Theater

NIGHTMARE ALLEY

REVIEWED BY JOAN PINE

With freaks and geeks providing atmosphere for this traveling depression era carnival of down on their luck characters, NIGHTMARE ALLEY, the musical, finally arrived at the Geffen Playhouse, in Westwood. 

Set designer John Arnone dressed up the walls along the sides of the theatre and stage with banners, vintage posters and a striped carnival tent to lure you inside. There was an electric chair for Molly, Sarah Glendening, who got ‘shocked’ nightly and an astrology wheel for Mary Gordon Murray, as Zeena, the fortune teller.

Of course, there must be a love story, so we bring in our hero, Stan, James Barbour with his superb tenor voice, giving highlights to this musical, with stirring duets sung with soprano Sarah Glendening.  Besides a love story, this play is about fate and character. Does Stan have enough character to change his fate, or will he stay the slimy person we meet in the first act and get bitten in the behind? It is the old premise of “is it the cards you are dealt with or how you play the cards.”

This production was directed by Geffen’s own Gilbert Cates, who put the wheels into motion with Jonathan Brielle, who also wrote the book, music and lyrics based on the musical adaptation of William L. Gresham’s Nightmare Alley, which was also a movie made by Hollywood in 1947.

This was the premiere production of the play and it did not have the bite and cohesiveness needed. There was also too much going on at the same time, with some actors having two and three different parts and others just bursting into songs. The actors did all of the right things, said all of the right words, but the strength and command of the stage was lacking. Surprisingly, big applause came when Pete, played by Larry Cedars, did a little simple song and dance routine.

For musical fans who can never get enough songs and dances, the orchestrations by Irwin Fisch with musical direction by Gerald Sternback worked well, but 17 songs later, there still was nothing to hum when leaving the theatre.

Call the Geffen Playhouse at 310 208 5454, for their new fall schedule, or go on line

to www.geffenplayhouse.com.

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