Review Roundup: La Jolla Playhouse's SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES

Due to popular demand, La Jolla Playhouse today announced a one-week extension for Sleeping Beauty Wakes, book by Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), with a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (Striking 12, Long Story Short), and directed by Rebecca Taichman.

In Sleeping Beauty Wakes, a young woman is brought to a sleep disorder clinic, and soon all the patients find themselves sharing a familiar dream. The show reunites two members of the acclaimed rock trio GrooveLily - Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda - with Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin, who last collaborated on the inventive holiday tale Striking 12. With beguiling characters, hypnotic lyrics, and a rocking score, Sleeping Beauty Wakes delves into the magical space between dreaming and waking in this delightful adaptation of a classic tale.

For additional information, visit: http://www.lajollaplayhouse.org

Charles McNulty, LA Times: Right now the show's ambition seems to be pulling the work away from its strength as a musical comedy chamber piece. The enchantment is visible, but too much of it remains trapped in a glass case, like a waxwork Sleeping Beauty at a theme park.

James Hebert, Sign On San Diego: This appealing new show about the prodigiously snoozing princess finds some (it must be said) real beauty in updating the original fable's themes of risk, loss and rebirth. Taking its cues from Brendan Milburn's intricate and ever-inventive score, the piece infuses the familiar story with humor, poignancy and a modern-day vibe that might leave Disney wide-eyed.

Welton Jones, SanDiego.com: Director Rebecca Taichman is attuned to the vitality of her creative colleagues and her staging is spare, nimble and flexible, just the sort of frame useful for a fantasy. Her handling of the leading men is deft; Bob Stillman make the father/king a plausible, even moving figure, the most polished characterization in the show, and Bryce Ryness probes the odd corners of his role while still reserving the room to be stalwart and romantic at the end.

Diana Saenger, La Jolla Light: An absolute spark in "Sleeping Beauty Wakes" is Aspen Vincent as Beauty "Rose." A San Diegan, Vincent learned her craft in area productions and went on to became a star on Broadway and in theaters across the nation. She's adorable, sings beautifully, and has lots of energy as the confused girl who only wants a happy ending. That's the goal of this show, but it's subjective to those in the audience. Some patrons might wish they had a scorecard while others will simply enjoy the fine performances and great singing voices. 

Jean Lowerison, SDGLN: You have to love the idea of Sleeping Beauty in a sleep disorder clinic. And Sheinkin has added other clever touches, such as the fact that Beauty's savior isn't a prince but a hospital orderly named Mike with his own sleep problems - a combination of narcolepsy and cataplexy. Too much emotion and he crumples into an unconscious heap on the floor.