Twice Upon A Time

Ray Cooney is Britain’s “master of farce”. He has had some 17 plays performed on the West End including Run For Your Wife that ran for 9 years and became its longest running comedy. Mr. Cooney may be in his 70’s but he is still full of creativity having just produced Tom, Dick, and Harry which he co-wrote with his successful screenwriter son and now has opened a new musical (his first) Twice Upon A Time at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center with plans to open a production in London, New York, and possibly Vegas. Judging from the audience’s reaction this just might happen.

Twice Upon A Time isn’t strictly a farce though it has farcical elements and elements of the bawdy for which Mr. Cooney is so well known. The musical also has its dramatic side where matters of fidelity, psychiatry, past lives, and the idea of being willing to die for another as a sign of true love. The story concerns a young, hapless lawyer Mr. Steven Tancred who is engaged to the boss’ daughter and undergoes hypnosis to quit smoking. Instead, he is transported back in time to 1929 where he is the getaway driver to the infamous Bugs Moran and all the fun and struggle begin.

I don’t want to spoil the plot but it involves lovers in both time zones and the complications that ensue when Steven realizes that his past life character, Johnny May and the girl he loves might be heading for a bloody end. The musical jumps back and forth in these two time zones with several actors playing dual roles and separate characters in each zone. This leads to even more confusion and misunderstanding. If you think of the twin zones as the two doors that are usually part of any farce you can see the possibility of some awfully funny business.

The cast features Broadway and television veterans Millicent Martin.  Misty Cotton, Sam Zeller, Robert Machray. Jennifer Malenke and also Jeffrey Rockwell, Brandon Michael Perkins, Monica Smith, Kevin Symons, Carly Nykanen, and Danny Bolero.  Yes the Robert Machray is the same Robert Machray who is writing this article. Suffice it to say I’m marvelous as Steven’s boss. But more to the point I wanted to point out some of the fine work being done by the rest of the aforementioned cast especially by newcomer Brandon Perkins who has a beautiful sweet voice and an endearing acting style. He should have a nice career. It is also an honor and a pleasure to work with the veteran Millicent Martin who sparkles in her role as the daft Mrs. Clark, an “obstinate old bat whose wretched cottage is standing in the way of a 15 million pound half completed shopping mall”. Steven has been assigned by his boss, me, to get her off the land.

The music is fun, varied and extremely hummable. Written by lyricist Mary Stewart-David and composer Chris Walker the music evokes everything from music of the “Roaring Twenties” to some Sondheim- like compositions. Something for everyone. Terrific musical direction by Dennis Castellano and lively choreography by Karen Nowicki round out the creative team.

Playing at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center  www.civiclightopera.com until March 2.