Berkshire Theatre Group, Stockbridge,
MA
Through July 21, 2018
by Michael J. Moran
Photo by Emma Rothernberg-Ware |
Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) offers
the perfect contrast to its electrifying 90th anniversary season
opener, “Church & State,” with an affectionate world premiere
production of Lee Kalcheim’s “Coming Back Like a Song!,” set on
Christmas Eve 1956 in Irving Berlin’s New York apartment, where
fellow songwriters Harold Arlen and Jimmy Van Heusen have joined him
for drinks after an irksome ASCAP (American Society of Composers,
Authors, and Publishers) meeting.
Named after a song Berlin wrote for
Bing Crosby in the 1946 movie “Blue Skies,” the intermission-less
85-minute play with music features snippets of 37 songs (including
most of their greatest hits) by all three composers, which they sing
as they contemplate their futures competing with the popularity of
rock and roll and the past hits which ranked them among America’s
greatest songwriters.
“Der Bingle” (Crosby), Frank
Sinatra, and Judy Garland are among the memorable performers of the
trio’s music who turn up in anecdotes that may be amusing or
serious. Two about Sinatra by Van Heusen, who even calls “the
Chairman” during the show, involve a Christmas party and an
emergency room visit. More holiday cheer is delivered with a clever
turn of phrase by Berlin in literally the show’s last word.
The threesome demonstrates an often
touching concern for each other’s success and happiness. After
Berlin is encouraged to sing his earliest ballad, “When I Lost
You,” written in memory of his first wife, Dorothy, who died after
six months of marriage, he calls Arlen’s hospitalized wife, Anya,
and sings her “Always,” the rights to which he gave his second
wife (of 63 years), Ellin. The on-stage piano is actually played
idiomatically and discreetly, off-stage by music director Daniel
Mollett.
Three Broadway actors create
distinctive portraits of their characters: David Garrison is an
irascible Berlin; Philip Hoffman, an intense Arlen; and David Rasche,
an easygoing Van Heusen. Their singing voices are appropriately
workmanlike. Direction by Tony-nominated actor Gregg Edelman is
sensitive and well-paced. Scenic design of the single living-room set
by Randall Parsons is elegant and sumptuous. Costume design by David
Murin is period perfect.