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A CurtainUp Review
Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story
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I feel like Bert Berns was an artist who had a lot stacked against him and had to fight his way through it. Even though his music is so diverse, the songs are autobiographical. That’s why he’s a great artist: He had a voice and knew how to tap into it. —Playwright Daniel Goldfarb
You know one day, this jukebox is gonna be full of my records. — Bert Berns
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Zak Resnick and Gabrielle Ruiz. (Photo by Jenny Anderson)
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Piece of My Heart at the off-Broadway Signature Theater, tells Berns' story and his rise and fall in the music business. Flashbacks alternate from the '60's to the present. Berns' 25-years-old daughter, Jessie (Leslie Kritzel), a struggling singer in Los Angeles, gets a phone call from Berns' childhood friend, Wazzel, (Joseph Siravo. He urges her to come to her father's office in New York's Brill Building, adding "Don't trust anyone, especially you mother."
Jessie, a fictionalized composite of Berns' daughter and son, was an infant when her father had his fatal heart attack at age 38, a result of contracting rheumatic fever as a teenager. She was always fascinated by him but only learned what her mother Ilene told her. Ilene (Linda Hart) was in charge of the entire song catalogue and details were kept from her children.
Curious, Jessie goes to meet Wazzel. He tells her that though her father had desperately wanted recognition " nobody knows him, not even you, his own kid. I’m gonna tell you who he was. There was this diner in the Bronx..."
And so the flashback begins and it's back to the Bronx with three aspiring up-and-comers and the sounds of '50's and '60's rhythm-and-blues. A frail Jewish boy, Berns (Zak Resnick), struggles for his own musical sound while his sidekick, Hoagy (Derreck Baskin), plans to sing his songs. Young Wassel (Bryan Fenkart) will be their manager, The first songs come from the tough city streets, where Wazzel offers wise guy help which Berns first refuses.
Always aware of his race against time, Berns works relentlessly, remembering Hillel, a Jewish scholar, who wrote, " If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" Many songs reflect the apprehension of not expecting to live past 30. The musical then moves to a love affair with a slightly older, worldly-wise African-American woman, Candace. Played by d'Adre Aziza, Candace oozes sexy sophistication. She teaches Berns about passion, love, and later heartbreak.
A visit to Havana submerges Berns in its atmosphere of crime, alcohol and lust, adding the element of vitality and Latin rhythms obvious in "Twist and Shout." Back in New York, he signs a contract with Atlantic Records' Jerry Wexler whih leads to major success and eventually his own record label, "Bang." As a producer, Berns brings in new artists like Van Morrison, Lulu and Neil Diamond.
Success, however, is also the beginning of the end with his longtime friendships, first with Hoagy and later with Wassel. Ironically, Berns always said, "My children will know me by my music," but because he later accepts Wassel's underground help, Berns is blackballed, erased from history books and absent from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame until 2009.
Director Denis Jones ably steers the young characters as identifiable indicators of their later versions. Siravo is on target as the contemporary Wazzel, with a New York accent and the street look that Fenkart's brash young version indicates in flashbacks.
Teal Wicks, the young Ilene, reveals the sharp intelligence and drive of Hart's present-day single-minded Ilene who proves her show-stopping savvy by tearing up the stage with, "I'll Be a Liar.". Baskin's Hoagy is a likeable friend to Berns and d'Adre Aziza is a knockout as the stunning Candace.
Versatile vocalist, Leslie Kritzer layers her voice for pop belts and melting moments of pain. Her confidence is evident as she learns the truth and finds her own role, As Berns, Zak Resnick never ages, but he is a charismatic singer and adequate dancer, spotlighting the drive behind the songs.
Daniel Goldfarb's book softens Berns' harder edges, although trying to cram even such a short life into two hours calls for deliberate editing and the book has spots that could use tightening. Director/choreographer Denis Jones handles the momentum with smooth switches from flashbacks to the present with lively choreography reflecting popular '60's dances. David C. Woolard's definitive fashion trends features 1950's full skirts and tight sweaters and '60's colorful minis. Alexander Dodge designed a functional set for the various eras.
The trip to New York is fruitful for Jessie. She finally learns about the father she never knew, but more important, she finds her purpose when she decides to take over her father's song catalogue.
A half century after his fertile career, Bert Berns might reflect on words from his favorite Hillel quote, "... if not now, when?" Anticipated is a documentary scheduled to open next year and published this year is a biography by Joel Selvin, Here Comes The Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm & Blues.
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Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story Book: Daniel Goldfarb Music and Lyrics: Bert Berns et al Director and Choreographer: Denis Jones Cast: Zak Resnick as Bert Berns, Leslie Kritzer as Jessie, Linda Hart as Mom, Joseph Siravo as Wazzel, de'Adre Aziza as Candace, Derrick Baskin as Hoagy and Teal Wicks as Ilene; Also Carleigh Bettiol, Teresa Gattison, Shonica Gooden, Sydney James Harcourt, Harris Milgrim, Michael Millan, Gabrielle Ruiz, Amos Wolff and Mark Zeisler Set: Alexander Dodge Costumes: David C. Woolard Lighting: Ben Stanton Sound: Carl Casella Music Supervision, Orchestrations, and Arrangements: Garry Sherman Music Direction: Lon Hoyt Running Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes. One intermission Theatre: Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd St). Tickets: $31.50-$99.50. Performances: Wed, Thurs, Fri. at 7:30pm; Wed at 2pm, 7:30pm. Sat, at 2pm, 8pm. Sun at 2pm. Previews: 06/25/14 Opens: 07/21/14. Closes: 08/31/14 Review by Elizabeth Ahlfors based on performance 07/19/14 Musical Numbers (in alphabetical order) Are You Lonely For Me Baby (B.Berns) Baby Let Me Take You Home (B. Berns, W. Farrell) Cry Baby (B. Berns, J. Ragivoy) Cry to Me (B. Berns) Everybody Needs Somebody to Love (B.Berns, G. Wexler, S. Burke) Hang on Sloopy (B. Berns, W. Farrell) Heart Be Still (B. Berns, J. Ragivoy) Here Comes the Night (B. Berns) If I Didn't Have A Dime (to Play the Jukebox) (B. Berns, P. Medley) I Got to Go Back and Watch that Little Girl Dance ( B.Berns, J. Barry) I'll Be a Liar (B.Berns) I'll Take Good Care of You (B. Berns, J. Ragivoy) I'm Gonna Run Away From You (B. Berns) I Say Love (B. Berns, P. Medley) I Want Candy (B.Berns, R. Feldman, R. Gottehrer, J. Goldstein) Just Like Mine (B. Berns) Let the Water Run Down (B. Berns) Look Away (B. Berns, J. Ragivoy) My Block (B. Berns, J. Radcliffe, C. Spencer) Piece of My Heart (B. Berns, J. Ragivoy) Show Me Your Monkey (B. Berns, M. Leander) Tell Him (B.Berns) Twenty Five Milles (B. Berns,J. Bristol, H. Fuqua, G. Wexler, C. Hatcher) Twist and Shout ( B.Berns, P. Medley) Up in the Streets of Havana (B. Berns) The World Is Mine (B. Berns, J. Silverman) |
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