TAKING THE BOW 'TITANIC' MUSICAL LOOKS GOOD, BUT CAN IT FLOAT?Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic Not since the days when Andrew Lloyd Webber Noun 1. Andrew Lloyd Webber - English composer of many successful musicals (some in collaboration with Sir Tim Rice) (born in 1948) Baron Lloyd Webber of Sydmonton, Lloyd Webber was pouring money into lavish eye-candy spectacles like ``Phantom of the Opera'' and ``Sunset Boulevard'' has there been a musical as opulence-inviting as ``Titanic.'' Peter Stone and Maury Yeston Maury Yeston is an American composer and lyricist educated at Yale and Clare College, Cambridge. Yeston knew from a young age that he wanted to write music for the stage after his mother took him to see a production of My Fair Lady when he was 10. brought their ``Titanic'' into port before the 1997 movie, winning five Tony awards in the process. Yet, from a drama perspective, one can't help wondering what James ``King of the World'' Cameron might have pulled off had he musicalized his intimate little tale of Jack, Rose, an iceberg and a big honkin' sinking ship sinking ship A mutual fund that has a substantial outflow of funds because of its weak investment performance. . Stone and Yeston's ``Titanic'' is, frankly, duller than Cameron's opus, and there's really nobody to root for. It's a scenically impressive, character-thin musical about a now overly familiar historical event. The decision by Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities to begin its 10th anniversary season with this particular creature was a gutsy maneuver, both creatively and financially. We already know the company does well with straight musicals (capturing the last two Ovation awards Established in 1989, the Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Awards are a major Southern California award for excellence in theatre with is held each November. The Ovation Awards are the only peer-judged theatre awards in Los Angeles. Called the "... for productions of ``West Side Story and ``Dreamgirls.'') Here's the company's attempt at a spectacle. Does it pay off? Yes and no. On stage at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center A performing arts center, often abbreviated PAC, is a multi-use performance space that can be adapted for use by various types of the performing arts, including dance, music and theatre. are several tons of eye candy surrounded by a better-than- adequate cast and lots of technical brio. The musical still lacks a plot structure, interesting characters and a first-rate score. How much you'll miss these elements is likely to vary. Musicals have gotten by with a lot worse. To the company's credit, it has spent a good portion of its reported $750,000 budget where it counts: on the set. Reminiscent in certain ways of what John Napier did with ``Sunset Boulevard'' seven years ago at the Schubert, ``Titanic'' makes frequent use of stacks and levels. Mighty split-level panels with multiple doors slip easily in and out of place. We get the top deck with smoke stack, the stokers' boiler room boiler room n. a telephone bank operation in which fast-talking telemarketers or campaigners attempt to sell stock, services, goods, or candidates and act as if they are calling from an established company or brokerage. , even a wood-paneled, marble-staircased grand salon that is used in precisely one scene. So hats off to scenic designer Thomas Buderwitz and the team at NBC studios who raised this Titanic. This musical will never look better. And considering how thinly spread their characters are, members of director Michael Michetti's enormous ensemble get a few legitimate opportunities to wrest wrest tr.v. wrest·ed, wrest·ing, wrests 1. To obtain by or as if by pulling with violent twisting movements: wrested the book out of his hands; wrested the islands from the settlers. the spotlight away from the visuals. Mark Capri is officious of·fi·cious adj. 1. Marked by excessive eagerness in offering unwanted services or advice to others: an officious host; officious attention. 2. Informal; unofficial. 3. and slimy as White Star owner J. Bruce Ismay Joseph Bruce Ismay (December 12, 1862 – October 15, 1937) was a British businessman who served as Managing Director of the White Star Line of steamships. He travelled on (and survived) the doomed maiden voyage of his company's marquee ocean liner, the RMS Titanic. , recklessly determined to bring Titanic into port early. Unrecognizable from his ``Three's Company'' days under a shock of gray hair and beard, Richard Kline holds his own as the doomed Capt. E.J. Smith. Despite their famous pedigrees, (Astor, Guggenheim, et al.), the passengers are largely nonentities. There's an Irish immigrant, determined to find a husband, a social climber from second class, and the brave, golden-throated stoker with a girl back home. Not a single one of them is given enough time - or decent enough music - to grab the show. It says something about your interest in characters when you eliminate brassy Molly Brown from the action altogether. Still, a fun show to watch, and an utterly harmless one. The boat sinks. The production doesn't. ``TITANIC'' Where: Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach. When: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; through March 25. Tickets: $35 to $50. Call (310) 372-4477. Our rating: Three stars CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Wendy Bergamini, left, John Bisom, Eve Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. , Dan O'Brien and Moriah Angeline are part of a South Bay production of the musical ``Titanic.'' |
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