This Week's Star
Lansing and Star Info
We're Family Rated
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May
16
2008
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Kitchen Theatre Concludes Season With SOUVENIR |
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by Kitchen Theatre
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Friday, 16 May 2008 |
 If “music is the food of love,” then Florence Foster Jenkins is the surprise dessert. SOUVENIR, a Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins by Stephen Temperley, opening for previews on June 6 at the Kitchen Theatre Company, is a hilarious, loving and moving tribute to a woman who followed her dreams no matter how misguided.
Born in 1868, real-life Ms. Jenkins always wanted to study music. But not until the death of her wealthy parents, who disapproved of her stage desires, was she able to pursue her passion to become a great soprano. Her goals were worthy, her voice was not. But even lacking musicianship, ear, voice, and rhythm, she was not deterred. She engaged the talented accompanist, Cosme McMoon, and then attempted to scale the concert heights, including a Carnegie Hall recital.
Stephen Temperley’s empathetic play is a delightful memoir of another time told through the biting wit of the aging Cosme McMoon. Sitting at the piano late one night, he remembers how his life was changed by years of bad singing and an amazing friendship with an unlikely partner. “Why did I do it?” he asks. The answer comes in a music-filled re-telling of a tender relationship between a bold, ear-splitting singer and her younger, gay pianist. Through music ranging from Gershwin to Mozart, the play brings to life two people whose shared love of music carried them on a crazy, not-so-melodic ride.
“I always love when there is music in a play in the Kitchen,” says KTC’s Artistic Director Rachel Lampert. “SOUVENIR is a deliciously endearing play about a woman who hears beautiful music in her head but cannot make it come out of her mouth. For all music lovers, singers great and not, this will be a wonderful evening.”
Sara Lampert Hoover, who directed the popular and successful KTC season opener THE CLEAN HOUSE, returns to direct the final production of the season. Well known at the Kitchen, Ms. Lampert Hoover’s directorial work includes YELLOWMAN, CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY, TONY & THE SOPRANO, PRECIOUS NONSENSE, and MOLLY SWEENEY.
New York City based actors Patricia Dell (member, Actors Equity Association) and David Beach (member, Actors Equity Association) are making their Kitchen Theatre debuts in this production. Ms. Dell has worked extensively with the Center for Contemporary Opera and appeared in numerous musicals. Mr. Beach was in the Broadway cast of URINETOWN, MOON OVER BUFFALO and MAMA MIA as well as appearances in LAW & ORDER, SEX AND THE CITY, and MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE among others.
SOUVENIR will feature set design by Ali Golden, lighting design by Ed Intiman and costume design by Terésa Sears.
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