Friday June 1, 2007 SGN.org |
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Volume 35 Issue 22 |
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Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008
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ACT's Souvenir:Charming and Funny and Better than Broadway |
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| ACT's Souvenir:Charming and Funny and Better than Broadway | ||
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by E. Joyce Glasgow-
SGN A&E Writer Souvenir, by Stephen Temperley A Contemporary Theatre (ACT) Runs through June 10th Florence Foster Jenkins was a wealthy, New York socialite, who began giving formal concerts in 1912 and during the 1930's and 1940's gave a number of operatic recitals, with her piano accompanist, Cosme McMoon. The one thing that made these concerts so exceptionally memorable was that Jenkins couldn't carry a tune or count out rhythm. She didn't know that though and blithely sang out, eternally fancying herself a great opera diva. She considered nothing out of her reach, and she "attacked" even the most difficult vocal pieces of Mozart, Verdi, Rachmaninoff and Brahms. Jenkins was a warm-hearted and generous person and her concerts were always done for charitable causes. By the time of her Carnegie Hall concert in 1944, she had become so renowned that two thousand people were turned away at the door. Souvenir is a "fantasia" on the special relationship she had with McMoon for a twelve year period, until her death in 1944, at 76, one month after her Carnegie Hall debut concert. McMoon, an accomplished pianist, is playing in a lounge and recalls his history with Mrs. Jenkins. We go back in time to the Ritz Carlton Hotel and their first meeting. What follows is an evening of charm, laughter, entertainment and ultimately, poignancy, as the audience is treated to the misgivings, morphing into loyalty, of McMoon and the sheer obliviousness and stubborn self- belief of Jenkins in her ability to sing. Along her incredulous, yet graceful out of tune way, she floats along in beautiful clothing and at her big appearance at Carnegie Hall, changes costumes for every song, of which we experience an exotic array of colorful attire, including an East Indian Princess for an aria from the opera, "Lakme", to a Spanish Flamenco look for McMoon's composition, "Serenata Mexicana", to a winged angel, with a Statue of Liberty spired halo, as she attempts Gounod's "Ave Maria".( In real life, Jenkins designed he own costumes and felt it was a very important part of the entertainment to change costumes at least three times during a concert.) Jenkins is played with great care by the wonderful actress and fine singer, Patti Cohenour, (who recently played Margaret Johnson, the mother, in "Light in the Piazza", at Lincoln Center). Her performance felt as though she really listened to Florence Foster Jenkins' singing before tackling the role and while portraying the absurd, treated her subject with respect and dignity. I don't know how she can put her beautiful voice through such un- natural paces, but she does so with great success. McMoon is played by Mark Anders, who sings and plays piano elegantly and moves through his changing emotions realistically and with ease. They make a great pair, playing off each other with wit, credibility and spunk. R. Hamilton Wright has directed this piece with sensitivity, clarity and understanding, bringing these two individuals to life, in a three dimensional and memorable way. Kudos to Wright for doing this play justice. Marcia Dixcy Jory has done an amazing job designing costumes, which are a flamboyant feast for the eye. I saw Souvenir on Broadway last year and was really looking forward to seeing what would be done with this interesting subject matter. I found it a bit flat and two dimensional in the way it was played and I was somewhat disappointed. The ACT production, I'm happy to report, is full of life and color and far deeper in its portrayal, giving Florence Foster Jenkins her due. Years ago, WBAI FM, a listener supported community radio station in New York, would run its fund drives, alternatingly threatening and promising to play Florence Foster Jenkins recordings to get listeners to donate money. I was a teenager and, lying in bed late at night in the dark, would listen with marvel and delight to this one-of-a-kind woman and the remarkable sounds she made. Jenkins set an example of doing what you love, no matter what, believing in yourself completely. She died a happy woman. For more information about Souvenir and other up-coming plays at ACT, including the next production, Stuff Happens, by British playwright, David Hare, playing June 22nd-July 22nd, visit: www.acttheatre.org. For more information on Florence Foster Jenkins and her currently available, re-issued recordings on CD, Google: Florence Foster Jenkins. |
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