AND THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND

 

First let me tell you this show is a winner! And I don’t like revues, per se, even though Karen’s Restaurant Revue was the name of my show. (I let someone else choose it, and, at the time, I loved the intelligent wordplay, that no one else, including my crew who wrote it incorrectly always!, got.) So, when I sat down and realized what this was, I panicked. But I loved it!

And The World Goes ‘Round is a panoply of Kander-Ebb songs, written for their various Broadway productions through the years. Some are totally famous, like all the Chicago and Cabaret numbers, others not so much. (Anyone besides me ever hear of The Rink? And that’s only because my brother played in it.) I thought this L.A. company had created it, but it turns-out that it’s a known show that was on Broadway in1991!

And, even though it’s solely music, with no story or talking, it’s not “Broadway Singing 101”; in addition to the cast’s excellent voices and ability to sell the songs, there are lots of fun surprises. I swear, whether the cast was singing a ballad or comedy number, dancing, or doing one of those aforementioned surprises, the show was constantly entertaining. It held my attention, which is hard to do.

The whole show is very well done. Each number moves smoothly into the next. It’s a totally uplifting, non-painful evening of theatre. I’ve rarely seen such an engaged, happy audience, including us. And the uber-talented cast, consisting of (in alphabetical order, sort-of,) Erica Hanrahan-Ball, Emily King Brown, Isaac James, Kristin Towers-Rowles, and Ryan Ruge, with Musical Director Eli Kranz (who also sings in the show,) and adorable young drummer Alex Stickels, seems like they’ve been performing together for years!

I have to give mad props to Joshua, who played the piano for the entire time!!! OMG! Since one song flowed into the next, there were no breaks, except for intermission. I don’t know how he did it. My friend Lauren and I talked to him after the show and he said it’s no biggie because he loves what he’s doing! I don’t doubt it because we discussed every musical ever made! (Well, not quite, but almost!)

Since there are only two songs in the whole world that I can sing, Take Back Your Mink and Little Lulu, I’m really impressed with people who can sing. It’s especially fun to see and hear up-close and personal. And not only did all of them have excellent voices, (not a weak one in the bunch,) they all delivered their numbers with such confidence. Impressive.

Since they’re mostly “personality” songs, (the specialty of Kander and Ebb,) I suggest you pay attention to the words, which can all be understood–a first for me!

Many of the numbers required movement, and I’m happy to report that, while not dancers, they can all move well enough. My only tiny criticism of the entire show is that all three girls need to point their toes when they’re dancing! That’s my absolute pet peeve for all persons trying to dance, even the contestants on Dancing With The Stars. The whole line is thrown off when it’s not done. Even skaters can do it in skates, so there’s no excuse for performers to not do it in plain little shoes, especially stage ones. But that’s the only even slightly negative comment I have from the entire night, and I’m sure no one else would have noticed, except another former dancer like myself.

Now back to the positives. Right off the bat, I noticed the clever drum set-up, which was behind a bar that the cast often made use of. And in one number, they employed the best stage cigarettes I’ve ever come across! Maybe someone should send that memo to another show I reviewed last week, Backbeat, where the non-stop herbal smoke was choking us out even towards the back! The ones at And The World Goes ‘Round lit up on the ends, had no smell whatsoever, and allowed puffs of smoke to come out of the singers’ mouths. They were perfect props!

Since we attended the show on opening night this past week-end, we got to mingle with everyone at the party. It turns-out that I have a slight connection with Kristin Towers-Rowles, the little redhead (which she’s probably sick of being called, but it’s such a cute moniker,) in the group; she’s the grand-daughter of MGM star, Kathryn Grayson, whose films I watched with my family when I was a little girl. And then when I grew-up, Ms. Grayson and I did the stupidest Hollywood event I’ve ever done. (Well, upon reflection, I have to amend that to “one of the…”) It was called Celebrity Pet Parade, and we “celebs” showed up in Century City with our pets, and then paraded up Avenue of the Stars!!! It was nutty. But I loved it because I couldn’t believe I was actually “working with” Kathryn Grayson! I hope that Kristin remembers to tell her family that tidbit.

The drummer, Alex, was my favorite person at the party. My friend started talking to him because he attended Berklee School of Music, where her son is now. I kept telling him he should go talk to some others, but he chose to stick with us, discussing the current music scene, the east coast, and the values of college. I hope his parents are as proud of him as they should be!

So, even though you won’t have the after-party to go to, this North Hollywood Arts District is so happening that you can find someplace fun to go after the show, if you want to continue the great vibes. (There will be also be a special Valentine’s Day promotional performance on Thursday, February 14, 2013 in conjunction with North Hollywood area restaurants.) Or just go home and sing the songs yourself, although you won’t come close to what this troupe just did. Trust me on that one.

[Note: A special performance of the production will be presented Sunday, February 10 for Aspergers teens, young adults, adults, and their families. The performance will be tailored specifically to accommodate their needs, and is meant to entertain and inspire their interest in the performing arts. All proceeds from the performance will go to the MIND (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute at UC Davis for research identifying the causes of autism and targeted treatments.]

And The World Goes ‘Round running through March 10, 2013
NoHo Arts Center  11136 Magnolia Blvd.  North Hollywood  323-960-4418  www.plays411.net/world