|
|
 |
|
|
|
"Songs"
Breaks Tradition, Needs Improvement
|
Kerri
Kanelos
December
30th 2003 |
|
 Trinity
Repertory Company seems so full of holiday
merriment and tradition this season with its
annual run of "A Christmas Carol"
that they have completely turned the theatrical
tables with "Songs of Innocence, Songs
of Experience," a lengthy musical cabaret
for those looking for something different.
Starring Trinity Rep regular Rachael Warren,
"Songs" is a two-hour journey through
some of the greatest American music of our
time. This performance originally began as
a smaller, twenty song restaurant cabaret
created by Warren and Trinity's Associate
Artistic Director Amanda Dehnert. The finished
piece rounds out at over two hours in length
and includes almost sixty songs.
In order to
set the mood, the stage designers transformed
the Dowling Theatre into a full service bar
and shoddy hangout. Several rows of seating
were removed to accommodate restaurant style
booths and tables. Above the bar hangs an
enormous marquee that proudly advertises the
artists featured in "Songs"-McCartney,
Lennon, DiFranco, Newman and Lovett to name
a few. A live band consisting of Dehnert on
piano, Kevin Fallon and Mike Sartini provide
the best live sound possible in the theatre.
Besides the seating changes, the stage itself
remains rather unadorned. Basic scaffolding
and a few costume props allow the actors and
musicians to change the setting at any time
with minimal effort.
All fifty-eight
songs are sung almost exclusively by Warren,
who is a superb actress and a solid singer.
Most noted for her previous Trinity Rep performance
as Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady,"
Warren commands the audience's attention throughout
each tune. "Songs" has no solid
plot, characters or setting-one minute, Warren
is a young girl dreaming of a pony; the next,
she is an elderly man longing for the voice
of his former lover. The only reoccurring
theme throughout the cabaret is the birthday
cake that appears as Warren's character grows
from a thirteen year old girl into a nineteen
year old woman. During Dar Williams' "The
Babysitter's Here," Warren plays the
perfect little girl who adores her babysitter
and is completely crushed to learn that she
is leaving. With the turn of a hat, she suddenly
becomes a wise cracking older man, joking
with the audience about anti-American sentiment
and singing "(CNN)" by Randy Newman.
By the second
act, the sheer size of the performance begins
to wear and it is Warren's acting that keeps
the story from becoming a total bore. Unfortunately,
Warren's vocals are not diverse enough to
handle that many songs in new and creative
ways. I am sure that the original, cut down
cabaret of "Songs" gave the actors
a solid amount of selections to work through.
This version includes far too many tunes,
especially country-western ballads. Drew Battles,
Miriam Silverman and Justin Blanchard provide
some much needed help in terms of background
vocals. They even have the opportunity to
steal the stage during a few songs, which
gives the audience a refreshing break from
Warren's singing.
Although "Songs"
lacks in some areas, it is still a welcome
break from most theatrical pieces. Only Dehnert
and Warren have the musical talent and creativity
to combine Tori Amos and Ani DiFranco with
the likes of Tom Waits and Billy Joel. I would
enjoy seeing another piece created and performed
by this duo-but with a little more tightening.
"Songs
of Innocence, Songs of Experience" is
showing now through January 25th at Trinity
Repertory Company. Call the box office
at (401) 351-4242 for ticket and performance
information.
This article was previously
published on www.lovethyjob.com |
| |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
