Review: Clever L.A. NOW AND THEN Shines at LACC

L.A. Now and Then/conceived and directed by Bruce Kimmel/original songs by: Michele Brourman, Grant Geissman, Paul Gordon, Karen Gottlieb, Bruce Kimmel, Shelly Markham, Wayne Moore, Adryan Russ, Richard M. Sherman, The Sherman Brothers./Caminito Theater, LACC Theatre Academy/through May 21 ONLY

What a lovely surprise! I know that Bruce Kimmel is quite the clever gentleman and would not expect anything less than superlative work from his camp, but stepping down to the college campus level to review is not something that I particularly savor. These actors, with the exception of Robert Yacko and April Audia, are students, not yet professional performers. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed, not by the singing, but by the acting and overall drive and energy of the performers who delivered a mightily informative, nostalgic and fun show. It's called L.A. Now and Then, and it's a revue with songs and monologues that take a glance back at Los Angeles through the years and compare past with present cultural values. Kimmel as director maintains a great pace throughout: no lags; the show moves!

There is no particular sequence to the show, and many of the scenes are played out then and now. For example, a very funny scenario in Part One, led by Robert Yacko, is a team of studio writers producing Double Indemnity. In the 40s, then, it was a mega-hit, considered a work of genius, ahead of its time. Now the writers do not have the slightest inclination of what it's about or what to do with it, typical of the technological age. where fast and cluttered replace savvy, bright or creative.

Some of the highlights in music include: "A Home in Laurel Canyon" with music by Shelly Markham and lyrics by Adryan Russ, sung by Sarah Barnett; "C.C. Brown's", Bruce Kimmel's lovely ode to the ice cream parlor which was a mainstay on Hollywood Boulevard until it closed in the late 1990s; "The Whimsey Works" by Richard M. Sherman, a carefree, spirited tribute to Walt Disney;"Spinning in My Mind" by Adryan Russ about Wallich's, the unforgettable music store; "The Black Dahlia" with music by Bruce Kimmel and lyrics by Adryan Russ, sung by Elle Willgues, about the real small town girl Elizabeth Short who came to Hollywood and met a mysterious and horrifying demise; "What's So Good About the Good Old Days?" with music and lyrics by Wayne Moore, a lively, upbeat tune that was just made for dancing; "Christmas in Los Angeles" by The Sherman Brothers and sung so gently by Robert Yacko about a Christmas filled with tinsel and palm trees.

Of all the delightful monologues and scenes, standouts are: There Once Was a Building about the Pan Pacific coliseum-like structure famous from 1935-71, delivered lovingly by April Audia; L.A. Uber Allies written by Bruce Vilanch, a very humorous conversation about the Hollywood Foreign Press, delivered deliciously by Yacko and Michael MacRae... and my favorite of all We Look Ahead with beautifully sensitive writing by Doug Haverty set to Bruce Kimmel's music. It shows in a bittersweet manner how much the gay world has progressed over the years from furtiveness to out.of.the.closet to marriage equality.

The most hilarious all cast number is "Every Wednesday Night" closing Part One about the good old days of wrestling mania and the very effeminate Ricki Starr.

Kudos to the entire company! Pros: Robert Yacko and April Audia. Students: Jenny Bacon, Sarah Barnett, Paola Fregoso, Alexis Jackson, Bedjou Jean, Prisca Kim, Michael MacRae, Kole Martin, Shawna Merkley, Lamont Oakely, Kasper Svendsen, Elle Wilgues. Praise as well to choreographer Cheryl Baxter for her fast-paced moves and to musical director Richard Allen and his terrific sounding onstage band.

Loved the set design with doors connecting past to present that allow for performers' quick exits and entrances by Tesshi Nakagawa, lively picture projections by Vern Yonemura and colorful costume design by Natalya Shahinyan and Min Lee.

I sincerely hope that Bruce Kimmel will move this show to another theatre with a full-professional ensemble of singers/actors. It is a show most worthy of that kind of attention. Backers, beware!

For now, you have one more weekend to catch L.A. Now and Then until Saturday May 21 at LACC in Hollywood!

(photo credit: Karen Staitman Photography)

http://lacitycollege.edu/academic/departments/theatreacademy/currentseason.html