[NEohioPAL] Berko review: DEAR WORLD (Kalliope)

[Roy Berko]

‘DEAR WORLD’ a pleasant diversion at Kalliope

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

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

--COOLCLEVELAND.COM--

‘DEAR WORLD,’ which is now being staged by Kalliope
Stage,  is one of those plays that,  on the surface,
has all the elements that should have made for a long
running Broadway hit.  The musical, which opened in
1969, starred Angela Lansbury, was written by
Cleveland native Jerome Lawrence and Elyria’s Robert
E. Lee (‘MAME’ and ‘INHERIT THE WIND’) and had music
and lyrics by Jerry Herman (‘HELLO DOLLY!,’ ‘MAME,’
and ‘LA CAGES AUX FAUX.’  To add to the mix, it is
based on Jean Giradoux’s much acclaimed play ‘THE
MADWOMAN OF CHALLIOT.’  

So, why did ‘DEAR WORLD’ open to terrible reviews and
run only 132 performances?   The script went through
many rewrites, songs were cut and others added,
directors were hired and fired, choreographers came
and went, artistic differences between Lansbury and
each of the directors emerged.  Most important, in the
minds of some of the show’s cult followers, was that
the intimate show was overwhelmed by massive
production qualities and the theatre in which it
opened was too large for what should have been an
intimate show. 

‘DEAR WORLD’ is the story of three "madwomen"
(Aurelia, Constance and Gabrielle) who deviously
scheme to stop some businessmen who plan to drill for
oil in the neighborhood of Chaillot in Paris.  And, as
in all good musical farces, eventually the forces of
“poetry, love, and idealism win over those of
materialism, science, and greed.”

Kalliope’s 75-seat, four row theatre, is a perfect
intimate venue.  Be aware that Kalliope is staging a
different script than the Broadway flop.  The show has
been rewritten and cut songs restored.  The revised
version received a 2000 production at Goodspeed
Musicals and at Sundance Theatre in 2002.  Both of
these stagings received more positive reviews than the
original Big Apple production.  

Kalliope’s production is entertaining.   Juliette
Regnier (Mme. Constance) and Marla Berg (Mme
Gabrielle) are total delights.  They are the epitome
of farce well played
broad, but believable.  Omri
Schein’s comic timing and mobile face light  up the
stage each time he appears as the Sewerman.   Dash
Combs is pleasing as the Mime.  Jodi Brinkman, as
always, sings and acts with positive effect.  

Liz Rubino, who was forced into action twenty-four
hours before the show opened, sang the role of
Countess Aurelia well.  She failed to develop the
comic madwoman approach on opening night, but she is a
talented actress and as the show runs, she should
develop that aspect of the role.  

Jared Sampson has matinee idol good looks and a nice
voice.  Unfortunately, his performance abilities don’t
match his other attributes.  He acts his lines and
feigns facial expressions rather than experiencing
them.  The three Presidents were generally played much
too subtly, not making the characters bigger than
life
a requirement for bad guys in farces.  (BTW..that
fake cigar did little to enhance President One’s
character.)

Russ Borski’s set worked well, especially considering
the postage sized stage he had to work with. 
Unfortunately, the quality and design of his costumes
left much to be desired.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:   ‘DEAR WORLD’ is not a classic
musical theatre script.  In site of a fine pedigree,
the piece doesn’t command awe.   With that said,
Kalliope’s production, under the direction of Paul
Gurgol, is entertaining and most attendees will enjoy
themselves.

‘DEAR WORLD’ runs at Kalliope Stage, 2134 Lee Road,
Cleveland Heights, until October 21.  For tickets call
216-321-0870.


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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