Production Lacking
Aside from my dislikes with the
script, the production does not
seem to make full use of what is
available. The opening number,
"Direct From Vienna," doesn't
come across at all. I fear that this is
due to the rather tired expressions
the chorus projected throughout
the show. Chorus numbers are
usually a good place to develop
atmosphere and magic, but here
these qualities are absent. The only
number that really pulls itself
together and shows some life is
"Grand Imperial Cirque de Paris."
The number starts off rather
slowly, but builds to a rousing
crescendo, thanks to Russell
Bustoafson's exuberant singing.
The technical aspects of the
production matched those of "I
Do, I Do," namely they were
handled with care and skill. Ed
Godshall plays the score with gusto
and is adequately accompanied by
drums and bass. Patt Hart's
costumes are used effectively for
atmosphere, through bright yellows
and blues, with accents of red and
green. I would have enjoyed a little
more exploitation of colors, mainly
through avoiding pastel shades. The
colors do help, for example, we can
see that Lili and Paul don't really
fit into the carnival when we see
them in dark colors juxtaposed
against the bright gaudy colors of
the carnival.
