BWW Reviews: Music Theater of CT's COLE Provides Quick Sing Through of Some Tunes

Philip Chaffin, Blair Alexis Brown, Eric Scott Kincaid and Kathy Calahan. Photo: Marc Porier.

COLE
Music Theatre of Connecticut

Based on the words and music of Cole Porter
Devised by Benny Green and Alan Strachan
Original Music and Arrangement by Kenneth Moule
Directed by Kevin Connors
Music Theatre of Connecticut, Westport

What's It All About?
Just what it says -- a lot of songs and information about composer Cole Porter presented in a one-hour-10-minute format by four singers: Blair Alexis Brown, Kathy Calahan, Philip Chaffin and Eric Scott Kincaid. They are accompanied on piano by able Musical Director David Wolfson.

What are the Highlights?
That great Cole Porter music for one! Kathy Calahan's "Love for Sale" is a special treat. A
brisk, short show with no intermission.

What are the Lowlights?
There isn't any story, just some bits of information about Porter without real direction or purpose. The songs are "sung" rather than interpreted for the most part. The arrangement of "I Get a Kick Out of You" stood out as unusual. Choreography seems overdone -- maybe a result of Director
Kevin Connors trying to compensate for the lack of anything to work with in Green and Strachan's material.

More info:
COLE runs through May 12 at Music Theatre of Connecticut, 246 Post Road East, Westport. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 4 pm and Sundays at 3 pm. Tickets $25-$45 with senior and student discounts available. 203-454-3883; www.musictheatreofct.com.

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