SGN Page 25

Friday
March 30, 2007
SGN.org

Volume 35
Issue 13

search only SGN online

Friday, Sep 05, 2008

PREVIOUS EDITIONS

SGN ADVERTISING INFORMATION

site map

Direction and choreography distinguish world premiere musical

Direction and choreography distinguish world premiere musical
by Jacob Clark - SGN A&E Writer Opening a new musical is no small task. Without any traditions or choreography established by a Broadway run, everything is newly created. Directing any musical is a big job, coordinating all the elements that go into a successful show. Choreographing a new musical, without the dance notes that come with an established play requires serious talent. Steve Tomkins serves the dual role of director and choreographer of Once Upon a Time in New Jersey, now enjoying its maiden run at Issaquah's Village Theatre. I'm pleased to report that Tomkins does a masterful job in both roles, and along with Musical Director R. J. Tancioco, has turned in a winner. Of course, their efforts would be in vain if the book, music and lyrics were not up to par. Susan DiLallo has created a Book that moves, that uses song to further the plot, with smart Lyrics, using rhyme to comedic effect or rhythm to match the music in the show's lovely ballads. Stephen Weiner's Music perfectly matches the mood of each scene and uses 1950's styling as a jumping off point for snappy, memorable tunes. The play tells the story of two love triangles. One triangle concerns Vinnie, a somewhat shy young man who works in his mother's deli. Vinnie is in love with Angie, who works with him. Angie is smitten with Rocco, a "Fonzie" type lothario who treats his women shabbily, and they love him even more for it. Meanwhile, Rocco has a dalliance with Celeste, the blonde bombshell wife of mobster Billy Castiglione. In order to escape the wrath of the mobster, Rocco trades places with Vinnie, which creates riotously hilarious scenes in the near perfect second act. The play in its present form isn't perfect. The first act is about 10 minutes too long. It would play much better if one of the songs were cut, but I'm at my wits end trying to decide just which song could be sacrificed. They're all interwoven with the plot, and each one is imminently memorable. My favorite songs from the play, the opening number "Once Upon a Time in New Jersey", the rollicking "Rocco", the hilarious "How'd You Like to be Me", the tender-sweet "I Always Knew it was You" were still playing in my head as I drove around town doing errands the next day. There's not a weak voice in the cast, and the comic acting is appropriately screwball. Christian Duhamel plays the intellectual, retiring Vinnie, the most original character in the play, with just the right amount of nonplussed naiveté and sincerity to make the character sympathetic, and when he changes places with Rocco (wonderfully realized by Dane Stokinger), his inner-Fonz comes out hilariously. Carolyn Magoon plays the ditzy blonde Celeste with every gesture dripping with innuendo and a kind of innocent sexuality, which is quite wonderful. Nick DeSantis and Matt Shimkus play Rocco's sidekicks, Buddy and Tony, with great bravado and steal the show when they disguise themselves as priests. Both of their songs, "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" and "God Knows Mrs. LoBianco" are presented with high comic spirit and commitment to the material, and the pair have so much fun, it infects the whole audience. Krystle Armstrong rounds out the leads as Angie, Vinnie's love interest, engendering the same kind of sympathy as Duhamel gets. The role is somewhat thankless, requiring the actress to set up the laughs that Vinnie, Rocco and Celeste get, and Armstrong rises to the occasion every time. Without her set ups the jokes would fall flat. In the supporting roles, R.T.Sanderona is fabulous as the hitman, Ed Vendetta. Kristin Culp is terrific as Conchetta. Culp has that extra sparkle that sets her apart in the chorus. Bobbi Kotula plays Vinnie's mother, Millie, with a great East Coast Urban accent, and plays especially well with DeSantis and Shimkus in "God Knows Mrs. LoBianco." Bill Forester's storybook set is a perfect cartoon. The two-dimensionality and the bright colors prepare the audience for the fun to come. Once Upon a Time in New Jersey is, after all, not a message play, or an experimental play. It is tremendous fun for the audience, and in these dangerous news-filled days, provides a couple hours of happy relief. Performed in Issaquah through April 22. Tickets/info 425-392-2202. Performed in Everett April 27-May 13. Tickets/info 425-257-8600.