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A CurtainUp Review
Trip of Love
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There was a time when Broadway was filled with many revue-style shows like Bubblin; Brown Sugar, Sophisticated Ladies, Dancin', Sugar Babies, Ain't Misbehavin' and many more...Trip of Love is my way of reviving this trend in New York theater. —James Walski, creator, director and choreographer.
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A scene from James Walski's Trip of Love
(Matthew Murphy)
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While folks in Osaka, Japan apparently loved Trip of Love when it opened in 2008, sparing no expense with extravagant sets, here at Stage 72, the show is pure fluff. There is little consideration of the counterculture importance of those later years. The decade is sketched through stereotypical song and dance routines with mere hints of the protest years, for example, a "Black Power" sign as the company rendered "California Dreamin'." In fact, during the battles for racial equality, Dionne Figgins is the only African-American face in the show, belting out "These Boots Were Made for Walking" with attitude.
As in any jukebox musical, the up side of the show is those catchy old tunes, a talented cast and some imaginative colorful comic book settings. One standout is "Wipe Out," with Caroline (Kelly Felthous) and the ensemble surfing and swimming on cardboard surf-themed cutouts. Tossed in are as many boogaloo, pony, and monkey moves as there are nubile Gidgets in teeny-weeny polka dot bikinis. It comes across with witty and eye-catching creativity by designers Walski and Robin Wagner.
There is no chronological or evident logic for the haphazard song placement. Unlike the vigorous dancing, vocal power is present but songs interpretations lack personality. The major recurrent character is Angela, sung by Laurie Wells, one example of a potent secure voice with little nuance of emotion. She obviously represents a guardian angel, appearing intermittently to dispense wisdom to Caroline, although one must question what lesson is learned by placing "Both Sides Now" between "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" and "Wipe Out." Always immaculate in formal wear, Angela's piece de resistance ends Act One when, seated on a swing and all puffed up in a bouffant white gown, she joins young lovers, Adam (Austin Miller) and Caroline for "Moon River."
Felthous plays a sweet Caroline, a limber dancer with a perky presence but her rendition of "Where the Boys Are" showcases a nasal voice. If Caroline is the ingénue, her leading man is Adam (Austin Miller), who ambles down the aisle strumming a guitar to "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"
Other segments showcase individual performers. In "The Girl from Ipanema," David Elder (George) joins an ensemble of samba dancers with dance variations from the Dancin' With the Stars school of ballroom dance. Playing artist and model, Tara Palsha poses as a skimpily-clad Crystal in "Venus," with Joey Calveri as the artist, embellishing her body with decorative streaks of color.
Sheer and sequins or cute minis is how costume designer Gregg Barnes dressed the well-toned performers with an exception for the Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There," when he veered to go wild with fringes. For the men, it was often the shirtless-and-necklace look or suits in paisley prints and wide collars.
The overall ambiance of this Trip of Love is clichrd with the blah taste of Las Vegas Lite. One reason might be the lack of Motown, Sun and Atlantic Records, all indelible stamps of that diverse decade.
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Trip of Love Creator, Director and Choreographer: James Walski Cast: Austin Miller, Laurie Wells, Kelly Felthous, Tara Palsha, David Elder, Dionne Figgins, Joey Calveri Music Director, Orchestrations, Arrangements: Martyn Axe Costume Design: Gregg Barnes Set Design: James Walski and Robin Wagner Lighting Design: Tamotsu Harado Sound Design: Peter Fitzgerald and Domonic Sack Hair Design: Josh Marquette Production Stage Manager: Scott Taylor Rollison Running Time: One hours, 50 minutes. One intermission Theatre: Stage 42. 422 West 42nd St. New York, NY Tickets: $109 to $35. Performances: Tues. at 7pm. Wed.-Sat. at 8pm. Wed and Sat. matinees at 2pm. Sun. matinee at 3pm. Previews: 9/26/15. Opened: 10/18/15. Open run Review by Elizabeth Ahlfors based on 10/21/15 |
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Musical Numbers
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Act One
White Rabbit In a Gadda-Da-Vida Both Sides Now Wipe Out Where the Boys Are It's Not Unusual These Boots Are Made For Walkin' Venus Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Lover's Concerto The Girl From Ipanema Moon River |
Act Two
Up, Up and Away I Saw Her Standing There You Don't Own Me What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted? California Dreamin' Nowhere to Run If You Go Away Downtown Blowin' in the Wind Somebody to Love The Way of Love Sign of the Times/ Born to Be Wild/ Batmanv |
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Book of Mormon -CD