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A CurtainUp Review
See Rock City & Other Destinations
By' Simon' Saltzman
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With every barn that i pass i'm persuaded; At every rooftop my route realigns. I'm done with marking time Now that i've seen the signs: They say to 'see rock city!' In letters ten feet high. I've got to see rock city! Won't let the chance go by. Can't you feel the thrill? Just four more hours till: Rock city. . . Now after years on the highway, I think i finally see Where i'm meant to be.. —Jess |
Sally Wilfert, Mamie Parris, and Donna Lynne Champlin.
(Photo by Carol Rosegg) |
Most of the songs are laudable for being character-driven, and for bringing a commendable emotional depth to the various characters, each of whom has only a short time in which to make an impression. Rock City & Other Destinations, which was originally presented at the National Alliance for Musical Theatres' Festival of New Musicals, takes us to places that some of us have been and also been through metaphorically.
Despite a production concept that appears mostly the result of budgetary restraint, this is a serious-minded cycle of songs and life-altering experiences. It revolves around a group of unrelated young people, individuals and couples who go on a quest seeking personal fulfillment and direction. Originally developed and produced at Barrington Stage in Pittsfield MA, See Rock City & Other Destinations (Elyse Sommer's Review of that devepmental production), is not driven by a single plot but rather by its unifying theme, to see the different ways that young people in general tend to explore their feelings of loneliness as they also search for an identity and validation.
A large empty space is before us as we enter the Duke Theatre. There are no theater seats. At the far end of the space is a large pile, let's call it a mountain of colorfully striped deck chairs. It resembles something a child would erect in his room following a tantrum. We were among the first to enter. All I could think was, "I hope I don't have to wait for everyone to enter before someone takes pity and offers us a couple of those chairs." Before I lost my cool and made a bee-line for one of those chairs, the cast appeared and began to hand them out and create the environment. A kind of circular boundary of chairs was created around the action. It was certainly comfortable and relaxing even without the sun and a beach umbrella. A novel idea, or is it? Will the cast be interacting with us? Will some wild Brazilian acrobats be flying over our heads? No, that's a different show.
What are we in for and where are we headed? "Rock City" is where the almost sullen Jess (Bryce Ryness), says he is headed as he sits forlornly in a roadside diner. "I'm ready," says Dodi (Mamie Parris), the pretty waitress who takes an instant liking to him. She packs a peach pie and they are off together and soon climbing to the top of the highest boulder in Rock City. They can see for miles and miles and discover a sense of belonging in a lovely duet "I Can Tell."
We are less optimistic about Evan (Stanley Bahorek), who, after being fired from his job and getting dumped by his girlfriend, stands alone on the grounds of Walker Air Force Base with his telescope and recording equipment. Gazing up at the stars, he hopes ("We Are Not Alone") to see a UFO. Just guess what is bound to happen. Locations change swiftly and effortlessly under the direction of Jack Cummings III. The lonely Lauren (Sally Wilfert) has devoted her life to the care of her grandfather (Ryan Hilliard,) a stroke victim confined to his wheelchair. During their yearly pilgrimage to a spot near the Alamo where the ailing widower communes with the spirit of his dead wife, Lauren meets a personable, good-looking stranger (Jonathan Hammond) and, as Lauren sings, "All There is to Say."
Three sisters, played by Donna Lynne Champlin, Wilfert, and Parris, take a cruise to Alaska to say a final goodbye to Daddy by dumping his ashes in Glacier Bay. Their eulogy "Three Fair Queens" is a delight as it affectionately parodies the harmonics of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Three Little Maids From School Are We" from The Mikado. If you think that Bahorek is in a no-win situation waiting for a UFO to appear, it gets worse when he plays Rick, a teenager with a crush on his bullying buddy Cutter (Ryness). The composers spend a considerable amount of time and three trenchant songs following the disintegration of their friendship during a day at Coney Island.
The final segment follows a nervous bride-to-be all dressed in her wedding gown as she harbors second thoughts about getting married, takes a desperation tour of Niagara Falls, and ends up standing on the ledge of Lover's Leap. The decision on whether or not to get married isn't an easy one, but neither are the decisions and choices made by the other characters that we've met during these journeys of self-discovery.
I have nothing but admiration and praise for the seven singing actors who are obliged to play multiple roles, all extremely well. But it's the musical collaborators, winners of the Richard Rodgers Award and Jerry Bock Award for See Rock City & Other Destinations, who are the real stars of this bittersweet (subtitled) "musical travelogue."
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See Rock City & Other Locations' Music by Brad Alexander' Book and Lyrics by Adam Mathias' Directed by Jack Cummings III Cast: Stanley Bahorek (Evan/Rick), Donna Lynne Champlin (Claire/Kate), Jonathan Hammond (Dempsey/Tour Guide), Ryan Hilliard (Grampy/Carney), Mamie Parris (Dodi/Lily), Bryce Ryness (Jess/Cutter), Sally Wilfert (Lauren/Judy) ' Musicians: Justin Hatchimonji (piano), Steve Count (bass), Craig Magnano (guitar), Christine Kim (cello) ' Musical Director/Orchestrator/Vocal Arrangements: Justin Hatchimonji' Set and Costume Design: Dane Laffrey' Lighting Design: R. Lee Kennedy' Musicians: Justin Hatchimonji-piano; Steve Count-Bass; Craig Magnano-Guitar; Christine Kim-Cello Running Time: 1 hours 45 minutes no intermission' The Duke, 229 42nd Street' (646) 223 - 3010' Performances: Tuesday through Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM and 8 PM; and Sunday at 3 PM and 7 PM. ' Tickets ($48) ' Previews began: 07/17/10' Opened 07/25/10' Closes 08/14/10' Review by Simon Saltzman based on performance 07/21/10 MUSICAL NUMBERS Rock City/Jess I Can Tell/Dodi & Jess Mile After Mile/Dodi & Jess We Are Not Alone/Evan All There Is To Say/Lauren Grampy's SongGrampy We Are Not Alone (reprise)/Evan Three Fair Queens/Lily, Claire & Judy Here/Evan Q Train to Coney /Island/Cutter & Rick You Are My/Cutter & Rick Dark Ride/Cutter & Rick Niagara Falls The To/ur/Tour Guide & Kate What Am I Afraid Of?/Kate Some People Do/Finale/ Tour Guide, Kate & All |
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