You Can Always Count on Me

City of Angels In Concert

Two stories play side-by-side in this 1990 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, book and score. Cy Coleman and David Zippel’s sultry music and smart lyrics add so much to Larry Gelbart’s sassy homage to film noir motion pictures and Hollywood screenwriters of the 1940’s. The first story puts the spotlight on Stine, a popular author of detective stories who’s butting heads with a movie producer/director over artistic integrity; the second plot focuses on a private detective named Stone, the product of Stine’s imagination, and the character the author has created for his successful series of books. Both men share the same frustrating experiences with women, while being pushed around by a bunch of bullies, thugs and criminals. In Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass’ stellar concert staging, the real world meets the reel world. The result is a smart, exciting show that celebrates those wonderful B-movie film noirs from Hollywood’s Golden Era.

As always, BrightSide Theatre challenges its audience with another sharply directed, beautifully performed production in an intimate, up-close-and personal-setting. This, being a concert version, is being presented in a concert hall. There’s minimal staging, no scenery, a suggestion of costuming and just a few necessary props. The presentation focuses primarily on the story. It spotlights the character, their relationships and the gorgeous, haunting music. In Jeffrey Cass’ reimagined vision for this show he pays homage to the movie industry while creating a captivating stage musical. And, as always, BrightSide’s latest production hits all the right notes with their audience.

The musical is generously seasoned with plenty of cool jazz, cheeky character songs and smart, romantic ballads. Even Cy Coleman’s lush and lovely incidental music is the sound of film noir. It’s bluesy and saxophone-heavy, with slow, easy percussion and throbbing bass. Just listening to the score will evoke images of “The Big Sleep” and “The Maltese Falcon.” The artistry found in this production is challenging and far-reaching. Music Director Sara Cate Langham skillfully conducts while on keyboard. Her talented eight-member jazz ensemble paints every mood and plot twist with music.

Jeffrey Cass’ direction keeps the musical moving along at a fast clip, pausing every so often to linger over a subtle moment of romance or to reflect on where life has taken a character. His cast is top-notch in every way. As Stine, handsome, talented newcomer Brady McNeil is one of several examples of the perfect casting in this production. Playing a  screenwriter who has a tough time standing up for his beliefs, with regards to adapting his novel for film, Mr. McNeil creates a determined, straightforward young author earnestly trying to balance his rocky personal relationships with a stressful writing career. Brady McNeil is a remarkably strong presence with a gorgeous voice, effortlessly caressing every note and lyric. Stine’s 11th hour number, “Funny,” is a musical soliloquy that sticks with the audience long past the final curtain. He’s paired with BrightSide favorite Jon Cunningham, as Stone, the smart-mouthed gumshoe with a knack for ticking off the wrong people. In this duo we have a pair of gifted actors offering honest acting and incredible singing. The handsome Mr. Stone is a chick magnet, and Mr. Cunningham plays that up with his relaxed, confident manner. His double-entendre musical delight, “The Tennis Song,” sung with the wonderful, beauteous and talented Jamie Marie DePaolo, as Alaura Kingsley, is a shrewd and tasteful piece of melodic seduction. However, Cunningham and McNeil share the best song of the night. It’s the tune that everyone leaves the theatre singing: “You’re Nothing Without Me.” This hummable, humorous musical dialogue is an unapologetic ode to one-upmanship, self-promotion and unmitigated ego.

Jamie Marie DePaolo is captivating, deliciously sexy and knows how to sell a song. She plays both Carla, the wife of movie producer/director Buddy Fidler (Jim Heatherly in another wonderful scenery-chewing role that almost steals the show), as well as the sultry Alaura Kingsley, the mysterious dame who sets the plot in motion when she hires Stone to find her missing stepdaughter. The lovely and talented Laura Sportiello impresses once again at BrightSide playing Gabby, Stine’s supercritical, often neglected wife, and Bobbi, Stone’s on-again, off-again girlfriend, lounge singer and aspiring actress. In both roles, Ms. Sportiello lights up the concert hall with her creamy, golden voice. Her show-stopping performance of the ballad, “With Every Breath You Take,” as well as her exhilarating duet with bombshell, Christine Ronna, “What You Don’t Know About Women,” are standouts. The voluptuous Ms. Ronna takes on the roles of both Buddy’s sexy secretary, Donna, and Stone’s girl-Friday, Oolie. The character’s self evaluation, “You Can Always Count on Me,” is one more clever highlights of this production, and Jeffrey Cass has staged it smartly. 

The ensemble is exceptional and brims with talent. Beginning with the tight harmonics of the production’s Greek chorus, the Angel City 4, this quartet is comprised of the musically gifted Dana Clouser, Meghan Kessel, Sean Rhead and Derek Zinke. They pop up everywhere, commenting on the plot with their Manhattan Transfer Doo-wop sound. Bella Blackshaw as both brunette bombshell movie star, Avril Raines, and missing stepdaughter Mallory Kingsley, offers a sultry rendition of “Lost and Found” that’s playfully naughty. Handsome Parker Stancato portrays a Frank Sinatra-like crooner named Jimmy Powers, joining the Angels at the microphone for “Stay With Me.” Nick Arceo, another BrightSide newcomer, is a standout in the double-cast roles of Officer Munoz and movie star Pancho Vargas. His Latin patter song, “All You Have to Do is Wait,” is a real crowdpleaser.

Jeffrey Cass has infused his wonderful concert presentation of this seldom-seen musical with lots of energy and a fresh, playfully naughty spirit. The show offers a musical palette of smooth jazz and sizzling character songs, enough to delight every film and musical theatre enthusiast in the audience. You Can Always Count on…BrightSide Theatre! The company has once again surpassed itself with this sophisticated show making this production feel like a true, film noir detective movie. With a large, talented cast, supported by Sara Cate Lanham’s stellar, gifted jazz orchestra, every song and every line is delivered with style and elegance, creating the theatrical equivalent of a potent, dry martini with just a twist of bitter lemon.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented January 13-21 by BrightSide Theatre at North Central College’s Madden Theatre, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, IL.

Tickets are available at the door, by calling 630-447-8497 or by going to www.BrightSideTheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.