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<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><br></span></p><p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family:Palatino">COME FLY AWAY takes
audience on a song and dance trip of romance</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><i style><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino">(Member, American Theatre Critics
Association & Cleveland Critics Circle)</span></i></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><i style><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino"> </span></i></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><i style><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino"> </span></i></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Combine the vocal sounds
of Frank Sinatra, the king of sophisticated mellow sounds, the master of cool,
with the creative energies of choreographer Twyla Tharp, queen of unique dance
interpretations, and the result is an evening of masterful joy.</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">COME FLY AWAY was greeted
on Broadway with tepid reviews.<span style>
</span>Taking note of the negatives, and building on the positives, the touring
production is half an hour shorter, some songs were dropped, the intermission
eliminated.<span style> </span>Now, about 80<span style> </span>minutes long, it is tighter, less
repetitive and holds the audiences attention with the feeling that Sinatra is
in the house.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The sound design gives
the illusion that Sinatra is standing in the wings while the wonderful on-stage
big band (reeds, trumpets, trombones, bass, drums and piano) supplement the
fine signature recorded musical arrangements of the boss.<span style> </span>No one sings Sinatra, the vocals
are his!<span style> </span>In fact, its so well
done that it was almost expected that the man would appear on stage during the
curtain call.<span style> </span>Well, in fact, he
does
the result of visual electronics.<span style>
</span>And the audience reaction was the same as if he had returned from the
dead.<br style>
<br style>
</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The setting is a night
club.<span style> </span>We watch as four couples
flirt, conflict, fall in and out of love, while dancing to the crooners
seductive vocals.<span style> </span>The dancers move
with ease, invading each others space, overlapping in vignettes, change and
shed clothing to display their superbly toned bodies.<span style> </span>The dance style is modern dance with ballet overtones, not
ballroom movements.<span style> </span>There are
traditional balletic lifts, partner coupling, hand extensions, flowing moves on
and off stage, coupled with modern dance, gymnastics, flips, jive, and lots of
enthusiasm.</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Dont expect a story line.<span style> </span>That isnt part of this format.<span style> </span>Tharp doesnt usually tell
stories.<span style> </span>She shapes characters,
each unique, who repeat their strongest dance abilities, keeping true to their
designated form.<span style> </span>As the show is
fluid in casting, the lineup seen one night may not be what is seen the
next.<span style> </span>This gives a freshness to
each performance. </span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">On opening night Ramona Kelley and Christopher
Vo danced as a cute young couple who shyly meet and by the end of the show, are
in love.<span style> </span>They were both superb,
with Vo getting laughs for his awkward attempts to impress Kelley.</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Ron Todorowski displayed strong abilities with
body abandonment in his flips, cartwheels and gymnastic skills.<span style> </span>Beautiful Meredith Miles displayed fine
balletic dancing talent.<span style> </span>Toned Stephen
Hannas strong balletic skills, which was also highlighted in the musical BILLY
ELLIOT, was well showcased.</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The rest of the opening night lead dancers,
Ashley Blair Fitzgerald, Tanairi Sade Vazquez and Anthony Burrell all displayed
excellent dance skills.<span style> </span>The corps
was strong.</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The on stage band, which supplemented the
recorded music, was superb.<span style> </span>Strong
solos performances aided in the overall quality of the musical sounds.</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino">CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: If youre a Sinatra
fan, youll have an evening of nostalgia with old blue eyes.<span style> </span>If youre a dance aficionado, youll experience
an evening filled with the visual delights of Twyla Tharp.<span style> </span>If you are a lover of musical theatre
filled with a strong story line and message, this isnt going to be your
thing.<span style> </span>Me?<span style> </span>I really, really enjoyed myself.</span></i></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Tickets for COME FLY
AWAY, which runs through May 20 at the Palace Theatre, can be ordered by
calling 216-241-6000 or going to <a href="http://www.playhousesquare.org/"><span style="text-decoration:none">www.playhousesquare.org</span></a>.</span></p><p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><br><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal">
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</p><p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Lucida Console"">Roy
Berko's commentaries and reviews appear on
<a href="http://coolcleveland.com">coolcleveland.com</a>,<a href="http://neohiopal.com">neohiopal.com</a>,<a href="http://artsamerica.com">artsamerica.com</a>,</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(204,102,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Lucida Console"">and
<a href="http://broadwaynews.com">broadwaynews.com</a>.<span style> </span>His blog is:
<a href="http://www.royberko.info">www.royberko.info</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Console";color:#0071ff"><span style="color:rgb(204,102,0)"></span><br>
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