Jeffrey), Bill Nolte (Mansour and others) Sarah Stiles (Nazirah and others), Bruce Warren (Farid and others) Set, Costume & Puppet Design: Michael Bottari & Ronald Case Lights: Martin Vreeland Projections: Chris Kateff Stage Manager: Sarah Hall Musical direction by David Caldwell : Running time: 95 minutes without intermission York Theater, Lexington Avenue and 54th Street From 1/25/11; opening 2/03/11; closing 2/27/11. Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m., Wednesdays- Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m., with special Sunday matinee performances on February 13th, 20th & 27th at 2:30pm. Tickets are $67.50. Reviewed by Simon Saltzman at January 31st press performance |
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