Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Encores! Off-Center’s inspired revival of PROMENADE was a thrilling and telling wild ride

• By drediman
• July 12, 2019
• No Comments

James T. Lane, Kent Overshown, and Bryonha Marie Parham in the Encores! Off-Center revival of “Promenade” at New York City Center Photo by Sara Krulwich.

This week at New York City Center, I caught the first of two performances of Encores! Off-Center’s revival of Promenade. The musical has had an interesting life, commencing Off-Off-Broadway in 1965 at the Judson Memorial Church before being expanded and successfully continuing Off-Broadway in 1969 (the latter run christened the Promenade Theatre on the Upper West Side). The satiric musical romp tells the story of two runaway convicts who, on their madcap adventures, come across a representative cross section of society (rich, poor, servants, politicians, soldiers, etc.).

So far, I’m relieved to report that this summer’s Off-Center series is doing a good job of erasing the memory of the mediocrity of the recent main Encores! season. Even more than Off-Center’s touching production of Working a few weeks ago, this revival of Promenade was a triumph. This is especially pleasant news, given that it’s a wonder that Promenade works at all. Indeed, that the musical’s vastly disparate elements work as well as they do in concert is a testament to the unbounded creativity, craft, and confidence of its creators (María Irene Fornés wrote the lyrics and book; Al Carmines penned the music), whose sophisticated understanding of various genres – particularly operetta, vaudeville, and absurdist theater – is astonishing.

Laurie Woolery’s inspired direction embraces the show’s fascinating brashness, complex rhythms, and gorgeous imperfections. In her hands, Promenade was a every bit the thrilling and telling wild ride that it was intended to be. Ms. Wollery’s cast was just as sensational. Indeed, each member of the 15-member ensemble was a knockout, performing the material with immense, infectious zeal. They also had the vocal chops to sing the hell out of Carmines and Fornés’ delectable and varied tapestry of a score, which sounded simply splendid under the deliciously droll musical direction of Greg Jarrett. I would love for this production to live on in some fashion.

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PROMENADE
Off-Broadway, Musical
Encores! Off-Center / New York City Center
1 hour, 50 minutes (without an intermission)
Closed