Musical Theatre News: Bonnie and Clyde at the La Jolla Playhouse

Bonnie and Clyde

A New Musical

book by Ivan Menchell
music by Frank Wildhorn
lyrics by Don Black
direction and Musical Staging by Jeff Calhoun

From the La Jolla Playhouse website:

“Stuck in a dead-end job in Texas in the 1930s, young Bonnie Parker falls in love with Clyde Barrow, a charismatic criminal on the run from the law. Their love affair soon spirals out of control, as Bonnie & Clyde commit a series of bank robberies while staying one step ahead of the authorities. But as their notoriety — and body count — rises, the ill-fated lovers find themselves racing to the top of the Public Enemies list…with a bullet.

From the creative team of Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde), Don Black (Sunset Boulevard) and Ivan Menchell (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) comes this world premiere musical — with a thrilling new score that combines rockabilly, blues and gospel music.”

REVIEW:

Bonnie and Clyde was different, exciting, and handsomely presented! One of the most polished workshop pieces we have seen.

It's edgy, beautifully staged, with an excellent cast. The musical is dark, and sexy, and quirky. There are a few songs that don't really work, but there are also some exciting numbers, and the music stays with you afterward. The songs are a strange mishmash, but seem to work well with the Texas 1920's setting. The scenic and costume designer, Tobin Ost, is owed a huge debt for setting and sustaining the dramatic pulse of the show. I can see this making it on Broadway, and there are some really nice turns for several of the characters, both as solos and duets. I particularly liked the costumes and set, although the dripping blood during intermission was a bit odd. I think I would actually like to go back and see it again... and for me that is high praise.

The two leads, Osnes and Sands are extremely charismatic and really carried it, while the excellent supporting cast were the icing on the cake.  Stark Sands nude scene was unimpressive, although he is very well built and is quite attractive. It's primarily a buttocks scene as he gets out of a bathtub, and did not add anything to the development of the scene. Frankly, he was sexier in his clothes. However, the choreography of his sexual scenes with Osnes is beautifully done. He lifts and carries her as if they are a part of each other

There is a confused morality subplot on the nature of good and evil, with some typical Wildhorn show melodrama, but the bare sparseness of the production helped keep that in check. I loved the whitewashed slat scrims, with the projection techniques implemented to accentuate each scene change. The love triangle aspect was poignant, but really more a satellite love story than a triangle, since Bonnie was not torn between the two men at all. Nevertheless the young lawman in love with Bonnie was nicely turned by Chris Peluso. Mare Winningham did her dustbowl survivor act with her usual competency and realism. On the whole, I liked it MUCH more than other Wildhorn shows that I have seen.

Definitely worth taking on a trip to Broadway. I recommend it highly as an intelligent and entertaining evening of theatre, of a caliber not often seen in San Diego.

November 10 – December 20, 2009

La Jolla Playhouse

Mandell Weiss Theatre

Box Office(858) 550-1010

Group Sales(858) 550-1070 x131

http://www.lajollaplayhouse.org/the-season/plays/bonnie-and-clyde