Reviewed by Judd Hollander
Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.
Such is the message of the new musical Bob
and Carol and Ted and Alice. Presented by The New Group at The Pershing
Square Signature Center, this earnest take on the 1969 film of the same name
has much to say about four thirtysomethings who try to become part of something
which they have no real understanding of. Sadly, the show ultimately fails in
its execution.
Documentary filmmaker Bob (Joél Pérez), lawyer Ted (Michael
Zegen) and their stay-at-home wives Carol (Jennifer Damiano) and Alice (Ana
Nogueira) are the best of friends. Bob and Carol being the freer thinkers of
this California foursome, while
Ted and Alice are more conservative. Bob and Carol for example, would
think nothing of suddenly singing at a crowded restaurant. Something which Ted
and Alice would never do.
One thing both couples have in common is their complete love for their
respective spouses, and total commitment to them. Things change when Bob and
Carol go on a spiritual retreat to “get in touch with their feelings” as it
were. Bob also interested in seeing if there’s enough material there for a new
project. However, by the end of their stay, the two find themselves completely immersed
in the sessions they've participated in. Ones which allow them to give voice to
inner emotions and personal regrets they never realized they had. Or at least
ever admitted, even to themselves. This newfound awareness beginning to cause
cracks in their marriage.
Jennifer Damiano and Joél Pérez . Photo Credit: Monique Carboni.
Soon after, Bob, who at the age of 35 finds himself in a
midlife crisis, travels to Berkley
in order to shoot some footage for his latest documentary, and winds up
sleeping with a 24-year old (Suzanne Vega). His feelings in the wake of his
indiscretion, as well as Carol’s reaction when she learns the truth, threaten
not only their own relationship, but Ted’s and Alice ’s
as well. Bob and Carol having decided to freely share this information with
them without any advance warning.
A work filled with contractions, Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice takes a swipe at the sexual mores
of the time as it shows four people all seemingly prepared to talk the talk
when it comes to free love and lack of inhibition, but not quite ready to
actually practice what they preach. Bob’s initial reaction when it comes to
finding out Carol has had sex with someone else – she doesn’t call it an
“affair” or “cheating” - is quite different from the understanding by him which
Carol feels is called for. Understanding she previously showed him when the
situation was reversed.
(L-R) J ennifer Damiano. Joél Pérez, Michael Zegen, Ana Nogueira. Photo Credit: Monique Carboni.
Book writer Jonathan Marc Sherman certainly has a lot to
work with here. Unfortunately, the different characters come off as so vapid
and one-dimensional, one is hard pressed find a reason to care about them. The
only one of the four who really gets a chance to break out is Ted when he sings
a solo number about his own marital issues. Ted seeing Bob and Carol’s
relationship changing while feeling ever more suffocated in his own.
Ted’s solution in his regard, and the reactions by the
others to it during a trip to Las Vegas ,
lead to an pivotal and quite effective moment of understanding between the
four. Band Leader Vega hitting the proverbial nail squarely on the head
when she sings "that maybe there is a limit to desire".
However the very strong final 20 minutes of the show cannot
compensate for all the squandered efforts that have come before. Especially
when the individual sequences often feel completely disconnected with one
another - as if they don't quite belong in the same play. Such as a quick
scene with Alice talking to her
therapist (Vega) or Ted chatting with an attractive woman on an airplane.
Director Scott Elliott not really able to being any of these moments together
into a cohesive whole.
(L-R) Michael Zegen, Jennifer Damiano, Joél Pérez, Ana Nogueira. Photo Credit: Monique Carboni.
One must be also very careful when setting a show in a
specific era. Especially one available to the audience either through their own
memories or television shows and movies from the time depicted. A connection Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice is
unable to establish. Neither the costumes, hairstyles, or the various
commercials - the latter spoken either by the cast or members of the onstage
orchestra – really evoke memories of the time in question, much less any strong
feeling of nostalgia.
The score by Duncan Sheik (music, lyrics) and Amanda Green
(lyrics) also doesn’t work as well as it should. The different numbers, at
times more snippets of songs rather than full pieces, feel either awkward
dialogue-wise, or repetitive when it comes to the music. The few exceptions to
this being noted above. Though it must be said the onstage musicians all to a great
job. Likewise, the actors all warble their respective tunes nicely, and even
get to show off their own musical talents on the instruments. Good work by
Kelly Devine in regards to the musical staging.
While Bob and Carol
and Ted and Alice quite profoundly depicts the foibles that come with being
human, the show ends up lacking the crucial spark to make the audience truly
care about what unfolds on stage.
Featuring: Jennifer Damiano (Carol), Jamie Mohamdein
(Ensemble), Ana Nogueira (Alice ), Joél Pérez (Bob), Suzanne Vega (Band Leader), Michael Zegen (Ted).
Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice
Book by Jonathan Marc Sherman
Music by Duncan Sheik
Lyrics by Duncan Sheik and Amanda Green
Based on the Columbia Pictures motion picture written by
Paul Mazursky and Larry Tucker
Scenic Design: Derek McLane
Costume Design: Jeff Mahshie
Lighting Design: Jeff Croiter
Sound Design: Jessica Paz
Orchestrations: Duncan Sheik
Music Supervision, Vocal Arrangements and Additional
Orchestrations: Jason Hart
Music Coordinator: Antoine Silverman
Consultant: Jill Mazursky
Production Stage Manager: Valerie A. Peterson
Casting: Telsey + Company/Rachel Hoffman, CSA
Public Relations: Bridget Klapinski
Advertising: AKA
Associate Artistic Director: Ian Morgan
Development Director: Jamie Lehrer
General Manager: Teresa Gozzo
Marketing Director: Stephanie Warren
Production Manager: Lay Hoon Tan
Music Staging by Kelly Devine
Directed by Scott Elliott
Presented by The New Group at The Pershing
Square Signature
Center
Tickets: 917-935-4242 or www.TheNewGroup.org
Running Time: 1 Hour, 45 Minutes, No Intermission
Closes: March 22,
2020