No Strings

May 8th, 2007
Reprise, UCLA
Musical by Richard Rodgers, we went with Rachel

Starring Scott Bakula, Sophina Brown and Bets Malone

This musical is surprisingly sweet and tuneful.
An American writer down-on-his-muse falls in love with a young successful fashion model in 60's Paris (Bob Mackie's costume design brought Paris, San Tropez and Monte Carlo to life quite brilliantly). These two might normally clash, but Paris brings them together in spite of their differences.

Based on hearing the original cast from 1962 with Diahann Carroll & Richard Kiley, Reprise's casting makes all the difference. Scott Bakula plays a very sincere David, a road-traveled writer captivated by Sophina Brown's Hepburnesque naive and doe-eyed Barbara. Scott plays a romantic lead effortlessly, I have to say. Bets Malone as Comfort O'Connell steals her scenes and never disappoints (we won't soon forget her rendition of "Eager Beaver"). And Ruth Williamson was perfectly cast as a "seen-it-all" American Editor of Paris Vogue (and Sophina's motherly confidante and adviser). One highlight was how well Ruth's and Bets' voices blended in their brassy duet "Love Makes the World Go."

The songs are very sweet, ranging from romantic to spunky and full of cheek, and the lyrics (also by Rodgers) are less self-conscious than a lot of older musicals. I'd say of most of the older musicals we've seen, this one holds up fairly well. Who doesn't want to spend 2 hours in Paris, Monte Carlo and San Tropez with two young lovers, in love with life and each other? (and the costumes... did I mention Mackie's costumes? I did? Okay).

What I loved most was that this musical wasn't afraid to spend time letting the lovers fall in love and be together. That was refreshing.

I don't care for the very coarse and brash vocal textures in the original cast recording at all, but I will always remember a gentler, more rich and easy-on-the-ears cast of voices in Reprise's production. You'll leave, but the haunting ballad "The Sweetest Sounds" will stay in your head for days.

Extra half star for what I thought is a well-written book and wonderfully casted leads.