Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The world has been waiting thousands of years for this musical about Aesop and his friends, but fortunately it has taken only 86 years for a World Premiere to come to Bill Hanney’s Theatre by the Sea. The first show of this historic theatre’s 86th season is “Love and Other Fables” written by John McMahon and Jay Jeffries. This comic musical which is bawdy and burlesque-like is set in 600 B.C. on the island of Samos in Greece. Aesop who later in life becomes a famous writer, is still a slave in this show. He yearns to become famous, win the girl of his dreams (who doesn’t find him attractive), outwit the King of Egypt to obtain his freedom by solving three conundrums and become renowned for his spinning of his stories.
This high energy musical feels like a Cole Porter or Gershwin musical with its extremely clever lyrics and lush melodies of the songs. Bill spent big bucks on this show with elaborate costumes by Bobby Pearce and stunning sets by Kyle Dixon. Director Jay Binder casts these roles extremely well especially the role of Aesop, while musical director Ed Goldschneider not only supplies gorgeous and lush music but also taught the original tongue twisting lyrics to this cast. The choreographer, Parker Esse creates terrific dance numbers, including a tap number while they are clad in sandals and a chorus line number which both stop the show. The audience bounded to their feet at the curtain call at the expertise of the performers that hopefully propels this show to Broadway. Bravo on creating something that isn’t from a movie or book and is more original then anything in a long time.
Leading man Brian Sears commands the stage as Aesop. He reminds you of young Robert Morse and his energy has no bounds with him jumping up and down on a bench or a stone wall with ease. Sears charms the audience with an enormously likeable personality and has the vocal, acting and dancing chops to pull it off. His patter numbers are perfect with tongue twisting lyrics like Sondheim only with much prettier music in them. His exuberant pursuit of the girl of his dreams and his winning persona propel this show to a satisfying conclusion. His powerful voice is heard in “I Got Fables” where he says “Mother Nature re-explains Human Nature” in that if you pay attention things will make sense and in “Outside Looking In” when he thinks he’s lost the girl for good. Another comical duet is “Lycaena” where he pursues the girl of his dreams only to be spurned by her at that time. Landree Fleming plays Lycaena, the girl of his dreams. The only thing is she has a crush on Philocalus, the tall, dark and handsome hunky friend of Aesop who is dumber than dirt. Her comedic ways are reminiscent of Imogene Coca and her wild and crazy antics are marvelous. “The Cretan Wedding Dance” which sounds like “To Life”, is hilarious as is “Dance of the Furies” when three statuesque dancers pushing her around the stage in a comic manner while dancing and gyrating . Fleming’s show stopping number with Sears is “Song of the Assyrian Somnambulist” which has to be seen to be believed. Also impressive is “Just the Beginning” when she realizes what is most important in her life.
Australian heartthrob Peter Saide, who has a perfect American accent, plays the dumb Philocalus who ends up with head courtesan, Delphinia played by the gorgeous and statuesque, Aimee Doherty clad in a red wig and beautiful low cut blue harem-like costume. They are terrific together with their antics with his being more naive and her more malevolent. He does a splendid job while displaying his singing and dancing chops. Their duet is “It Started with a Bang” because when they kissed there are trumpet flourishes which he continually doesn’t recognize. Doherty has a terrific chorus line number with Sears and chorus in “Legs”, a big dance number.
Alison Nesbaum is a hoot as Catastrophe, who sounds like a cross between Mrs. Kravitz from “Bewitched” and the real Gypsy Rose Lee. Her wig is enormous as she runs roughshod over Lycaena, her husband and everyone in town. Nesbaum wins many laughs as this harridan. Brad Bellamy plays her henpecked husband, Xanthus who seems befuddled most of the time but is smarter than you think. His character is reminiscent of Foster Brooks. Brad’s beautiful ballad “It Doesn’t Always Look Like It’s Love” imparts wisdom to the younger crowd. It’s one of the prettiest ballads in this slapstick comic romp. One of the biggest scene stealers is Blake Hammond as King Croesus. His madcap antics are priceless as he frets about having to give his wealth away to the evil king of Egypt unless he solves three riddles. His solo number is “Only Unimportant Things” about the things you should love in life. Hammond performs it with his soldiers. I last reviewed him as Edna in “Hairspray” last November at NSMT. Kudos to the chorus members who do incredible work in this original musical. So for a brand new musical that should be seen by one and all, be sure to catch “Love and Other Fables” at Theatre by the Sea. Be sure to get your tickets before the show heads off to Broadway.
LOVE AND OTHER FABLES ( 29 May to 16 June)
Theatre by the Sea, 364 Cards Pond Road, Matunuck, RI
1(401)782-8587 or www.theatrebythesea.com
