Review: New Line Theatre's Superb TELL ME ON A SUNDAY

TELL ME ON A SUNDAY has an interesting history, being conceived by Tim Rice as a TV series initially. Frequent collaborator and composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, later took the project to lyricist Don Black, and a lovely one act musical resulted. Though changes have occurred over the years with how it's been utilized (acting as the first part of the show SONG AND DANCE), and with song choices that have come and gone, this production by New Line Theatre is probably the closest you'll find to its original vision. Sparked by some of Webber's most gorgeous material (it occasionally reminds me of vintage Burt Bacharach at times, and I mean that in the best possible way), and laced with Black's amusing and often biting lyrical content, it radiates perfection under Mike Dowdy-Windsor's direction, and in the process, provides actress Sarah Porter with an excellent vehicle to showcase her exceptional talents.

The story follows the romantic misadventures of Emma, a British immigrant, who always seems to get the short end of the stick in regards to her relationship with men. Over the course of the musical we see her cross paths, and the country, with paramours who use her, ignore her, and are unwilling to commit to her. She's a free spirited woman who is also a hopeless romantic. Her choices often leave her wanting, but they never leave her undetermined to keep moving forward.

Sarah Porter is a mainstay of New Line Theatre, and even if her name is not in the cast listing of one of their shows, you'll find her designing the clever and eye-catching costumes that grace them. Here she does both, and it's a wonderful sight to behold. I worked with Sarah many years ago, and I was immediately struck by her stage presence, vocal power, and clarity. I've seen her blossom into a performer who can consistently immerse herself in whatever role she takes on, and deliver continually outstanding work in the process. To me, a one person show would seem to be a rather daunting task for any performer to undertake. But Porter has the chops and the seasoning to completely personify Emma, making her character fully realized, and giving incredible voice to the the beautiful score that flows constantly through the show. There are some truly special tunes among Webber and Black's compositions, and Porter completely inhabits each and every one of them, making us laugh at times, but more often, touching our hearts in a deeply personal way.

Mike Dowdy-Windsor first solo directorial effort for New Line Theatre reveals his keen sense of how each individual moment should be presented. Never static, the emotional undercurrents of each number present Porter with plenty of chances to emote, move, and react to characters that, while not actually present in physical form, are clearly visible in Emma's sight line. Nate Jackson's musical direction nicely captures the feel of this amazingly rich score. Jackson (conductor/pianist), Eric Bateman (cello), Clancy Newell (percussion), Harrison Rich (reeds), and Jake Stergos (bass), do a fabulous job bringing these musical delight to life. Rob Lippert's scenic and lighting design is evocative and atmospheric, providing different areas and levels for Porter, depending on the locale. Porter's costumes also work very well, and she's able to change into them with nary a pause in the action.

New Line Theatre's TELL ME ON A SUNDAY demonstrates, once again, how this company is so adept at finding little musical gems that deserve being rediscovered. I know it's been revived over the years with varying degrees of success, but here it absolutely shines, and I recommend that you see it as soon as possible. It's a real treat! TELL ME ON A SUNDAY continues through August 27, 2016 at the Marcelle Theatre.