Dreams Never Run On Time

Tell Me on a Sunday

Meet Emma, a recent immigrant to the United States. She’s a pretty, perky young English woman who’s arrived in New York City late one night, planning to move in with her new American boyfriend, Joe. That relationship suddenly sours when she discovers that she’s being used. Then Emma meets Sheldon, a famous film producer, who lures her off to the plastic existence of Hollywood. Bored and ignored in LaLa Land, Emma decides to return to the Big Apple. Back in NYC she meets a younger man who travels for a living. But no surprise, he also proves to be unfaithful to her. Emma’s final affair is a frivolous fling with Paul, a married man with two children. When Paul confesses that he intends to leave his wife for her, Emma suddenly realizes that the tables have been turned. Now it’s she who’s using men the way they’ve used her. Emma’s epiphany strengthens her drive to get her Green Card and leads her toward a new life of independence. Emma acknowledges this new attitude in an eleventh hour number entitled “Dreams Never Run Out of Time.” The audience leaves the theatre knowing that our heroine has learned an important life lesson and will survive.

Over the years, Andrew Lloyd Webber made several revisions to his 1980 musical, SONG AND DANCE. This original show was a two-act theatrical piece that told Emma’s story, entirely through song in Act I, while Act II related her story completely through choreography by a corps de ballet. In 1985, when Webber’s show crossed the Pond, Broadway legend Bernadette Peters was cast to portray Emma. That demanding, solo role earned the talented actress her first Tony Award. 

Eventually, however, Webber decided to rework his musical. He decided to cut the less popular, more demanding and larger ensemble-filled second act, since Act I could stand nicely on its own. Webber renamed his revised one-act, one-woman show TELL ME ON A SUNDAY, the title taken from one of the original production’s best-loved songs. This new, rarely-produced show, which has just opened at Theo, features a musical score by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black. It’s a sung-through piece comprised of twenty-five songs without any dialogue. Once again, the somewhat fragmentary plot details Emma’s emotional journey toward independence.

No stranger to the work of Andrew Lloyd Webber, the much-beloved and critically acclaimed Theo Ubique Theatre has, over its 28 years, produced several of the British composer’s works. They’ve included superior productions of  EVITA, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, CATS and ASPECTS OF LOVE. For this 75-minute song cycle, Jeff-nominated actress Keely Vasquez makes her auspicious Theo Directorial debut. She’s created a powerful production that’s ironically both theatrical and intimate. Ms. Vasquez’s staging, guidance and motivation is nicely enhanced by a bit of appropriately scaled-back Choreography by the always inventive Jenna Schoppe. A lovely Scenic Design by Eleanor Kahn, combined with some gorgeous, integrated Lighting by Ellie Fey, creates a stunning environment on which Emma can share her story.

But, of course, the success of this musical can be largely attributed to the charisma and star-power of gifted leading lady, Dani Pike. For avid theatre lovers, like myself, this lovely and talented musical actress will be fondly remembered for her knockout performances as Audrey, in Citadel Theatre’s LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, and as Princess Fiona, in Music Theater Works’ SHREK, THE MUSICAL. Playing Emma, the focus of the show is always on Ms. Pike, because she doesn’t share the stage with anyone else. The talented actress never lets her audience down. Dani’s vocal talent is superb, comfortably dipping down into the lowest range and then suddenly hitting the highest notes. She easily navigates Emma’s emotional journey, as well, running the gamut from unbridled joy to deep depression. The young woman’s stormy journey through four love affairs ultimately delivers Emma toward her own dignity and respect. Dani Pike is truly a musical theatre star to watch!

Evelyn Ryan’s strong Musical Direction shines, both in Dani Pike’s exquisite performance and as the Conductor and Keyboardist of her five-member onstage band. In addition to the commanding “Take That Look Off Your Face,” which both opens and concludes the musical, Ms. Pike sails through 23 additional numbers. She particularly stands out with the whimsical “Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad,” a song that illuminates the shallowness and banality of contemporary American verbiage. The dramatic and melancholy tone of Ms. Pike’s “Unexpected Song” is particularly potent, as is her wistful “Tell Me on a Sunday.” Four songs appear sporadically throughout the show, simply entitled “Letters Home to England.” They reveal so much about Emma’s personality and her close relationship with her Mother. But, ultimately, the theme of this tender musical shines through near the end, with “The World Hasn’t Stopped” and “Dreams Never Run On Time.”

Lloyd Webber’s modest, pocket-sized musical isn’t his finest work. It’s an intimate story and, because of being slightly abstract, it’s difficult to hook an audience and reel them in with a song cycle. The structure of this type of musical production is challenging and feels a little superficial because it vaguely only weaves its themes through song. The composer’s bigger Broadway hits, like PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, SUNSET BOULEVARD and JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, offer much more in terms of substance, characterization and spectacle. That said, given that this isn’t a show that’s often produced, this is a perfect reason to catch it up in Evanston. But combined with a gifted leading lady, topnotch musical accompaniment and stage direction, and a lush scenic and lighting design, Theo Ubique has yet another production that will speak to every heart.         

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented March 7-April 20 by Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, 721 Howard Street, Evanston, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 800-595-4849 or by going to www.Theo-u.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.