MetroStage and Musicals: Made
For Each Other
December 4, 2008
By Jeanne Theismann
S’Wonderful, S’Marvelous,
that MetroStage has reunited with Jimi
Ray Malary in its latest musical production Isn’t
It Romantic?,
a cabaret-style tribute to some of the greatest love songs ever written.
Featuring more than 30 songs from composers such as Jerome Kern, Richard Rogers
and Lorenze Hart, and George and Ira Gershwin, Isn’t
It Romantic? marks Malary’s
third appearance at MetroStage, following his
successful turns in King of Cool: The Life and Music of Nat King Cole,
and Ellington: The Life and Music of the Duke.
Written and directed by David Koch, the creative genius and writer behind the
Cole and Ellington shows, Malary brings his smooth
elegance and style to a script that takes the audience on a journey through the
various highs and lows of love.
From infatuation to breaking up and making up again, Koch showcases timeless
tunes such as “All the Things You Are”, “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off”,
“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” and “Our Love is Here
to Stay.”
Originally a solo show when it first premiered at the Milwaukee Repertory
Theater, Koch decided his Romeo needed a Juliet and rewrote the script to
include jazz vocalist Lori Williams.
With all the glamour and sophistication of a bygone era, the duo
are a delight to watch as they portray a couple who ultimately survive
the heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking stages of romance.
Malary, whose effortless command of the stage echoes
that of a young Nat King Cole, delivers a solid and swoon-inducing performance
on a range of songs, from the mesmerizing ballad “My Funny Valentine,” to the
more upbeat “That’s Why The Lady Is A Tramp.”
Williams, who last appeared at MetroStage in All
Night Strut, steps into the show almost tentatively at first, her role
slowly building as her voice is allowed to soar with her sizzling Ella
Fitzgerald-style scatting and tender duets with Malary.
Sharing the stage with Malary and Williams is the
impressive jazz trio under the expert musical direction of pianist William
Knowles. Knowles, a Helen Hayes Award winner for his musical direction of Dinah
Was at Arena Stage, is joined by Greg Holloway on drums and the innovative Yusef Chisholm on bass.
The veteran jazz musicians not only provide the music for the show, they
provide a realistic element as Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin transforms the
converted lumber warehouse into an intimate
With Art Deco sets based on the original production designs of Susannah M.
Barnes and café tables set in front of the stage, the audience is transported
back to a time when music was considered the language of love.
While Isn’t It Romantic is more music than theater, the enduring
popularity of the score makes this a perfect opportunity for theatergoers to
get acquainted with some of the world’s most celebrated songwriters of the past
while enjoying some of the finest musical talent around today.
Whether you’re looking for love or simply looking to escape the holiday bustle
and enjoy an evening of music that transcends time, don’t miss the enchanting
combination of Malary and Williams in Isn’t It
Romantic?
Isn’t It Romantic? is playing now through
December 21 at MetroStage,