[NEohioPAL] Berko review: HAROLD AND MAUDE: AN INTIMATE MUSICAL (CAIN PARK)

[Roy Berko]

Charming,
tender HAROLD AND MAUDE at Cain Park
  
Roy Berko
 
(Member,
American Theatre Critics Association)
 
--THE TIMES
NEWSPAPERS--
 
Lorain County
Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview
Times      
 
coolcleveland.com
 
 
Yes,
‘HAROLD AND MAUDE, AN INTIMATE MUSICAL’ is based on the cult 1971 film ‘HAROLD AND MAUDE.’   Devotees of the film will have to
accept that the musical not only changes the plot a bit, but softens up the
chilly, darkly comic mood of the original.  This is with good reason.  A movie distances the viewer from the reality, theatre
doesn’t allow for this. The insertion of music also changes the flow of the
production.   In addition,
when one media is transformed into another, changes naturally take place.  A classic example is the comedy film
version of ‘THE PRODUCERS’ versus the musical version. 
 
Does this mean
that ‘HAROLD AND MAUDE, AN INTIMATE MUSICAL’ is a great piece of theatre?  No.  But, it has personal values that make for a charming and
tender evening of theatre.  And, if
the reaction of the audience the night I attended is any indication, then there
is much to like about Victoria Bussert’s staging and interpretation.
 
The plot line
centers on an attention-starved young man so fascinated with death that he
attends strangers funerals, frequently fakes his own suicide and decapitation,
but eventually finds love and self-respect in the presence of a 79-year old
bohemian Holocaust survivor who sees the world as a place to explore and
appreciate rather than view through a prism of rules and frustration.  
 
Tom Jones (“THE
FANTASTICS”) and newcomer Joseph Thalken have written an often smart, funny,
irreverent, tuneful score.   Again, the movie-obsessed will complain because the period-and
mood-defining Cat Stevens soundtrack has been replaced.   Again, so what! 
 
As for the Cain
Park production.  Are Corey Mach (Harold)
and Maryann Nagel (Maude) the parallels to Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon of film
fame?  No.  And, I, for one, am glad.  They don’t attempt to duplicate those
performances.  (Just as Nathan Lane
doesn’t do a Zero Mostel imitation in ‘THE PRODUCERS.’)
 
Yes, Nagel, with
her beautiful complexion and youthful voice isn’t 79.  After a short while, it matters little.  Her charm and naturalness shine
through, and with her wonderful singing voice, she enfolds us in the
character’s philosophy of life.  Her renditions of “Two Sides of a River,” “The Real Thing,” both sung
with Mach, and “The Chance to Sing,” her plaintive solo, are all fine!
 
Tall, lanky
and talented Mach is very believable as Harold.  The opening scene, in which he sings a suicide note, climbs
on a stool, puts his neck into a noose and steps off into the air and hangs
there as his mother walks in, glances dismissively at the hanging body a few
times, and reacts in horror with the line,  "White socks with brown shoes!" is
hysterical.  He does a fine job of
making the transition from an emotionally dead youth to a sensitive young man
who seems to have found a purpose in life, thanks to Maude.
 
Jacqueline
Cummins generally misses the mark as Harold’s mother.  Yes, she is creating a caricature, but she does so
inconsistently with little reality.
 
On the other
hand, Devon Yates and Patrick Janson, who portray all of the other characters,
are delightful.  It’s worth the
price of admission to watch Yates, as Sunshine, an off-the-wall performer, sing
and act out the hysterical ‘Montezuma.”
 
Bussert paces
the show well, and though there were some opportunities for even more delight,
she does well in keeping the audience involved.  Jodie Ricci’s musical direction is right on key!
 
CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  I found ‘HAROLD AND MAUDE, AN INTIMATE
MUSICAL’ full of endearing
melodies, quirky-humor and uplifting charm.  For those who wanted this is to be a reenactment of the film
version, get over it!‘HAROLD AND MAUDE’  runs through August17 at the intimate Alma Theatre of Cain
Park.  For tickets call 216 371-3000. 

 Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2008, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info

His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to subscribe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)