Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Rodgers and Sondheim’s DO I HEAR A WALTZ? is reexamined, courtesy of Encores!

• By drediman
• May 14, 2016
• No Comments

Until Encores! revival earlier this week at City Center, I had never seen (and had only heard juicy stories about) Do I Hear a Waltz?, the 1965 musical on which the titans Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents notoriously collaborated. Does this musical – about a vacationing American in Venice (played here by Melissa Errico) and her eye-opening realizations regarding romantic relations – live up to its storied mediocrity? That short answer is no. In fact, Laurents’ witty yet understated book and Rodgers and Sondheim’s accomplished score have some piercingly clear-eyed observations about love and marriage that still have the ability to quietly provoke contemporary audiences (Sondheim would later revisit these themes with crystalline brilliance and edge in his landmark concept musical Company). Yes, there are tone problems throughout – the three authors don’t appear to be quite on the same page all the time – but overall I found the material sophisticated, elegant, and certainly worthy of a reexamination.

Director Evan Cabnet does his best to reign in the musical, to mixed results. The tone problems still exist, which are only exacerbated by his overly choreographed, movement-driven approach (the dances are by Chase Brock). Luckily, the semi-staged format allows us to focus on the underrated score, which is here being played gloriously by the fabulous Encores! orchestra under the reliable musical directorship of Rob Berman using Ralph Burns sparkling original orchestrations.

Melissa Errico has the daunting task of playing Leona Samish, who really is an American everywoman of sorts. Ms. Errico does an admirable job of creating a distinct portrayal that combines Doris Day wholesomeness with some less savory character traits. Even if her voice no longer has the effortless gleam it once had, she smoothly handles the score like a true pro. Ms. Errico is aided by some excellent supporting performances, particularly the always-fabulous Karen Ziemba as Signora Fioria (the Italian proprietress of a Venetian hotel), the handsome Claybourne Elder as Eddie Yeager (one half of a young American couple living in Italy), and that wide-eyed comic dynamo Nancy Opel as Mrs. McIlhenny (another vacationing American). As Leona’s love interest Renato Di Rossi, opera singer Richard Troxell sings with robust fervor that could make any of us swoon; and his acting is quite good, to boot. In a truly inspired comic performance, Sarah Stiles nearly steals the show as the Giovanna, Signora Fioria’s lackadaisical help.

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DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Off-Broadway, Musical
New York City Center Encores!
2 hours, 30 minutes (with one intermission)
Through May 15