Theater Review: Promising 'Luck be a Lady' at Asolo Rep

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A faded caricature of Frank Loesser, cigarette dangling from his bemused smile, keeps watch over the world premiere of “Luck Be a Lady: The Iconic Songs of Frank Loesser” at the Asolo Repertory Theatre.

The cast of "Luck Be a Lady: The Iconic Music of Frank Loesser" features, from left, James David Larson, Mary Michael Patterson, Erik Altemus, Louise Pitre, W. Joseph Matheson and Stephanie Umoh. Cliff Roles Photo/Provided by Asolo Rep

The cast of "Luck Be a Lady: The Iconic Music of Frank Loesser" features, from left, James David Larson, Mary Michael Patterson, Erik Altemus, Louise Pitre, W. Joseph Matheson and Stephanie Umoh. Cliff Roles Photo/Provided by Asolo Rep

You may leave with a bemused smile yourself, or feel a bit more bewildered by the mostly charming but occasionally confounding show that uses Loesser’s songs (and a few for which he wrote just the lyrics) to tell a story of a man and woman who long to get back together after a brief and passionate fling during the glory days of dance halls and ballrooms.

It is filled with more than two dozen wonderful songs, most of them beautifully sung and with clever, new arrangements by Neil Douglas Reilly and musical director Sinai Tabak (the pianist who also gets into the act at times).

Stars and creators celebrate music of Frank Loesser

As much as I wanted to love the show, however, particularly because of my appreciation of Loesser’s words and music, I mostly found it just pleasant. There are numerous songs and moments performed with strength and power that make you begin to care for these people, but they don’t build enough of an emotional and dramatic arc. At this point in the show’s development, the characters are like unfinished sketches.

Louise Pitre, left, and W. Joseph Matheson in a scene from the world premiere of "Luck Be a Lady: The Iconic Music of Frank Loesser" at Asolo Repertory Theatre. Cliff Roles Photo/Provided by Asolo Rep

Louise Pitre, left, and W. Joseph Matheson in a scene from the world premiere of "Luck Be a Lady: The Iconic Music of Frank Loesser" at Asolo Repertory Theatre. Cliff Roles Photo/Provided by Asolo Rep

There is no dialogue. Gordon Greenberg, who conceived and directed the show, cleverly uses Loesser’s lyrics to establish the characters, their relationships and the whirlwind romance of years ago that lead to the melancholy of today.

Louise Pitre and W. Joseph Matheson play the Woman and Man, with Mary Michael Patterson and Erik Altemus as their younger selves, who sing, dance and flirt while Pitre and Matheson look on as if seeing their memories or ghosts of their pasts and regretting their decisions.

James David Larson plays the Other Man, an awkward goofball who can’t get a girl, and Stephanie Umoh is a sultry and slightly sassy club singer and waitress, who crashes the romance between the Man and Woman.

The show takes off from the lyrics of “Heart and Soul,” which Loesser wrote to Hoagy Carmichael’s melody. The Woman sings about falling for the Man “heart and soul, the way a fool would do, madly, because you held me tight and stole a kiss in the night.”

Loesser was a composer of wide range, known for playfully upbeat and brassy songs, emotionally resonant ballads and catchy tunes filled with great humor. The romantic and character songs work nicely, but some of the humorous numbers, mostly performed by Umoh and Larson, don’t always make sense in the context of the story Greenberg and choreographer Denis Jones have established.

Erik Altemus and Mary Michael Patterson dance to the music of Frank Loesser in "Luck Be a Lady: The Iconic Music of Frank Loesser," a world premiere at Asolo Repertory Theatre. Cliff Roles Photo/Provided by Asolo Rep

Erik Altemus and Mary Michael Patterson dance to the music of Frank Loesser in "Luck Be a Lady: The Iconic Music of Frank Loesser," a world premiere at Asolo Repertory Theatre. Cliff Roles Photo/Provided by Asolo Rep

After listening to Patterson sing a lovely version of “Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm,” Umoh responds with “Jingle, Jangle, Jingle (I Got Spurs),” a warning that the guy she adores may be something of a wanderer, a thought that became clear only hours after the show ended. Later, Altemus confirms her suspicions with a defiant “Never Will I Marry” followed by the cast singing an odd, guitar-fueled arrangement of “Joey, Joey, Joey,” about a guy who doesn’t want to be tied down.

Instead of building from there, Umoh and Larson then perform an exhilarating comical version of “Big D,” allowing Larson’s character to finally make a match. As enjoyable as the song is, it comes out of the blue, tempers the mood and makes it difficult to get back into the story as it nears its conclusion.

But there are plenty of moments to make you swoon, particularly listening to the lilting voice of Patterson singing “Somebody Somewhere,” (which Pitre later reprises with more bite) and one of my favorite Loesser songs “My Heart Is So Full of You.”

Pitre, the original star of “Mama Mia,” is a powerhouse singer who brings a range of emotions to each of the songs she performs, like the slow variations of “If I Were a Bell” and “I Don’t Want to Walk Without You,” which clearly establish the regret she feels for letting the Man go.

From left, James David Larson, Stephanie Umoh and Erik Altemus in "Luck Music of Frank Loesser" at Asolo Repertory Theatre. Cliff Roles Photo/Provided by Asolo Rep

From left, James David Larson, Stephanie Umoh and Erik Altemus in "Luck Music of Frank Loesser" at Asolo Repertory Theatre. Cliff Roles Photo/Provided by Asolo Rep

Altemus is a pure-voiced charmer, and while his facial expressions are a bit broad, he’s light on his feet when he’s dancing and oozes appeal when he’s strumming a ukele and wooing Patterson with “Once in Love with Amy.”

Mattheson, who is mostly underutilized, plays his role as a slightly bitter alcoholic, recalling his joys of the early morning hours in “My Time of Day” and singing “Luck Be a Lady” in a more subdued version than we’re used to hearing.

Reilly's arrangements and orchestrations for the six-member band are generally appealing, but I kept waiting (or hoping) for more musical sparks that never came.

Andrea Lauer’s costumes have an attractive period feel and look just right on Wilson Chin’s beautifully evocative set of a rundown ballroom stage that comes to life with an assortment of globe lights under a fractured false proscenium arch. Paul Miller’s lighting keeps us focused and in a romantic haze when a handful of mirror balls bring us back in time.

From left, Erik Altemus, James David Larson and W. Joseph Mattheson perform in "Luck Be a Lady: The Iconic Music of Frank Loesser" at Asolo Rep. Cliff Roles Photo/Provided by Asolo Rep

From left, Erik Altemus, James David Larson and W. Joseph Mattheson perform in "Luck Be a Lady: The Iconic Music of Frank Loesser" at Asolo Rep. Cliff Roles Photo/Provided by Asolo Rep

Jones’ fun choreography is feathery light, suiting the moods without overwhelming the songs.

There is a lot of promise in this new show because Loesser’s songs still have the power to make us feel, think and fall in love. With a few alterations, those emotions can be enhanced to bring more heart and soul to “Luck Be a Lady.”

THEATER REVIEW
LUCK BE A LADY: THE ICONIC MUSIC OF FRANK LOESSER
Words and music by Frank Loesser. Conceived and directed by Gordon Greenberg. Reviewed May 1, Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Through May 24. 351-8000; asolorep.org

THEATER REVIEW
LUCK BE A LADY: THE ICONIC MUSIC OF FRANK LOESSER
Words and music by Frank Loesser. Conceived and directed by Gordon Greenberg. Reviewed May 1, Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Through May 24. 351-8000; asolorep.org
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Jay Handelman

Jay Handelman is the theater and television critic for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where he has worked since 1984. He also is President of the Foundation of the American Theatre Critics Association and a two-time past chairman of the association's executive committee. He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4931. Follow him at @jayhandelman on Twitter. Make sure to "Like" Arts Sarasota on Facebook for news and reviews of the arts.
Last modified: May 7, 2015
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