[NEohioPAL]Review BABY at Kalliope

Tue Jun 28 07:02:06 PDT 2005

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Cleveland Plain Dealer

Kalliope delivers a winner about relationships with BABY

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Zachary Lewis

Special to The Plain Dealer

Kalliope Stage has on its hands a production of nearly universal  
appeal, even if the theater itself is not quite of universal capacity.

BABY, the touching 1983 musical comedy by David Shire with lyrics by  
Richard Maltby Jr., will seem most relevant to those who have or are  
contemplating children, but those who don't or aren't should not feel  
excluded. Only those who can't get tickets at this cozy storefront  
theater will be shut out.

More than pregnancy, BABY is broadly interested in the ways  
relationships adapt to life-changing circumstances - and anyone can  
share that interest.

Timing is the operative factor. It's one thing for Danny and Lizzie,  
a college-age couple, to discover they're with child, but something  
else entirely for the middle-age Alan and Arlene, who get the good  
news just when they thought their nest was finally empty and it was  
time to downsize.

A third couple find themselves in an even more precarious situation.  
Nick and Pam want desperately to be parents but can't get pregnant.  
Most of their struggle consists of conversations in bed, the stage's  
lone set piece.

Paul Gurgol, the artistic head of Kalliope Stage, directs an  
energetic, gifted and well-cast troupe that manages to mimic genuine  
human feeling and true 1980s fashion without losing its realistic  
balance.

Just as remarkably, no one misses a note in this challenging if  
stylistically dated musical score. The actors belt out their songs  
with equal assurance despite Shire's winding harmonies, counterpoint  
and frequent key changes. Brad Wyner leads an accompanying trio of  
keyboard, guitar and drums.

Scott Posey's Nick is a sympathetically conflicted character, torn  
between his nagging sense of inadequacy and his determination to be  
strong. His wife, meanwhile, played by Kris Comer, rides a wave of  
fully understandable emotions from overwhelming joy (I Want It All)  
to doubts about her femininity and fear for her marriage.

Carrie Hall, as Lizzie, blows away her competitors in the vocal-power  
department, most notably in The Story Goes On. She also portrays  
Lizzie as a bright-eyed young woman trying to combine motherhood with  
a fierce independent streak. Andrew Smith plays Danny, her likable  
and sincere but slightly goofy partner who earns money touring with a  
Def Leppard-like rock band.

Just as Alan and Arlene are the only characters who actually know  
what they're getting into, John Jensen and Adina Bloom bring the  
greatest depth of experience to their performances. The show's most  
honest song, in fact, Easier to Love," comes from Jensen. Each  
relationship is a model in its way, but theirs is the one to aspire to.

***

Baby plays Wednesday to Sunday through July 31 at Kalliope Stage,  
2134 Lee Road, Cleveland Hts, OH 44118. Call for tickets:  
216-321-0870, or online at www.KalliopeStage.com. Some performances  
are sold out. 
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140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; =
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class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"5"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 18px;"><B><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
color=3D"#020202">Cleveland Plain Dealer</FONT></B></SPAN></FONT></P><P =
class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt =
84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt =
336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><SPAN =
style=3D""><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" color=3D"#C91425"><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"5"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 18px;"><B>Kalliope delivers a winner about =
relationships with BABY</B></SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P><P =
class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt =
84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt =
336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><SPAN =
style=3D"">Tuesday, June 28, 2005</SPAN><SPAN =
style=3D""><O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><P class=3D"MsoNormal" =
style=3D"mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt =
140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; =
mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><SPAN =
style=3D""><B>Zachary Lewis</B><O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><P =
class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt =
84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt =
336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><SPAN =
style=3D"">Special to The Plain Dealer</SPAN><SPAN =
style=3D""><O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><P class=3D"MsoNormal" =
style=3D"margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops: 28.0pt =
56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt =
308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><SPAN =
style=3D"">Kalliope Stage has on its hands a production of nearly =
universal appeal, even if the theater itself is not quite of universal =
capacity.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><P class=3D"MsoNormal" =
style=3D"margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops: 28.0pt =
56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt =
308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><SPAN =
style=3D"">BABY, the touching 1983 musical comedy by David Shire with =
lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr., will seem most relevant to those who have =
or are contemplating children, but those who don't or aren't should not =
feel excluded. Only those who can't get tickets at this cozy storefront =
theater will be shut out.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><P class=3D"MsoNormal" =
style=3D"margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops: 28.0pt =
56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt =
308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><SPAN =
style=3D"">More than pregnancy, BABY is broadly interested in the ways =
relationships adapt to life-changing circumstances - and anyone can =
share that interest.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><P class=3D"MsoNormal" =
style=3D"margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops: 28.0pt =
56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt =
308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><SPAN =
style=3D"">Timing is the operative factor. It's one thing for Danny and =
Lizzie, a college-age couple, to discover they're with child, but =
something else entirely for the middle-age Alan and Arlene, who get the =
good news just when they thought their nest was finally empty and it was =
time to downsize.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><P class=3D"MsoNormal" =
style=3D"margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops: 28.0pt =
56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt =
308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><SPAN =
style=3D"">A third couple find themselves in an even more precarious =
situation. Nick and Pam want desperately to be parents but can't get =
pregnant. Most of their struggle consists of conversations in bed, the =
stage's lone set piece.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><P class=3D"MsoNormal" =
style=3D"margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops: 28.0pt =
56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt =
308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><SPAN =
style=3D"">Paul Gurgol, the artistic head of Kalliope Stage, directs an =
energetic, gifted and well-cast troupe that manages to mimic genuine =
human feeling and true 1980s fashion without losing its realistic =
balance.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><P class=3D"MsoNormal" =
style=3D"margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops: 28.0pt =
56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt =
308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><SPAN =
style=3D"">Just as remarkably, no one misses a note in this challenging =
if stylistically dated musical score. The actors belt out their songs =
with equal assurance despite Shire's winding harmonies, counterpoint and =
frequent key changes. Brad Wyner leads an accompanying trio of keyboard, =
guitar and drums.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><P class=3D"MsoNormal" =
style=3D"margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops: 28.0pt =
56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt =
308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><SPAN =
style=3D"">Scott Posey's Nick is a sympathetically conflicted character, =
torn between his nagging sense of inadequacy and his determination to be =
strong. His wife, meanwhile, played by Kris Comer, rides a wave of fully =
understandable emotions from overwhelming joy (I Want It All) to doubts =
about her femininity and fear for her marriage.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><P =
class=3D"MsoNormal" =
style=3D"margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops: 28.0pt =
56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt =
308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><SPAN =
style=3D"">Carrie Hall, as Lizzie, blows away her competitors in the =
vocal-power department, most notably in The Story Goes On. She also =
portrays Lizzie as a bright-eyed young woman trying to combine =
motherhood with a fierce independent streak. Andrew Smith plays Danny, =
her likable and sincere but slightly goofy partner who earns money =
touring with a Def Leppard-like rock band.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><DIV =
class=3D"MsoNormal"><SPAN style=3D"">Just as Alan and Arlene are the =
only characters who actually know what they're getting into, John Jensen =
and Adina Bloom bring the greatest depth of experience to their =
performances. The show's most honest song, in fact, Easier to Love," =
comes from Jensen. Each relationship is a model in its way, but theirs =
is the one to aspire to.<FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"ArialMT"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV =
class=3D"MsoNormal"><BR class=3D"khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV =
class=3D"MsoNormal">***</DIV><DIV class=3D"MsoNormal"><BR =
class=3D"khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV class=3D"MsoNormal">Baby =
plays Wednesday to Sunday through July 31 at Kalliope Stage, 2134 Lee =
Road, Cleveland Hts, OH 44118. Call for tickets: 216-321-0870, or online =
at <A href=3D"http://www.KalliopeStage.com">www.KalliopeStage.com</A>. =
Some performances are sold out.=A0</DIV></BODY></HTML>=

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