It’s A Grand Night for Singing at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret
By James E. Roberts
Staff Writer
A Grand Night for Singing, now playing at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret on 10th and K Streets in downtown Sacramento, contains thirty-nine of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II’s wonderful songs. With all of their musicals represented, A Grand Night for Singing brings us songs from lesser-known shows such as 'Pipe Dream' as well as tunes from hits such as 'South Pacific' and 'The King and I'. Interestingly, 'The Sound of Music', arguably their most popular show, is represented by only one song. But let’s face it, if every well-known song written by Rodgers and Hammerstein were to be put in a show it would have to be called A Grand WEEK for singing. Photo: Left to right: Justin Michael Duval, Melissa WolfKlain, Ryan Drummond, Lisa Ferris and Jill Van Velzer in the 2011 California Musical Theatre production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “A Grand Night for Singing” at The Cosmopolitan Cabaret January 26-May 8. Photo by Charr Crail.
Directed and choreographed by Mindy Cooper, with musical direction by Chris Schlagel, and staring Ryan Drummond, Justin Michael Duval, Lisa Ferris, Jill Van Velzer, and Melissa Wolfklain, A Grand Night for Singing is simply grand. The singing is, of course, top-notch, with voices that seem to be created just for these songs. If there were to be a central theme to the choices of songs I suppose it would have to do with relationships—mostly the various stages of boy-girl relationships, but also parent-child relationships. While most musical reviews have an even number of men and women in the cast, this one has only two men to the three women, which made the constantly changing dynamic of which boy was with which girl much more interesting. Photo: Left to right: Justin Michael Duval, Jill Van Velzer, Ryan Drummond, Lisa Ferris and Melissa WolfKlain. Photo by Charr Crail.
In A Grand Night for Singing each song tells its own story, sometimes alone, sometimes in conjunction with other songs. The opening number introduces us to the entire cast, singing a medley of show tunes. From there we go to “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top” sung by Justin and Melissa, thence to “The Stepsisters’ Lament” with Jill and Lisa, and then “We Kiss in a Shadow” with Ryan. The company then comes together again for “Hello, Young Lovers” and from there on out from solo to duet to trio to quartet to quintet and so on in various combinations. Their voices blended beautifully. Musical arrangements were by Fred Wells, giving us harmonies that this cast performed with dazzling skill.
A Grand Night for Singing often presents songs from a point of view not found in the source material, which may surprise some but which worked quite well here. For instance, the song “Maria” from The Sound of Music was sung as if from a young man confused about how to react to the woman he loves, not at all like the chorus of nuns singing about a troublesome novice as in the original, and “Kansas City” from Oklahoma was presented as a jazz piece. In fact, both “Kansas City” and “Honey Bun” from South Pacific were given a jazz treatment that would have done the Manhattan Transfer proud. Photo: Left to right: Ryan Drummond, Melissa WolfKlain and Justin Michael Duval in the 2011 California Musical Theatre production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “A Grand Night for Singing” at The Cosmopolitan Cabaret January 26-May 8. Photo by Charr Crail.
The set by Jamie Kumpf is wide and shallow, composed of simple platforms, steps, benches, and hanging panels. A cyclorama upstage and a baby grand piano at stage right complete the set. The lighting, designed by Sally Slocum, enhances the atmosphere of each song. The set and lighting enable the cast to appear and disappear easily when transitioning from one song to another and create enough spaces and levels to isolate scenes and keep the action from appearing static.
Costume and hair design are by Maggie Morgan, with the costuming, particularly for the women, being both versatile and simple, and the changes from first act to second act marking a move to a slightly more formal feel. The direction and choreography were excellent. Technically, the show worked beautifully. Sound designer Robert Sereno had a perfect balance between the piano and the voices, and the singers all brought Rodgers and Hammerstein’s music to vivid life while conveying all the emotions the songs had to offer. Every lyric was clear, and the entire cast was a joy to watch and listen to.
Originally conceived by Walter Bobbie, A Grand Night for Singing plays at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret Wednesdays through Sundays at 1000 K Street (between 10th and 11th) until May 8, 2011. Cabaret box office is open two hours before performances. Tickets range in price from $33 to $43, and reservations can be made by calling (916) 557-1199 or at the California Musical Theatre box office at the Wells Fargo Pavilion at 1419 H Street in Sacramento, or online at http://Tickets.com (additional online fees apply). More information online at: www.CosmopolitanCabaret.com.
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