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NY Theater: “The Apple Tree” a cute musical spoof of love, jealousy, celebrityAdam and Eve – men and women -- through the ages turn love into self-loveBy Lucy KomisarThis is a cute, quirky spoof about male-female relations, jealousy and power, and the celebrity culture of Hollywood. It starts out with Adam and Eve and progresses to love, which turns out to be lethally self-involved. The movie star piece is a good finish, since the celebrity world represents the apotheosis of self-love. The three vignettes, in which the central characters are all women – all Kristin Chenoweth -- might be considered sexist, except for the fact that men don’t come out looking so good, either. Gary Griffin has directed this revival of a play that premiered 40 years ago with a light comic touch that lets us laugh and take the show seriously at the same time. It’s not a memorable show, but it’s appealing.
Adam is a bit of a jerk. Eve invents fire, then sets about decorating his hut. She wants an education. They bicker about the snake. The stuff about forbidden fruit is all “chestnuts,” he declares. Is this the first sitcom?
Barbára’s father, King Arik (Walter Charles), has condemned her warrior lover and given him the punishment of having to choose to pass through one of two doors, not knowing which leads to a murderous tiger and which to a beautiful women. Could Barbára’s advice make a difference? The jealous lover’s song sets out the conundrum which is the second stage of male-female relations.
There’s plenty to love in the stars of this show, especially Kristin Chenoweth, the compleat musical comedy actress, with a rich voice, charm and presence, who bubbles no matter who her character. Marc Kudisch, who displays sophisticated charm and panache even in small roles, dominates the stage with his voice. D’Arcy James’ sound is sweet and strong. All three have sung opera or in concerts, and it shows. Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick wrote the music and lyrics as well as the book. The songs are pleasing when you hear them, though you won’t leave the theater humming anything. Well, you might find “Oh to Be a Movie Star” ringing in your ear. “The Apple Tree.” Book, Music & Lyrics Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick. Additional Book Material by Jerome Coopersmith. Directed by Gary Griffin. Choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler. Sets by John Lee Beatty. Costumes by Jess Goldstein. Musical Direction by Rob Fisher. Starring Kristin Chenoweth, Brian d'Arcy James, Marc Kudisch, Walter Charles, Meggie Cansler, Julie Connors, Sarah Jane Everman, Jennifer Taylor Farrell, Justin Keyes, Lorin Lataro, Mike McGowan, Sean Palmer, Eric Santagata, Dennis Stowe. Studio 54, 254 W. 54th St. Tue-Sat 8pm; Wed, Sat, Sun 2pm. No perf 8pm Fri Jan 19; no perf 2 pm Sat Jan 20. Added perf 7:30pm Sun Jan 21. Through March 11, 2007. Running Time 2:10. $36.25-$111.25. 212-719-1300. http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/studio54.htm. Photos by Joan Marcus. |
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TM
The
first of the three pieces, “The Diary of Adam and Eve,” based on a story by Mark
Twain, is slight and stereotypical, cartoonish but often funny. Adam (d’Arcy
James) starts out with a corporate demeanor, “By the power vested in me…” Eve
(Chenoweth) wants to talk “about us.” He wants her out of the way. Who is this
odd creature: “Nothing seems to interest it except resting. It is a man!”
The
second selection, “The Lady or the Tiger,” based on a story by Frank Stockton,
arrives as a clever take-off of a Wagner opera, complete with a warrior in chest
armor (d’Arcy James). Chenoweth is masterful as the Princess Barbára, faced with
a mortal dilemma posed by jealousy.
But
the pièce de résistance is “Passionella: A Romance of the ‘60s,” based on a
story by Jules Feiffer. It is a wonderful send-up of America’s fascination with
movie star celebrity, all the more so as it was written in the sixties when the
celebrity culture was not so revoltingly entrenched. The poor, plain Ella
(Chenoweth), with black horn-rimmed glasses and a hangdog expression, spends her
days as a chimney sweep and her nights watching TV and fantasizing about being a
“glamorousmoviestar,” which is, after all, one word.
Through
some magical intervention, she gets her wish and becomes one of the
self-involved glittery damsels that inhabit tinsel town. We also get a glimpse
of a male variation, the rocker (d’Arcy James), who has lots of hair, a black
leather jacket, and a penchant for dirty fingernails. Andy Blankenbuehler
creates snappy choreography for the figures in black who inhabit that world. Is
this a dream or a nightmare?