About Time - Goodspeed Musicals

The title of the new, engaging musical revue, About Time, playing through Sunday, June 15 at the Norma Terris Theater in Chester, CT, has a double meaning.  First, theater aficionados are saying “About Time” that the composing team of David Shire and Richard Maltby, Jr., whose songs comprise the show, have finished the final piece of their long-awaited, life-cycle trilogy. 

The cast of Goodspeed's About Time. Photo by Diane Sobolewski.

Their first production, Starting Here, Starting Now, from 1977, explored relationships and romance.  The next revue, Closer Than Ever, from 1989, moved to songs about mid-life crisis, second marriages, and unrequited love.  Finally, we have About Time, which looks at the latter part of life, with songs about “people navigating the joys and challenges of growing older while staying young in spirit.”

 

About Time, is performed by a seasoned six-person cast.  Most of the songs are amusing, some laugh-out-loud funny.  But there are also wistful numbers that knowingly connect with the audience.  All the performers have their moment in the spotlight in addition to being paired with fellow thespians.  Richard Maltby, Jr.’s lyrics are both sophisticated and playful.  David Shire’s compositions are tuneful with music that covers a number of different genres.

 

The disarming and entertaining revue gets off to an enthusiastic start with the song, “Show Tune ,” led by the energetic Eddie Korbich with accompaniment by the rest of the cast.  The actor talks about the revue and the inclusion of a thread to connect the evening’s works.  However, besides the tunes wrapping themselves around the show’s theme, much isn’t verbalized until the last number, a reprise of the title number.  Since About Time is still in development, having more dialogue inserted may be something for Maltby and Shire to think about.

 

Issy van Randwyck, Shinnerrie Jackson and Lynne Wintersteller in Goodspeed's About Time. Photo by Diane Sobolewski.

In addition to Korbich, there is Daniel Jenkins (the original Huck Finn in Broadway’s Big River and star of the Maltby and Shire musical, Big), who’s laid-back persona is perfect for the humorous numbers “Smart People” and “Lunch with Linda,” where he is paired with the comedic Issy van Randwyck.  Ms. Van Randwyck, a multi-Olivier-nominated actress, also provides deft comic performances with “All I Wanna Do Is Go Dancing” and, with her female compadres, “Overripe Fruit.”

 

Darius de Haas, a frequent Off-Broadway and Broadway actor, gets into the act with the ode to misplaced items, “Keys.”  Lynne Wintersteller, an original cast member of Closer Than Ever, who can belt with the best of them, is more contemplative in her solos, such as the wistful “No One Will Know” and the empowering “Done.”  Rounding out the cast is Shinnerrie Jackson, whose individual songs lack presence.  However, she shines in the collective numbers.

 

There are some issues the developers should look at: 

• The interludes, while generating laughs, seem awkwardly squeezed in.  “Interlude #2, Password” could be updated and the end of “Interlude #3, Urology” is cheap. 
• Some songs come across as incomplete, like “Just a Home. 
• Act I is more buoyant than Act II, which causes the second half of the show to drag somewhat.

 

Maltby, who also directs the revue, is a Tony Award practitioner of the art (he created and directed Ain’t Misbehavin’).  He guides the show with an easy and knowledgeable pacing and, with the assistance of Choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge, adds a dash of light-footed dance sequences.  Mitchell Fenton provides a subtle Lighting Design, and Jay Hilton’s Sound Design ensures all the songs are clear and crisp.

 

Piano/Conductor Deniz Cordell is a virtuoso on the piano (who might want to tone done his sometimes distracting histrionics) and is assisted by Annie Pasqua on Piano II and Scott Chaurette on Bass.

 

About Time, playing at the Norma Terris Theater through June 15.  Click here for ticket information.