There’s no doubt that Stephen Sondheim is the reigning genius of American musical theater. With his complex melodies and intricate lyrics, he has entertained audiences for several decades.
TheatreWorks is giving its audiences a look at a relatively early Sondheim revue, the 1980 “Marry Me a Little,” which features songs written for other shows like “A Little Night Music,” “Follies,” “Company” and others. Some were kept, some discarded from those shows. Craig Lucas and Norman René wove them into a story about two lonely young people who live in the same building but don’t know each other.
Simply called Him and Her, they sing about their feelings as they spend another Saturday night alone.
Director Robert Kelley has updated it to the present and moved it from New York to San Francisco, where Him (A.J. Shively) returns from work on a bicycle and Her (Sharon Rietkerk) returns with a Whole Foods bag of groceries.
Him lives in the apartment above Her, but Kelley has the actors sharing the same space, often side by side, but as if they were in those separate units. Musical director William Liberatore accompanies the actors on piano from a neighboring building.
Both actors are youthfully appealing and dance well. Shivelyalso sings well. However, Rietkerk has a shrill voice and sometimes goes sharp, detracting from the show.
Lit by Steven B. Mannshardt, the set by Bruce McLeod has an authentic San Francisco feel, complete with a downtown skyline. Costumes by Jill Bowers and sound by Brendan Aanes complement the show.
Running about 70 minutes without intermission, the show feels longer, perhaps because it seems disjointed despite everyone’s best efforts.
“Marry Me a Little” continues at the Mountain ViewCenter for the Performing Arts, Castro & Mercy streets, through June 29. For tickets and information, call (650) 463-1960 or visit www.theatreworks.org.