Theater Uncorked’s ‘Sideman’ Takes a Darkly Humorous Look at the Jazz World

Theater Uncorked’s ‘Sideman’ Take Darkly Humorous Look at the Jazz World

‘Sideman’ – Written by Warren Leight; Directed by Russell R. Greene. Presented by Theater Uncorked at the Plaza Theater at the Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St. Boston, through May 7.

by Mike Hoban

As anyone who has attempted to make a living from the arts will tell you, the problem with being a starving artist is that the romance of that notion doesn’t usually measure up to the reality of living it. Performing onstage or creating art in the studio may fill your soul, but it doesn’t always pay the bills. So like an alcoholic or an addict chasing booze and drugs, those consumed by their art often prioritize their passion over everything else, including relationships with those who love and depend on them.

That’s the basic premise of ‘Sideman,’ the 1999 Tony Award-winning play by Warren Leight now being staged for a brief run at the Plaza Theater of the BCA by Theater Uncorked. The play spans a lengthy period from the early 50s – the beginning of the end for jazz as a popular musical genre before rock n roll stole the spotlight – to somewhere in the mid-eighties. The story centers around Gene (Brad Michael Pickett), a talented trumpet player whose career has primarily been that of a ‘sideman,’ a term for musicians whose talents support the work of bandleaders and more prominent musicians rather than being the stars themselves. It’s a role that Gene settled into early in his career despite his passion for music, and he seems destined to finish it that way. Told in a blend of flashbacks and present-day settings by his son Clifford (named after the legendary trumpeter Clifford Brown, who died at the age of 25, played by Ben Gold), the play begins as a darkly humorous peek into the lives of a dying breed of musicians before the consequences of the protagonists’ physically and emotionally damaging lifestyles take their toll.

Gene, who has played with the greats including Sinatra and Brown, spends nearly all of his time with his jazz sidemen buddies, Jonesy (veteran Boston actor Phil Thompson), Ziggy (James Hunt), and Al (Leonard Chasse) either at gigs or hanging out at the Melody Lounge, a restaurant/jazz joint. One day, Gene meets “Crazy” Terry (Shana Dirik), and after their first “date,” they move in together, eventually getting married. On their wedding day, while Gene spends the entire celebration on the bandstand with his buddies, Terry comes to the realization that she will always take a backseat to Gene’s musical career and lifestyle, and discovers that booze is the answer to that bleak existence. Clifford is born, and we watch the fun-loving Terry slowly descend into alcoholic depression as she waits for the change in Gene that will never come.

There’s a lot to like in this play, especially its noirish style and dialogue. The stories told by the jazz guys about life on the road, fellow musicians, heroin addiction (by Jonesy), and brushes with the law are compelling and entertaining. The performances are a little uneven at times, but there are strong portrayals that keep us engaged in the demanding material throughout. Jennifer Slotkin as Patsy, the love-addicted waitress who seems to have had as many marriages as Elizabeth Taylor (in keeping with the play’s time frame), energizes every scene she’s in. Boston character actor favorite Thompson is superb as the dope-addicted Jonesy, bringing a quiet resignation to the role, particularly after a run-in with the cops turns ugly. Frequent Emack and IRNE Award nominee/winner Dirik, who also serves as artistic director of the company, is alternately hilarious and heart-wrenching in the role of Crazy Terry, and her transformation into a bitter alcoholic is convincing, albeit painful to watch.

Overall, Sideman is a worthy take that examines the dark side of the creative life. Unfortunately, it closes on Sunday, May 7. For tickets and information, go to: https://www.theateruncorked.com/