[NEohioPAL]Berko review: JOLSON & COMPNAY (Jewish Community Center & CCC-East)

[Roy Berko]

Entertaining  ‘JOLSON & COMPANY’ at  JCC

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

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

Al Jolson, the subject of ‘JOLSON & COMPANY’ now being
staged in a joint production of the Jewish Community
Center and Cuyahoga Community College-East, was a very
talented entertainer, who was also filled with rage
and insecurities.

Asa Yoelson was born in Lithuania and came to the
United States as a child.  Under the name of Al Jolson
he had a career that spanned from 1911 to 1940.  Often
referred to as “the world’s greatest entertainer,” he
was known for his black-face makeup, exuberant
gestures, operatic-style singing, whistling, and
directly addressing his audience.  His initial musical
training was under the guidance of his father, a
well-known New York Jewish cantor.  The cantorial
sound echoed through Jolson’s vocal chanting in many
of his hits.

As youngsters Al and his brother were a minor hit on
the vaudeville circuit. A personal rift between the
brothers sent Jolie off on his own and resulted in a
Broadway  career which was unmatched for its length
and popularity).  One reviewer noted that Jolie had
such an "electric" personality, along with the ability
to make each member of the audience believe that he
was singing only for them, that his audiences often
literally “stopped the show” with prolonged applause. 

Today, he is probably  best remembered for his
appearance in 1927 in the first successful movie
“talkie", ‘THE JAZZ SINGER.’   In that movie Jolie
performed the song "Mammy" in black face.  

Jolson’s other hits included "You Made Me Love You (I
Didn't Want to Do It)", "Rock-A Bye Your Baby With A
Dixie Melody", "Swanee" (songwriter George Gershwin's
first success), "April Showers", "Toot, Toot, Tootsie,
Goodbye", "California, Here I Come", "When the Red,
Red Robin Comes Bob-Bob-Bobbin' Along,” and "Sonny
Boy."

He died at the age of 64 of a massive heart attack
while playing cards.  Appropriately, Jolson’s supposed
last words, taken from one of his most famous songs,
were "Boys, I'm going."

‘JOLSON & COMPANY’ is a scrapbook of Al Jolson’s life.
 It covers his youngest memories including the death
of his mother, his career successes and failures, his
marriages and divorces.  It gives a glimpse of his
talent, his egotism and his renowned temper.

The script, by Stephen Mo Hanan and Jay Berkow is
problematic.  The story telling centers on a radio
show being narrated by Barry Gray (George Roth). 
Jolson steps in and out of the broadcast to sing and
act out various phases of his personal life and
career.  The format is an obvious device which wears
thin after a while and breaks the story line.  

The transitions are weak and the writing often fails
to create the needed emotional bridges.  There are
many pauses that result in a loss of audience
attention.  For example, when wife Ruby Keeler, who
was supposed to perform at a charity event with
Jolson, serves him with divorce papers and walks out,
what should have been an emotional highlight, turns
flat as Jolson takes an extended period of time to put
on black face before he sings his signature, “Swanee.”
  The idea is good, but doesn’t work theatrically.

JCC’s production, under the direction of Fred
Sternfeld, will entertain audiences, especially Jewish
audiences.  There are enough “Yiddish” illusions to
capture the older members who attend JCC productions
and know and love Jolson.  On the other hand, cutting
out some of the extraneous scenes and picking up the
pace a little would make the well over 2-hour show,
more compelling.

Don’t go to see ‘JOLSON AND COMPANY’ expecting to
experience a reincarnation of Al Jolson.  Mark Moritz,
who plays Jolie, has a good singing voice, and tries
hard to incorporate some of Jolson’s signature sounds
and moves into his presentation, but he is much too
static to become electrifying.  He plants his feet,
rather than bouncing around the stage.  His face lacks
the dynamic quality of Jolson’s unbridled stage
presence.  His sound is appealing, not mesmerizing. 
Mortiz makes for a very acceptable Jolson-light, but
he is not Jolie!

Kristin Netzband, as the female member of the
three-person cast, is appealing in multi roles.   She
is especially delightful as May West and on-target as
Ruby Keeler.  She sings extremely well and her dancing
is excellent.  JCC attendees will remember her as
Evelyn Nesbit in the company’s production of ‘RAGTIME,
THE MUSICAL.’  

George Roth, as always, is on target in each of his
characterizations.  The Times Theatre Tribute Award
winner changes voices and facial expressions and makes
bodily adjustments to fit each of his nine characters.
 

Larry Goodpaster and his three piece “orchestra”
efficiently back up the performance.

Capsule judgement:  ‘JOLSON AND COMPANY’ will be a
pleasant trip down memory lane for those who know and
appreciate the musical sounds of Al Jolson.  

‘JOLSON AND COMPANY’ runs through May 20 in the
Performing Arts Auditorium at Cuyahoga County
Community College ‘s Eastern Campus.  For tickets call
216-800 766-6048 or go on line to www.tickets.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 reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com

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