BWW Reviews: Lovely WATERFALL Offers a Refreshing Look at Love

Waterfall/A New Musical/book & lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr./music by David Shire/choreographed and co-directed by Dan Knechtges/directed by Tak Viravan/musical director: John McDaniel/Pasadena Playhouse/through June 28

If you have a hankering for romance and you love the old-fashioned musicals of a by-gone era, the world premiere Waterfall is a perfect fit. Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire have created a beautiful glimpse of passionate love that develops amidst the turmoil of divergent cultures, east and west before WWII. Currently onstage at the Pasadena Playhouse, Waterfall is sumptuously breathtaking with an extraordinary director and ensemble.

The time: 1932-1945. The scene is Siam - soon to become Thailand and Tokyo, Japan. There's friction between the Siamese and the Japanese. Their conflicting perspectives of America are experienced through Katherine (Emily Padgett), the American wife of Chao Khun Atikarn (Thom Sesma), Thai's ambassador to the United States. When he visits Tokyo with his wife, Atikarn realizes that due to their age difference he will never be able to make Katherine happy. He enlists the aid of Thai college student Noppon (Bie Sukrit), already mesmerized by her beauty - in fact he has developed a crush on her from a distance - to chaperone her around Kyoto when they must go there for treaty negotiation meetings. Katherine falls for Noppon but owes allegiance and fidelity to Atikarn, as he had literally saved her from a breakdown after her parents died. Katherine and Noppon both love each other, but only he can fully express his feelings; she holds them within. Atikarn appoints Noppon a diplomatic minister in Tokyo out of thanks to him for bringing happiness into Katherine's life, and then he and Katherine return to Bangkok. Years pass and Noppon becomes a successful diplomat. On his death bed Atikarn tells Katherine of his deep love for her, but that he knew that she and Noppon had consummated an affair, for he had planned it that way to make her truly happy. When Noppon returns to Thailand, Katherine goes to meet him, but everything has changed. He is engaged to be married to a native girl and he refuses to acknowledge any further love for Katherine. Katherine, of course is heartbroken and becomes deathly ill. Dying, she requests to see Noppon one last time.

Katherine had been a budding artist in her youth and during their time together, Noppon encourages her to paint. In fact, after their affair, he sends her a paint box as a reminder that she should follow her dream to create a work of art. She paints the gorgeous waterfall at Mt. Mitake where Noppon seduced her, made love to her and where they danced with the water cascading over them. This "work of art" is the watercolor that adorns the stage throughout the musical. Katherine gives the watercolor to Noppon before she dies. No one can see the dancers alluded to in the title of the painting, except she and Noppon, and it remains an artful testament to their true love. There is a beautiful scene where Katherine paints the waterfall, and visually we are treated to the actual step by step composition as different color paints hit and cover the canvas one by one, until the work is completed.

The stage is filled with a fascinating array of cultural and holiday festivities, including various traditional dances. Hand-made garments, including the beautiful brocaded Japanese kimonos, are featured quite prominently. As a matter of fact, Katherine buys one and has it on when she literally bursts into a hotel room where Atikarn is having an important meeting with Japanese officials. They look down on her for wearing it, claiming an American has no right to disrespect such an honored custom without understanding its real significance. Misunderstanding and tensions build between Thai and Japanese factions, making any hope for a treaty null and void.

Set design by Sasavat Busayabandh and costumes by Wade Laboissonniere are magnificently detailed, and choreography by Dan Knechtges is a delight for the eyes. Under Tak Viravan's clean and meticulous direction, the acting is first-rate. Padgett creates a complex character, showing simultaneously Katherine's loyalty and extreme vulnerability. She sings divinely. Sukrit suits the young Noppon perfectly, making the most of his naivete and longing to be an "American". He is less convincing as Noppon matures from 1932-45, Sukrit is a talented actor/singer with a lot of charm and boyish appeal, who will blossom with more onstage experience. Sesma is wonderful as the disheartened husband who truly loves Katherine, but feels utter helplessness in satisfying her needs. J. Elaine Marcos makes servant Nuan a truly memorable character. Recognizing that to interfere is not culturally "her place", she is unquestionably frank, creating a little comic gem of a performance. Kudos as well to Lisa Helmi Johanson "America Will Break Your Heart" and to Eymard Cabling, Marcus Choi and the rest of the versatile ensemble.

On the cultural side as well as the artistic, Waterfall is a nice surprise. Richard Maltby, Jr.'s engrossing book and lyrics and David Shire's lovely tunes rivet your attention from start to finish. This is an old-style romantic musical that should most definitely have legs. There are bound to be comparisons to The King and I, especially the interracial relationships, the female servant faithful to tradition...and the final scene where Noppon comforts Katherine on her deathbed. Waterfall is less majestic, but certainly powerful in its ode to undying love.

www.pasadenaplayhouse.org

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