Center
Stage with Pat Launer on KSDS JAZZ88
THEATRE
REVIEWS
“Sammy” – The Old Globe
“Creditors”
–
AIRDATE: OCTOBER 9, 2009
It
isn’t every city that can boast two high-profile world premieres in one
weekend. But
Both
the musical and the drama have history on their side -- and also working
against them.
“Sammy,”
the Old Globe’s musical homage to the mega-talented Sammy Davis, Jr., is
constrained by the limitations of the biopic, and the too-familiar tale of a
star’s rise and fall. “Creditors,” adapted from an 1888 play by August
Strindberg, is also a timeless story bound by its form. The taut drama feels
more predictable – though no less ruthless -- than it might have a century ago.
But
both shows sport stellar casts, who circumvent the obstacles with sheer force
of talent.
It
would be inconceivable to create a tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr. without a
stunning centerpiece. The Old Globe, along with Leslie Bricusse,
who wrote the book, music and lyrics, have found the
perfect fit in Obba Babatundé.
He’s not trying to impersonate Sammy; he’s creating a persona, a sensibility,
which works excellently. The problem is, the scenarios
whiz by, whether they’re light or deadly serious. So, the auto accident when
Sammy lost his eye, his serial infidelities; his racial denigrations and
conversion to Judaism all get fly-by, insufficient time. The show primarily
celebrates the cult of celebrity; it may be what made Sammy run, but it’s the
least interesting part of his life.
Bricusse, who wrote most of Sammy’s signature
songs, like “What Kind of Fool Am I?’ and “The Candy Man,” penned 15?? new numbers for this show. But none is as electrifying as
his early works. The ensemble is terrific, the dancing is great; the women are
gorgeous. And the show does feel like it has a future. But it needs more heart,
focus and arc. Still, there’s a lot of pleasure to be had in watching a
fledgling musical take its first steps.
Pleasure
isn’t what you get from the disturbing “Creditors”; Strindberg wasn’t one for
comedy. But he could nail the dark side of marriage like nobody else. Pulitzer
Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright has created a whip-smart adaptation, which
is superbly performed by a trio of stellar actors. Though the stranger who
descends on and destroys a marital relationship is supposed to be a mystery,
most discerning viewers will deduce his identity early on. But that doesn’t
dampen the evil underlying his vindictive behavior, or the ease with which he
poisons a loving bond. It’s an unsettling story, beautifully conveyed in a
dazzling production at the La Jolla Playhouse.
Our
two Tony Award-winning theaters are busy treating us, yet again, to a first
glimpse of spanking new work. So what are you waiting for?...
the curtain is up.
The La Jolla
Playhouse commission of “Creditors” runs through October 25 in the Potiker
Theatre on the campus of UCSD.
The world premiere
of “Sammy” continues
through November 8 at the Old Globe Theatre in
©2009 PAT LAUNER