'Gershwin' Comes Alive at the Geffen

A show that started out in this city nearly eight years ago, Gershwin Alone tickles its way back into Angelenos' standards loving hearts with a run at the Geffen Playhouse.

Playing like an episode of "Inside the Actors' Studio," minus an obnoxious host, Gershwin Alone tells the back-story of the famed American composer with the delicate ivory playing and extremely charismatic charm of the one-man show's star, Hershey Felder.  The actor finds a way to bring this beloved musical maestro back to life as he travels from Gershwin's Jewish immigrant upbringing, through the high points in both New York and Hollywood, ending with his all too sudden passing.

With no personal recollection of Gershwin, having not been alive in the 1920's, Felder paints a seemingly authentic glimpse at the composer's life and creative process, all with subtle nuances.  Felder appears on stage with his own piano, yet the show is far from a mere recital, rather is an intimae portrait of a cherished artist.

Scattered crackling original recordings accent the performance, as Felder teases with introductions then short bits of such classics as "Swanee," "I Got Rhythm" and "Rhapsody in Blue," finally delivering with full renditions of many songs, often at the audience's request, towards the end of the show.

Gershwin led a rather interesting life, starting out with a strongly Jewish household complete with a guilt-inflicting mother, always questioning why her little boy could not get great reviews like Irving Berlin, and an immigrant father treacherously seeking out the American Dream, whose struggles ultimately lay the groundwork for the "Rhapsody of Jews," as pop calls it.

As "Rhapsody" becomes the quintessential American classical anthem, so does Gershwin, who turns to Hollywood to seek out film scoring, as many fellow composers of the time did, though his success is not as great as Gershwin hopes.  A sobering moment marks a turning point in the show, as Felder discusses Henry Ford's anti-Semitic tirade towards Gershwin's "Rhapsody."  From that point forward, there are increased mentions of a constant headache, which ultimately reveals itself as a fatal brain tumor, finally taking Gershwin's life at 38.

What should be noted is Felder's authorized access to Gershwin's life, with permission from the composer's heirs, as he researched extensively at the Library of Congress and later picked up specific piano techniques used by Gershwin.  Such a devotion to preserving Gershwin's life is well received, as director Joel Zwick has forgone any grand production gimmicks, making the show a man alone at his piano, full of love and spirit.

Yael Pardess' stage design is accented with a black and white newspaper print palette and marked with weathered Gershwin show posters and a smoky mirror.  Lighting design is by Michael Gilliam and sound is by Jon Gottlieb.

It's very clear, Gershwin Alone is great, and tickets to the production, running through July 22, can be purchased online at www.GeffenPlayhouse.com or by calling 310-208-5454.  The Geffen Playhouse is located at 10886 Le Conte Avenue in Westwood, near UCLA's campus.

Photos by Mark Garvin.

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