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A CurtainUp Los Angeles Review
No Way To Treat A Lady
| Do you have any unsolved murders you could give me credit for?— Kit to Morris
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Kevin Symons and Jack Noseworthy
(Photo: Michael Lamont) |
An exasperated Mo will always take Kit's calls to find out where the next body is. Mo and Kit have more in common than Mo admits. Both have overpowering mothers. Mo's lives with him, collecting newspaper clippings about his brother, the doctor. Kit's is dead but not forgotten. She was a famous actress and in her eyes, Kit ranged from unwanted child to acting flop.
Kit is desperate for reviews, one of the many show-biz references that color this story and make Kit as helplessly funny as he is hopelessly macabre. He can't make The New York Times unless he ups his body count. All the victims, as well as the two Moms, are believably played by the versatile Heather Lee.
Douglas J. Cohen, who wrote the book, music and lyrics, crafts the relationship between the two men with a keen ear for humor and lunacy. The music is serviceable and, though a little longer than necessary, the show is always watchable, under the lively direction of West Hyler and Shelley Butler. There's one truly terrifying scene when Kit is disguised as a woman and stalks an actress.
The show boasts one of the most dazzling musical casts in town. In addition to the versatile Lee, there's Erica Piccininni as Sarah Stone, Mo's main squeeze. Although she only has one part, Stone's acting and singing chops are so superb, she holds the stage whenever she's on it. As gumshoe Mo Brummel, Kevin Symons is the reality center of the show. Not handsome, without the vibrato voice of some of the others, he has the strength and presence required of a guy who's trying to keep his mom happy while overcoming his resentment for his brother, the doctor. But his main conflicts are between his love for Sarah and his pursuit of the serial killer.
In this role, Jack Noseworthy is as versatile as Lee, togged out in a different disguise for each crime. With a gorgeous and superbly nuanced tenor voice close to operatic quality, he fills the bill as a flamboyant failed actor whose frustration propels him into the starring role of killer.
This is the kind of show that gives a costume designer lots of scope and Paloma Young's vivid dramatic costumes are perfect. Apart from being a little long, this production is practically perfect all around.
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No Way To Treat A Lady Book, Music & Lyrics: Douglas J. Cohen Based on a novel by William Goldman Co-Directors: West Hyler & Shelly Butler Musical Direction: Dean Mora Cast: Kevin Symons (Mo Brummel): Heather Lee (Flora, Mrs.Sullivan, Alexandra, Carmella, Sadie); Jack Noseworthy (Christopher "Kit" Gill)' Erica Piccininni (Sarah Stone) Scenic Design: Sybil Wickersheimer Costume Design: Paloma Young Lighting Design: Jeremy Pivnick Sound Design: Drew Dalzell Production Stage Manager: Vernon Willet Properties Design & Set Dressing: MacAnd ME Additional Choreography: Jane Lanier Wig & Hair Design: Joni Rudesill Running Time: Two hours, one intermission Running Dates: April 18-May 17, 2009 Where: The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street, Burbank, CA. Reservations: (818) 558-7000 x 15. Reviewed by Laura Hitchcock on April 18, 2009. |
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