Review: LILI MARLENE Musical Centers on a Jewish Family's Need to Escape From 1930s Berlin

As a surviving family member of Holocaust victims, plays and musicals related to Jewish families trying to survive or escape from Eastern Europe before the shadowy inhumanity of anti-Semitism descends upon them will always attract my attention. So it was with much anticipation I decided to attend the World Premiere musical production of LILI MARLENE, with book and music by Michael Antin. The musical is about a Jewish family's escape of the rising tide of Nazism at Write Act Rep, produced by John Lant, Write Act Rep's Producing Artistic Director, and Tamra Pico, directed and choreographed by Mark Blowers with musical direction by Dave L. Kamenir.

This original musical love story of Rosie Penn, the famous cabaret singer, and Count Hans Wilhelm van Kleister Graff, is set in the last year of the Weimar German Republic and into the 3rd Reich period. As the dark clouds of Fascist takeover become clearer, the Count, as the head of the passport bureau of the State Department, works to get the VIP German cultural and scientific elite out of Germany. The Count realizes that he must leave and get his surviving family out before the shadowy inhumanity of anti-Semitism descends upon them as National Healthcare and Immigration Reform, Industrial Unity and National Pride become the motto of the new Nazi Party.

Lili Marlene is the name of the famous German love song that was popular during World War II. The title of the play is in homage to the song, featuring one of the most famous versions sung in 1944 by Marlena Deitrich whose portrait hangs in the show's cabaret. We are told early in the musical that the fictional main character, Rosie Penn, was "rescued by Marlena Deitrich" who acted as a mentor of sorts and made the young Rosie promise to sing Lili Marlene in her act. That request will ultimately prove to be the very thing that may save Rosie from the camps.

The lead performers are all highly skilled actors and singers, especially Amy Londyn as cabaret performer Rosie Penn who does her best to hide her Jewishness from the rising tide of hatred. Her supervisor at the club is Renate, performed by Darcy Silveira as a lesbian entertainer who also fears for her future. The Count, who prefers to be known as Willi (Tavis L. Baker), does his best to adhere to Nazi procedures, but writes legal visas for as many educated people as possible to allow each to escape. He quickly falls for Rosie when he attends her cabaret show, admitting later that he knew from the beginning she was Jewish and hoped to get her out to safety. But when their love for each other gets in the way, the couple has a dangerous choice to make should they decide to stay together.

As the story unfolds, many prejudicial acts play out against the Count's family, especially a brutal attack that takes place against his attractive sister Janine (Aubrie Alexander). His parents (LeAnna Sharp and Darren Mangler) are concerned but fearful their actions will cause more damage. Younger brother Jacob is played by Anna Dawahare, an odd choice since for other than her short hair, it's very apparent she is an attractive young woman, which distracts from her scenes. While the story is interesting, the production runs for about 2 hours with no intermission, an incredibly difficult stretch of time at the Sunday matinee I attended as the building's air conditioning went out and the theater was incredibly hot and stuffy. I wish I had been given the option of re-scheduling had I known about the heat issue in advance, but we were not told anything about it and there was no way to escape without disrupting the performance. Several older audience members fell asleep, rather loudly, during the play due to the heat. So I hope when you attend, the problem has been solved.

Overall the musical's book is very predictable with the much-too-simple music and lyrics often thrown in for no apparent reason. Certainly many of the songs could be cut to keep the running time to 90 minutes which is more than enough for this production. It is noted in the program the production would not be possible without the support of Michael and Evie Antin and the Antin Family Trust, so no doubt that is a big part of how this production made it to the stage. A little editing to tighten things up would go a long way to improve the overall impact of the show.

LILI MARLENE runs Friday & Saturday @ 8:00 PM and Sunday @ 2:00 PM through April 16th, 2017 at Write Act Repertory located at 10950 Peach Grove Street (1 block north of Camarillo / Vineland / Lankershim cross streets) in the NoHo Arts District. General admission tickets are $20 at the door, or $15 Seniors, Students (ID), Groups 4+. The Box Office opens 25 minutes prior to every performance or in advance at 800-838-3006 (ext. 1). Arrive early as on-street parking can be difficult in the area. For info visit www.facebook.com/writeactrepertory

Photo Credit: Jim Blanchette

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