"And the World Goes 'Round" at Jungle Theater

Legendary musical theater composing duo John Kander and Fred Ebb wrote over a dozen musicals for the American stage, from their early success Cabaret in the 1960s, through their final collaboration Scottsboro Boys, premiering after Ebb's death (with a pre-Broadway engagement at our own Guthrie Theater). And the World Goes 'Round, now playing at the Jungle Theater, is a musical revue of their songs, taking its title from the movie New York, New York. Surprisingly, I've only see four of their shows (including their two most recent ones which are not in this collection), so many of the songs were new to me. It was a delight to hear the work of this talented composing team performed by a fantastic cast of seven.

There's very little dialogue or context for the songs, just one hit after another. Director John Command notes in the playbill that he learned from Liza Minnelli (Kander and Ebb's muse) "to perform every song as if it were 'a one-act play!'" He accomplishes that here, as each song tells a story, whether funny or tragic, and makes me want to see the full musicals from which they came.

the cast of And the World Goes 'Round
(photo by Michel Daniel)

Music director extraordinaire Raymond Berg leads an onstage six-piece band that sounds impossibly smooth. The whole show has a bit of a swanky, jazzy feel, including Bain Boehlke's rich set design and the choreography that's reminiscent of the original shows. The talented cast includes Bradley Greenwald (who memorably played the Emcee in Frank Theater's gloriously seedy production of Cabaret four years ago), Tiffany Seymour, Jon Whittier, Therese Walth, William Gilness, Emily Rose Skinner, and Betti Battocletti.

Highlights include:

• The title song, which is nicely woven throughout the show and occasionally serves as transitions between songs.
• A super high energy performance of the song "Coffee in a Cardboard Cup*," a song I love but didn't know it was Kander and Ebb!
• All of the Chicago songs, including and especially "All That Jazz."
• Mournful love songs were paired together and a bit overlapped, including Bradley and Bill singing "I Don't Remember You" and "Sometimes a Day Goes By," and Jon, Therese, and Emily singing "We Can Make It," "Maybe This Time," and "Isn't This Better!"
• A rousing Act I ending number "Life Is" from Zorba, which continues "what you do when you're waiting to die, life is how the time goes by!"
• Bradley's delicious performance of the title song from Kiss of the Spider Woman (calling local musical theater companies - please stage this show and cast Bradely as the lead!).
• A very funny double duet of "The Grass is Always Greener" from Woman of the Year by Tiffany, Emily, Bill, and Bradley.
• A super jazzy version of "Cabaret" featuring the entire company, unlike I've ever heard it sung before.

And the World Goes 'Round is a cleverly staged homage to two of our greatest musical theater composers, beautifully performed by cast and band - a perfectly pleasant evening of musical theater (continuing at the Jungle through May 24).


*You can get Dunn Brothers coffee in a cardboard cup at the concession stand for only a dollar - best coffee deal in town!

"Urinetown" at the Jungle Theater

The Broadway musical with the unfortunate title became a hit and won three Tony Awards in 2002. I saw the first national tour almost ten years ago and loved it. I don't remember much about the actual production, but the soundtrack has become one of my favorites and I've been waiting for a local theater to do a production of it. The wait is over! The Jungle Theater's new production is everything I could have hoped for. What is Urinetown? This Urinetown is biting social and political commentary, an homage to musical theater history and form, a fantastic score, great and inventive choreography, a truly wonderful local cast of almost two dozen, and hilarious. I told you a few days ago that Clybourne Park should be number one on your summer to-do list. Number two should be Urinetown. Or, well, I guess number one would be more appropriate. Either way, these two are both must-see shows!

Officer Lockstock (Bradley Greenwald)
Little Sally (Elisa Pluhar)
(photo by Michal Daniel)

Urinetown is set in a dystopian future in which an extreme water shortage and corrupt businessmen and politicians have resulted in private bathrooms being illegal. Everyone must pay to use the "public amenities," with ever-increasing fees. The difference between the haves and have-nots is extreme, with the populace living in poverty and saving every penny, while the owner of Urine Good Company, which controls the amenities, and his pals live in luxury. (You see why this story is so great, and a little scary?) The story is narrated by Officer Lockstock (the incomparable Bradley Greenwald, who is blessed with a gorgeous singing voice as well as great comedic talent). His sidekick, Little Sally (the adorable Elisa Pluhar), is constantly asking him tough questions. Their conversation frequently breaks the 4th wall as they comment on the show at hand. As Ms. Pennywise (the always fantastic Kersten Rodau) fiercely enforces the fees, the hero of our story, Bobby Strong (a likeable Patrick Morgan), decides that people shouldn't have to pay to pee, and leads them in a revolution to take back the toilets. Along the way he falls in love with the innocent and trusting Hope (a sweet -voiced Tiffany Seymour), daughter of the evil Mr. Cladwell (Gary Briggle, who revels in his character's dastardly demeanor). As we're told, this is not a happy musical. We don't get the happy ending we expect, but it sure is fun to watch it all unfold.

A few of my favorite things:

• Officer Lockstock beating the crowd with his club in slow motion. Perhaps the most beautiful and hilarious slo-mo fight choreography I've ever seen. I'm not even sure what else was going on in that scene, I couldn't take my eyes off the beating!
• All of the references to musicals in the choreography and score, including Les Miserables, Fiddler on the Roof, and West Side Story, with uncontrolled finger-snapping (my second-favorite West Side Story parody).
• Bradley's ridiculously long extended run on the phrase "down and out."
• Remembering that my favorite song in the score, "Run Freedom Run," is ever so much better live. This is the moment when Patrick completely won me over in his portrayal of Bobby. I wanted to stand up and join the chorus the he so enthusiastically directs!
• Every word that Little Sally says. So funny to hear such smart things come out of a "little girl."
• This: "Don't you think people want to be told their way of life is unsustainable?"
• The hugely talented ensemble that sounds amazing in the Jungle's intimate space - a full, gorgeous sound.
• Kertsen's delivery of my favorite lines - "it's blinding me!" and "you get it out of the clouds!" She's hilarious with a seriously powerful voice.
• The choreography by John Command (who also directs), which features many different styles and references. The Jungle's is a small stage, but this large cast moves with controlled chaos around it.
• The five-piece orchestra directed by Raymond Berg that sounds bigger than it is on this score with several different musical styles.
• The costumes (by Kathy Kohl), which range from charming but realistically shabby rags for the have-nots to slick suits for the haves. One of my favorite details was the signature pattern for the UGC, present in some small way on every employee.
• The clever character names, some of which are never heard onstage (that I remember). Lockstock and Barrel, Caldwell B. Cladwell, Hot Blades Harry, Penelope Pennwise, Little Becky Two-Shoes, and of course, the aptly named Hope.
• Last but not least, the set by Bain Boehlke. I can never not mention the set of a Jungle show because they're always so perfect. In this case, the stage is made as large as possible with scaffolding, ladders, boxes, and other junk around all sides. The public amenity door spins around to reveal Mr. Cladwell's office.

If you like classic, traditional musicals, Urinetown might not be the show for you. But if you like smart, funny, edgy, relevant musicals, go see what is sure to become the hit musical of the summer. Playing now through August 11, so you have no excuse not to get there.

Bobby Strong (Patrick Morgan) leads the people
(photo by Michal Daniel)

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" at the Jungle Theater

Since hearing Stephen Sondheim talk about his life in musical theater last year, I've been on a mission to see more of his shows.  And I've done pretty well so far: A Little Night Music on Broadway last year, Into the Woods at Bloomington Civic Theatre earlier this year, and the filmed concert version of Company at my local movie theater last week.  A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is definitely the lightest of these pieces.  Nothing serious or thoughtful about it, just a ridiculously good time.

As usual, the Jungle puts on a wonderful production.  I wasn't sure how they would fit a big musical onto their tiny stage, but it works!  As Jungle Artistic Director Bain Boehlke said to director John Command when he asked about the space limitations, "well, Rome is crowded."  But the show doesn't feel crowded, it feels intimate and immediate, as if we were all gathered in some ancient Roman theater, watching the spectacle unfold before us.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is based on Roman farces, but also includes a few jokes about the current state of affairs.  Featuring slaves, whores, soldiers, long-lost children, and mistaken identities, the plot is completely silly, and really less important than the songs and performances.  The most familiar song is "Tragedy Tomorrow, Comedy Tonight," the lyrics of which very accurately sum up the show:

Something familiar,
Something peculiar,
Something for everyone:
A comedy tonight!

The cast of 20 features real life married couple Richard Ooms and Claudia Wilkens as married couple Senex and Domina.  Richard is hilarious and slightly creepy as "That Dirty Old Man," and Claudia is a commanding presence as his wife.  Senex has two slaves, the dedicated Hysterium (Jon Whittier), who only wants things to return to normal, and our narrator Pseudolus (Christopher Teipner), who dreams of being "Free!"  It's this dream that spurs on the action of the play, as Pseudolus finagles and manipulates to bring together Senex's sweet and earnest son Hero (Eric Heimsoth, who also appeared in Into the Woods) with his love Philia (Amanda Schnabel).  If he succeeds, Hero promises to give Pseudolus his freedom. 

One big obstacle keeping the lovebirds apart is the soldier Miles Gloriosus, who has already "bought" the lady in question.  Bradley Greenwald (one of my favorite local actors) plays Miles in all his pompous splendor.  What first drew me to Bradley was his incredible voice, but he's also a very fine actor.  He brought such depth to his performance as the emcee in Frank Theatre's Cabaret earlier this year.  But there's nothing deep about Miles Gloriosus, he's all bravado.  And Bradley steals every scene he's in, with just the look on his face or the way he walks across the stage in his full and glorious armor.  My favorite comedy moment is when he imitates a Glockenspiel.  If you get the joke, it's hilarious.  Bradley and the Jungle are reprising the show I Am My Own Wife, for which he received an Ivey Award, later this season, which I'm very much looking forward to.

The rest of the cast is entertaining as well.  I particularly enjoyed "The Proteans" - five men who play various roles and also perform some impressive and inventive choreography.  Josiah Gulden is the smarmy, overly tan, mustachioed owner of the whorehouse, in which half a dozen lovely and diverse "courtesans" reside (reminding me of another Sondheim show, Gypsy - “You Gotta Get a Gimmick”).  The whole cast plays together beautifully and hilariously.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is playing through the end of July.  It's a fun, light, entertaining, ridiculous, great summer show.


P.S. Topping my Stephen Sondheim wishlist are Sunday in the Park with George and Assassins, in case any local theaters are looking for Sondheim shows to fill their schedule next season.  :)