In a flourish of color and light, full of haunting melodies, clever lyrics and brimming with bravado, bawdy humor and romance, Flaherty and Ahren's 2007 musical salute to Renaissance Italian theater traces the evolution of commedia dell'arte. This obscure chapter of theatrical history becomes personalized when seen through the eyes of seven street performers.
Most notable is Flaminio, the founder of the improv troupe and the artist responsible for recruiting the other six actors who play the stock characters in one lewd comedy sketch after another. When theatrical taste begins to demand scripted plays in which the actors must memorize lines instead of improving them, Flaminio feels defeated and unable to continue with his theater troupe. But, as the musical ultimately points out, Flaminio's unique style of comedy actually paved the way for such greats as Charlie Chaplin, The Three Stooges and Lucille Ball.
All seven members of the ensemble shine. Vocally they are stellar, both individually and as a company. Their energy and earnest commitment coupled with honest character portrayals make this musical entertaining as well as informative. Eric Damon Smith's Flaminio, Dana Tretta's pint-sized Armanda, Courtney Crouse's handsome leading man Francesco and Katie Siri's sweet ingenue Isabella stand out in particular.
Director Stephen M. Genovese has incorporated some inventive elements of street theater (a makeshift stage, shadow puppets, clever scroll backdrops) into his production that help make the show sparkle with authenticity. Theresa Ham's gorgeous period costumes and masks and the elegant musical accompaniment provided by pianist Nick Sula and violinist Kimberly Lawson lend a polished quality to the piece. While this 90-minute one-act piece educates by presenting a little-known period of theatrical history, and by debating the legacy each of us leaves the world, it does so in a highly entertaining adult musical comedy that will bring evoke laughter and a tear or two.
Reviewed by Centerstage!
