Friday, March 23, 2012
The Old Globe's Romantic A Room with a View
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| Ephie Aardema and Kyle Harris. Photo by Henry DiRocco. |
After seeing Marc Acito and Jeffrey Stock’s new musical based on E. M. Forster’s novel, A Room With A View, I couldn’t stop thinking about how fortunate we are to live in the 21st century. Women today can, for the most part, make choices based on what they prefer to do rather than what society expects them to do. They can work outside the home, live wherever they like, and marry whomever they choose…not exactly the case in Edwardian England in 1908.
Despite the rigid social restrictions placed on his young heroine, Lucy Honeychurch (Ephie Aardema) comes to find that one of life’s biggest lessons is learning to listen to one’s own heart. If you want the life of your dreams, there comes a point when you must say ‘yes’ despite what others may think. In A Room With A View Lucy finds the way to her ‘yes’ by learning to understand and appreciate her own feelings, and who can’t identify with that?
It’s a story that romantics will adore and one that presents endless possibilities in Acito and Stock’s envisioning. Visually it is a beautiful presentation with vintage travel postcards in warm earth tones and lush period accents creating the framework of Heidi Ettinger’s gorgeous set design all under the glow of David Lander’s inspired lighting.
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| The cast of A Room With A View |
While traveling abroad, the well-bred Lucy Honeychurch (Ephie Aardema) and independently minded George Emerson (Kyle Harris) take an instant dislike to each other in typical storytelling fashion. We know without a doubt that these two contrasting personalities will eventually end up together but that may be one of the biggest challenges the show faces; how to develop the story in a way that keeps the audience from drawing the obvious conclusion at the end of the first scene.
While the musical contains strong characters and lovely scenes that take us through the Italian city and English countryside, there is still a sense that the story is biding its time. We know how it’s going to end but it shouldn’t feel like such a foregone conclusion. Act II especially contains scenes that, while charming and humorous, seem a departure from the real heart of the story.
Lucy’s struggle must draw us in from the very beginning and though Aardema is lovely and brings a youthful determination to Lucy that makes a song like “Ludwig and I” a theatrical tour de force, her initial scenes continually focus on her resistant attitude. The result is that it takes us longer to warm up to her than the authors might like. By contrast, George Emerson, played by Harris, is a handsome fellow with an inquisitive mind and easy charm. He is instantly likeable. His trio “Splash,” with Lucy’s brother Freddy (Etai BenShlomo) and Reverend Beeber (Edward Staudenmayer) captures his joie de vivre and also makes for a rousing display of camaraderie among the three men.
Karen Ziemba shines in the Maggie Smith role of Charlotte, Lucy’s straight-laced cousin and ever-watchful traveling companion. She delivers her Act II song “Frozen Charlotte” from a powerful well of emotion but the song itself seems out of place in the story. By the way, Judith Dolan’s costume design is magnificent, with the construction and detail of Ziemba’s dresses being especially stunning. Kurt Zischke gives a moving performance as George’s father and Gina Ferrell’s double turn as the fearless novelist Miss Lavish and fluttering Mrs. Honeychurch is a delight. Even Will Reynolds makes the most of his rather one-dimensional character, Cecil Vyse.
A Room With A View is a beautifully drawn collage yet for all of its glossy and well put together effects, it feels as though something is missing. Reaching deeper into the psyche of its leading lady and loosening her corset could be just what’s needed to make this story truly soar. Internal struggle is always worth the exploration, and with so much going for it already, this is one romance we want to see succeed. A Room With A View runs through April 8 at The Old Globe in San Diego. For tickets and information go to www.theoldglobe.org.
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Labels: old globe
Friday, March 30, 2012
Romance Abounds in The Old Globe's A Room With A View
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| Ephie Aardema and Kyle Harris. Photo by Henry DiRocco |
Apologies to the Old Globe. Reprinted due to a computer glitch.
After seeing Marc Acito and Jeffrey Stock’s new musical based on E. M. Forster’s novel, A Room With A View, I couldn’t stop thinking about how fortunate we are to live in the 21st century. Women today can, for the most part, make choices based on what they prefer to do rather than what society expects them to do. They can work outside the home, live wherever they like, and marry whomever they choose…not exactly the case in Edwardian England in 1908.
Despite the rigid social restrictions placed on his young heroine, Lucy Honeychurch (Ephie Aardema) comes to find that one of life’s biggest lessons is learning to listen to one’s own heart. If you want the life of your dreams, there comes a point when you must say ‘yes’ despite what others may think. In A Room With A View Lucy finds the way to her ‘yes’ by learning to understand and appreciate her own feelings, and who can’t identify with that?
It’s a story that romantics will adore and one that presents endless possibilities in Acito and Stock’s envisioning. Visually it is a beautiful presentation with vintage travel postcards in warm earth tones and lush period accents creating the framework of Heidi Ettinger’s gorgeous set design all under the glow of David Lander’s inspired lighting.
 |
| The cast of A Room With A View |
While traveling abroad, the well-bred Lucy Honeychurch and independently minded George Emerson (Kyle Harris) take an instant dislike to each other in typical storytelling fashion. We know without a doubt that these two contrasting personalities will eventually end up together but that may be one of the biggest challenges the show faces; how to develop the story in a way that keeps the audience from drawing the obvious conclusion at the end of the first scene.
While the musical contains strong characters and lovely scenes that take us through the Italian city and English countryside, there is still a sense that the story is biding its time. We know how it’s going to end but it shouldn’t feel like such a foregone conclusion. Act II especially contains scenes that, while charming and humorous, seem a departure from the real heart of the story.
Lucy’s struggle must draw us in from the very beginning and though Aardema is lovely and brings a youthful determination to Lucy that makes a song like “Ludwig and I” a theatrical tour de force, her initial scenes continually focus on her resistant attitude. The result is that it takes us longer to warm up to her than the authors might like. By contrast, George Emerson, played by Harris is a handsome fellow with an inquisitive mind and easy charm. He is instantly likeable. His trio “Splash,” with Lucy’s brother Freddy (Etai BenShlomo) and Reverend Beeber (Edward Staudenmayer) captures his joie de vivre and also makes for a rousing display of camaraderie among the three men.
Karen Ziemba shines in the Maggie Smith role of Charlotte, Lucy’s straight-laced cousin and ever-watchful traveling companion. She delivers her Act II song “Frozen Charlotte” from a powerful well of emotion but the song itself seems out of place in the story. By the way, Judith Dolan’s costume design is magnificent, with the construction and detail of Ziemba’s dresses being especially stunning. Kurt Zischke gives a moving performance as George’s father and Gina Ferrell’s double turn as the fearless novelist Miss Lavish and fluttering Mrs. Honeychurch is a delight. Even Will Reynolds makes the most of his rather one-dimensional character, Cecil Vyse.
A Room With A View is a beautifully drawn collage yet for all of its glossy and well put together effects, it feels as though something is missing. Reaching deeper into the psyche of its leading lady and loosening her corset could be just what’s needed to make this story truly soar. Internal struggle is always worth the exploration, and with so much going for it already, this is one romance we want to see succeed. A Room With A View has been extended and will run through April 15 at The Old Globe in San Diego. For tickets and information go to www.theoldglobe.org.
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Labels: old globe
Monday, January 30, 2012
The Old Globe Announces Cast of A Room With a View
The Old Globe has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere of A Room with a View, a new musical based on the novel by E.M. Forster with book by Marc Acito, music and lyrics by Jeffrey Stock and additional lyrics by Acito. Scott Schwartz directs and music direction is by Boko Suzuki. The musical will run March 2 – April 8.
A Room with a View blends a gorgeous score with the timeless story that inspired the Academy Award-winning film. Amid the golden sunlight and violet-covered hills of Tuscany, sheltered English girl Lucy Honeychurch meets freethinking George Emerson and for the first time glimpses a world of longing and passion she had never imagined. Upon her return to her corseted Edwardian life, Lucy must decide whether to yield to convention or give up everything she has ever known.
The cast features Ephie Aardema as Lucy Honeychurch, Kyle Harris as George Emerson and Will Reynolds as Cecil Vyse. Aardema played Chava in the National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof and starred as Edwina in the Off Broadway production of Dear Edwina. Harris recently starred as Tony in the National Tour of West Side Story. Reynolds was last seen at the Globe as Frank Churchill in Jane Austen’s Emma – A Musical Romantic Comedy. Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba returns to the Globe to play Charlotte Bartlett, the overbearing chaperone of Lucy Honeychurch.
Also included in the cast are Glenn Seven Allen (Italiano, Albert), Etai BenShlomo (Freddy Honeychurch), Gina Ferrall (Miss Lavish, Mrs. Honeychurch), Jacquelynne Fontaine (Ragazza, Minnie), Edward Staudenmayer (Mr. Beeber) and Kurt Zischke (Mr. Emerson).
The creative team includes Heidi Ettinger (scenic design), Judith Dolan (costume design), David Lander (lighting design), Jon Weston (sound design), Bruce Coughlin (orchestrator), Michael Jenkinson (musical staging), Jan Gist (dialect coach), Tara Rubin Casting (casting) and Anjee Nero (stage manager).
Post-show forums led by the Globe’s creative staff will be held on Tuesday, March 13 and 20 and Wednesday, March 28 where you can discuss the play with members of the cast and crew. The Old Globe is located in San Diego’s Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way. Click Here for tickets and more information.
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Labels: old globe