Review: Citilites Theatre's Charming Production of MARRY ME A LITTLE

Marry Me a Little is an interesting little musical that cobbles together cut songs and lesser celebrated numbers composed by Stephen Sondheim. It's a clever idea, and even though some of the numbers don't really seem to fit perfectly with the "story", they still provide an opportunity to hear a master songwriter at work, with even these castoffs showcasing his catchy, but challenging gift for melodic invention, as well as his considerable lyrical wit. Citilites Theatre is presenting a solid production of this brief, but engaging, work conceived and developed by Craig Lucas and Norman Rene.

There really isn't a plot to speak of, and the songs flow from one to another without the benefit of dialogue or exposition. What we witness instead are two lonely New Yorkers in an apartment setting, with the man packing to move out, while the woman is unpacking and settling in. It's an interesting juxtaposition, and it allows us to watch the apartment, and the characters change over the course of the show. Obviously, at least from the romantic nature of most of these selected pieces, both of these people are looking for love, and both may have to be reconciled to being two ships that pass in the night.

Laura Ernst is a charming delight as the woman who's in the process of moving in to her new apartment. She invests every number with the proper emotion and degree of enthusiasm, bringing the lyrics to life with her spirited approach. She's especially good on songs like the spunky throwback "Can That Boy Foxtrot" (cut from Follies), and the desperation of "Marry Me a Little"(Company). Ernst is neatly contrasted by Scott Tripp's work as the male half of this equation. He's moving out, so his demeanor is more melancholy and detached. But, he brings considerable panache to a number like "Uptown, Downtown"(cut from Follies), even though the more wistful musings of a song like "Silly People" is more the norm for his character. Both actors duet throughout, and even though "Pour Le Sport" (The Last Resorts) seems an odd choice, it adds a bit of upbeat fun to the proceedings.

Seth Ward Pyatt's direction and musical direction is smartly conceived and executed, and he finds a way to communicate the unspoken, allowing us a deeper look into the characters than the songs alone can provide. He's aided by Cindy Duggan's playful choreography and Phillip Allen's additional musical staging, which sometimes has to contend with the fact that these two people really aren't in the same room at the same time, even though they may be dancing together. Nick Moramarco and GP Hunsacker have put together a workable apartment setting that allows the two characters to share the space without colliding, and it's nicely lit by Steven Miller.

Citilites Theatre's warm and tuneful production of Marry Me a Little continues through November 21, 2010 at the Gaslight Theatre.

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