Review: Irving Berlin's Melodies Revisit Timeless Themes at TAP

Stage Door Theatre Company discovers a "fine way to treat a Steinway," Words the illustrious and prolific composer Irving Berlin wrote in his song "I Love a Piano." Third Avenue Playhouse presents a musical revue concieved by James Valcq based on Berlin's early career using this as the title, and the evening celebrates everything about the piano the composeer treasured.

Once again Valcq, who also directs the production, sculpts the show into musical memories by using exquisite harmonies, especially in the full company numbers, by adding three performers: Cynthia Cobb, Ryan Patrick Shaw, and artist-in-residence, Katherine Duffy. Valcq commands the Steinway except for several sections of pre-recorded piano music while the production shifts from the late1800's to the years just after World War I.

Summer intern Kelsey Wong demonstrated an interesting feel for the costumes highlighting these various decades in Berlin's and American history that also make the visuals pop on stage. While the cast narrates that Berlin, a Jewish-Russian immigrant, could neither read nor write music, he became recognized as a foretather to the what is named the Great American Songbook, which the performers

Duffy defines her gifted musical personality in several numbers including "italian Love--" "when you kiss him once and it feels like nine"- and "You'd Be Surprised." The "Surprise" lyrics comically retell how one man has two different personas when being out in a crowd as opposed to one woman. Then alongside Shaw, Duffy sings of "A Cozy Kitchenette and Apartment for Two," while Cobb and Valcq complement the young couple with a delightful version and duet of "Snokey Oakums."

Cobb, who has performed numerous times at Milwaukee's Skylight MusicTheatre offers her rich voice, so tender in "When I Lost You," and then humorous in a duet with Duffy titled "Don't Leave Your Wife ALone,' where the feathered boas fly over the women's shoulders. Or. when Cobb shakes those marracas in "i'll See You in Cuba,' she sizzles on stage.

The touching tune "Dear Mayme, I Love You," allows Shaw to shine as does "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning," which the audience might remember from the film White Christmas. Valcq also intermingles song and dance in the production, and then while playing the pian gives a beautiful rendition of "When I Leve the World Behind."

While Valcq's I Love a Piano might appear merely a trip down memory lane, only the costumes and specific events change over time. Berlin captured the very constancy of humankind's emotions whatever the era because the human condition rarely changes. Technology changes, fashion changes along with architecture, although the classics remain timeless. Berlin's stories and melodies, whether he wrote aboht Irish Love or Spanish Love, the International Rag, or the sorrows of war in Cobb's poignant "What Will I Do?" still crack open human hearts, even in his less known songs culled from the more than hundreds Berlin wrote throughout his lifetime.

Today those immigrants filling New York that first inspried Berlin might be Syrian instead of Irish or Spanish, and still could include a Jewish-Russian artist or entrepeneur who coud change culture. Perhaps there might be less peace in any corner of the globe than after the First Great War, and solidiers still die. And more recently, Havana, Cuba, now waits for the world's visitors after years of closed shorelines.

Berlin's songs, so charming and captivating front and center at Third Avenue Playhouse, illustrate music speaks to every culture.and holds the potential to unite generations and a world torn assunder whether in Sturgeon Bay or Sri Lanka. The audience might consider we all need to believe "I Love A Piano" and those beautiful melodies that remind each person we are more similar than different---- just as similar to any piano, found anywhere in the world, when looking underneath the ebony and ivory keys.

Stage Door Theatre Company presents James Valcq's premiere of I Love A Piano at Thrid Avenue Playhouse in Sturgeon Bay through October 18. For information or tickets, please visit: www.thirdavenueplayhouse.com

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