[NEohioPAL]Berko review: NITE CLUB CONFIDENTIAL (Kalliope Stage)

[Roy Berko]

Kalliope’s ‘NITE CLUB CONFIDENTIAL’ short on substance

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times

Since its inception three years ago, Kalliope Stage
has had many exciting and well executed shows such as
‘THE SUMMER OF ‘42,’ OPAL,’ ‘CABARET’ and ‘BABY.’ 
Unfortunately, their latest offering, ‘NITE CLUB
CONFIDENTIAL’ can’t be added to that list.  

The shallowness of the show is surprising since,
according to program notes, the show, as directed by
Kalliope’s artistic director Paul F. Gurgol, was
nominated for five Barrymore awards in Philadelphia. 
How?  I’m not sure.  The story line is weak, many of
the songs in the cabaret-formatted script are bland,
and the staging lacks dynamism.

At the start, the theatre goes black.  Three shots are
heard, sirens sound, the lights come up and a body is
sprawled on the stairs.   The corpse rises and he
tells us that we are going to view a dramatic parody
that highlights an Eisenhower administration/jazz-era
time period musical, and have a glimpse of club
glamour of the times. 

‘NITE CLUB CONFIDENTIAL,’ with book by Dennis Deal and
songs and arrangements by Deal and Albert Evans,
revolves around the fading career of Kay Goodman, a
Sinatra wannabe Buck Holden, and a group named The
High Hopes. 

The score includes “Comment Allez-Vous?,” “Love Isn’t
Born, It’s Made,” “Nothing Can Replace a Man,” “The
Canarsie Diner,” “He Never Leaves His Love Behind,”
and “Crazy New Words.”  Never heard of them,?  Don’t
worry, you haven’t missed much.  On the other hand,
“Goody Goody,” “I Thought About You,” and “That Old
Black Magic” may be familiar.  

The story doesn’t hold together well, the lines are
often corny, the reprises are excessive and the
personalities don’t ring true.

Gurgol’s directing doesn’t help much.  Segments drag,
the choreography is stilted, and the characterizations
are often flat.  With the exception of the song
“Cloudburst,” the song renditions aren’t memorable. 
At intermission a jazz aficionada was overheard
commenting on the lack of effective arrangements.

The cast is uneven.  Slight, handsome Steve Parmenter
fails to create a believable character as Buck, the
manipulating limited in talent singer/dancer who
attempts to sleep his way to the top.  As with the
script, Parmenter is more show that substance.  

Trudi Posey tries too hard as the washed up former
star.  She is quite unbelievable.  There is no sexual
energy between her and Parmenter, a requisite for the
parts.  The same can be said for Parmenter and Liz
O’Donnell, who portrays Trudi, supposedly Buck’s real
love.  O’Donnell comes out as the strongest performer
and singer in the production.  Charles Statham and
Mark Ludden sing well but are less than convincing as
the remaining members of The High Hopes.

Technically, the show is solid.  Kim Brown’s costumes,
especially the women’s dresses are smashing.  Lance
Switzer and Steven Shack’s lighting design and
Krystyna Loboda’s red and black tacky set works well. 
Musical Director Michael Hamilton and his orchestra
are quite good.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:   Kalliope Stage has proven it is
so much better than their present ‘NITE CLUB
CONFIDENTIAL.’  Let’s hope that for their next
production a better vehicle is picked and the real
talent of the director and the cast comes forth.

‘NITE CLUB CONFIDENTIAL’ runs through December 9 at
2134 Lee Road.  For tickets call 216-321-0870 or go on
line to www.KalliopeStage.com.  Kalliope’s next
production is ‘THE TINIEST GIFT’ which will be
presented from December 13 to the 23rd.  According to
Gurgol, in his pre-curtain speech, only 200 seats
remain for the show.  If you are planning to attend
call now for tickets.  February brings a Cleveland
favorite, ‘JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING
IN PARIS.’



Roy Berko's theatre blog, which includes reviews of all recent plays, can be found at http://royberkinfo.blogspot.com  
      Information regarding his consulting and publications and older theatre reviews can be found at www.royberko.info.  
      Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.


 
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