FALSETTOS Opens at Little Rock's Weekend Theatre, 10/9

The Weekend Theatre in Little Rock, AK, will open its 2009-10 season with the production of FALSETTOS. Opening with a performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at the Weekend Theater, the musical presents the story of a neurotic, gay, Jewish man attempting to create a new life for himself that will not completely exclude the best parts of his old life as a married man and father. Andy Hall directs, with music direction by Steve Whaley and choreography by Pamela Crane.

"Falsettos," with music and lyrics by William Finn, and book by William Finn and James Lapine, won Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score in 1992. It is a combination of two of Finn's earlier one-acts, "March of the Falsettos" and "Falsettoland."

"This show melds comedy and drama effortlessly," says Hall, noting that the song titles emphasize this - including "Four Jews in a Room Bitching," "I'm Breaking Down," "The Miracle of Judaism," "Everyone Hates His Parents" and "My Father's a Homo."

The story covers 1979-1981 in the life of Marvin (Gabe Washam), who was married to Trina (Patti Airoldi) with whom he has a son, Jason (Charlie Askew). As the show opens, Marvin has a lover, Whizzer (Seth Kinney), and he and Jason are in therapy with Mendel (Ralph Hyman) - who finds himself highly attracted to Trina.

Marvin meets "the lesbians next door", Dr. Charlotte (Allison Pace), an internist, and Cordelia (Jenn Jackson), a kosher caterer. And the shadow of AIDS - a mysterious, unknown illness at the time - enters the picture.

Three of the cast members in this production have prior experience with the world of "Falsettos." Ralph Hyman played Marvin in a prior Weekend Theater production, and Patty Airoldi previously played Cordelia, Gabe Washam, previously played Marvin in a production at the University of Tulsa a few years ago. He also has a connection with the composer/lyricist - William Finn was his thesis adviser in the theater program at New York University.

"He doesn't pull any punches. He's very, very straightforward, and if you know that, you understand where this show is coming from," Washam says. "This is one of the first pieces of musical theater in which homosexuality is treated realistically. They're not stereotypes."

He also notes that the play might be even more relevant to the current social situation than when Finn first examined the life of Marvin and company. "Think of this age, how many people are divorced for whatever reason, who have to find a way to make a new family," he says.

Airoldi is thrilled to be playing Trina, a role she had become fond of during the last Weekend Theater production. "I wasn't old enough, I didn't have the experience or chops to play Trina," she notes.

Now, as a parent herself, she better understands the emotions involved, and the sometimes difficult paths a family must travel. "You don't always get to pick your family, and you have to deal with them. That's what this is about."

The show runs for 6 performances only, at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 24. Tickets are $18 for general admission, and $14 for students and seniors age 65 and older. For reservations or more information, call 501-374-3761 or visit the Web site at www.weekendtheater.org.

 

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