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Bitter Sweet
Book, Music and Lyrics by Noel Coward
Directed by James Harms
Choreographed by Rudy Hogenmiller
Music Direction by Roger L. Bingaman
Produced by Light Opera Works
At Cahn Auditorium
600 Emerson
Evanston, IL
Call 847-896-6300, tickets $28 - $80 (half price for ages 21 and younger)
Wednesday, August 22 at 2 pm
Friday, August 24 at 8 pm
Saturday, August 25 at 8 pm
Sunday, August 26 at 2 pm
Running time is 3 hours, 10 minutes with 2 intermissions
Through August 26, 2007
Elegant and romantic operetta reveals Noel Coward’s musical genius
Know for his dry, sophisticated wit, Noel Coward heard a recording of Strauss’ Die Fledermus and boldly stated: “I could write like that.”—and he did with Bitter Sweet. This nostalgic and sentimental romantic operetta demonstrated Coward’s musical genius as he captured the spirit and mood of the Central European Victorian operates. Filled with lush ballads, stirring anthems and sweeping waltzes together with French cabaret tunes and a German ballad, Bitter Sweet is an epic operetta that enchants audiences with its beautiful music and smart lyrics. Covering a sixty year span, Bitter Sweet looks terrific with the stylish hair and costumes of the 1920’s as well as the glamorous look of the 1870’s Victorian Era featuring long dresses with featured hats on the ladies. Costume designer Jeff Hendry’s display of outfits seems to never stop. I can’t remember seeing a show with such a lavish look.
Roger L. Bingaman’s 28 piece orchestra (here on stage) sounded terrific as they deftly played Coward’s varied piece with a splendid energy. The cast of 35, under James Harms fine direction, nicely told the romantic story of a lover’s determined to taste the sweetness of romantic love versus the security of arranged marriage to rich suitors. Lady Shane’s (Alicia Berneche singing in a golden voice) niece is promised to one man, but loves another. Lady Shane recalls facing the same predicament 60 years earlier as she eloped with a dashing musical teacher Carl Linden (Brian Herriott). This flashback takes us to Vienna at a music hall in 1870.
The large cast filled the stage with soaring melodies in tunes like “That Wonderful Melody,” “The Call of Life” and “The Last Dance.” The operetta has the men singing against the women then both creating fine harmonies. The sentimentally haunting “I’ll See you Again” was landed effectively by Brian Herriott and Alicia Berneche.
Act two finds the seedy Viennese dance hall girls sing to their role in “Ladies of the Town.” Manon (the fabulous Jessye Wright) the sexy lead singer at the cafe. Wright steals the show with her “If Love Were All,” “Bonne, Nuit, Merci” and “Kiss Me.” Carl and Sarah speak to their love with “Evermore and a Day” and “Dear Little Café.” The act leads to tragedy when the captain from the army gets into a duel with Carl over ‘dancing’ Sarah.
Act three opens with a rousing “Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay” celebration number followed by a Coward trademark song “We All Wear A Green Carnation”—an ode to swishy gay men. This was a hoot!
An aging Sarah comes back to London and sings a tribute to her long lost love, Carl with “Ziguener.” The cycle returns to the 1920’s as Lady Shayne finishes her musical advise the go for the sweetness of romantic love as the ‘call to life’ demands. She reminds them that the bitterness of loss is a part of life’s duality. Life’s about risk—you must risk some bitterness to gain sweetness. Better to have found memories from being passionate than lamenting an unfulfilled life.
The message that life demands risking in order to enjoy the sweetness is beautifully presented in Bitter Sweet. The excellent voices to Coward’s marvelous score is expertly presented by the 35 person ensemble. The dances, creatively devised by Rudy Hogenmiller, added fine moments to this sweeping operetta.
Light Opera Works is to be commended for mounting this rarely produced large scale show. We need to see great epics like Bitter Sweet so the next generation can experience the glorious majesty of past classic shows. Noel Coward’s operetta is an amazingly enchanting theatrical experience. Get to Cahn Auditorium soon, there are only four performances left. You’ll be glad you saw this musical marvel
Highly Recommende
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2007
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