THEATRE REVIEW:
KPBS
AIRDATE: December 26, 2003
Nothing to do on New Year's Eve? Maybe
you could spend it seeing a play about someone who has nothing to do on New
Year's Eve…. Well, actually, he has a party to go to, but he's in no mood for
socializing. And then, rap-tap-tapping at his door comes a young, spry
salesperson, hawking full-spectrum lightbulbs to counteract Seasonal Affective
Disorder, or SAD. This, of course, reminds him of the cheerless story of the
Poor Little Match Girl, that Hans Christian Andersen heroine who dies frozen on
a snowy evening in 19th century Denmark. But though the Globe is
presenting "Striking 12" as adult holiday fare, that doesn't mean it
has to be maudlin or depressing. No, in this version, the guy runs after the
perky peddler and invites her in, which prompts a more appropriate fairy tale
ending. All this is mere icing, though… just an excuse for some music from a
delightfully engaging mellow-pop-rock trio, GrooveLily. The New York band is
experimenting with a music-narrative mix. After the fable in the first half,
there's a second act of pure concert. Surprisingly, the genre fusion works.
That's because GrooveLily is composed of three charming personalities who are
masterful musicians. Keyboardist Brendan Milburn is the rocker; Valerie Vigoda
is a classically trained electric violinist; and drummer Gene Lewin provides
comic relief. Lewin and Vigoda were classmates at Princeton. All three are effective
singers who really know how to entrance an audience. Here's a little of Vigoda
in the post-9/11 "Live Through This"….
The Cassius Carter has been
reconfigured like a cabaret, with tables down front and the audience on three
sides instead of four. This makes the event feel more like a concert, and the
performers break the fourth wall freely, interacting with the audience and each
other. It's quite endearing. Acclaimed director Ted Sperling keeps the evening
humming along, and you'll want to do the same, though some of the time, you
couldn't keep up with the breakneck lyrics. In both sections of the show, the
words don't just move; they're often moving. Listen to Milburn in the
autobiographical/philosophical "No Room in Your Bag."
Overall, there's a lot of humor, a bit
of world-weary but ultimately upbeat wisdom and a huge helping of infectious
energy. Whether you're with them on New Year's or not -- there are actually two
shows that night -- you'll want to make their acquaintance, hear their stories
and savor their songs. Celebrate the season with a different kind of bubbly.
©2003
Patté Productions Inc.