may IS. 2000
^
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We feature
Dale Johannes (left) and Dave Cesana snuggle up in Falsettos
t’s rare that an audience at a stage musical
actually has to pay close attention to every
lyric to understand the story—rarer still that
the spectators must also dodge chopped car
rots and a bitten-in-half banana.
Both these things are true of Falsettos, the
newest musical from Portland-based Triangle
Productions. The play is based on the Tony-
winning 1992 Broadway show, which is actual
ly a marriage of two one-act shows, March of
the Falsettos and Falsettoland.
Triangle producer Don Horn also presented
Falsettos in 1994, when beloved Portland actor
Rob Buckmaster played Whizzer, one of thq
lead roles. Buckmaster’s death from AIDS com
plications in 1995 lends a bittersweet air to the
mounting of this show, and the new production
is dedicated to him.
Falsettos follows the life of Marvin (David
Cesana), a selfish Jewish man who comes out
late in life. In 1979, he has left his frustrated
wife, Trina (Jennifer Niederloh), and his chess-
loving son, Jason (Paul Early), and become
lovers with the slightly vain Whizzer (Dale
Johannes). Complications ensue when Mar
vin’s psychiatrist, Mendel (Kregg Amston),
begins treating, then dating Trina. By the end
of the first act, Trina and Mendel are a couple,
and Jason is trying to reconcile his feelings for
his father, his fathers lover and the new father
figure.
The second act picks up in 1981, introduc
ing the lesbian Dr. Charolette (Sue Ellen
Christensen) and her lover, Cordelia (Julie
Barber), a kosher caterer. Jason’s bar mitzvah is
approaching, and everyone is trying to control
it. Everyone, that is, except Whizzer, who has
re-entered the group’s lives but soon shows
signs that he is suffering from the mysterious
and fatal new malady striking gay men.
Written by William Finn and James Lapine,
Falsettos demands close attention from the first
note of the first song. Lapine is a past collabo
rator of noted musical wordsmith Stephen
Sondheim, and since the two acts are almost
entirely sung, you can feel the Sondheim influ
ence in the tricky phrasings and rhythms. The
first act is especially dense, with stretches of
time and important events encapsulated in
brief lyrical references. The second act has a
more coherent and clear story line.
It should be noted that this density is appar
ently intended, as the whole story is truly about
the son, Jason, and his journey, not necessarily
about his often unlikable father. When Jason
finally begins making his own decisions instead
of allowing the bickering adults to make them
for him, he brings those around him closer
together. Indeed, the title of the play is a refer
ence to men acting like boys, which enhances
the experience of watching as the true boy
begins to act like a man.
The cast is a pleasure to watch and listen to
overall, with young Paul Early performing well,
especially in the more difficult second act.
David Cesana does his best with a role that
isn’t entirely likable, and he delivers an emo
tional ending song. Standouts in the cast are
Jennifer Niederloh, whose aforementioned car-
rot-and-banana song, “I’m Breaking Down,”
brings down the house in Act 1; and Dale
Johannes—a dead ringer for Comedy Central’s
Jon Stewart—who is emotionally engaging
even when not saying a word and is an excel
lent singer to boot.
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When Jason finally begins
making his own decisions
instead of allowing the
bickering adults to make
them for him, he brings
those around him closer
together. Indeed the title
of the play Is a reference to
men acting like boys, which
enhances the experience
of watching as the true boy
begins to act like a man.
Staging by director Dennis Bigelow and
musical director Bill Wells is strong, with a
four-piece band backing the set, unobtrusive
but visible. Falsettos is another winner for Tri
angle Productions, but patrons are warned to
pay close attention, bring a hanky for the emo
tional scenes, and watch out for flying food
groups.
Triangle Productions’ next show will be The
Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, a queer retelling
of the Bible starting with the story of Adam
and Steve and their lesbian sisters, Jane and
Mabel. Donald Horn will direct this play,
which is written by Paul Rudnick (Jeffrey, In &
Out, Addams Family Values). Most Fabulous
opens May 24 and plays through June 24.
¡flays May 19 through 26 at the
World Trade Center Auditorium, 121 S.W.
Salmon St. in Portbnd. Tickets are $20-$23 from
the box office, (503) 239-5919, or from Fastixx.
■ F alsettos
is a longtime Portland enter
tainment writer with three books and hundreds of
comic books and magazine articles to his credit.
You can write to him at AMangelsSW@aol.com.
ANDY M angels
PORTLAND GAY MEN'S CHORUS
PORTLAND LESBIAN CHI0R
Presents
BRIDGES VOCAL ENSEMBLE
N AT IO N A L
ENDOWMENT
Three Great Choursus!
One Great Concert!
Don't miss the show as
Portland's three premier
gay choruses come together in a
concert of pride and musical accomplishment!
FOR THE ARTS
til
"ft!».
Financial
Advisors
Sat., July 15, 2000 • 8:00 p.m.
Sun., July 16, 2000 • 7:00 p.m.
PCC Sylvania Performing Arts Center
12000 SW 49th Avenue, Portland
Tickets $20/$ 15/$ 12
R*9' on«l Ar t s &
Culture Council
American Airlnes