By Charlotte K. Jarmy
Theater review
TheatreWorks’ world-premiere production of “Kept,” currently playing at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, is a rousing musical that offers a pulsating disco beat.
It also offers familiar themes - too familiar for me - with strong ties to the tragedy “Camille” as well as to the decadence of “Cabaret.” Luckily, the story is not the real focus of this musical.
Successful Broadway composer Henry Krieger and lyricist Bill Russell were on hand for the opening. Several members of the cast are also from New York: the talented and lovely Christiane Noll (Caleigh), Brenda Braxton (Brigitte), Barrett Foa (Blake), Dennis Parlato (Marshall), Will Swenson (Ian) and Karen Murphy (Ian’s mother). While these actors dominate the plot, a chorus of energetic and attractive performers called the “Glitterati” power the fast-paced musical.
The sentimental story concerns the love affair between Caleigh and Ian. She is beautiful and sexy - and the kept woman of the title. He is a serious medical student who sacrifices everything to win the promiscuous goddess of New York s famous Studio 54, where money buys everything, even people.
The set complements the gaudy high-tech atmosphere where the dancers in silver costumes slither and shake to the raucous music.
The songs follow the narrative in its melodramatic content: “Let’s Stay Out and Play,” “The Party’s Just Begun,” and of course, “This Woman Is Kept,” sung by Marshall, the wealthy lover who supplies Caleigh with jewels, clothes and drugs. Besides her beauty, Caleigh grabs our attention when she sings first with an amusing zoned-out delivery and then with passion when Ian wins her heart.
Also outstanding is Marshall, who combines an attractive stage presence with a fine voice. The striking Brigitte plays a sometimes friend to Caleigh but defers to Marshall who can supply her with drugs.
The plot loads on the melodrama, fine in opera, not so fine for a stage musical, when Ian’s mother comes to beg Caleigh to give up her son. A lovely scene, however, brings foreshadowing of tragedy with Swenson and Murphy at stage level while Noll stands high above them, all singing “Something Isn’t Right.”
We need the charm of the young actor Barrett Foa as Ian’s gay friend, whose jazzy dancing and spirited acting display both humor and decency. Caleigh at this point develops an illness that turns the romance toward the expected sad ending of melodrama.
Kudos to the set design (Robert Brill), the lighting (Pamila Gray) and the costume design (Beaver Bauer). Director Scott Schwartz concentrates on the music and dancing, which add to the exuberance of the disco era in the 1980s. This is an entertaining musical, but I wish I didn’t know the plot of “La Traviata” so well.
“Kept” runs through May 5. For tickets, call 903-6000.
