Atlanta
Atlanta burns up in Atlanta that is burned up in Atlanta. If this confuses you then welcome to the world of Atlanta that opened recently at the Geffen Playhouse. Actually there is a lot to like about the new musical. The story is intriguing if not a bit far-fetched.A Union soldier kills a confederate soldier and finds a stash of love letters from a girl named Atlanta in Atlanta. He proceeds to begin a correspondence with her and falls in love with her through their exchanged letters. Meanwhile the love- struck soldier, the sweet voiced Ken Barnett, trades uniforms and joins a crazy Confederate Colonel Medraut, played broadly by John Fleck, and his ragtag troupe of slaves who just happen to spout Shakespearean verse that they have been forced to memorize. Thematically the musical deals with such diverse subjects as war, relationships between the races and between the sexes, and the secrets people keep from one another (there are quite a few here).
The performers are all strong performers and the small talented band of musicians lead by Kevin Toney is very good. The score by Marcus Hummon, one of the most successful songwriters in Nashville, is the best thing about the piece. But rather than coming from character, most of the songs comment on the goings-on rather than furthering the action. But they were goods songs and very catchy. The book needs work. The direction by Artistic Director Randall Arney and actor Adrian Pasdar is probably the weakest part of the undertaking. I never really felt the imminent danger and horror of the Civil War, perhaps because the Colonel was running away from it. The pretty background pictures only made the war seem even further in the past.
Merle Dandridge was beautiful and, understandably, the focus of two men’s affection. Moe Daniels was a powerhouse of a singer and played her sexually confused wild child to the hilt. Leonard Roberts has a strong voice and presence and was moving as the tormented slave Hamlet. Travis Johns was suitably sinister as Lieutenant Virgil. The lovely JoNell Kennedy is given little to do as Atlanta who burns in Atlanta in Atlanta. The musical was very frustrating because there was a lot of talent used in putting together the piece but it never truly jelled. This is a workshop production so perhaps they can do some more work on it before the next production. The Geffen is to be congratulated on putting on a musical.
Plays through Jan 6