PLAYS AND PLAYERS PRESENT THE RARELY HEARD ASPECTS OF LOVE BY ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER

Theater: Plays and Players
Show Title: Aspects Of Love
Opened: February 8, 2008
Seen: February 9, 2008
Reviewer: Arnie Finkel
Submitted: February 9, 2008

Andrew Lloyd Webber has written so many SRO shows that a mini chamber work like ASPECTS OF LOVE tends to be over looked. Congratulations to Plays and Players for attempting such a difficult work.

The book and lyrics by Don Black and Charles Hart revolve around Rose, a rising actress on the Paris stage in 1947. She is courted by 17 year old Alex and goes to his uncle’s house with him. His uncle, George an accomplished copier of famous paintings, is in the last stages of his affair with Guilietta, an Italian sculptor.

George goes to check up on Alex and falls for Rose himself. Rose lies to Alex to break off their affair. Alex joins the Army. When he returns after two years, he finds Rose married to George. She loves them both but has to choose and chooses George.

Thirteen years later, Alex is out of the Army and Rose has had a daughter, Jenny, who is the apple of George’s advanced age. Try as he may, Alex cannot escape falling in love with the 15 year old Jenny. This sets up the powerful ending.

The show is episodic (23 scenes in the first act and 17 in the second). The very construction of the musical is the problem with staging it. Many of the scenes are very brief, but changing sets and costumes creates a preponderance of stage waits. Each one in and of itself is not that long and is covered by some good orchestral bridges, but added together makes the first act seem very long.

Ken Sandberg has the good looks of Alex and grows more into the part as he goes. The vocal demands of most Weber tenor parts are a lot to demand of an amateur. For the most part he manages quite well. Theresa Leahy was a fine Rose. She was up to the vocal demands and looked fabulous in her costumes. John D’Alonzo had all my sympathy as the aging George. He sang well and was convincing in his characterization.

By far the best female voice in the cast was Jen Rosaio-Kent as Gulietta. She was the most appealing character. Marie Efie sang well as the 15 year old Jenny. Her younger self was cute as a button Amy Barlett. Dallas Drummond, according to the program, jumped in at the last minute as Marcel, Rose’s manager. He has the best of the male voices, and created a satisfying character. I’d like to see more of him in the future.

Lloyd Webber’s music is somewhat uneven. The show is basically sung through and has a theme, “Love Changes Everything”, that is hauntingly beautiful. Three things stand out—the first act trio with Rose, Giulietta and George—the second act quartette, “Falling”, with George, Rose, Alex and Jenny—and Rose’s 11 o’clock number, “Anything But Lonely”. All were exceptional. The choral work was beautiful all through. The four piece orchestra was very able if too loud in some instances.

It’s very obvious that Lance Moore has a real love of this piece. He directed, designed and conducted as well as providing the keyboard work. He did a very commendable job. His concept of using panels and a basic unit set was brilliant. I’m not at all sure that the nudeness added anything important. In the future, he could consider a few cuts and condensing a few of the many scene changes.

The Plays And Player’s 324 seat auditorium was very scantily filled. This production deserves better. The playhouse is the oldest continuously-operated community theater in America. It’s in ragged shape but the stage house has marvelous potential. By all means, take advantage of seeing Aspects Of Love in one of it’s rare runs. It will be at Plays And Players until 2/23.