Disclaimer: City of Angels is one of my favorite musicals, and Patio Playhouse has brought San Diego audiences a well-done rendition. City of Angels is a play within a play divided into two sections, "Hollywood" and "Movie." In Hollywood we are presented with the filmmakers, from producer/director Buddy Fidler to the cast and crew. In "Movie" we are inside the lives of the characters. Since the film is based on the filmmakers, many of the roles are played by the same actor. (It is more confusing to write about than it is to see.)
Cy Coleman's music structure is extremely complex. The lyrics, by David Zippel, complement the music with equally intricate phrasing. Add Larry Gelbart's inspired book, and you have the ingredients for a six-Tony show (Musical, Book, Score, Actor,
Featured Actress and Scenic Design). From Broadway to traveling companies to film
and finally in your local theater . . . a feat few musicals master.
City of Angels is Patio Playhouse's summer (Friday and Saturday thru August 29th) offering to Plays in the Park at Kit Carson Park's Amphitheater. This 1,000-seat venue is certainly an expansion of Patio's under 100-seat theater capacity. Added is the large stage that allows for a cast of almost 30 to have complete freedom of movement.
City of Angels is a big production with multiple scenes and sets. The stage includes two large, revolving elements allowing for scene changes while another scene is in progress. Just offstage is the nine-piece orchestra conducted by Katie Browne.
Directors Mary Bright (also musical director) and Richard Brousil (also set designer) along with choreographer Dawn Marie Williams have staged an excellent production. It moves at lightning pace. Though two hours and forty minutes, it never feels long. I just wished that in a score with almost 20 numbers, there was just one singable number for the drive home from the theater. Each song, highly unique in both music and lyric complexity, is integrated into the story.
One remembers Stone (Frank F. Remiatte) with Alaura (Debbie David) and Buddy (Brett Daniels) with Stine (Brian P. Evans) opening with "Double Talk" on two different sets. We soon realize that Gabby (Jamie Channell) and Oolie (Kris Bauer) say it all in, "What You Don't Know About Women."
City of Angels is two plays in one. There are two highly stylized musical scores. One celebrates the moment, revealing the relevant emotions. The other is a 1940's movie soundtrack. The show is introduced in both acts, with additional commentaries in Act I by the Angel City 4 (Geoffrey A. Cox, Eric Gonzales, Lauren Thompson, and Adrianna Zuniga) usually with Jimmy Powers (Christopher T. Miller) in their radio broadcasts.
In the film, we are drawn to Stone and Alaura. The chorus' "Alaura's Theme" is beautifully haunting. Stone has taken on the assignment to find Alaura's missing daughter, Mallory (Emily Pince). Somehow, the lovely Mallory turns up in Stone's bed scantily dressed. Channell's role in the movie moves from Stine's wife to Stone's friend, Bobbie.
With a majority of the cast in dual roles, usually a fictionalized version of their "real" life roles, while appearing complicated, is quite simple and easy to follow. Much of the plot is based on this duality. Bauer's duet, "You Can Always Count On Me," with herself as Oolie and Donna, on two sets, is delightful. The first act ends with a Stone and Stine duet, "You're Nothing Without Me." It is reprised at the end of the second act, adding Gabby. Gabby's "It Needs Work" and Stine's "Funny" are two memorable numbers.
Patio Playhouse's production of City of Angels is a perfect example of an ensemble piece. I've only touched on the cast and the songs. The quality of the acting and singing are above average throughout. The orchestra, almost always playing, whether background or accompaniment, is professional-level.
City of Angels is a winner and an opportunity to be taken back to old Hollywood when the men were all handsome and forthright and all the women were beautiful and (well, not so) innocent.
