07/12/2008
PERFECT HARMONY By: Eugene Paul
At opening, the entire cast, in exquisite harmony, sings their school Alma Mater, every idiotic word meticulously produced, and you don’t know whether to laugh or wriggle with embarrassment because it’s so perfectly, gorgeously wicked. Or not? Impossible. We are off on a whittling good satire, no target left unscathed as we find, and darned if it doesn’t continue that way a good while.
We are introduced to the Acafellas, the boys’ singing group, and the Ladies in Red, the girls’. The Acafellas have won 18 National Championships, 73 All State Selections and 24 All American. The ladies in Red, zip. Even though they work harder. They have a few teensy hurdles to overcome: Meghan, a Jesus Freak, cannot contain her exuberant projection of her stunning body in every number. Kerri, poor dear, sweet as puddin’, cannot control her Tourette’s Syndrome, which raises hob with their perfectly enunciated lyrics. But then, every girl has her cross to bear: Michaela’s Bulgarian accent, Valerie’s terror of being seen. It’s not easy. Whereas, the Acafellas, led by Lassiter A. Jayson III, and Phillip Fellowes V, third generation Acafellas, are so, so, so into it they almost come out the other side. In fact, Lassiter does. And we are into crushing complications which quickly –not that they couldn’t be a tad quicker –develop into the horror of Commercialization when Kiki Tune, agent extraordinaire, lures JB, the Acafella jock hunk with the low notes, into signing as her next – or is it first? –pop rock singing star. The Acafellas are endangered. They are breaking up and Phillip Fellowes Five is Frantic .
These and other tragedies are eventually overcome by these magnificently dedicated, hard working kids that against staggering odds come together at the end to sing a rouser of a finale. At least, that is the way it seemed all but inevitable for this dilly of a show to go, but – let’s face it, the Acafellas, good, the Ladies in Red, woeful. Combined: good and woeful.
Director Andrew Grosso, who has maintained almost perfect pitch along the way (except for a draggy detour in the intricacies of the Ladies in Red’s relationships) here has to throw artistic caution to the winds and let the Showbiz in. These kids CAN sing; they are truly accomplished. They can wham through that rouser of a finale. Let ‘em. In fact, insist on it. And we will be seeing Perfect Harmony for a long time to come. Director Grosso, along with his theater company, The Essentials, has squired this show through a Fringe Festival to this point on Theater Row and we ought to help them across the finish line with our cheers, our applause, our encouragement. They’re that close.
The amazing cast, what’s not to love? Vayu O’Donnell, terrific, Benjamin Huber, great, Clayton Apgar, superb, Scott James, a smash, Sean Dugan, simply wonderful, Dana Acheson, neat, Kathy Searle, boffo, Margie Stokley, grand, Amy Rutledge, a knockout, Nisi Sturgis, fantastic. And to whoever choreographed them, kudos.
Clurman Theater, Theater Row, 410 W. 42nd Street. Mon & Tue 7 pm. Wed thru Sat 8 pm. Tickets: $18 at ticketcentral.com or 212-279-4200.