From the second the present begins and the beautiful concord begins, you’ll be able to really feel you might be in for one thing particular. The path and choreography by Warren Carlyle is so highly effective, brimming with coronary heart and soul. His choreography for “How Can I Serve You, Madame?” and “Come to the Fatherland” is ingenious.
Concord: A New Musical relies on the true life story of The Comic Harmonists, who have been internationally well-known. An all-male German shut concord ensemble that carried out between 1928 and 1934 as probably the most profitable musical teams in all of Europe earlier than World Warfare II. The group consisted of Harry (Zal Owen), Erich (Eric Peters), Rabbi (Danny Kornfeld), Bobby (Sean Bell), Chopin ( Blake Roman) and Lesh (Steven Telsey). 3 have been Jewish and Chopin was married to a Jewish lady, Ruth (The fabulous Julie Benko).
Chip Zien. Photograph by Julieta Cervantes
Think about being greater than The Beatles, The Monkees, The Jackson 5, The Osmonds, the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC or One Course and being obliterated due to the Nazis. That’s what occurred to The Comic Harmonists. Now due to Concord: A New Musical, written by the legendary Barry Manilow and his longtime collaborator Bruce Sussman their story lives once more.
Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Zal Owen, Danny Kornfeld, Eric Peters, Sean Bell. Photograph by Julieta Cervantes
Of their day The Comic Harmonists made 21 movies and 13 albums.
Rabbi (a exceptional Chip Zein), the group’s solely survivor is tasked with telling and remembering the previous and bringing again to life what was coldly erased.
The primary act breezes together with Rabbi assembly his spouse Mary (Sierra Boggess), The Comic Harmonists forming and step by step changing into well-known, and the approaching of Nazism, culminating with a offered out efficiency at Carnegie Corridor. They’re supplied a contract with NBC however, as a substitute, return to Germany as their loyalty is to their nation.
Then the second act begins, which is devastating and sadly predictable if you already know historical past. Have your Kleenex prepared.
The music by Barry Manilow and lyrics by Bruce Sussman is musical theatre nirvana. The orchestration by Doug Walter and vocal preparations by Manilow and John O’Neil is classy, advanced and satisfying. That is just like the scores that appear forgotten, that made me fall in love with musicals. I can see “This Is Our Time,” “Each Single Day,” and “Stars In The Evening” being sung for years. Don’t go anticipating typical Barry Manilow’s hits — that is one thing far more advanced, wealthy and satisfying.
Julie Benko and Sierra Boggess. Photograph by Adam Riemer
Then there’s the solid. Ms. Boggess floats the soprano notes in “And What Do You See?” and “The place Do You Go” like a nightingale. Ms. Benko, flexes her appearing chops and finishes with an outstanding belt. Every of the members of the The Comic Harmonists are given an opportunity to shine. Roman is winsome, because the matinee idol and Peters is a standout because the nobleman hiding his previous. Telsey, Owen and Bell, every have their very own successful moments as effectively. Kornfeld, since he’s the youthful model of Rabbi will get greater than the remaining and handles it fantastically. Additionally Allison Grimes as Josephine Baker does a knock out job in “We’re Goin’ Loco!” however it’s Chip Zein that needs to be seeing some award love, for the a number of roles he embodies. Sadly his music “Threnody” which was a tour de drive, at Folksbein is a a lot tamer model on Broadway.
Allison Semmes as ‘Josephine Baker’ and the Firm of HARMONY. Photograph by Julieta Cervantes
Beowulf Boritt’s scenic design, Linda Cho & Ricky Lurie’s costumes, Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer’s lighting, Dan Moses Schreier’s sound design and batwin + robin productions inc., video are accomplished to perfection. Bravo!
In a season the place hate has reared it’s ugly head once more, Concord is a a lot wanted reminder of what can occur.
Concord: A New Musical: Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 243 West forty seventh Avenue.
Originally posted 2023-11-16 07:40:44.