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WINDY CITY TIMES
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Time After Time: The Songs of Jule Styne
MUSICAL REVIEW
by Mary Shen Barnidge 2012-07-03
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This article shared 3572 times since Tue Jul 3, 2012
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Playwright: music by Jule Styne, arrangements by Aaron Bentham. At: Theo Ubique at the No Exit Café, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave.. Tickets: 773-347-1109; www.theoubique.org; $29-34. Runs through: July 29
Whether you watched Mary Martin in Peter Pan or Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol on television as a child; whether you dressed up as Marilyn Monroe or Nicole Kidman on Halloween; whether you're over 70 or under 30 years old; whether you know or even like showtunes; or whether you get your music on a radio, an iPod or not at allyou've heard a song written by Jule Styne. The composer who wrote Broadway hits for Ethel Merman, Carol Channing and Barbra Streisand over a career spanning more than 40 years is now the focus of this homegrown musical revue.
Theo Ubique didn't anticipate extending its Jeff-winning production of Light in the Piazza to run in repertory with this world premierebut since the architecture of the Italian Renaissance is not unlike that of American 19th-century Greek Revival, the nightly switch from a Florentine palazzo to Grand Central Station (except for the climbing flowers) is an easy one. Once located in an environment where everybody is either coming or going, we are freed to enjoy such fantasy scenarios as a homeless waif suffering from insomnia who dances with a chorus of lambs as she carols "10,572 Sheep," or a jilted gun-toting sweetheart's rendition of "If You Hadn't (But You Did)" as she engages her faithless lover's corpse in some Weekend at Bernie's gymnastics.
It's not all dusty archival material: Stephanie Herman sizzles in "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" (the uncensored version), Danielle Brothers belts forth "Don't Rain On My Parade" with the conviction of a drill sergeant, while Khaki Pixleyyes, that's her namerecalls Cyd Charisse shadow-hoofing with Christopher Logan, channeling Gene Kelly, on "All I Need Is The Girl." Star-watchers should also note Andrew Sickelstill a student, according to his playbill bio, and therefore, just the right age to croon the wistful "I Fall In Love Too Easily."
Ah, but what if you were a rebel fleeing your parents' Eisenhower-era music for rock 'n' roll? Be assured that Aaron Benham's medley-heavy score (encompassing such socially-conscious lyrics as "Good Enough" and the protofeminist "Men") is not content to recycle the saccharine arrangements of the originals, but reconfigures even iconic ditties like "People" into exciting new chorale-harmony anthems destined to enter the repertoire of weddings, churches and school concerts. |
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This article shared 3572 times since Tue Jul 3, 2012
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