Birthday Chronicles, Part Four--So, How Was The Show?????????????????????????????????

                                        Darlings, by the time we settled into our Row E Orchestra seats at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, I was in full theater mode.

                                         "Harmony" is this dark musical, with Book and Lyrics by Bruce Sussman, and Music by Barry Manilow.  But if you are expecting "Mandy," forget it.

                                         This book show is about a sextet of harmonists during the late Twenties and early Thirties, who performed worldwide, and had the most beautiful harmonic sound long before The Mamas and The Papas.

                                           It was a lively, introspective evening, but not a great one.  What was lacking in dramatics and classic musical theater was made up for by the performers--Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, (the best of the six!) Blake Roman, and StevenTelsey. Their singing and dancing were exceptional, and I knew they were in good hands, because the show was directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, ("Follies," "The Music Man") so everyone was showcased to their best. David and I were especially excited about seeing Julie Benko , (Who saved "Funny Girl" from being a disaster!) and her performance as activist Ruthie is heartbreaking and moving.  Our only regret was Julie was not given more stage time, and a long number for herself.  But the final one, where she bids her husband farewell, filled me with tears.  And Sierra Borges--what an impressive vocal actress!  I have heard of her for years, but never actually seen her.  What a revelation.  Finally, framing the show, is Chip Zien as Rabbi, who survives to tell the story, and plays a number of other characters. His performance is unquestionably award caliber.  He does a shattering monologue in Act Two that takes one's breath away, and after, even the audience could see how exhausting this was for Zien, who is now 76, to perform.

                                          And yet....and yet.  It was not a classic, like "Gypsy," or "Cabaret,"(Which is being brought back to Broadway again; I mean, do we need it?) though there are plenty of influences from thereof, and Carlyle's choreography makes good use of some Michael Bennett and Jerome Robbins turns.  It is so evident that the creators of "Harmony" wanted this show to be the classic David and I hoped it would be, but it unfortunately misses the mark.  What puts the show over is the impassioned commitment to the material by all of the performers on the stage, right down to the smallest bit parts.

                                         There are more than just veiled references to the Holocaust; it is outrightly portrayed, in its own way, and yes, some of "Harmony" is hard to take.  Future audiences be forewarned.

                                         I cannot speak for David, but I can tell you, while I did not feel like singing or dancing in the street after seeing "Harmony," I knew I had spent a satisfying evening at the theater.  And that was good enough for me.

                                      Still to be continued, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!