[NEohioPAL]Berko review: THE MUSIC OF JACQUES BREL (Kalliope Stage)

[Roy Berko]

Kalliope’s  ‘THE MUSIC OF JACQUES BREL is enjoyable,
but ....

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

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

As I sat watching Kalliope Stage’s ‘THE MUSIC OF
JACQUES BREL,’ my mind wandered back to the early
1970s when I saw the opening night of Berea Summer
Theatre‘s JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN
PARIS.’  This magical production starred Cliff Bemis,
David Frazier, Providence Hollander and Terri Pieto. 
It was directed by Joe Garry, with musical direction
by David Gooding.  

In 1973 Garry was approached to bring the musical to
the defunct State Theatre in downtown Cleveland. The
projected two-week run become so popular that it was
performed for the next two-and-a-half-years. It
heralded the revival of what is now the Playhouse
Square Foundation, the second largest theater facility
outside of New York City’s Lincoln Center.  Many
think, if not for Jacques Brel, the theatres in
Playhouse Square would have been bulldozed and the
history of Cleveland forever changed.

Brel, contrary to common belief, is Belgian, not
French.  He made his impact, however, as a French
cabaret singer and a commentator on life.   His songs
are generally about love, death and the struggles that
life is, but he also wrote about the ironic nature of
existence.  He incorporates strong emotional 
perceptions and creates visual images with meaningful
poetic vocabulary.  

Instances from the BW/Playhouse Square production
stand out.  Gary and Gooding’s show flowed seemlessly
from song-to-song, creating a unity of life’s highs
and lows.   Another factor was the quality of the
voices and acting of the cast.  There were no weak
segments in that production.  Emotions were felt and
clearly displayed.  There was no posing nor feigning
of feelings.  Especially exciting were the renditions
of “Carousel” a glorious song about how we are
euphorically carried on the merry-go-round of life,
and the final selection,“If We Only Have Love,” a
tribute to all that is good about living.

Interestingly, as nicely done as Kalliope’s ‘THE MUSIC
OF JACQUES BREL’ is, it lacks many of the special
components.  The cast can sing well, but they
generally lack the immersion, the magical qualities
that are need to make the show great.   They sometimes
sing words, not meanings.  They sometimes feign
emotions.  

Director Paul Gurgol’s concept doesn’t meld the songs.
 There are unnecessary blackouts between many numbers
which break the mood.  

For some inexplicable reason, Michael Hamilton, the
musical arranger and/or Gurgol decided that “Carousel”
is a song about getting out of sync with life, that
life is frustrating confusion.  And, try as they
might, “If We Only Have Love,’ fails to explode with
emotion and invite us to leave the theatre on an
emotional high ready to face whatever the world throws
at us.

Yes, this is not the same script. Kalliope’s ‘THE
MUSIC OF JACQUES BREL’ and ‘JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND
WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS’ are different, but they are
still Brel.  And, no matter how you slice it or dice
it, Brel’s musical sounds, meanings and passions are
present.  Hamilton’s arrangements often weaken the
meaning of the songs.  One tune has almost a country
sound, several are given farcical interpretations
which, though they may be audience pleasing, don’t do
justice to Brel.  Hamming it up, isn’t Brel.  Feigning
feeling is not Brel.

This is not to indicate the Kalliope production is
bad.  It isn’t.  The average theatre-goer, as
apparently did the majority of the opening night
audience, will enjoy the experience.  The musical fits
into Kalliope’s intimate performance space.  The cast,
Jodi Brinkman, Joan Ellison, Chaz Statham, Adina Bloom
and William Marshall have strong and clear voices. 
There are some nice moments.  There is some good
humor.  But, there isn’t the consistent greatness of
Brel.  There is a quality of ordinariness that doesn’t
inspire us to understand and appreciate the greatness
that is Brel.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: Director Paul Gurgol chose to do
‘THE MUSIC OF JACQUES BREL’ rather than ‘JACQUES BREL
IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS,’ because he
wanted to put his “own stamp” on the happenings.  He
did so.  He has produced a pleasant, but not totally
inspiring theatrical experience.

The show runs through March 11 at 2134 Lee Road.  For
tickets call 216-321-0870 or go on line to
www.KalliopeStage.com.



Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://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.  His dance reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com


 
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