Kedar [rating:5] (5/5 stars)
Superman (Lucas Coleman) defeats the Grimaldi brothers in 42nd Street Moon’s production of IT’S A BIRD…IT’S A PLANE…IT’S SUPERMAN (All photos by Patrick O’Connor)
“IT’S A BIRD…IT’S A PLANE… IT’S SUPERMAN: Musical Comedy. Music by Charles Strouse. Lyrics by Lee Adams. Book by David Newman & Robert Benton. Directed by Dyan McBride. 42nd Street Moon, Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson St., San Francisco.
(415) 255-8207 or visit www.42ndStMoon.org. October 2 — October 20, 2013.
It’s etc…etc… SUPERMAN flies high at 42nd Street Moon
First of all don’t just call the marvelous show bouncing around the Eureka Theatre stage Superman. The title is, It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman. That is as it should be; the long title defines the man of steel since it was 75 years ago that our hero was jettisoned from the planet Krypton becoming an icon of the comic book world.
The longevity of our comic book ‘defender of truth and justice’ overshadows the 1966 Broadway production that lasted for only 129 performances even though it listed such notables as Bob Haliday (Superman/Clark Kent), Jack Cassidy (Max Mencken), Patricia Marand (Lois Lane), Linda Lavin (Sydney) and Michael O’Sullivan (Dr. Abner Sedgwick).
With one exception (not to be mentioned here) the cast of 42nd Street Moon’s staging probably could match the Broadway cast! And they did not use any wires to send Superman flying off stage. Tall, lean (if not muscular) handsome Lucas Coleman as Superman takes magnificent leaps on and off stage that are a hoot and a holler although he has a bit of trouble undressing in the telephone booth (yes, the booth is there on stage right).
Clark Kent’s phone booth. Lucas Coleman
The casting director for this terrific spoof had a stroke of genius turning scientist Dr. Abner Sedgwick, into a female and rounding up Bay Area favorite comedienne Darlene Popovic for that adversarial role adding a disheveled fright wig signifying her madness. When Dr. Sedgwick’s nefarious plan “A” to destroy Superman goes awry she simply shrugs, “It’s a long alphabet.”
Of course Lois Lane (Jen Brooks), star reporter who has been save 15 times [shall we try for 16?] by Superman, is there along with gossip columnist Max Mencken (Brent Schindele) and his secretary Sydney (Safiya Fredericks). Jen Brooks plays the Lois Lane role straight (as it should be) but has her moments and is in fine voice with three memorable songs of “We Don’t Matter at All”, “What I Often Wanted” and “ I Am Not Finished Yet.”
Brent Schindele almost steals the show as a whirlwind of hot air and aggrandizement whenever he is on stage with “The Woman for the Man” and especially when he is the foil for Safiya Fredericks’ over-the-top belting of “Ooh, Do You Love You!” Popovic and Schindele share the spotlight in their duet “You’ve Got What I Need” when non-Nobel Prize winning Dr. Sedgwick is planning “Revenge.”
Yes there is a convoluted storyline that fits perfectly into the action of this satiric spoof gracing the art deco set (Alvin Shiu) with 1960’s costumes (Felicia Lilienthal) and tricky choreography (Staci Arriaga) at the Eureka Theater. Veteran director Dyan McBride keeps the 16 member cast vivaciously moving on and off stage and has a great ensemble to aid her.
That ensemble includes Mama Grimaldi (Diahanna Davidson) and four “Amazing Grimaldis” played by Scott Maraj, Steven Sloan, Michael Doppe and Kyle Valentine mostly dressed in one piece tight fitting purple wrestling costumes and are whirlwinds of physical activity. They play double and triple roles with quick costume changes.
l-r: Lucas Coleman, Safiya Fredericks, Diahanna Davidson, Catherine Gloria, Nicole Renee Chapman, Ariel Leasure, Darlene Popovic, Brent Schindele, Trevor Marcom, and Jen Brooks
Then there are the “Mod Young Ladies of the Metropolis” Catherine Gloria, Nicole Renee Chapman and Ariel Leasure who are knockouts in varied brightly colored costumes to match the imaginative set as they sing and dance vivaciously.
The comic book ambiance is maintained throughout with production numbers designed around individual panels of “Meanwhile” “Suddenly” “Later” and “Finally” with ‘written’ sound effects of “Pow!”, “Bam!” and “Zonk!” and others.
This show is one of the best that 42nd Street Moon has produced and it is an auspicious start to their 21st Season. Next up is the Rogers and Hart musical I Married and Angel playing October 30 – November 17, 2013.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com
